Hayashi couldn't help but complain inwardly as he watched Tomioka Giyu descend from Fujikasane Mountain.
Sending the Water Hashira to hunt the Hand Demon was like dispatching a high-level boss back to the novice village to slaughter a few tutorial mobs.
I wonder if that demon, who hid here for so many years, cursed the Demon Slayer Corps for not playing fair the moment he saw Tomioka…
Yet when Giyu appeared, pushing aside the fox mask, his expression remained calm as ever. Still, Hayashi's eyes sharpened—beneath that calmness, something had changed. His aura was lighter, as though some unbearable weight had finally been lifted, and through the Transparent World Hayashi could clearly see his breathing, his blood, his movements all flowing more powerfully than before.
What the…? You can actually gain experience just by refreshing starter-village elite mobs?
Tomioka stopped, bowed deeply, and spoke with a quiet gravity:
"Thank you, Yoriichi san. I ended that demon. From today on, no disciple of Urokodaki-san will fall to it again."
Then, after a pause, his voice dimmed.
"But… please keep this matter secret. Especially from Urokodaki-san. He carved those masks with good intentions. If he were to know they became death warrants, it would crush him."
Hayashi was taken aback. That kind of awareness—from Tomioka, of all people. He had never thought he would one day associate the words "emotional intelligence" with Giyu.
"It seems," Hayashi murmured with a faint smile, "you've gained more than just victory."
But Giyu, unusually, did not deny it. He nodded, then said something that made Hayashi's brows rise in genuine surprise:
"When I killed that Hand Demon, I mastered the Twelfth Form of Water Breathing."
Hayashi's eyes narrowed slightly. Water Breathing, in its original transmission, had only ten forms. That Giyu had already created an Eleventh was astounding. And now… a Twelfth? No wonder his aura felt sharper, his presence heavier.
"What is it called?" Hayashi asked.
For the first time, a flicker of guilt passed over Tomioka's usually impassive gaze.
"When I devised the Eleventh Form, it was drawn from both my own path and Urokodaki-san's teachings. I hadn't even spoken to him about it before naming it Nagi.
This Twelfth Form… its inspiration came from you. But since I've never known how to properly speak with you, I named it on my own. I called it—Torrent."
He hesitated, then continued:
"The Eleventh Form is already recorded in the Corps archives, so its name can't be changed. But before the Twelfth is officially entered… we can discuss it further, if you wish."
Hayashi was momentarily silent. He truly could not recall when or how he had inspired Tomioka to reach this point. But seeing that faint, rare openness in the Water Hashira's eyes, he decided not to interrupt. Instead, he only thought to himself—
Perhaps this man, so often called distant, has finally begun to step closer to others.
However, Tomioka Giyu was clearly unaware of Hayashi's panic and continued with the same calm, serious tone:
"Speaking of naming… I suddenly remembered your earlier comments on Water Breathing."
Hayashi froze.
My comments on Water Breathing? When did that happen?!
But Giyu pressed on:
"This twelve-form pattern fits exactly with what you described. Water is not only calm and steady—it also has a surging, unstoppable force. I used that principle to tear through the hand demon's defenses and sever its head in one strike. So, I thought… why not name the sword form in line with your words? Something that expresses both the essence of water and the result of decapitating a demon."
He muttered to himself as if testing the sound:
"Water's tonality… the result of cutting off the head… 'Water tune, beheading'…"
Before he could say more, Hayashi grabbed his arm in alarm.
"Wait, wait, wait! Don't—don't name it that!"
Just imagining Giyu solemnly christening a new technique [Suichō Haritō] made Hayashi break into a cold sweat.
He quickly interjected, firm and decisive:
"Just call it Torrent. That's a great name—no need to change it!"
Tomioka blinked, slightly startled.
"…Your reaction reminds me of Urokodaki-sensei. When I once asked if we should change the name of the Eleventh Form, he reacted the same way. He said the name [Nagi] was already perfect and needed no alteration."
Hayashi forced a dry laugh and seized the chance to change the subject:
"By the way… when I went with Murata to check out the demon on the train, you mentioned the traces had already disappeared by the time you arrived. Can you explain again?"
Giyu frowned, recalling the scene.
"After Murata and I left, we received another crow's message. A passenger and a crew member vanished while the train was in motion. Based on my experience, they were likely devoured. But when we boarded, there was no sign of a demon. No blood. Nothing. I even brought bandages from the Butterfly House and wiped down the suspected spots, sealed them, and gave them to Kamado Tanjiro. But after comparing them against the scent of a demon, he said there was nothing—no trace at all."
Hayashi's expression stiffened.
Wait… did Giyu just invent a new "forensic use" of Tanjiro's nose?!
Suppressing his urge to complain, he asked instead:
"So in the end, all possible traces—everything a demon should have left behind—vanished completely?"
Tomioka nodded gravely.
At that moment, the black crow swooped down with a harsh cry:
"Gaaah!"
"Summons! Summons!"
"The lord orders! Tomioka Giyu, Pillar-level swordsman, return to headquarters immediately!"
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