"Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm."
Giyu's expression softened into absolute tranquility.
Mirror-clear.
Water-still.
He inhaled deeply, lowered his nichirin blade toward the ground, and closed his eyes.
Ripples spread gently beneath his feet, radiating outward like layered water rings.
Then a miracle occurred—
The Moon blades hurtling toward him suddenly shifted course, striking the ground around him, each one missing his body with impossible precision.
Giyu had evaded death with his self-created Dead Calm.
But what about Sanemi?
Oh no.
A death wish clouded Sanemi Shinazugawa's mind. His hand gripping the blade trembled uncontrollably.
Just as despair seized him—
"Mr. Sanemi! Please don't give up—swing your nichirin blade, quickly!"
Before the words fully left her mouth, Flower Hashira Kochou Kanae leapt in, her blade flashing.
"Flower Breathing, Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum!"
"Kanae!"
Sanemi snapped back to focus and immediately unleashed his own technique.
"Wind Breathing, Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm!"
The Moon blades were terrifying—was this truly Ryuya's Breathing Technique?
Even with all her strength, Kanae was sliced by countless small, faint blue Moon blades, fresh cuts blooming across her body.
Sanemi fared worse—soaked in blood, his hand barely managing to hold onto his trembling blade.
"Mr. Ryuya, please stop!"
The Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, stepped forward despite the overwhelming danger, attempting to shield Sanemi with his own frail body.
"The Master…?" Ryuya froze mid-swing.
In disbelief, he stared at the fragile, sickly man standing before him—disfigured, weak, yet smiling with the warmth of spring sunlight.
With a single casual swing of Ryuya's blade, this man would die.
And yet he approached anyway… just to protect one Hashira.
The difference between this man and Muzan was like heaven and earth.
If it were his own father—the despicable Muzan—he would have fled thousands of miles away without a shred of hesitation. Save subordinates?
What a joke. Muzan could barely protect himself.
"Master, why did you come? Please leave quickly!" Sanemi shouted hoarsely, terrified.
"Moon Demon, don't you dare—don't make a single sudden move!"
He was frantic, desperate to prevent the Master from being killed because of him.
He could die. But the Master—the backbone of the Corps—absolutely could not.
"Ryuya, no… don't hurt the Master," Kanae pleaded, gripping her hands tightly.
She wasn't just worried for the Master—she was worried for Ryuya as well. If that demon blade swung now, everything would spiral beyond repair.
"Master!" Giyu staggered forward, Dead Calm fading, ready to defend him.
"Giyu," the Master said softly, "there's no need to worry. Mr. Ryuya is not impulsive."
He spoke as if life and death were nothing to him.
Heh. Interesting.
Ryuya narrowed his eyes and let the moment settle.
Then he released the Moon Breathing form he was about to unleash—Tenman Sengetsu, his strongest technique.
He allowed the demon blade to shrink and revert into its original nichirin form and slid it back into its scabbard.
Seeing this, Makomo stepped beside her master, as unwavering as a shadow.
Wherever her master went, she followed. Whatever he ordered, she obeyed.
"Mr. Ryuya," Kagaya said gently, bowing.
"It's an honor to meet you. Please allow me to apologize for Sanemi's impulsive behavior. It is my failure as Master for not guiding him better."
"Master, you shouldn't apologize to this Moon Demon! This is my responsibility—how can you blame yourself?!"
Sanemi clenched his teeth, guilt burning in his chest. The Master apologizing to a demon made hatred claw at his insides even more.
If only he were stronger—he would have killed the Moon Demon already, and the Master wouldn't be in such a humiliating position.
"Ryuya, is Makomo alright?" Kanae asked gently, checking the girl's condition.
"Huh?"
Makomo blinked at the Flower Hashira in surprise.
She seemed… oddly familiar with her master.
"She should be unharmed," Ryuya replied coolly.
Then he turned to the Master. "The Master of the Demon Slayer Corps certainly has good manners. But since it was the Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa who acted first… shouldn't he be the one to apologize?"
"Sanemi," Kagaya said softly.
Sanemi's jaw tightened. He would rather die than apologize.
He didn't believe he'd done anything wrong. Killing demons was his duty—why apologize?
But the Master was already burdened enough. He couldn't trouble him further.
He lowered his proud head.
"…I'm sorry. I was impulsive."
"Not to me," Ryuya said coldly.
"To my apprentice. To Makomo."
Sanemi ground his teeth.
"…I'm sorry, Makomo."
"Um… I should also apologize," Kanae said awkwardly. "Mr. Sanemi acted that way partly because of me—"
"Apologize? For what?" Sanemi snapped. "It has nothing to do with you. Don't be ridiculous—it was entirely my decision!"
He could endure humiliation alone.
Even though he hated demons, he had accepted Kanae silently. To him, she was still a precious member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
And he would never allow any Corps member to bow to a demon.
"Mr. Ryuya," the Master said softly, "Sanemi has apologized. What do you think?"
"Makomo," Ryuya asked, "do you forgive him?"
"Mhm." Makomo nodded. She didn't want to cause her master more trouble.
Everyone finally breathed out in relief—
Until Ryuya suddenly chuckled.
"Sanemi Shinazugawa… Makomo has forgiven you."
He smiled thinly.
"But I haven't."
Cold silence flooded the air.
"I don't like creating trouble, but I'm also not afraid of it. Since you've done this, I must return the favor properly."
Ryuya's crimson eyes glinted.
"I hear you have a younger brother… don't you?
You'd better keep a very close eye on him."