Kokushibo paid little attention to the reactions around him.
"Akaza, I know your story."
Seeing the surprise in Akaza's eyes, Kokushibo continued calmly.
"Koyuki was truly a kind woman. She would never have wished for you to continue taking innocent lives after becoming a demon."
He paused before asking another question.
"But do the lives you took after becoming a demon simply disappear because you regret them?"
Those words struck Akaza deeply.
Ever since his memories had returned, the only thing he had wanted was to end his existence and reunite with Koyuki in death.
Kokushibo looked directly into his eyes.
"If repentance alone could erase sin, there would be no need for atonement."
"Lay down your sword of slaughter."
"Use the strength you possess now to save lives instead of taking them."
"Come with me, and spend the rest of your existence making amends for every innocent person you have killed."
For the first time in centuries, Akaza's unwavering heart began to falter.
Not far away, the Demon Slayer Corps members silently observed the conversation.
None of them dared to approach the two Upper Rank demons.
After a long silence, Akaza finally spoke.
"But we are demons."
"We must consume flesh and blood to survive."
"Wouldn't that simply mean continuing to kill people?"
Now that his memories had returned, the fierce Upper Rank Three sounded far more like the young man Hakuji than the bloodthirsty demon Akaza.
Kokushibo answered without hesitation.
"I have not eaten a human in over ten years."
He removed the bamboo container hanging from his waist and handed it to Akaza.
"Join me."
"I will ensure you never need to kill another human to survive."
To reassure him further, Kokushibo added,
"The blood inside comes from willing donors."
"No one dies."
"They offer it of their own free will."
Naturally, generous compensation was provided in return.
Akaza lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
He truly did not know what choice to make.
At that moment, the heavily wounded Kyojuro ignored everyone's attempts to stop him and slowly walked forward.
"…Father."
His familiar smile, eyes gently closed, softened even Kokushibo's usually cold expression.
What an admirable son.
Even after everything, he still greeted him first.
Nevertheless, Kokushibo spoke sternly.
"Your training is still insufficient, Kyojuro."
Kyojuro bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Father."
"I will become even stronger."
Kokushibo turned toward Akaza.
"This is my adopted son."
"Rengoku Kyojuro."
He gently ruffled Kyojuro's fiery hair.
"You little brat."
"This is Akaza."
"He is an old friend of mine."
"Call him Uncle."
Although visibly surprised by the request, Kyojuro obeyed without hesitation.
"Hello, Uncle Akaza."
The greeting felt rather strange.
After all, Akaza had lived for well over two centuries, while Kokushibo himself had existed for nearly five hundred years.
Even Akaza was momentarily stunned.
After a brief silence, he simply nodded.
"…Hello."
Kokushibo smiled faintly.
"Kyojuro."
"You should return now."
"It is time for us to leave."
Unexpectedly, Kyojuro grabbed the edge of Kokushibo's sleeve.
For perhaps the first time in years, genuine anxiety appeared upon the Flame Hashira's face.
"Father…"
"Please tell me honestly."
"Are you still eating people?"
It was such an unfamiliar expression that Kokushibo suspected even Rengoku Shinjuro had rarely seen it.
He almost wanted to tease his old friend about it someday.
Instead, he answered truthfully.
"No."
"For over ten years, I have survived only on human blood."
"It is donated willingly."
"I only take enough to sustain myself."
"No one dies."
Kyojuro possessed none of Tanjiro's extraordinary sense of smell.
He could not detect lies.
Instead…
He simply trusted his father completely.
The man who had patiently guided him since childhood would never deceive him.
Hearing the answer, the tension finally left Kyojuro's body.
The next moment, darkness overtook him.
His exhausted body collapsed forward.
Akaza reacted instantly, catching him before he struck the ground.
Kokushibo then turned toward Tanjiro and the others, who had cautiously remained at a distance.
Even now, Inosuke stubbornly puffed out his chest.
"You six-eyed freak!"
"Give us back our owl!"
Since Kokushibo had never intended to take Kyojuro away, he calmly handed the unconscious Flame Hashira back to them.
