Carl followed Tanjiro and Nezuko, escorted by members of the Demon Slayer Corps to a small courtyard.
Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho soon left the area.
After all, once you arrived at the Demon Slayer Headquarters, there was no need to worry about anyone escaping.
『Kamado Tanjiro』: "I'm really sorry, Mr. Carl. We've troubled you."
『Carl』: "Don't worry about it. I came here on my own."
He waved his hand casually and pulled out a bottle of red wine and a glass from his subspace, pouring himself a drink as if he were in his own home.
Tanjiro watched the liquid swirl in the glass and instinctively swallowed a gulp of saliva.
He hadn't replenished any water during the recent battles—he was parched.
『Carl』: "Want some?"
『Kamado Tanjiro』: "Uh... Mr. Carl, do you happen to have water?"
『Carl』: "Of course."
He took out a bottle of mineral water and an orange juice from his subspace and handed them over.
『Kamado Tanjiro』: "Thank you very much."
『Carl』: "You're welcome."
...
After a short rest, a member of the Kakushi entered the courtyard.
『Kakushi』: "Kamado Tanjiro, come with me. You're to face judgment."
『Kamado Tanjiro』: "Oh, okay."
He strapped the wooden box on his back and followed, Carl walking alongside.
As they moved down the corridor, the Kakushi suddenly said,
『Kakushi』: "You're about to meet the Hashira. Don't you dare offend them."
『Kamado Tanjiro』: "Hashira?"
Tanjiro blinked in confusion. He'd never heard that term before. What were Hashira? Were they special somehow?
The Kakushi sighed at the boy's blank expression.
『Kakushi』: "The Hashira are the highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps. Each one of them is a force to be reckoned with."
His tone wasn't kindly—he was simply trying to prevent Tanjiro from saying something stupid that might get him killed.
『Kamado Tanjiro』: "Hashira… so that's what they're called."
『Carl』: Heh.
Carl smiled faintly, utterly unconcerned.
Before long, they arrived at a vast courtyard.
Several figures were already gathered there—one with flaming red and gold hair, another with pink-and-green locks, a man with strange markings on his pale face, and more. Men and women alike, all dressed in striking, unconventional styles.
To Carl, they looked like a lineup of eccentric delinquents compared to the more "well-behaved" Corps members.
Of course, that was just their appearance. He knew most of these Hashira were genuinely formidable warriors.
Especially the Flame Hashira—Rengoku Kyojuro.
A bright, fiery soul with an unshakable spirit. Carl admired him greatly.
Back in his own world, when he watched Rengoku's death, he'd felt real regret.
But now that he was here, perhaps he could change that fate.
Indeed, Rengoku was standing right there among them—along with the Insect, Sound, Love, Rock, Mist, Serpent, and Water Hashira.
Only the Wind Hashira was missing.
『Carl』: So we're one short.
The moment they stepped into the courtyard, the Hashira turned their eyes toward them.
『Uzui Tengen』: "What the hell. I heard there was a Demon Slayer traveling with a demon—thought it'd be something flashy. Turns out, it's just this plain bunch."
『Rengoku Kyojuro』: "Mm! So this is the boy on trial, I take it? I see!"
『Kamado Tanjiro』 (curiously): "These are… the Hashira?"
『Kakushi』: "Idiot! You know they're the Hashira and still dare speak out of turn?!"
His voice snapped, sharp with warning.
『Kakushi』: "I advise you—keep your mouth shut."
『Carl』 (smiling): "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
For some reason, even though Carl was smiling pleasantly, the Kakushi froze.
A primal instinct whispered danger.
The reprimand he'd been about to spit out died in his throat.
Silence pressed down on the courtyard like a weight.
『Kocho Shinobu』: "Kamado Tanjiro, you are to stand trial. Before that, allow me to explain the charges against you—"
『Rengoku Kyojuro』: "There's no need for a trial!"
He interrupted, his tone blazing with conviction.
『Rengoku Kyojuro』: "Harboring a demon is a clear violation of Corps law. We can settle this ourselves. Both the boy and the demon should be executed."
『Carl』 (calmly): "Sorry, but I can't let that happen."
His tone was light, almost casual—but his words left no room for debate.
He respected Rengoku, truly—but if the man intended to kill Tanjiro or Nezuko, Carl would not stand aside.
『Carl』: "If anyone here's looking for trouble, that's fine. Just be ready to pay with your life."
『Uzui Tengen』 tilted his head arrogantly,
『Uzui Tengen』: "From the start, I've been meaning to ask—who are you, anyway? You're not a demon, and you're not one of us. Yet you stand here mouthing off. Planning to shield a demon, are you?"
『Carl』: "And if I am?"
『Uzui Tengen』: "Then I'll cut off your head—flashily! Make your blood spray everywhere! More dazzling than anyone else!"
Carl chuckled softly.
Just as he was about to respond, another voice rang out.
『???』: "Well, well. Looks like things are getting interesting."
A white-haired man with spiky hair appeared in the courtyard—the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Crude and hot-tempered, his hatred for demons was absolute.
The moment he heard a Demon Slayer was traveling with a demon, he'd rushed here in fury.
『Sanemi Shinazugawa』: "First a stupid brat who drags a demon around—"
『Sanemi Shinazugawa』: "Now some pathetic fool trying to defend them?"
『Sanemi Shinazugawa』: "What the hell is this circus?!"
Carl's expression didn't change.
『Carl』: "Pathetic fool, huh?"
Before Sanemi could even blink, Carl vanished—and reappeared right before him.
He placed one hand on Sanemi's shoulder.
The other formed a fist.
"Boom!"
A dull explosion of force rang out.
Sanemi's head burst like glass shattering, reduced instantly to red mist.
His body, still standing, twitched under Carl's hand before collapsing to the ground.
『Carl』: "In my world, don't even think about pulling that redemption act."
He smiled faintly.
『Carl』: "It's pointless."
Carl knew what Sanemi had done—how he'd stabbed Nezuko's box during Tanjiro's trial, even wounded himself just to test her.
Sure, the manga had "redeemed" him later, showing a softer side toward her… but Carl couldn't stand that kind of person.
He had loathed him long before setting foot in this world.
And now, the man had the audacity to insult him?
『Carl』: "You wanted to die? Fine. I'll oblige."
The courtyard was silent.
The Hashira stared—shocked, frozen—as blood dripped from Carl's fist onto the stones below.
『Carl』: "Lesson one—"
His voice was quiet, yet every word cut through the air.
『Carl』: "Don't test my patience."