Looks like today's efforts weren't in vain after all.
Kazuki felt a strong sense of accomplishment. He stood up and followed Giyu toward the estate where the Hashira were gathering.
A week passed in the blink of an eye, and the Hashira Meeting gradually came to an end.
Inside the estate, the ten Hashira knelt on one knee before Kagaya.
With a gentle smile, Kagaya spoke softly, "That concludes this Hashira Meeting. Thank you all for taking the time to attend. I will gradually implement the issues you raised and the solutions you proposed.
"Lastly, I pray that you will all remain safe and well."
His unhurried voice carried the most sincere of feelings.
"May the Master's health remain strong forever!"
The ten Hashira bowed their heads slightly and offered their blessings together.
"Thank you for your well wishes. You may all return now," Kagaya said with a smile. Then his gaze shifted to Kazuki. "Yō, stay behind for a moment. There are some things I'd like to say to you."
"Yes," the Hashira answered in unison.
Soon after, all the Hashira except Kazuki left the estate one by one, leaving him alone behind.
Kazuki was completely confused, unable to understand why the Master had asked him to stay.
Once everyone else had gone, Kagaya spoke again.
"Now that it's just the two of us, you may speak freely. Any worries or pain you're carrying—keeping them bottled up will only make them grow heavier."
His voice was calm and gentle, and his eyes seemed to hold a power that could see straight through one's heart.
Kagaya continued, "Every member of the Demon Slayer Corps carries many wounds buried deep within. Those who join are all good children—kind and gentle.
"But precisely because of that, they feel others' sorrow as their own. There are also things that cannot be avoided, which leave them drowning in self-blame.
"Kind people are always the ones most easily hurt.
"You're just like Kyojuro—someone who always thinks of others first. I've already learned the details of your missions from your Kasugai Crow. Your heart must be in great pain right now."
Kagaya looked at Kazuki. Though half of his face was badly damaged, it didn't inspire fear at all—instead, there was a warmth that made one want to draw closer.
Kagaya's words struck straight at Kazuki's heart.
The images of two living people dying before his eyes still lingered vividly in his mind. Despite possessing the strength to easily slay demons, he had been unable to save them.
After a long silence, Kazuki finally spoke.
"Master… am I really capable of protecting others? They were right in front of me, yet all I could do was watch them die. Can someone like me truly protect people the way Rengoku-sensei and the others do?
"And that demon's brother… did he die because of me? Was it me who killed him?"
Kazuki stared at the floor, his voice filled with pain.
He asked several questions in succession. These days had been peaceful and even joyful, but whenever he lay down, these thoughts would flood his mind, forcing him to confront them again and again.
He had originally joined the Demon Slayer Corps to take revenge on demons. But under Kyojuro's guidance, that desire had transformed into a wish to protect others.
And yet, in two consecutive missions, he had failed to protect anyone. He possessed great power, yet felt utterly powerless.
"Slaying man-eating demons is itself an act of protecting others. You accomplished that long ago.
"As for the siblings—once humans turn into demons, it is extremely difficult for them to retain their original consciousness. From the moment they became demons, they were no longer who they once were. Since it had already devoured humans, there was nothing wrong with you slaying it.
"All of these tragedies were created by Kibutsuji Muzan. You do not need to blame yourself," Kagaya said gently, offering comfort.
Hearing Kagaya's words, the weight in Kazuki's heart eased considerably. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your concern, Master."
"While reflecting on oneself is not a bad thing, try not to be so harsh on yourself from now on," Kagaya said with a smile, offering his final advice.
"I understand," Kazuki nodded.
He then left the estate as well.
The Hashira Meeting had officially concluded. However, Hashira who had not yet received new missions remained at headquarters for the time being, using the opportunity to train. Those with tsuguko also took this chance to instruct their disciples.
At that moment, someone Kazuki hadn't expected came to find him.
"Eh? Why are you here, Kanamori-san?"
Kazuki asked in confusion as he looked at the swordsmith wearing a fire-man mask before him.
"You're actually asking me? I really don't know how someone as slow as you managed to become a Hashira. I'm here, of course, to engrave the words that only appear on a Hashira's Nichirin blade—'Destroy All Demons.' And also to see whether you've been treating the blade I forged for you properly," Kanamori said, crossing her arms.
Though her words sounded impatient, the tone of her voice clearly betrayed her good mood. After all, forging a Nichirin blade for a Hashira was an honor for a swordsmith.
"So that's how it is. Thank you for the trouble, Kanamori-san. But may I ask—do you need to take my Nichirin blade back to your village?" Kazuki asked.
He was a little worried that having his blade taken away might delay future missions.
"Of course not. I've already brought all the tools I need with me. I can finish everything in less than a day," Kanamori waved her hand dismissively.
Hearing this, Kazuki finally relaxed. He took out his Nichirin blade. Just as he was about to hand it over, he suddenly remembered something and stopped. With a hint of excitement, he said, "Oh, right. Recently, I noticed that this blade turns red during battle. Would you like to see it, Kanamori-san?"
Remembering Kanamori's obsession with wanting to see a blade turn red, he asked her.
The moment Kanamori heard this, she couldn't sit still anymore. She grabbed Kazuki by the hand and dragged him outside.
"Of course I want to see it! What are you hesitating for? Hurry up and show me the blade turning red!" she shouted excitedly as she pulled him along.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Kazuki said helplessly from behind.
Soon, the two arrived at one of the training grounds within the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry…"
Kanamori stood to the side, urging him on nonstop, her excitement plain to see.
Kanamori-san really is as impatient as ever…
Kazuki glanced at her and sighed inwardly.
Then he turned back, took a deep breath, and exhaled a white mist from his mouth as he tightly gripped his Nichirin blade.
In the next instant, something extraordinary happened.
The pitch-black Nichirin blade in Kazuki's hand gradually took on a crimson hue. That red spread little by little across the entire blade, completely transforming its color.
"A Bright Red Blade… it really is a Bright Red Blade… The records… they were true…"
Kanamori murmured to herself as she stared at the transformed Nichirin blade.
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