When the demon saw Hayashi draw his sword, regret instantly flooded his heart.
He couldn't understand why this man's aura felt weaker than the swordsman with the black middle-parted hair.
But the moment the blade left its sheath and turned a dark red, something deep within his blood screamed at him—
Danger!
Panic surged through him.
At that very moment, a supreme will that he could never defy descended into his mind. The demon's eyes lit up with sudden hope.
That must be him… that adult is watching me!
My lord, please, save me—!
But the hope vanished as quickly as it appeared.
To show his utmost respect, Hayashi deliberately chose the sword form with the longest name among the thirteen forms of the Sun Breathing.
[Sun Breathing · Eleventh Form · Dragon of the Sun: Head Dance]
The dark red blade, wreathed in raging flames, split the night sky in an instant.
The demon's world twisted—his body was torn apart by searing fire, his vision spun, and before he could react, only his severed head was rolling across the ground.
His crimson eyes widened in disbelief.
That adult… was clearly watching over me.
So why—why did his will vanish the moment this sword form appeared, as if burned away?!
Nearby, Giyu Tomioka had just severed the demon's "tongue spear" when he caught the movement at the edge of his vision.
Even someone as calm as him couldn't hide a flicker of shock.
This was undoubtedly a breathing technique—yet its flames were completely different from the "Flame Breathing" he'd seen from Rengoku Kyōjurō.
Could this be… a breathing style created by this man himself?
Tomioka was certain he had never seen this Yoriichi in the Demon Slayer Corps.
But now, he fully understood why the lord wanted to meet him.
And in that moment, he also realized why the demon atop Mount Kumotori had screamed with such terror, loud enough to echo across the entire mountain, before fleeing so frantically that he hadn't even stopped to collect his discarded clothes.
Tomioka's thoughts ran deep.
Murata's, however, were simple.
When the severed tongue lashed toward him again, bristling with barbs that could shred flesh, his first thought was—I'm done for.
But before it could coil around him, the demon was already slain by Lord Tomioka's mysterious companion.
Murata blinked in disbelief, glancing down at himself. Aside from a few rips in his uniform—
He was… actually fine.
…
Infinite City — Muzan and Nakime
In the Infinite City, Muzan Kibutsuji had already changed Nakime's attire.
The plain clothes she once wore were replaced by a luxurious black kimono embroidered with golden patterns. Her dark hair, once simply tied back, was now adorned with red and gold hairpieces, glittering faintly under the dim light.
On the other side of the platform, Nakime had shrunk into her usual form. Clutching her pipa tightly, she sat huddled in a corner, forcing herself to clear her mind. Any stray thought, she feared, might provoke Muzan's wrath.
At first, Muzan's expression was calm. Then suddenly, his body stiffened.
His pupils shrank into thin needles. A moment later, he covered his eyes with one hand, as though he had glimpsed something unbearably filthy. Veins bulged across his face, crawling like living worms.
"Damn it…"
His voice trembled with fury.
"You worthless thing, how dare you call on me to save you?!"
"It's only being chopped into pieces! Why don't you reflect on your own weakness?"
He pressed his palm tighter against his eyes.
But the crimson burn marks he had seen through that lesser demon—marks etched deep into flesh—seemed to sear his vision as well.
"Those wounds… the same as before!"
"That man… he was human. Did he really crawl out of the grave?!"
His voice rose, tinged with fear. "Kokushibō! Why haven't you answered me yet?!"
Resentment and dread, like countless insects, gnawed at his sanity. Muzan turned abruptly, his shout echoing through the Infinite City:
"Kokushibō!!!!"
The Next Morning — Wisteria House
At dawn, Giyu Tomioka and Yuichi Hayashi left the Wisteria House where they had spent the night. Murata followed alongside them, though his eyes frequently drifted toward Hayashi.
The display of swordsmanship from the previous night—especially that Sun Breathing form—had burned deeply into Murata's memory. Could this nameless swordsman be a new Pillar?
He wanted to ask, yet held back. After all, this "Yoriichi" seemed close to Lord Tomioka. Anyone who got along with Tomioka Giyu… must have an unusual personality.
Hayashi, oblivious to Murata's thoughts, was checking his restoration system.
His percentage had climbed another 3% overnight, bringing him to 20%.
The growth unsettled him.
Two strikes against Muzan had yielded 7%… yet one Eleventh Form against an ordinary demon, not even a Lower Moon, had raised it another 3%.
"Is the difference whether I kill the demon directly?" he wondered.
If that's the case, then what if I hunt them one by one? Track down every demon I can recall… call the Pillars during the day to drag them into sunlight…
The absurd thought twisted his expression into something unsettling. Murata, catching the look, felt an icy shiver crawl down his spine. Lord Hayashi… is he plotting something outrageous?
Panicked, Murata tried to break the silence, speaking hastily to Giyu:
"Lord Tomioka, I'm fine now. I could just rest at Wisteria House… is it really necessary for me to go with you to headquarters and the Butterfly Estate?"
Tomioka's voice was low but firm:
"Demons rarely appear together. Two in the same place… it means something is hidden here."
"I asked you to come so you won't be caught off guard again."
"More importantly—this must be reported to the Master."
Murata's eyes widened in awe. As expected of a Pillar—he sees far beyond what ordinary swordsmen can.
But then another thought struck him. Wait… isn't Lord Tomioka supposed to be terrible at communication? Why does he sound so clear now…?
Before he could dwell on it, Giyu suddenly quickened his stride.
"The headquarters is just ahead."