From another courtyard, the sounds of battle echoed.
No one needed to guess.
It was Aoyama and Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Every so often, Sanemi's furious roars rang out—
But there was no sound from Aoyama at all.
Then—
Crash!
A massive tree toppled over, birds scattering wildly into the sky.
Sanemi leaned against a broken stump, panting. He reached up to his head—
His hair had been shaved clean in a wide strip, nearly down to the scalp.
"Aoyama… you—!"
Humiliation burned hotter than pain.
Aoyama rested his blade on his shoulder and walked forward calmly.
"What about me?"
"I told you already. Don't pick on the weak."
"Nezuko—no one touches her. Anyone who even thinks about it pays the price."
"She's a demon!" Sanemi snarled, eyes bloodshot.
Years ago, his mother had returned home late one night—
As a demon.
She slaughtered his younger siblings with her own hands.
Sanemi had used his rare blood to lure her out—
And killed her himself.
That night carved itself into his soul.
Since then, he had denied every possibility of coexistence between humans and demons.
Every demon was an enemy.
"Nezuko is different."
Aoyama stepped forward—
And threw another punch.
A long while later—
Aoyama vaulted back over the wall into the courtyard.
Tanjiro's face lit up.
"Senior Brother!"
Moments later, Sanemi staggered in from the main entrance.
Bruised.
Swollen.
Silent.
His mind replayed Aoyama's words again and again.
Was I wrong?
Had his lifelong conviction… been wrong?
He knelt.
"Master."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded gently.
"Sanemi."
He turned to the attendant.
"Read Urokodaki's letter."
The letter was opened.
"Please allow Tanjiro to remain with his demon sister. Nezuko retains her human reason through extraordinary willpower…"
"She has endured more than two years without consuming human flesh."
"If she ever attacks a human, Tanjiro Kamado, Sakonji Urokodaki, Giyu Tomioka, and Aoyama will commit seppuku in atonement."
Tanjiro's heart shook violently.
Urokodaki…
Giyu…
Aoyama…
They had wagered their lives.
Tears streamed down his face.
Ubuyashiki spoke softly.
"This is only part of the letter."
"No one can guarantee she will never attack."
"But no one can prove that she will."
"Nezuko has not harmed a human in over two years. That is fact."
"Four lives now stand as her guarantee."
"Aoyama has already provided the proof many of you requested."
"Does anyone still object?"
Silence filled the courtyard.
Aoyama's gaze drifted to Sanemi.
"Sanemi," the Master said gently, "speak."
Sanemi lifted his head slowly.
"I want to see her with my own eyes."
"That is reasonable," Ubuyashiki replied.
"Tanjiro, will you bring Nezuko out?"
"Yes!"
Tanjiro carried the box into the shaded hallway, knelt, and opened it.
"Nezuko… come out."
She crawled out in her tiny form—
Then slowly grew to normal size under everyone's watchful eyes.
So many strangers.
She instinctively hid behind Tanjiro, clutching his sleeve.
Shinobu had already seen her at Mount Natagumo.
Mitsuri covered her cheeks.
"She's so adorable…"
Sanemi, still kneeling, stared.
Aside from the bamboo muzzle—
She looked like an ordinary, timid girl.
One of Ubuyashiki's attendants stepped forward slowly and extended her hand.
"Nezuko," Tanjiro encouraged softly.
Nezuko blinked her pink eyes, stepped out—
Took the attendant's hand—
And gently patted her head with her other hand.
In her eyes, this child was family.
Like a younger sister.
Ubuyashiki turned slightly.
"Well?"
"She shows no aggression," the attendant replied. "She is affectionate."
"Then there should be no objections," Ubuyashiki said calmly.
Gyomei wept openly.
"What a moving child…"
Then Ubuyashiki added,
"There is one more matter."
"Tanjiro and Aoyama have encountered Muzan Kibutsuji."
Shock rippled through the Hashira.
Even Uzui jolted so hard he knocked Mitsuri sideways.
"What?! Even the Hashira have never encountered Muzan—and they have?"
He stared at Aoyama.
"What did he look like? What are his abilities? Where did you meet him?"
Every question carried weight.
Even Shinobu's eyes sharpened.
Aoyama merely nodded.
Yes.
He had seen Muzan.
But he did not elaborate.
There was no point.
Muzan would never stay in one place waiting to be hunted.
Muichiro, usually detached, spoke quietly.
"Did you fight him?"
Sanemi suddenly sprang up and rushed forward.
"You answer! What was Muzan doing? Did you find his base?!"
Tanjiro instinctively shielded Nezuko behind him.
Nezuko glared at Sanemi—
At least, she tried to.
In her mind, it was a fierce glare.
To everyone else—
It only made her twice as cute.
To Read 120+ advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146