Then, taking advantage of Inosuke lowering his guard…
He suddenly snatched away the boar mask.
Inosuke's astonishingly beautiful face was immediately revealed.
"Give it back!"
"You six-eyed freak!"
Flustered beyond belief, Inosuke desperately reached for the mask, uncertain whether he was angry, embarrassed, or simply overwhelmed.
Standing nearby, Akaza froze.
He recognized that face immediately.
It was unmistakable.
Kotoha.
For an instant, countless absurd conclusions flashed through his mind.
After teasing Inosuke for another moment, Kokushibo finally tossed the boar mask back.
Just before leaving, however…
He suddenly drew his blade.
A single slash flashed toward Tanjiro.
Everyone was startled.
Fortunately, the wound was shallow.
Before Giyu or Shinobu could react, Kokushibo had already seized Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade.
He rested it casually upon his shoulder.
"I'll consider this sword my payment for sparing all of you."
A rare smile crossed his face.
"Tanjiro."
"Return to the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Heal your injuries."
Without another word, Kokushibo and Akaza departed together.
Only after the two Upper Rank demons completely disappeared did everyone finally release the breath they had been holding.
Then Tanjiro suddenly remembered something.
"My…"
"My Nichirin Blade!"
"It's gone!"
Soon afterward, members of the Kakushi arrived to secure the battlefield and rescue the remaining passengers.
Despite the intensity of the battle, not a single civilian had lost their life.
From Kagaya Ubuyashiki's perspective, this operation could only be described as an extraordinary success.
Unfortunately…
The situation elsewhere was far more dangerous.
Although reinforcements had reached Mount Kabuto, Hera's overwhelming strength still exceeded the Demon Slayer Corps' expectations.
Sanemi tore the branch piercing his abdomen free with his own hands.
After hastily wrapping the wound with bandages, he immediately rejoined the battle.
Nearby, Obanai and Mitsuri worked together against Meng Xiyu.
Meanwhile, Sanemi focused entirely on Hera.
Wind Breathing, Second Form: Claws Purifying Wind!
His powerful slash swept toward her.
Hera effortlessly evaded the attack before countering with her bladed forearms.
Just as one of her mantis-like scythes was about to strike Sanemi's face
Bang!
Another gunshot echoed across the battlefield.
Hera's arm was blasted apart once again.
Genya had saved his older brother for the second time.
Kanae immediately followed up.
Flower Breathing, Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility.
A rapid succession of elegant slashes descended almost simultaneously.
Even Hera found it difficult to defend against all of them.
Without wasting the opening, Sanemi charged once more.
For once, he said nothing to Genya.
No insults.
No harsh words.
He simply continued attacking.
Wind Breathing, Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon!
The combined offensive from Sanemi and Kanae finally forced Hera to abandon her relaxed demeanor.
At the edge of the battlefield, Genya calmly adjusted his aim.
He could not use Breathing Techniques.
But his marksmanship made him an invaluable source of support.
Whenever Hera revealed even the slightest opening, another bullet would immediately follow.
On the other side of the battlefield, Obanai and Mitsuri had unexpectedly become Meng Xiyu's greatest weakness.
Mitsuri struck first.
Her flexible Nichirin Blade whipped through the air, detonating Meng Xiyu's explosive skin before he could trigger it himself.
Immediately afterward, Obanai's serpent-like swordsmanship attacked from impossible angles.
The unpredictable coordination infuriated Meng Xiyu.
His fighting style relied on overwhelming aggression and explosive close combat.
His opponents refused to meet him head-on.
Instead, they exhausted him through constant harassment and relentless coordination.
Nevertheless, he refused to yield.
Abandoning all defense, Meng Xiyu threw a full-powered punch directly toward Obanai's face.
Obanai narrowly avoided a direct hit.
Even so, the tremendous force tore away the bandages covering the lower half of his face.
Instinctively, Obanai reached up to cover his mouth.
He did not want Mitsuri to see the scars that had haunted him his entire life.
Meng Xiyu seized that fleeting hesitation without mercy.
His fist slammed directly into Obanai's abdomen, sending the Serpent Hashira crashing backward.
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