Urokodaki Sakonji turned toward Yosuke.
"The Master of the Demon Slayer Corps requests an audience with you, Ubuyashiki Yosuke."
Rengoku Makijurō immediately objected, alarm in his voice.
"Sakonji, this is far too dangerous! He is the Demon King!"
"We already tried to dissuade the Master," Sakonji replied wearily, "but he insists on meeting him. He has come this far with that resolve."
Even Sakonji himself was helpless. He had strongly opposed the Master's decision, but his words had fallen on deaf ears.
Hakuji's fury boiled over, his gaze filled with murderous intent as he glared at Sakonji.
"Yosuke-sama has no need to waste his time with these humans. Insolent as they are, daring to insult him—such wretches deserve only death!"
Gyutaro, his emotions surging, clawed furiously at his own face with rapid scratches.
"I agree with Akaza-san. Let's just kill them all here and now. We're more than enough to handle slaying demons ourselves—no need for these weaklings to get in the way."
Koyuki added anxiously, "Perhaps the Demon Slayer Corps has set an ambush with many more hidden nearby. Yosuke-sama, please be careful—it could be a trap."
Ume remained silent at Yosuke's side, as always quietly supporting whatever choice he made.
Hearing their words, both Sakonji and Makijurō felt an overwhelming pressure. Their hands instinctively tightened on the hilts of their Nichirin blades.
Yosuke simply said, calm and assured:
"It matters not. Since the supreme leader of the Corps wishes to meet me, then I will go."
Sakonji let out a quiet sigh of relief. His sharp nose told him clearly—each of these demons before him carried terrifying strength, enough to overwhelm him alone. And at their center was Yosuke, the Demon King himself.
Yosuke strode forward, with Hakuji, Gyutaro, Koyuki, and Ume following close behind.
As they passed the poisoned Kuwaijima Jigorō, Gyutaro sneered mockingly:
"Oh dear, I wonder how long you'll last with my poison coursing through you?"
"You…!" Makijurō's eyes blazed with hatred, but he could do nothing.
Yosuke did not restrain Gyutaro's cruelty. After all, once they had chosen to fight, they had to accept the consequences.
Led by Sakonji, they soon arrived at a small izakaya.
Sakonji knocked on one of the doors. From within came a calm voice:
"Enter."
Yosuke slid the door open and stepped inside. When Hakuji and the others tried to follow, Sakonji blocked their way.
Hakuji furrowed his brows, his voice cold with threat.
"Human… do you wish to die?"
Gyutaro already had his blood sickles in hand.
The air grew tense, the atmosphere razor-sharp.
"Hakuji. All of you—wait outside for now."
Hearing Yosuke's voice, Hakuji begrudgingly obeyed, though his eyes never left Sakonji, glaring daggers at him.
Inside, a man sat cross-legged before Yosuke. His face was scarred, reminiscent of the late Ubuyashiki Kagaya, his eyes clouded and lifeless. Beside him sat a child, staring at Yosuke nervously.
"The ancestor of the Ubuyashiki clan—Ubuyashiki Yosuke. At last, we meet. Please, sit." The man's voice was steady and composed as he invited Yosuke to join him.
Taking a seat across from him, Yosuke listened as the man introduced himself.
"I am the current head of the Ubuyashiki family and supreme commander of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki Nichiya. This is my eldest son, Ubuyashiki Kagaya."
Yosuke turned his eyes toward the boy at Nichiya's side.
So this child… would one day lead the Nine Hashira, guiding Tanjiro Kamado—the chosen one. Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Meeting Yosuke's gaze, young Kagaya grew all the more uneasy.
Seeing that Nichiya showed no fear before him, Yosuke gave a small chuckle.
"You're not afraid I'll cut you down where you sit? Just as I once slaughtered more than a hundred lives in a single day?"
Nichiya did not waver.
"And would you?"
Yosuke raised his cup of tea, taking a slow sip before answering.
"Who can say?"
"The Ubuyashiki clan knows the truth of that day," Nichiya said firmly. "According to our secret records, you struck down those one hundred humans because Kibutsuji Muzan had taken control of them, and you sought to cut through to kill him. Had the five Hashira of that time not stopped you, Muzan might already have perished."
Yosuke laughed coldly.
"Heh. That was your Corps' choice, wasn't it? You chose to spare those hundred humans—and in doing so, allowed Muzan to live."
"I do not dare to judge the decisions of our forebears," Nichiya admitted. "But I believe that if I had been there, I would have made the same choice. Our purpose is to protect humanity by slaying demons. Sacrificing innocent lives goes against the very belief we uphold."
Yosuke said nothing. Nichiya continued.
"Yet, I do not think your actions were wrong, Yosuke-dono. After all, our goals were the same: to kill Muzan. It was only our convictions that differed."
"And what came of it?" Yosuke replied coldly. "Muzan still lives, unscathed. All those efforts—all for nothing."
Nichiya shook his head.
"We failed, yes. But we have not lost. The will of our predecessors lives on in us. And are you not still striving as well, Yosuke-dono?"
Yosuke could not comprehend Nichiya's way of thinking—their ideals were worlds apart.
"You called me here. Speak plainly. What do you want?"
Nichiya bowed his head.
"Since that battle, Muzan has created the Twelve Kizuki, demons of immense power. They have hunted down and assassinated every slayer who knew the Sun Breathing forms. The art has been lost. Only you, Yosuke-dono, still hold its secrets. I beg of you—please pass down the training methods of Sun Breathing to the Corps."
Yosuke agreed without hesitation.
"Very well. After all, Sun Breathing was taught to me by Yoriichi. To pass it on to you would be his will as well. But remember this: until now, no one but Yoriichi, its creator, has ever mastered it. You must be prepared that perhaps no one ever will."
Nichiya was momentarily stunned by how readily Yosuke had accepted. Only when young Kagaya tugged at his sleeve did he bow in thanks.
"Thank you, Yosuke-dono. We will prepare ourselves. Yet I firmly believe—one day, someone will inherit Sun Breathing again. I have always held that conviction in my heart."
"Is that so? Then keep believing. Perhaps that person is not far away already." Yosuke rose, intending to leave.
Nichiya pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Yosuke-dono, on behalf of the Demon Slayer Corps, I offer my deepest apologies for the misunderstanding against you."
Yosuke did not glance back. His voice was indifferent as he departed.
"It no longer matters. You were not wrong. I did kill humans. And even if one day, as before, humans stand in my way again—I will cut them down without mercy."
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