"Really? You're the only one here?"
Upon hearing Kyojuro's answer, even the usually composed Tamayo couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"Even if I'm all alone, I will fulfill my duty as a Hashira and destroy all evil demons in this world!"
Kyojuro declared with unwavering conviction.
His unpretentious and cheerful confidence inspired trust in others for no apparent reason.
"Don't treat eliminating demons as if it's solely your responsibility..."
Tony interjected. "Although we don't know what happened in your original world, now that demons have come to this world and caused serious harm, we won't stand idly by."
"Yes, that's exactly right!"
Kyojuro's eyes blazed with determination as he declared righteously, "To eliminate evil demons from the world, I am willing to burn myself out completely. Even if I cannot accomplish it alone, I will pass on the methods of slaying demons so that people will have the means to fight back."
Upon hearing this, Coulson's eyes lit up.
He took the last cheek patch from his colleague, stuck it back on his face, and walked over with a smile. "Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Phil Coulson, and I belong to the Earth Security Alliance's peacekeeping organization—S.H.I.E.L.D."
"The official organization of this world?"
Kyojuro smiled at Coulson warmly. "What brings you to speak with me?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is an organization established to deal with all kinds of supernatural events on Earth. We're tasked with eliminating any supernatural phenomena that pose a threat to humanity, and demons are definitely one of our targets..."
As he spoke, Coulson glanced around and gestured toward the special forces soldiers collecting bodies. He continued, "But as you can see, they're all ordinary people. They don't have weapons that can fundamentally change their combat capabilities. When facing supernatural beings like demons, they often have no choice but to use their lives to make up for their shortcomings. Since Mr. Kyojuro intends to pass on methods for dealing with demons to this world, perhaps..."
"No!"
Before Coulson could finish, Kyojuro refused outright.
He looked at the astonished faces around him and explained, "I believe the S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers participate with full awareness that they might die for humanity's sake. But are those in the highest echelons of power the same?
You are a government agency—a tool of human power structures.
If any of your high-ranking members succumb to temptation and fall into corruption, then this organization that wields supernatural powers will become a threat to humanity itself."
"Isn't that precisely why it should be controlled by public authorities?"
Coulson looked somewhat puzzled. "If even those who already wield the highest power and wealth can't resist temptation and fall into depravity, wouldn't ordinary people be even more prone to corruption?"
"What can withstand temptation is willpower, not how much one already possesses..."
Kyojuro looked at Coulson seriously. "Our Demon Slayer Corps has existed for nearly a thousand years. Although there have been a few members who succumbed to temptation and fell into depravity, as a whole, we've managed to maintain our original intentions and remain an armed force dedicated to protecting humanity and eliminating demons. We have no selfish motives!
If the method of eliminating demons is to be passed down, I will establish the organization in accordance with the Demon Slayer Corps' rules and regulations, rather than casually handing over these techniques to others—even government agencies."
Coulson opened his mouth as if wanting to say something but hesitated.
He turned to Tony, casting a pleading look, hoping this hero who was so highly regarded by the Flame Hashira could put in a good word for him.
But Tony pretended not to notice and turned his back.
Left with no other option, Coulson sighed. "...But what you're planning to do is illegal!"
Gathering people wasn't illegal, but establishing a private armed force certainly was.
Although the line was somewhat blurred in the United States, and most major capital groups secretly maintained several mercenary teams, no one dared to do it openly.
"It's okay—someone will help me solve that problem!"
Kyojuro laughed heartily.
This surprised everyone.
From their previous conversation, they'd learned that Kyojuro had only been in this world for two days. He'd immediately seen a report about the recent cannibalism cases on the Times Square screen, which led him to suspect a demon was behind it and begin his investigation.
How could someone like him possibly have had time to meet influential figures who could help solve these kinds of legal problems?
Had he run into a scammer?
Out of concern for Kyojuro, Tony asked, "Could you tell me who this person is?"
"It was a kind-hearted man named Quinn!" Kyojuro replied without hesitation. "When I saw the news reports about the cannibalism cases and was wondering if demons were behind it, that man found me. He told me that demons were indeed behind the cases. He also gave me a temporary ID and some money, and told me I could ask him for help if I encountered any difficulties."
Quinn again?
Although Kyojuro hadn't described the person's appearance in detail, the image of that Asian youth naturally came to everyone's minds. The only person they could think of who could find dimensional travelers when they first arrived in this world and was also named Quinn was that person.
But why?
Why help a dimensional traveler who'd just arrived?
Did they know each other?
It didn't sound like it from the way Kyojuro spoke!
Coulson and Tony exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion reflected in each other's eyes.
"Phew..."
Coulson took a deep breath and asked, "This might be somewhat impolite to ask, but why would Quinn help you? Did Mr. Kyojuro know him before?"
"Didn't I say? He's a kind-hearted man!"
"..."
Coulson and Tony were left speechless as they watched Kyojuro act as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
How naive did someone have to be to believe there were such altruistic people out there?
Suddenly, Tony had a thought and pressed further. "I heard from Miss Tamayo that your Demon Slayer Corps uses breathing techniques to fight demons. Quinn also knows a technique called 'Sun Breathing.' Could he also be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"..."
Kyojuro didn't answer immediately, maintaining his cheerful smile while looking straight ahead.
Just when everyone thought he wouldn't respond, Kyojuro suddenly said, "I don't know. I've never heard of Sun Breathing!"
"The Demon Slayer Corps has many different breathing techniques, but the most fundamental ones are only five: Thunder, Flame, Wind, Water, and Stone. Others, such as Mist, Sound, Love, Serpent, Flower, and Insect, are all derived from these five. But I've never heard of Sun Breathing. Perhaps it was a breathing technique created by one of the Hashira in history that wasn't passed down to later generations!
Of course, it's also possible that it's completely different from the Demon Slayer Corps' breathing techniques altogether."
That many?
Coulson and Tony were stunned, but they also gained a deeper appreciation for the Demon Slayer Corps' profound heritage. This was knowledge that could only be accumulated through the passage of time—not the sudden wealth of nouveau riche.