The Mugen Train shattered into several separate cars—finite trains at last—and finally came to a stop
(Note: I've been using the Hashira's first name in the translations other than Rengoku Kyōjurō. It sounds better if I just use his surname.)
Rengoku Kyōjurō helped two passengers down from the train and walked toward the front.
"Are you all right? Mizoguchi boy—and Miss Yuko."
"No, Rengoku-san, my family name is Kamado—" Tanjiro said, sweat trickling down his temple.
Yuko shook her head.
"I'm fine. What about the others?"
Rengoku Kyōjurō beamed with his usual radiant smile.
"They're fine. Those two boys and the young lady worked very hard to protect everyone."
Yuko's eyes lifted slightly.
So he really does put others first?
A self-sacrificing personality.
That certainly fit the long-standing image of the Rengoku family—upright and kind-hearted through the generations.
The passengers on the train had all suffered minor injuries to varying degrees, but nothing serious.
This could be called a complete victory.
Not only had Lower Rank One been defeated, but more than two hundred passengers had been successfully rescued.
Rengoku Kyōjurō turned solemnly toward Tanjiro.
"That said, Mizoguchi boy."
"No, I—"
Forget it. He can call me whatever he wants.
Tanjiro was already utterly speechless inside.
"I owe you an apology." Rengoku nodded thoughtfully, then straightened his posture and bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"My apologies!"
"…Eh?" Tanjiro, still sulking over Rengoku's way of addressing him, was completely thrown off by the sudden apology.
"I saw your sister earlier," Rengoku raised his head and spoke seriously.
"On the train, she worked harder than anyone to save people."
"Anyone who wagers their life against demons to protect humanity—I recognize her as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
In truth, ever since Yuko had displayed emotions completely unlike those of ordinary demons, everyone's mindset had already begun to shift.
Before this, every demon they had encountered—even those with self-awareness—had regarded humans as prey rather than kin.
That arrogance was impossible to conceal.
But after encountering demons like Yuko, they finally understood.
Among demons, there truly were those who were completely different.
Kind ones.
In the past, when Kanae spoke of pitying demons and hoping for peaceful coexistence between demons and humans, everyone had thought her naïve.
Yet now, it had actually happened.
Tanjiro's eyes widened, shimmering with emotion as he bowed deeply.
"Rengoku-san! Thank you very much!"
Rengoku grabbed him firmly and boomed,
"What are you saying, Mizoguchi boy? If anything, I should be the one thanking you—for forgiving such rudeness from me!"
"..."
The moment Tanjiro heard that name again, all his gratitude collapsed instantly.
This man hadn't listened to him at all.
Seeing Tanjiro at a loss for words, Yuko couldn't help but curl her lips slightly.
"All right, let's not just stand here. There are still people on the train who—"
Her voice suddenly stopped. She frowned deeply and looked into the distance.
"Is something wrong, Miss Yuko?" Tanjiro noticed her sudden change.
Rengoku sensed it as well, just after her.
"Something's coming!"
Boom!!
In the darkness of night, it was as if a massive boulder had fallen from the sky, crashing down with a thunderous roar.
Tanjiro stared at the settling dust in shock.
"What was that?!"
Yuko glanced sideways.
Still lacking refinement?
Rengoku's perception was clearly sharper than Tanjiro's.
Yuko could see Tanjiro's current state very clearly—he still had some distance to go before reaching the level of a Hashira.
Compared to the former Pillars, he might surpass some.
But against the others, his strength was not yet sufficient.
Total Concentration Breathing: Constant—only granted the qualification to approach the rank of Hashira.
That thing's speed was simply too fast; Tanjiro's sense of smell hadn't even had time to react.
After a brief moment of thought, Yuko refocused on the dust cloud.
There was an extremely powerful fighting spirit.
Exactly as described in her earlier intelligence.
The Martial Demon.
Upper Rank Three—without a doubt.
And it appeared now, of all times.
Just when everyone had survived by the skin of their teeth after defeating Lower Rank One and begun to celebrate.
It was nothing short of a disaster.
What a cruel sense of timing.
As the dust settled, a young demon appeared before them—his body covered in criminal-like tattoos, short peach-pink hair, dressed in a purplish-red sleeveless top, prayer beads hanging from his ankles.
When facing demons, Demon Slayer swordsmen instinctively looked into their eyes, trying to identify them.
Tanjiro was no exception.
The moment he saw the number engraved in those golden eyes, his expression changed sharply.
"Miss Yuko! Rengoku-san!"
"It's Upper Rank Three!"
Yuko remained calm. Rengoku looked grave.
The pink-haired demon grinned.
"Akusa (Evil Seat)."
Evil… Seat…
Seat…
Tanjiro's shocked voice seemed to echo repeatedly in the night wind.
Just as Yuko was about to activate the Transparent World to assess 'Akusa', her pupils shrank sharply, her mind nearly freezing.
Damn it!
She remembered.
The intelligence she had given to Ubuyashiki was handwritten—the first draft. At the time, she didn't know 'Akaza's' real name and had temporarily used the name from her memory instead.
Rengoku nodded solemnly.
"Yes. I know."
"He is the Martial Demon—Upper Rank Three, Akusa (Evil Seat)."
Yuko felt sweat bead at her temple.
Please—don't say it so seriously!
What made it even worse was that after receiving her report, Ubuyashiki had distributed the information.
In other words, any Demon Slayer who encountered Upper Rank Three would probably call him Akusa.
And the person being discussed—
Upper Rank Three, Evil Seat—Akaza—had his smile freeze.
Veins bulged violently across Akaza's pale face.
His gaze locked onto Tanjiro—the culprit—and he launched himself like a cannonball.
In an instant, he was right in front of Tanjiro, his fist swinging straight toward him.
Tanjiro's pupils shrank.
"So fast!"
Just like with Miss Yuko—he couldn't see it at all.
But something was even faster.
A streak of black light flashed.
Akaza staggered back, clutching his arm.
A severed wrist fell to the ground in front of Tanjiro.
"So strong…" Rengoku's eyes narrowed. Though his blade had been only half drawn, he pulled it out completely.
Akaza showed no significant change in expression. He slowly straightened up as cells rapidly multiplied from the severed arm—flesh regenerating at terrifying speed, restored almost in the blink of an eye.
Akaza licked his lips and looked at Yuko.
"You're strong… but it's a shame you're a woman."
"I don't kill women."
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