"You'll meet at headquarters. Someone will come to guide you there," Urokodaki Sakonji said in response. He knew this might not be easy for Riku to accept.
And Riku wasn't naive—he'd definitely figure out what this meant.
"…"
As expected, Riku fell silent, clearly wrestling with doubts.
Kamado Tanjiro slowed down as he ate, sensing the weight of the moment. This was something important.
And for him, it wasn't far off—his sister, Nezuko, might face a similar moment one day.
"Do you think… they'll believe me?" Riku asked after a long pause, seeking Urokodaki Sakonji's opinion. This was crucial to him.
"…"
Now it was Urokodaki Sakonji's turn to go quiet. The truth wasn't easy to say.
While Riku didn't have the sharp nose that he and Tanjiro had, Urokodaki didn't want to lie to him. Especially not with Tanjiro right there, acting like a living lie detector.
Given Tanjiro's bond with Riku and his honest nature, if Urokodaki tried to deceive Riku, the outcome was predictable. Even if Tanjiro didn't call it out on the spot, he'd surely find a way to tell Riku the truth later.
"With Oyakata-sama's foresight, I'm sure he'll believe in you. Otherwise, this letter wouldn't have come," Urokodaki said with a soft sigh in his heart, choosing to answer honestly. This was his genuine belief.
"But the others might not, right?" Riku said with a faint smile, voicing what Urokodaki had left unsaid.
If the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, Oyakata-sama, truly had that almost divine intuition—like he could see the future—then he'd surely trust Riku.
Riku was confident in himself. He hadn't succumbed to eating humans and held firm to his humanity. He'd keep that resolve. While he might not call himself a saint, he was far from a madman. If Oyakata-sama was as wise as they said, he wouldn't doubt him.
"You're right. The others… the Hashira… they probably won't believe you," Urokodaki admitted, not sugarcoating it. From his knowledge of the Demon Slayer Corps, this was almost certain.
He didn't know much about the current Hashira, but they likely weren't too different from those of the past. Over his long years, from his generation to the next, he'd met many Hashira—those who'd died in battle and those still fighting. Most shared a deep hatred for demons. It was common.
To become a Hashira was no small feat. It required immense drive. First, you needed talent to master Zenkōshū Chūjū (Total Concentration: Constant). That was the baseline. Then, you had to either slay a Lower Moon demon or kill at least fifty demons to qualify. That took luck and grit.
Lower Moons weren't easy to come by. Most Hashira earned their rank young by racking up enough demon kills. They'd seen the ugliness of demons far beyond what most could imagine. Expecting them to trust a demon? Nearly impossible.
Tomioka Giyū was an exception. Despite his own deep grudge against demons, he could set aside his hatred and think calmly. He'd handled the situation with Tanjiro and Nezuko well. Another Hashira might've acted very differently.
Urokodaki felt a quiet pride in this. It showed he hadn't misjudged Giyū. The boy was truly suited for Mizu no Kokyū (Water Breathing).
"…"
Riku stayed silent, and even Tanjiro, eating nearby, could feel his resistance.
It was understandable. If Tanjiro put himself in Riku's shoes, he'd feel the same. As a demon, walking into the heart of the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters? Once you're there, getting out alive would be tough.
Everyone would be against you. Your only hope would be Oyakata-sama, but could you really rely on him?
Tanjiro imagined himself in Riku's place, carrying Nezuko on his back. The despair would be overwhelming.
"Don't worry, Riku. As long as Oyakata-sama believes in you, even if all the Hashira don't, they won't dare touch you," Urokodaki said, trying to ease Riku's fears. This wasn't just comfort—it was the truth.
The leader of the Demon Slayer Corps held absolute authority, a legacy built over a thousand years and carried by the personal charisma of each Oyakata-sama.
Urokodaki had met the current young leader and was deeply impressed. The Ubuyashiki clan, whose members rarely lived past thirty, had produced capable leaders for generations. Perhaps it was divine favor.
"I understand," Riku said with a nod, standing up.
"I'll continue my training."
He gave Urokodaki a deep, respectful bow, then turned and left through the door.
"…"
Tanjiro set down his chopsticks, staring at Urokodaki with worry in his eyes.
"Urokodaki-sensei…" Tanjiro started, but Urokodaki cut him off.
"If you're done eating, go study, Tanjiro."
He'd already assigned Tanjiro's academic lessons.
"Okay," Tanjiro mumbled, feeling stifled. He went to study, but his expression remained heavy with concern.
Urokodaki sat still in the wooden house, his red tengu mask hiding his face.
That night, Tanjiro lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was already past midnight, and he couldn't sleep.
When he'd gone to the bathroom earlier, he noticed Urokodaki-sensei still sitting there, as if he hadn't moved at all.
He knew Urokodaki-sensei must have understood Riku's intentions. Riku hadn't exactly hidden them.
Riku had likely left already. Tanjiro realized that the glance Riku gave him before leaving was a silent "take care."
"Urokodaki-sensei…" Tanjiro's heart ached for his teacher. Sitting alone in the wooden house, Urokodaki-sensei must be grappling with his own conflicted feelings.
"Huh?!" Tanjiro sat up suddenly. He caught Riku's scent—Riku hadn't left yet?!
He leapt out of bed and rushed to the door to see what was going on. But as soon as he opened it, he froze.
Urokodaki-sensei was still sitting there, unmoving, as if he hadn't noticed Riku outside. But Tanjiro knew that was impossible.
Yet, even as Riku's scent faded and disappeared, Urokodaki-sensei didn't move a muscle.
"Go back to bed, Tanjiro," Urokodaki's calm voice came, as if nothing had happened.
(End of Chapter)