Marcus pulled Sanemi back toward him again, until they were left face to face.
"I can devour Blood Demon Arts because my blood and my body as a Demon Devourer have mutated." He whispered, letting the words reach only him.
Sanemi's eyes flew wide open.
"In the entire Corps, you're the only one who shares peculiar blood like mine. And, as it happens, there's also someone else who's a Demon Devourer… someone who joined the Corps in the same Final Selection as I did."
Sanemi furrowed his brow.
"… And what does that have to do with me?"
"His name is Genya Shinazugawa."
!!
Sanemi stood completely paralyzed.
"… W-what did you just say?"
"Genya Shinazugawa." Marcus repeated. "That Demon Devourer can't use the Breathing Techniques. His only way of getting abilities is by devouring demons. He bled himself nearly to death to get into the Corps, and all of it… just to be able to tell his brother that he never blamed him for what happened. So that his brother wouldn't keep on fighting alone."
"W-what… what nonsense are you saying…?" Sanemi could barely speak. "… How… how the hell could you know… all that? Did… did he tell you?"
"Hm. Maybe it's because we're both Demon Devourers… but, sometimes, I'm capable of picking up some of his thoughts." Marcus cracked an enigmatic smile. "And whether what I'm saying is true or a lie, that's something you'll just have to find out for yourself."
But suddenly his gaze turned serious.
"I'm telling you this because Demon Devourers suffer side effects. So, instead of letting him keep killing himself by eating demons just to catch up to you, look for him. And tell him once and for all everything you have to tell him."
'So that you don't end up bitterly regretting it the day you find him split in half,' he added in his head.
"…"
Sanemi stared at him fixedly for a long while.
In the depths of his eyes, a thousand emotions were boiling all at once.
And after a while, he swallowed hard, as if there were a knot tightening around his throat.
"I'll keep it in mind."
Marcus smiled, with nothing more to add.
With just a few words he had not only made sure to earn himself a favor, but on top of that he had resolved one of the great regrets he'd been dragging around since he watched the anime.
Although, of course, the main reason was that he preferred to have him on his side.
After being set back down on the ground, Sanemi collapsed against it and buried his face in the dirt, not knowing how to face the strange looks from the rest.
Even so, if he had to choose again… he'd probably accept that little bear-shaped cookie all over again.
Once he was done with Sanemi, Marcus turned his gaze back to the rest of the Hashiras.
"Does anyone else have any objections?"
"Marcus-san, you may have a point, but I really can't acce—"
"Sanemi, he's the one keeping your brother hidden!"
Cutting him off with a sharp shout, Marcus pointed at Gyōmei.
"!!"
When he saw Sanemi snap his head up and start crawling toward him like a worm, drops of sweat began to bead on the accused man's forehead.
"Gyōmei…"
Sanemi whispered in a low voice, a contained fury throbbing in it.
"My brother… is with you?"
"Yes…"
"My brother is eating demons?!"
"Yes…"
"You knew he was my blood brother?!"
"Yes…"
"Then why the hell didn't you tell me?!"
"I…"
Gyōmei opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to answer.
… It was true.
He had had the intention of taking Genya as his successor. He also knew the whole story between the two of them. And the reason he hadn't told Sanemi was that he hadn't yet finished grasping Genya's full situation.
On top of that, he had wanted to wait for the right moment to try to mend the rift that kept them apart.
What he had never imagined was that, told from someone else's mouth and in that manner, the whole thing would end up distorted to such an extreme.
Seeing that the most powerful Pillar of the Corps was momentarily out of commission, Marcus seized the opportunity.
"Since you don't seem to be able to come to an agreement… why don't we settle it with a vote?"
"Those who accept this experiment and are willing to try new methods, please… DON'T raise your hand!"
After his words, the courtyard fell silent and static for two seconds.
Obanai was the first to raise his hand without saying a word.
"I'm terribly sorry!" Rengoku raised his arm high. "I still can't accept it!"
Tengen also raised his.
"Using demons to experiment doesn't sit right with me!"
Sighing wistfully, Tokito looked at those around him, then lifted his eyes to the sky and, finally, raised his hand reluctantly.
And just as Gyōmei was about to raise his… Sanemi lunged and hung off his arm.
"Settle my thing first!"
With his feet dangling in the air, he clung to Gyōmei's enormous arm, swinging his bandage-wrapped body.
"..."
Anyone could tell that Sanemi had obviously switched sides. And that he even seemed willing to interfere with the vote. But Sanemi wasn't cut out for these kinds of petty schemes.
Sighing, Gyōmei stretched out his other hand, grabbed Sanemi by the scruff of the neck to pry him off, and, with tears welling in his eyes, raised his hand.
"I cannot ignore the feelings of the members of the Corps who have fallen…"
Faced with this turn of events, Obanai's spirits revived, and the whole gloomy aura that had been wrapped around him vanished in an instant. Even though he still didn't understand why Mitsuri hadn't raised her hand, the situation was now more than clear.
"Five to four! Heh…" He turned to Marcus. "Looks like you're going to have to say goodbye to your demons!"
And just as he was savoring victory, a serene voice rose above all the others.
"I also agree with Marcus-kun's experiment."
It was Kagaya.
Stepping forward, leaning on his daughters, he laid his kind gaze upon everyone present.
"I imagine I also have the right to vote, don't I?"
"…"
The Pillars with their hands raised were left slightly bewildered, but none of them changed their decision.
Gyōmei stayed silent for a moment.
"You can vote, of course, Master… but, even so, we would be five against five. The resolution shouldn't pass."
"You're mistaken, Gyōmei."
Kagaya smiled gently.
"The resolution has already passed."
"Because there's one more Pillar who has accepted the experiment. So now it's… six against five."
Hearing these words, everyone stood petrified.
The Corps had only nine Pillars… Where could a tenth come from? Counting the Lord, they had always been a council of ten.
And yet, six… against five?
Where had the eleventh voice come from?!
Could it be…?!
Obanai's triumphant smile froze over.
Rengoku furrowed his brow.
Lowering his hand, Tengen tilted his head.
Tokito, in a gesture unusual for him, fixed his eyes on Kagaya.
Mitsuri covered her little mouth with both hands and her eyes flew wide open.
Gyōmei was still silent.
Shinobu was simply smiling.
Everyone followed the direction of Kagaya's gaze.
…Marcus.
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1100 PS and the next chapter drops today. You know what to do 💎
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And if PS aren't your thing but you still want more chapters...
P-a-t-r-e-o-n → Athome790