"Hey! Get up! Get up now!"
"How long do you plan to sleep?"
Under the shouts of Goto, a member of the Kakushi, Tanjirou, who had fallen unconscious due to his injuries, was startled awake from his sleep.
"Before you are the Pillars!"
Tanjirou instinctively looked up, only to find himself surrounded by people.
Pillars?
Are they referring to the highest-ranking Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps?
Tanjirou looked at the group with surprise and uncertainty, his thoughts still lingering on the moment he had narrowly cut off Rui, the Lower Rank Five's head.
"Kamado Tanjiro, this is the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, and you are currently undergoing judgment."
Kochou Shinobu was also observing the young boy, Mizuki's stepson... she heard he was only fifteen.
Is he a genius like Tokito?
But, do the others not yet know that this child killed a Lower Rank?
Kochou Shinobu quietly observed the group.
Master probably wants everyone to accept Mizuki and this child.
Rengoku Kyojuro crossed his arms and said energetically, "There's no need for judgment. Harboring a demon is a violation of the Corps' rules. Let us handle it. Just behead any demon."
"Since that's the case, let's splendidly chop off their heads! Let them witness the most magnificent crimson spray."
...The crowd spoke one after another, making Tanjirou, who had just woken up, feel a bit dizzy, but he instinctively began to search for his sister.
Nezuko... Where is Nezuko?!
"More importantly, what should we do with Tomioka?"
A voice from the tree instantly caught Tanjirou's attention.
He saw a Shinobi lying on the tree, dressed in black and white striped clothing, with a white snake wrapped around his neck, and his face covered with white cloth strips very similar to Ms. Mizuki's.
"It seems none of you detained him. Just looking at it gives me a headache."
"This guy also violated the Corps' rules, didn't he? How should he be punished? How should he take full responsibility? What kind of penalty should he receive?"
This guy is enjoying himself.
Kochou Shinobu withdrew her gaze. Yes... after all, Giyuu doesn't have many friends.
"…" Tomioka Giyu just stood quietly to the side, not saying a word.
Flower Pillar Kochou Kanae acted as a peacemaker: "Well, everyone, let's not say that for now. Let's put Tomioka-san's matter aside for a moment, Shinobu, please give this child some water first."
Kochou Shinobu smiled and nodded, squatting in front of Tanjirou and offering a gourd: "Tanjirou, your injuries haven't been treated yet, please drink slowly."
"Then, please tell us the truth."
"There's a painkiller inside, so it won't hurt."
Tanjirou drank the medicine and anxiously said, "My sister turned into a demon, but she has never eaten a human!"
"It was the same in the past, and it is the same now. She will absolutely never harm others!"
Kochou Kanae's expression softened slightly.
However, these words clearly couldn't convince the others.
"Stop spouting nonsense. You're only protecting her because she's your family."
"Ah, he's possessed by a demon. Let's kill this poor child now and put him out of his misery."
"Please listen to me! I became a Swordsman to cure Nezuko. Nezuko turned into a demon two years ago, and during that time, Nezuko has never eaten a human!"
Tanjirou desperately pleaded, but almost no one present, except for the Kocho Sisters, understood him.
"Stop saying empty words like 'she won't eat humans now, and she won't eat humans later'..."
Tanjirou clenched his teeth.
No, these guys aren't listening to reason at all.
Suddenly.
Bang!
A dull thud exploded in their ears.
Everyone simultaneously turned their heads to see a white figure flying backward, adjusting its posture in mid-air and landing clumsily.
Snake Pillar Iguro Obanai, who was lying on the tree, sat up slightly, his heterochromatic eyes, one gold and one green, looked down and said faintly, "Shinazugawa? What are you playing at?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa didn't respond to the group, but instead grinned, his gaze ferocious as he looked down the corridor.
"Bold."
"You, can't you let someone finish speaking?" Mizuki stepped out of the room, standing on the porch with a slight headache, looking down at Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Behind Mizuki, the Kakushi member who wanted to step forward as a peacemaker looked at the scene and timidly retreated back into the house.
Tanjirou exclaimed in surprise, "Ms. Mizuki!"
The Pillars all turned their attention. It was the woman from before. Did she clash with Shinazugawa?
And... it seems Shinazugawa was the one who suffered.
"Are you, woman, planning to harbor that demon?" Sanemi Shinazugawa grinned, his smile somewhat ferocious.
Mizuki felt a headache coming on; she wasn't very good at dealing with such thick-skinned individuals.
And this guy's demeanor really seemed different from the others.
"I don't care who you are, but anyone who tries to harbor a demon will be treated as an accomplice." Sanemi Shinazugawa pulled out his Nichirin Blade from his waist, his face grim.
"Wait, Shinazugawa..." Kochou Kanae, who had already recognized Mizuki, was about to reach out to stop him but was held back by her own sister.
She looked over in confusion.
Kochou Shinobu smiled slightly: "Shinazugawa-san is probably going to suffer a loss."
Everyone was surprised by her words and couldn't help but look at the two.
Sanemi Shinazugawa drew his sword and attacked Mizuki without hesitation.
What kind of demon development is this?
Mizuki, while having a headache, reached out and intercepted Sanemi Shinazugawa's blade.
Snake Pillar Iguro Obanai's pupils suddenly constricted, and he sat up straight completely.
Everyone looked on in shock.
"She actually used only her hand..."
Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at Mizuki incredulously, who was pinching his blade with one hand, but he was a Pillar after all. He exerted force with his wrist, shaking Mizuki away, and unleashed an arcing slash towards Mizuki.
Mizuki was slightly surprised and turned her body to dodge.
This guy's strength might be even greater than Giyuu's.
It's just that he doesn't listen to reason at all, making him far less adorable than Giyuu.
Mizuki frowned slightly, veins popping out on her fair arm, and she reached for the blade once more.
Sanemi Shinazugawa almost laughed in anger; this woman actually wanted to use the same trick again.
He stubbornly slashed towards Mizuki's arm. Mizuki retracted her arm and flicked it lightly, causing his blade to shift by a hair, then, to his shocked expression, she stepped on the back of the downward-slashing blade.
"You, woman...!" Shinazugawa's veins bulged on his forehead as he looked up, his expression suddenly freezing.
"Checkmate."
Mizuki looked at him calmly, her Nichirin Blade already at Sanemi Shinazugawa's nose, she didn't know when.
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