Kagaya was led out by two children supporting his arms.
At that moment, all the Hashira dropped to one knee. Tanjiro froze for a second before the Wind Hashira slammed him down to the ground with a palm.
"Apologies for summoning everyone again on such short notice," Kagaya said in his unhurried, gentle voice.
"There are two matters that require everyone's attention."
At this point, Sanemi raised his head and spoke.
"Forgive my bluntness, but before that, I would like clarification regarding this swordsman named Tanjiro who travels with a demon. What is your will on this matter?"
All the Hashira turned their gaze toward their Master. This was precisely the question they wanted answered.
Kagaya smiled softly.
"That is one of the two matters I wished to address. My apologies for troubling you all.
Tanjiro and Nezuko have my approval—and I hope that all of you can accept them as well."
He swept his gaze across the Hashira. Aside from Giyu, Kazuki, Mitsuri, and Shinobu, the others clearly looked dissatisfied. Muichiro, as always, stood there blankly.
Hearing the Master's words, Kazuki finally let out a breath of relief. With the Master's acknowledgment, it was highly unlikely that anything would happen to Tanjiro and Nezuko.
"Ah… even if it is the Master's request, I find it difficult to accept," Gyomei replied, tears streaming down his face as his hands remained clasped.
Tengen flamboyantly pointed his thumb at himself.
"I also flamboyantly object. A Demon Slayer who travels with a demon is far too hard to acknowledge."
Blushing slightly, Mitsuri said,
"I will fully follow the Master's wishes."
"I don't really mind either way. I'll forget it soon anyway," Muichiro said calmly.
Shinobu and Giyu remained silent. Obanai also did not voice his agreement.
"I can't trust it. I can't trust it at all. I hate demons, plain and simple."
"Even though I sincerely respect the Master, this idea is something I simply cannot understand! I oppose it with everything I have!" Rengoku declared loudly.
Then it was Sanemi's turn. Naturally, he did not accept this decision, nor did he acknowledge Tanjiro and Nezuko.
"Killing demons is what the Demon Slayer Corps exists for. I ask that Tanjiro and Tomioka be punished."
Sanemi had already learned that Giyu had prevented Shinobu from killing Nezuko, and he regarded Giyu as someone who had also sheltered a demon.
"I'm willing to believe what Tanjiro has said, and I acknowledge both Tanjiro and Nezuko—so long as it can be guaranteed that Nezuko will not eat humans, I see no issue with them remaining members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Furthermore, I recall that Tanjiro has been searching for a way to turn demons back into humans. If he truly succeeds, countless tragedies could be undone.
Turning demons back into humans can also be considered demon slaying. After all, most demons are completely different from who they were as humans, both in memory and in mind. This does not contradict the purpose of the Demon Slayer Corps."
While the others were speaking, Kazuki had been organizing his thoughts. When it was his turn, his response was calm and well-structured.
After hearing his words, all the Hashira focused their attention on him, silently weighing what he had said.
At this point, five Hashira clearly did not accept Tanjiro and Nezuko. Only Mitsuri and Kazuki openly approved of them. The remaining three either stayed silent or refused to take sides.
Seeing this, Kagaya lowered his head slightly and said to the white-haired child beside him,
"Bring out the letter."
The child took a letter from within his robes and addressed both the Hashira and Tanjiro.
"This letter was sent by Sakonji Urokodaki, a former Hashira. I will read part of its contents."
He then began to read:
"Please allow Tanjiro to remain with his demon sister. Nezuko, through her strong will, has retained her human rationality. Even while suffering hunger, she has not eaten a single human, enduring for more than two years.
Though difficult to believe, this is an undeniable fact.
If Nezuko attacks a human, Kamado Tanjiro, Urokodaki Sakonji, and Tomioka Giyu will commit seppuku in atonement."
With that, Hinaki finished reading the letter. Silence fell over the courtyard.
After hearing the letter, Tanjiro turned to look at Giyu. Giyu's expression was unchanged, completely indifferent.
Tears welled up in Tanjiro's eyes. The weight of this resolve was almost too much for him to bear.
Kazuki was also deeply shaken by the actions of Urokodaki and Giyu.
What an unbelievably gentle trio of master and disciples… Are all users of Water Breathing like this?
Yet even this pledge failed to convince Sanemi.
"What does committing seppuku prove? If you want to die, then go ahead and die! That's not a guarantee of anything!" Sanemi shouted, fury blazing.
Maintaining rationality through sheer willpower?
Then what about my mother? When that bastard father lost his temper, she threw herself in front of us without hesitation to protect us—did she lack willpower? Was her will weaker than that of this teenage girl?
And yet… only Genya and I survived…
Sanemi had been momentarily moved by Kazuki's words about turning demons back into humans and preventing tragedies. But upon hearing Urokodaki's letter, rage instantly flooded his chest.
To others, the letter was merely an explanation of Nezuko's circumstances. To Sanemi, it sounded like a direct insult to his deceased mother.
"Just as Shinazugawa said! If she eats someone, there's no going back! The dead won't return! This letter doesn't prove that the boy's demon sister won't eat humans in the future!" Rengoku roared.
"So the real issue now is whether Nezuko still possesses human reason, and whether she might eat humans in the future. As for that, I do have a way to prove it."
Kazuki realized the crux of the matter and spoke up.
"We can simply let his sister out and see whether she can restrain herself from attacking us, can't we? Everyone is here right now—this would be the perfect test."
After saying this, Kazuki glanced at the Master. Kagaya then looked toward the Hashira.
Rengoku considered it briefly before nodding.
"Yes! That's a good way to prove it! If she passes this test, I'll acknowledge both of them!"
Tengen stroked his chin.
"Very well. Let her prove it—flashily."
The other Hashira raised no objections. But then Sanemi spoke.
"I agree to this method—but I'll be the one to conduct the test. Every person attracts demons differently. Proving that she won't attack ordinary people means nothing.
My blood is rare blood among rare blood. It's irresistibly attractive to demons. If she can resist the temptation of my blood, then I'll tentatively acknowledge them."
A grin spread across Sanemi's face.
"But if she fails to hold back, I'll cut off her head immediately."
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