Ubuyashiki Kagaya solemnly scanned the people in the courtyard with his remaining eye.
"It has been a long time since I last saw you all," he said softly.
"It is truly wonderful that I can still see your faces."
His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze.
But as soon as the Hashira heard his words, their breathing grew heavy. Everyone understood the meaning behind them. The purple scar that spread across their lord's forehead was like a death warrant etched into his very being, eroding his life with every passing moment. He could still see them now—but for how much longer?
Yet Kagaya seemed utterly unconcerned about himself. He only smiled with quiet warmth.
"Everyone, have you been well?"
Even the usually unruly Sanemi Shinazugawa restrained his manner at those words. He bowed slightly, his tone respectful despite the fire in his eyes.
"Everything is fine. But my lord, your health must be the top priority!"
Ubuyashiki's lips curved in gratitude.
"Thank you, Shinazugawa. Just now, I heard your voice from behind. It seemed as though you had some questions."
Sanemi stiffened. He hadn't meant to speak so bluntly, but under the lord's gaze he could not remain silent.
"My lord, forgive my rudeness, but…" He glanced toward Hayashi. "Rengoku Kyojuro has already shown the strength worthy of the Flame Hashira. No one can doubt him. But this man—I've never heard of him. You called him here to join our ranks, but with no achievements, no record, what proof do we have of his worth?"
Hayashi was momentarily taken aback. Was Sanemi really singling him out at a time like this? But then he remembered the man's nature. Shinazugawa Sanemi was not malicious—he was simply incapable of trust without proof. His entire life had been one long chain of doubts and challenges: questioning the Corps itself when he first became a Hashira, doubting Rengoku's succession, denying his own brother, even stabbing Nezuko in the Hashira meeting…
All he ever did was question.
So, if Hayashi wanted his respect, he knew there was only one path.
He stepped forward, voice steady.
"Then tell me—do you wish to examine my past record, or will you test my strength here and now?"
Sanemi's brow twitched, veins standing out as his hand tightened on his sword.
"You…"
But before he could move, a massive hand pressed firmly on his shoulder.
"Enough."
The one who spoke was Himejima Gyōmei, the Stone Hashira. Slowly, he released Sanemi, pressing his palms together in prayer. His voice was deep, solemn.
"Though we are nine in number, we are still far too few. The demons remain overwhelming. What matters most is not doubt, but unity."
"We all understand that the Lord wishes to recruit new swordsmen into the Demon Slayer Corps."
"However, we also need to know more about his abilities if we are to consider future cooperation."
Hayashi's tense expression eased slightly.
What Gyomei said was, in essence, no different from Fushigawa Minami's earlier words—
but the tone was far more palatable.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya listened to the exchange with a gentle smile, then turned his gaze toward Tomioka Giyu.
"Giyu," he said softly, "you and Yoriichi San supported Murata on his mission.
Would you give everyone a brief introduction to Mr. Yoriichi's abilities?"
Tomioka was silent for a long moment.
Finally, he spoke:
"...Very strong."
And then—nothing.
The silence dragged on. It took the others several heartbeats to realize that Tomioka had finished speaking.
This time, not only Fushigawa Shigeya and Iguro Obanai, but even the Insect Pillar, Kochō Shinobu, had veins bulging at their temples.
Hayashi wanted to bury his face in his hands.
No, no, no—my guy, I asked you to introduce me, not drop two words and go mute!
Even Ubuyashiki Kagaya's lips curved in faint amusement. He turned toward Murata.
"Murata, why don't you help fill in the details?"
Murata froze, his eyes wide. The Lord had remembered his name? The rumors were true after all!
He pointed to himself with a trembling hand.
"Ah... m-me?"
Kagaya gave him an encouraging smile.
"Yes. Please tell us what you witnessed."
Feeling the weight of every gaze upon him, Murata trembled but forced himself to speak.
"I saw it with my own eyes. Mr. Hayashi used a breathing style... very similar to Flame Breathing."
"The demon we faced was cunning. It pretended to attack Mr. Tomioka and me, then tried to ambush Mr. Yoriichi."
"But Mr. Yoriichi cut it down in an instant!"
The words seemed to drain all the strength from him. Murata lowered his head immediately, missing the way the Hashira reacted.
Gyōmei pressed his hands together, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"A demon capable of Blood Demon Arts is no weakling. For Mr. Yoriichi to slay it in an instant... he is more than qualified to join the Corps. At the very least, he should be ranked C-class."
"I support his recruitment!"
Hayashi blinked, stunned. Right—he'd almost forgotten how easily moved this tearful giant could be.
Fushigawa Minami said nothing further. A man who could instantly kill a demon with Blood Demon Arts, who might even have created a breathing style akin to Flame Breathing—
if the Lord wished to bring him into the Corps, who was he to object?
Then Kagaya's expression sobered. His voice carried through the courtyard.
"There is another record of Mr. Yoriichi's strength that must be spoken aloud."
"A few days ago, atop Mount Kumotori... he encountered Kibutsuji Muzan face-to-face."
"Not only did he escape unharmed, but he also protected the family living on that mountain."
The words struck like a boulder splashing into still water.
For a moment, every Hashira was frozen. Then shock, disbelief, and awe rippled across their faces.