"Speaking of which, Brother, why did you come to the Demon Slayer Corps?" Hiru tilted his head up at Yoriichi. "Did something go wrong during a mission?"
Yoriichi withdrew his hand and gave a slight nod. "Yes. A Twelve Kizuki appeared during the mission. After I killed him, the Kasugai Crow told me to report to Headquarters."
"...Huh?" Hiru froze in place. "Brother killed a Twelve Kizuki?"
Yoriichi nodded again.
Hiru remained stunned. "Then... is Brother going to become a Hashira?"
"I'm not sure." Yoriichi chuckled softly and ruffled Hiru's hair. "Why do you look so disappointed?"
"Because my one chance to surpass you is gone..." Hiru lowered his head. "I thought I could finally beat you at something by killing fifty demons before you this time..."
"Amida-butsu..." Himejima finally snapped back to his senses. "Yoriichi truly is a remarkable Swordsman."
"Hardly." Yoriichi smiled, then turned to Hiru's dejected expression. "Actually, we didn't encounter the Twelve Kizuki at first. Sabito and I had slain a demon, and afterward he discovered several suspicious disappearances at its residence. After consulting the Kasugai Crow, we set off to investigate. That's when we found out the target was a Twelve Kizuki..."
Hiru's mouth twitched. "Don't know whether to call that demon lucky or unlucky..."
"Why say lucky?" Himejima turned toward him. "In what way was the demon fortunate?"
"Because Brother could have killed him instantly with a single strike."
"Then unlucky..."
"Still because Brother could have killed him instantly with a single strike."
After a brief silence, Himejima finally understood and murmured a Buddhist chant. "Indeed... both fortunate and unfortunate."
"Didn't Sabito come with you?"
"Sabito was injured by a Blood Demon Art while saving a surviving child. He's recovering at the Wisteria House." Yoriichi's expression remained gentle. "Thanks to Sabito rushing in without regard for himself to block the blow, the child survived. And I was able to slay the demon without making too much of a scene."
"That guy Sabito really is way too hot-blooded. We'll probably separate tasks after this. Brother, I'll make a mask for you over the next few days, okay? That way, as long as you don't use the Bright Red Nichirin Sword or the Forms, you'll be fine even without me." Hiru sighed. "But I might be in a bit of trouble. My blade broke, and in my anger I used the Bright Red Nichirin Sword. Those demons died too quickly—I didn't even have time to deal with their bodies..."
Yoriichi's smile softened slightly, but he still reached out to ruffle Hiru's hair. His voice was calm and warm. "It's alright. The Bright Red Nichirin Sword shouldn't cause any problems."
"Um... if I may ask..." Himejima pressed his palms together and murmured a Buddhist chant. "What exactly is the Bright Red Nichirin Sword?"
"It's a technique that turns the Nichirin Blade crimson through pure grip strength, increasing its effectiveness against demons," Yoriichi explained patiently. "But it requires extraordinary power—truly immense grip strength."
"A crimson Nichirin Blade..." Himejima furrowed his brow. "I've heard of legends about it, but never imagined it was achieved in this way..."
"Legends? About that?" Hiru blinked in confusion. "What kind of legend could there be?"
"Legend says that demons struck by a crimson Nichirin Blade cannot regenerate. It is a divine blade that puts humans and demons on equal footing." Tears slipped once again from Himejima's pale eyes. "So many outstanding swordsmen have fallen because of a demon's regenerative power... If demons could not regenerate, the speed at which swordsmen could slay them would increase greatly.
It's just a pity that, as Yoriichi said, without sufficient grip strength no one can awaken that crimson edge. Truly lamentable."
Seeing Himejima suddenly begin to weep, Yoriichi tilted his head and glanced at Hiru as if asking for clarification.
Hiru shook his head to signal that it was nothing unusual—just Himejima's habit.
"We've stayed here long enough," Himejima said as he wiped his tears and rolled his prayer beads between his fingers. "Both of you, come inside."
Naturally, Hiru and Yoriichi followed, walking behind Himejima.
With Yoriichi no longer concealing his aura, Himejima could clearly sense how, during this mere fifteen-minute walk, Yoriichi repeatedly and patiently guided Hiru back onto the correct path whenever he wandered.
Even Himejima couldn't help but admire Yoriichi's patience, inwardly acknowledging that his own cultivation was still lacking.
Once they entered the courtyard, a member of the Kakushi approached immediately, assigned them lodging, and informed them they were to attend the Hashira Meeting in five days.
"Are you sure I'm included?" Hiru pointed at himself, unable to believe it. "I didn't kill a Twelve Kizuki."
"I'm not sure either..." The Kakushi being questioned by Hiru waved his hands in panic. "I'm only relaying Oyakata-sama's orders."
"Don't trouble him. Let him go." Yoriichi watched the Kakushi flee as though pardoned. "I suspect it's because of the Bright Red Nichirin Sword. From what Himejima said, it seems that technique has been lost for a long time. The Demon Slayer Corps must be eager to learn how to produce a crimson Nichirin Blade."
"Brother… that technique needs absurd grip strength — dozens of tons. I only figured it out after years of training alone. Honestly, it's a miracle anyone ever discovered it in the first place."
"But with Breathing Styles, you don't need nearly as much," Yoriichi said, thinking. "Even a ton of grip strength should work.."
"...Brother, for an ordinary human, a hundred tons is already incredible—actually, even a hundred kilos is difficult." Hiru's expression was indescribable. "So back then… you really had the strength to squeeze with tons of force!?"
Yoriichi shook his head slightly. "I don't really know... I just felt it was possible, so I did it.
But if humans theoretically can't reach that level of grip strength... then there must be some technique I overlooked. Hmm... I'll figure something out."
Hiru: ...
Brother, do you hear what you're saying?