YOU DID IT! š 300 PS!
I knew you could do it, here's the promised chapter šŖ
And you know what? I'm feeling inspired today... 400 PS and ANOTHER one drops šš You up for it or are you tired already? š
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"Marcus?!"
The first to react was Shinobu.
Her bewilderment was so obvious that even her smile faltered for an instant.
"Those who aren't Hashiras, as well as members of the patrols on duty, aren't allowed to carry weapons in the Master's presence. It's a rule of the Corps, not a way of making things difficult for you."
"I know thatā¦" Marcus furrowed his brow even more. "And that's not what worries me."
Shinobu stayed quiet and then her eyes lit up.
"Are you worried thatā¦?"
"Do I need to spell it out?" Marcus cracked an icy smile. "You yourself just said that today is also the Hashira Meeting. If any of those guys gets itchy hands and tries to do something to the three of themā¦ do you think these guards are going to dare to stop him?"
"Or can you swear to me that won't happen?"
Shinobu stayed silent.
"She can't swear it. Nobody can." Giyū's voice unexpectedly joined in.
And it was true. Knowing the rest of the Pillars, Shinobu knew something like that was more than likely. And if it did happen, knowing Marcus's temperament, a fight would break out right then and there.
Letting out a deep sigh, she smiled with a certain resignation.
Men with strong personalities were a real headacheā¦
"Understood. Marcus-kun, wait here for a moment. I'll go consult it with the Master first."
"Thanks for understanding, Shinobu-chan~"
!
The guard went stiff.
Shinā¦ Shinobu-chan!?
Did he just call Lady Shinobu KochÅ "Shinobu-chan"?
ā¦No, wait a second, I was only following ordersā¦ Did I screw up with someone important?!
After a brief wait at the door, Shinobu came out rubbing her forehead. It was obvious that, inside, things weren't looking good at all.
First she pulled out a badge Marcus had never seen before, showed it to the guards, and murmured a couple of words in their ear.
In an instant, the two of them stepped aside to let him through.
Then she turned to Marcus.
"You can go in, Marcus-kun~"
He walked up and, seeing that she was still slightly frowning, asked, "What happened? Did they object?"
"Theyā¦" Shinobu shook her head. "Sighā¦"
ā¦.
Meanwhile, in the back courtyard of the Headquarters.
Several figures occupied every corner, some seated, others standing.
"This is taking foreverā¦"
The Sound Pillar, Tengen Uzui, had his hands crossed behind his nape, and the lavish jewels on his forehead guard were catching all the light. "Making me wait this longā¦ this Marcus guy better be flashy enough."
"Uzui, shut your trap."
An irritated voice reached him from across the way.
The Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa, was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. The scars on his face looked especially brutal in the sunlight, and in his eyes pulsed a barely contained rage.
"Bringing demons to Headquartersā¦ I don't give a damn what face he's got, I'm gonna slice him up a few times!"
"Don't get so worked up, Sanemi-san."
The Love Pillar, Mitsuri Kanroji, was standing in the middle of the courtyard with her hands on her cheeks and her eyes sparkling. Her whole being gave off a sweet aura that clashed completely with the tension in the air.
"Shinobu said he's very young, and it sounds like he's pretty strongā¦ Besides, I also want to know if he's handsome."
"Mitsuri."
The Serpent Pillar, Obanai Iguro, was standing in the shadows not far from her, with his white serpent, Kaburamaru, coiled around his neck.
"What's so interesting about that kid? He walks around with demons on his back, he's gone up against two Pillarsā¦ he's clearly a problem."
"But Shinobu clearly said he's one of a kindā¦" Mitsuri tilted her head, completely failing to notice how Obanai's gaze darkened even further.
"Shinobu said that?" Sanemi chuckled under his breath. "Sounds to me like they've rotted her brain! And that Tomioka guyā¦ he normally doesn't even let out a word, but who would've thought he was sitting on secrets like those."
"Indeedā¦" The Stone Pillar, GyÅmei Himejima, brought his hands together, holding his rosary. "Two disciples of the previous Water Pillar, protecting demons. What ironyā¦ what a tragedyā¦"
As he spoke, tears began to well up in his white eyes.
For his part, the Mist Pillar, Tokito Muichiro, was staring upward, absorbed in the clouds in the sky.
Hearing that the discussion was getting more heated, he lowered his head. "Shinobuā¦ Was she here a moment ago?"
Everyone turned toward him.
"ā¦ I think I forgotā¦"
Muichiro lifted his gaze back to the sky without so much as a muscle moving in his face.
"..."
The atmosphere in the courtyard turned a little weird.
But right at that instant, a powerful voice boomed from the main hall.
"HAHAHAHA! What a mood you all have going on!"
Every gaze turned toward the source of the sound.
The Flame Pillar ā KyÅjurÅ Rengoku, appeared with a firm stride. A contagious smile lit up his face, and his eyes shone with an overwhelming vitality.
"I've been told that this Marcus fellow is a disciple of the previous Water Pillar, Urokodaki-san! And that he possesses considerable strength, to the point of being able to measure up against Tomioka and Shinobu without coming out at a disadvantage!"
"It's not that he didn't come out at a disadvantageā¦" Obanai muttered in a muted voice. "If he got away, it was because Shinobu helped him by blocking Tomioka."
"No!" Rengoku made a gesture with his hand, and his voice grew even stronger. "The information they've just brought me is different."
"That boy first subdued Lower Moon Five, and then held off the combined attack of Tomioka and Shinobu without being defeated! What's more, he got Shinobu to help him fight against Tomioka!"
"WHAT?!"
Sanemi bolted upright, his gaze sharp as the edge of a katana.
"Shinobu helped him fight against Tomiokaā¦? Have they really washed her brain?!"
"Wellā¦" Rengoku's smile dimmed a little, and his expression turned serious. "Apparently, it's because of an experiment."
"Experiment?" Mitsuri blinked, full of curiosity.
"Yes!" Rengoku nodded. "It's still unclear what kind of experiment it is, but, from what I heard, it might be related toā¦ a method for giving demons their humanity back."
The moment he dropped that bomb, the entire courtyard fell into a funeral-like silence.
Everyone, including the ever-impassive Tokito, fixed their gaze on Rengoku.
"Turning demonsā¦ back into humans?" Mitsuri brought her hands to her chest.
"Absurd."
Sanemi refuted with a voice colder than winter.
"A demon is a demon: a beast that devours people. How the hell could it go back to being human? It's obvious that kid isn't talking anything but bullshit!"
"But Shinobu believes in himā¦" Mitsuri murmured under her breath.
"Shinobu has lost her mind!" Sanemi didn't bite his tongue. "A demon killed her sister. She hates demons more than anyone! That now, out of nowhere, she's swallowing the lies of some snot-nosed bratā¦ If that's not losing her head, then what the hell is?"
"Sanemi."
Gyomei's voice rumbled out all of a sudden.
"Watch your words."
"Hmph!"
Snorting with contempt, Sanemi turned his face away.
"I don't have the kind of patience you lot do!"
He started walking, breezed right past Rengoku, and headed for the main gate.
"I'm gonna see with my own eyes what kind of guy this is who, supposedly, stood up to two Pillars!"
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