Tanjiro's kindness toward demons was not understood by others.
At the very least, it was not understood by most people.
Their hatred for demons made it almost impossible for them to understand Tanjiro's gentleness toward demons, or the goodwill he continued to hold for them.
Soma, who was himself a demon, felt complicated emotions. Yet he could also understand everyone.
After all, the demons in this world were basically all evil. Almost no demon could restrain the desires that came with being one.
Naturally, nearly everything demons did stood opposed to humanity.
Toward a demon that hunted them as food, humans naturally could not feel any goodwill. Nor would they be willing to understand those demons, even if they had once been human.
At least, in the eyes of most people, from the moment someone became a demon, they were already no longer human.
This was almost everyone's common understanding.
Because there had never been an exception among demons.
The appearance of an exception like him was difficult for people to believe.
And equally difficult for them to understand.
"Tanjiro, if you were an ordinary person, and you possessed this kindness, I would praise you and say that you are a good-hearted person. But you are not an ordinary person. You are a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps. That kindness of yours will only bring you death."
"Showing mercy to demons will only place you in greater danger."
Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together, displeased by Tanjiro's attitude toward demons.
"I do not think that is true." Tanjiro shook his head, still holding firmly to his own belief.
Sensing the boy's stubbornness, Gyomei Himejima felt somewhat angered, because he felt that he probably could not convince Tanjiro. It was just like Kanae Kocho back then, who had also held the wish to save demons.
Gyomei Himejima could not understand such thoughts.
His hatred for demons made it impossible for him to understand those detestable creatures. As long as his blood was still flowing, as long as he could still remember the feeling of his fists striking a demon's body, Gyomei Himejima could not feel even the slightest empathy for those pitiful beings.
Sanemi Shinazugawa also clenched his fists at that moment. He even stepped forward, wanting to beat some sense into Tanjiro and use force to change his mind.
"Enough, enough."
Kyojuro Rengoku stopped Sanemi Shinazugawa before he could lose his temper. Although he did not agree with Tanjiro either, as a senior, he naturally ought to show some tolerance toward a junior.
...
"Sir, how do you see these demons?"
At that moment, Mitsuri Kanroji suddenly asked Soma, who had remained silent all this time.
"Me?"
Soma raised his head and looked at Mitsuri Kanroji in some surprise. At the same time, he realized that many people present had turned their gazes toward him.
Asking a demon for his view on demons sounded somewhat amusing.
"I do not have any particular view."
Soma rested his hand on the hilt of his blade and spoke calmly. "Compared with that, everyone should prepare for the battle that is about to come."
"Hasn't the Upper Rank demon already been killed?"
Mitsuri Kanroji asked, a little curious.
Everyone's gaze also fell on Soma. This operation had been a hunt against Upper Rank Six, the twin demons Gyutaro and Daki, and those two had already been dealt with by Soma before the others arrived.
"I feel that… we have already drawn that demon's attention." Soma spoke.
The surroundings fell silent at once.
That demon was naturally no ordinary demon. It could only be Muzan Kibutsuji, the enemy the Demon Slayer Corps had pursued for over a thousand years.
Yet across all those centuries, despite countless sacrifices, there had been very few occasions when they had truly threatened Muzan Kibutsuji. Not long ago, even Oyakata-sama, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had used himself as bait and detonated explosives, yet he still failed to kill Muzan. Instead, they had paid a terrible price.
"Will that demon… come?" Sanemi Shinazugawa could not help asking.
With that demon's cautious nature, he almost never appeared before others, especially after having recently suffered an ambush.
"Given that demon's personality, he may be hiding in some dark corner even now."
Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together as he spoke. Over all these years, there had almost never been a time when Muzan Kibutsuji personally placed himself in danger.
"Under ordinary circumstances, that demon might remain unmoved. But this time is different." Soma shook his head.
"Perhaps he will not appear himself, but he will definitely not do nothing."
Muzan Kibutsuji had seen Soma standing beneath the sun with his own eyes. How could he possibly let that go so easily?
When they surrounded and killed Doma, it had happened during the day. No matter how desperately Muzan wanted answers, he could only endure it. But now, it was night.
"Since Mr. Soma says so, then we should prepare accordingly."
Gyomei Himejima spoke without hesitation.
The others nodded as well. Although they were puzzled and did not understand why Soma was so certain, they still chose to believe him.
No one said anything more. They all began silently preparing for the battle that might soon arrive.
...
The full moon still hung high in the sky, spilling soft moonlight across the dark earth and bringing light to the night.
Yoshiwara Entertainment District.
Everyone quietly made their preparations.
Gyomei Himejima sat where he was, palms pressed together, silently chanting prayers again and again.
Sanemi Shinazugawa gently stroked the blade of his sword, his eyes half closed.
Kyojuro Rengoku had found roasted sweet potatoes from somewhere and was eating them with great enthusiasm.
...
Whoosh…
At some point, it seemed as though a gust of wind swept through.
Above everyone, the Kasugai Crows suddenly flapped their wings and circled in the sky, letting out hoarse cries faintly tinged with unease.
Everyone's heart tightened.
Soma also raised his head and looked into the distance. Faintly, he could feel an immensely powerful presence.
"Is it Muzan Kibutsuji?"
Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together. Through his Mind's Eye, he had also sensed that powerful presence, but it did not seem quite like Muzan Kibutsuji.
Even so, that aura was terrifyingly strong. Aside from Muzan Kibutsuji, it was the most powerful presence Gyomei Himejima had ever encountered.
The wind suddenly grew sharper.
Under the moonlight, a figure in the distance was approaching at tremendous speed.
A blood-red flash of blade light suddenly rang out from afar, and the night itself seemed to take on a crimson hue. Several swordsmen standing guard in the distance froze where they stood. Then their bodies were cut in half at the waist, and they let out shrill screams.
Soma narrowed his eyes slightly and watched the scene in silence.
The others were already furious, their fists clenched tight.
At that moment, the figure landed on the roof of a nearby building and stood there quietly.
The moonlight remained gentle, softly illuminating the earth. A man in a black kimono stood in silence, holding Kyokokukamusari The blade, which had just taken lives, writhed across its surface, slowly absorbing the blood stained upon it.
Upper Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki.
The strongest of the Twelve Kizuki.
The strongest demon after Muzan Kibutsuji—Kokushibo.
Kokushibo opened his six eyes, and his cold gaze locked almost instantly onto Soma, who stood with one hand resting on his blade.
This person before him—
was the young demon his lord had ordered him to bring back.
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