Everyone saw it clearly.
The instant Tanjiro raised his hand and swung upward, crimson flames ignited out of nowhere, surging outward and completely engulfing Iguro Obanai.
"Iguro!"
Seeing Iguro swallowed by the flames, Sanemi shouted and burst out of the crowd. After a brief moment of shock, the other Hashira all frowned and hurried after him.
Nezuko and Takeo followed as well, worry written plainly on their faces, only a step behind. For a moment, the only ones left behind were Ubuyashiki and Amane, neither suited for combat.
"Iguro!" Sanemi grabbed Obanai by the arm. "How are you? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Iguro replied as he steadied himself, his voice weak. "…I just lost my strength for a moment. It's a very strange Blood Demon Art."
"That's putting it lightly," Uzui said, glancing at Tanjiro, who was staring down at his own hands in a daze. "A crimson flame that burns away stamina… a troublesome Blood Demon Art."
Nezuko and Takeo, who had arrived a moment later, rushed to Tanjiro's side.
"Big brother, are you okay?"
Tanjiro lifted his head and met their worried gazes, smiling gently.
"Don't worry. I'm fine. Mr. Iguro held back, and besides, I'm a demon now. The injuries only look frightening—they've already healed."
"But you still got hurt and bled…"
Takeo stared at Tanjiro's torn clothing, lips pressed tightly together.
"Didn't it hurt?"
Tanjiro reached out and ruffled Takeo's hair, his expression calm and reassuring.
"It's alright. My recovery is very fast. I healed before I even had time to feel the pain, so don't worry."
Uzui watched the exchange for a moment before suddenly speaking.
"Hey, kid. Don't you think you've forgotten something?"
Tanjiro looked up at him. After a brief pause, he clenched his fist and tapped it into his palm, realization dawning across his face.
"Oh! There's still the test about whether I'll eat people, right? I'm ready. We can start anytime!"
The moment he finished speaking, Sanemi's irritable voice exploded.
"There's no test left to do! You just finished fighting and stood this close to me and my blood relatives without reacting at all—what the hell is there left to test?!"
"I—I'm sorry!" Tanjiro panicked. "I didn't mean it that way! But wouldn't it still be better to test me? That way the results would be more accurate, right?"
"So you just have to see me bleed, is that it?!"
"Eek!"
Kanae watched Tanjiro stumble back in a panic under Sanemi's roar and smiled faintly.
"That's impressive. You really did it. But are you truly unaffected right now?"
"There is still some effect," Tanjiro admitted, lowering his gaze to his hands. "I don't seem to be able to fully suppress my demon form at the moment."
"Then can you tell us how you've been suppressing your desire to eat humans?"
"Ah… yes." Tanjiro looked toward Sabito.
"Before coming here, Hiru-san put me through special training. Whenever I reacted to blood, he'd beat me badly. Because of that, even though the smell makes me incredibly hungry now… I suppose I'm just too scared to react anymore."
Sabito rubbed his chin.
"So you still have the desire to eat humans?"
Tanjiro nodded honestly.
Sabito looked surprised. "Oh? I thought you'd try to justify yourself—something like 'I can't help it because I'm a demon.'"
"Hiru-san told me that demons eating humans is like humans eating beasts—it's simply a biological instinct, so there's no shame in admitting it," Tanjiro said calmly, unfazed by the shifting expressions around him.
"But he also said that if I still acknowledge my family and see myself as human, then I can't allow myself to eat people. Letting others know so they can stay vigilant isn't a bad thing either. If I lose control, they might be able to stop me in time."
"You…" Uzui turned to Hiru, who stood nearby with his arms crossed. "Aren't you teaching him a bit too much? No—'too much' isn't right. You're way too bold. What kind of outrageous philosophy is that?"
Hiru rolled his eyes and said nothing.
By then, Iguro had recovered enough to stand upright. He looked at Tanjiro.
"That Blood Demon Art just now—what was it? Flames ignited on my body, yet only my stamina was burned away. If it's that useful, why didn't you use it from the start?"
"About that Blood Demon Art…" Tanjiro scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "I only just learned it myself. It sort of came to me in a flash. I'm still confused about it, honestly. I don't think I could use it again even if I tried."
"Describe what it felt like when you used it," Hiru said, still with his arms folded. "I'll analyze it."
"Well… it happened while I was using Breathing. If I really had to explain it, it was like—boom—and then whoosh."
Hiru: …(= - =)
"Alright, Sabito," Hiru said flatly. "Your turn to show your expertise."
Sabito stared at him, speechless. "…How am I supposed to understand that?"
"Tsk. Useless when it matters."
Sabito: …
Yoriichi shook his head helplessly and turned to Tanjiro.
"You were running your Breathing at full power just now, weren't you?"
"Yes."
"And what were you thinking at that moment?"
"My thoughts…" Tanjiro fell silent for a moment before lifting his head. "I was thinking how much I wished I had a sword. Even though Hiru-san told me that demons can change their form and that their bodies are their greatest weapons, I've never been able to turn my flesh into blades. That's something I've always struggled with.
"But just now, when I felt death closing in, I fully ran my Breathing for the first time since becoming a demon. In that moment, I felt like I could do it—so I did.
"I don't really understand how I managed it… if I had to describe it, it just happened naturally."
"I see…" Yoriichi smiled faintly. "Then let's try it again. Attack me."
"Eh? But—"
Before Tanjiro could finish, everyone instinctively retreated and fixed their attention on him.
Before he could even question their reaction, an intense sense of danger surged at him from behind. The fading markings on his face spread once more in an instant.
Without needing any guidance, Tanjiro raised his hand and struck again.
Halfway through the motion, his wrist was suddenly seized, stopping him cold. Yoriichi's gentle voice followed.
"That's enough. Your Breathing was well executed."
Seeing the mild smile on Yoriichi's face, Tanjiro's panic gradually faded, replaced by genuine awe.
[That was close… It felt even more dangerous than before. He had no killing intent and didn't even use a weapon… as expected of Yoriichi-san.]
Yoriichi ruffled Tanjiro's hair lightly and looked toward Hiru.
"Well? Any ideas?"
"Hm…" Hiru stroked his chin.
"It's not a single Blood Demon Art. Simply put, it seems to be a combined application of physical enhancement, Breathing, and Blood Demon Art. The Blood Demon Art manifests as flames fueled by blood. Judging from Iguro's condition… my initial guess is that it's a mental-type art, transmitting false signals to the brain through vision and perception. But without experiencing it firsthand, I can't be certain."
Yoriichi nodded, then looked around at the others.
"Does anyone wish to conduct any further tests?"
"Amida Butsu…" Himejima clasped his hands together. "Please forgive me for still being unable to accept demons. However, if Yoriichi personally oversees and monitors him, ensuring that he poses no danger to the public, then I have nothing more to say."
"Agreed."
"No objections."