Yōya gazed at Horitake, flanked by Tengen Uzui and Muichiro Tokito, then at the nearly hundred swordsmen behind them. With a solemn nod, he said, "This battle is in your hands."
Horitake nodded back, exuding confidence. "Don't worry, Lord Ubuyashiki. You've just been freed from your curse, and now you're off on a long journey. Take care of yourself."
Turning to Kyojuro Rengoku beside Yōya, Horitake added, "The safety of Lord Ubuyashiki's family is on you."
Kyojuro, brimming with his usual fervor, declared, "Rest assured! I'll protect Lord Ubuyashiki's family without fail!"
Horitake trusted the fiery Pillar completely.
Time was running out. Yōya turned, joining his family in boarding an old-fashioned car, with Kyojuro accompanying them as their guard. Horitake watched as the convoy, part of the final evacuation wave, departed the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
As for Shinobu Kocho and Mitsuri Kanroji, they had already left to protect other members and supplies. This was, in part, Horitake's calculated move. Why had he assigned Shinobu-nee and Mitsuri to escort duties instead of the battle? To keep them safe, of course. Guarding the evacuation was far less dangerous than facing the fight head-on.
Confirming that Yōya's family had left, Horitake turned to the two Pillars and nearly hundred swordsmen behind him. As the highest-ranking officer now, he took command. "Less than a few hours until nightfall. The headquarters is empty—perfect for a battle. You've all been working hard today. Before the sun sets, rest and recharge for tonight's fight. Also, I need a few of you to help me with something. Let's go!"
With that, Horitake dismissed most of the group, taking a handful of swordsmen back into the now-deserted headquarters, heading straight for the Ubuyashiki estate's old residence.
At the estate, Horitake pointed to the floor and instructed the swordsmen, "Pry up the floorboards here. Be gentle."
Though puzzled, the swordsmen obeyed without question, using various tools to carefully lift the floor. Tengen and Muichiro stood behind Horitake, watching.
Muichiro seemed indifferent, as usual, but Tengen's curiosity got the better of him. "Horitake, what are you doing?"
Horitake flashed a cryptic smile. "Just watch."
Soon, the swordsmen removed the floorboards, revealing what lay beneath. The space under the Ubuyashiki residence was packed with explosives.
The sight shocked the swordsmen, and even Muichiro's calm wavered. The sheer volume of explosives could reduce the place to rubble if detonated. Tengen, sweating, muttered, "This… Lord Ubuyashiki's family was living above all this?"
Horitake nodded. "Exactly. Lord Ubuyashiki was prepared to use these to take Muzan Kibutsuji down with him if it came to it. Now you see how resolute he is."
Muichiro nodded, understanding dawning.
Horitake directed the swordsmen again. "Carefully move these explosives. Follow me."
Leading the group carrying the explosives, Horitake left the residence. Along the way, other swordsmen gaped at the dangerous cargo, instinctively keeping their distance for safety.
Horitake stopped at the headquarters' main road, surveying the terrain and layout. Satisfied, he nodded. "Spread the explosives out and bury them under this road. Set the fuses carefully, but make sure it's discreet—no one should notice anything unusual about this path. Get to work!"
Now understanding Horitake's plan, the swordsmen buzzed with excitement, eagerly diving into the task of planting and concealing the explosives.
Tengen couldn't help but praise him. "Brilliant, Horitake! Who'd have thought of this?"
Horitake grinned. "No choice. Lord Ubuyashiki couldn't take all this with him, so we might as well put it to good use. Akaza's got over a hundred demons; we've got just under a hundred swordsmen. Without some clever planning, this fight's going to be tough. I'm setting the stage to fight smart, using these explosives to give Akaza a proper thrashing and turn the odds in our favor!"
Tengen nodded, impressed. "Well played. No wonder Lord Ubuyashiki named you commander."
"It's not just the explosives," Horitake added. "We need to set the scene around us too."
Tengen blinked. "What else needs setting up?"
Horitake gestured around as he explained, directing the swordsmen. "Right now, the headquarters is a ghost town. From the outside, it might look normal, but with only us here, it lacks life. We need to make it seem like the headquarters is still operational. First, lights. Before night falls, turn on the lights in most of the buildings—but not all. If it's too bright, it'll look suspicious. Match the usual nighttime lighting. Key places like the Ubuyashiki residence, the Butterfly Mansion, and the archives? Light them up fully to make it seem like people are still there. But lights alone aren't enough. An illuminated but empty headquarters will raise red flags. Have some swordsmen dress as Hidden operatives and patrol the grounds at nightfall, creating the illusion that the headquarters is still active."
Horitake laid out the plan with meticulous detail, outlining how to disguise and stage the scene. Tengen and Muichiro, following behind, looked at him with growing respect. Details made the difference, and Horitake was proving himself a commander with real substance, not just a title.
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