Kagaya sighed softly, the sigh like a cool breeze that swept across the entire cemetery.
"The resilience that child displayed in that desperate situation was truly moving. But..."
Kagaya turned around to face Giyu, a hint of helplessness and bitterness creeping into his gentle smile.
"Giyu, you must understand that the Demon Slayer Corps' foundation for standing in the world for hundreds of years lies in its relentless 'hatred' for evil demons."
"Take a look at this cemetery."
Kagaya slowly extended his pale hand, pointing to the countless tombstones around him.
"Those lying here are all our comrades."
Sanemi's mother turned into a demon and killed all his younger siblings;
The orphan adopted by Mr. Gyomei was brutally murdered by a ghost, and he himself was falsely accused and imprisoned.
The Obanai family has been sacrificing newborn babies to the Snake Demon for generations...
"This kind of deep-seated hatred cannot be easily erased with the simple words 'he is harmless now.'"
Kagaya's voice grew lower and lower, carrying a heavy burden of the patriarch's authority.
"Everyone deeply hates ghosts!! That hatred is irrational!!"
"Just like Miss Tamayo!!"
"She developed the Demon Transformation Medicine Agent and provided Muzan with information; she can be said to have made a Muzan contribution!!"
"But to this day, I haven't even dared to fully reveal her true identity to the team members and the pillars."
"Why?"
Kagaya asked and answered himself.
"Because once everyone finds out that our Demon Slayer Corps' core medical team actually harbors a demon that has eaten people before, the entire team's faith will instantly collapse."
Even though she has now turned back into a human, those swordsmen who have lost their loved ones would still find it impossible to resist the urge to draw their swords.
Upon hearing this, even the muscles on Giyu's usually expressionless face twitched slightly.
Yes, my Master is absolutely right.
Even someone as influential as Miss Tamayo, who provided groundbreaking scientific achievements, had to go into hiding.
Let alone Tanjiro Kamado?
"My Master, is there really no other way...?"
Giyu clenched his fists, his deep blue eyes filled with resentment.
Could it be that Tanjiro endured countless hardships and finally survived the pain of the Demon Transformation Medicine Agent, only to end up...?
Kagaya didn't answer directly; the helplessness on his face suddenly lessened.
"Giyu, let me ask you this. If we set aside all personal feelings..."
"If it were you, could you completely kill Tanjiro now?"
"Cannot!"
Giyu answered decisively.
"Why?"
Kagaya tilted his head slightly.
"My Master, although Miss Tamayo's medicine forcibly suppressed the violent activity of the demon blood within him, restoring his human mind and physical characteristics!!"
"... but it still cannot eliminate the residual genes."
A hint of helplessness flashed in Giyu's deep blue eyes.
"Tanjiro has become an 'immortal demon' who has overcome sunlight!!"
"This means that the Nichirin Blade's decapitation technique is ineffective against him; even the Red Nichirin Blade, imbued with the extreme heat of Sun Breathing, cannot completely incinerate his cells!!"
"... There is no conventional physical means in this world that can eliminate him."
"Therefore, if there is any force in this world that can fundamentally destroy him, completely annihilate him..."
Giyu's eyes turned incredibly cold as he uttered that name.
"Perhaps, only the source that gave him this power— Muzan Kibutsuji himself!"
"Muzan by using Muzan's authority as the progenitor to forcibly drain and assimilate the blood in his body can he truly die."
Listen to Giyu's analysis.
Instead of feeling fear, Kagaya nodded slightly.
He didn't linger on this despairing topic for long; he immediately moved on to the second, and most crucial, question.
"Then, Giyu, if..."
Kagaya's eyes seemed to be locked onto Giyu's soul.
"If, at the next Hashira Meeting, or even someday in the future, the demon genes within Tanjiro go out of control, and he goes berserk again in front of you, in front of everyone else..."
"Without any external assistance, how confident are you that you can save everyone from his claws, which are sharper than an Upper Rank, and perfectly subdue him?!"
This is definitely a tricky question that challenges the soul.
Facing a Perfect Lifeform that is unkillable, can withstand sunlight, and whose strength may rival that of the Demon King.
If it were any other player, they would probably be sweating bullets right now, mentally calculating their chances of winning.
However,
Standing before Kagaya... was Giyu Tomioka.
Faced with this crucial question from their Oyakata-sama.
Giyu didn't hesitate for even half a second!
A terrifying sword aura, almost tangible, surged uncontrollably from his body, causing the surrounding Wisteria to flutter wildly!
One hundred percent!
This shows his absolute confidence in his own abilities!
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, on the other hand, was stunned for a full three seconds.
Subsequently,
"Pfft... Haha!"
This usually dignified and imposing leader, surprisingly, clutched his stomach and burst into hearty laughter, completely losing all composure.
He laughed so hard tears almost came out.
Giyu's Giyu straightforward confidence completely dispelled the gloom that had been lingering in Kagaya's heart for days.
"Excellent! Very good! As expected of our Giyu- kun!"
Kagaya smiled, wiped his eyes with a handkerchief, and nodded repeatedly.
"Since you are 100% confident you can suppress him..."
Kagaya stopped laughing, but the curve of his lips became mysterious.
This Oyakata-sama, with his exceptional strategic vision, suddenly had a brilliant idea, and a seemingly insane "breakthrough plan" instantly took shape!
"So, to silence those Pillars who so deeply hate demons, and to truly earn Tanjiro the Demon Slayer Corps's approval..."
Kagaya waved to Giyu, his expression resembling that of an old fox who had cultivated for a thousand years.
"Giyu, come a little closer. I happen to have a 'perfect' solution here!!"
"All you need to do is cooperate with me in staging a little drama at the Hashira Meeting..."
Giyu, completely bewildered, approached.
Lady Amane wisely took two steps back to keep watch over the surroundings.
As Kagaya narrated.
Giyu Tomioka's expressionless face, which would never change even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him.
It happened at a speed visible to the naked eye...
It cracked!!
Giyu's pupils instantly dilated to three times their normal size!
His deep blue eyes were filled with extreme shock and horror, as if he had seen an alien!
"This..."
After Kagaya finished explaining his plan, the mighty Water Hashira suddenly staggered back three large steps like a young woman who had been sexually assaulted, and fell directly onto the bluestone slab!
He even stuttered, which was rare for him, pointing at Kagaya and unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.
"This... this... My Master... are you... are you serious?!"
Giyu felt that his worldview had been devastated!
What kind of brilliant plan is this?!
Giyu even quickly simulated the scene in his mind.
"My Master! This plan is absolutely unacceptable!"
Giyu was hesitant, and could even be described as extremely resistant.
He was clearly utterly shocked by this insane decision.
"This will not only anger all the pillars, but... there's even a possibility of unforeseen consequences. Absolutely not!!"
Faced with the protests of the Giyu,
Kagaya, however, didn't care at all.
"Giyu- kun, don't be so reserved."
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."
"You need to have confidence in yourself! Didn't you just say you were 100% confident you could dominate the entire scene?"
Kagaya's voice became serious, striking directly at Giyu's weak spot.
"Can you bear to watch that kind-hearted red-haired boy end up on the execution platform because he can't overcome everyone's prejudice?"
"If we don't give those pillars, blinded by hatred, a powerful dose of 'medicine,' they will never wake up and accept the existence of someone who was once a perfect demon!"
"For Tanjiro's future, and for the Demon Slayer Corps to truly unite and fight Muzan!!"
"Giyu, this villain role can only be played by you!"
Giyu's breath hitched slightly.
"... Understood."
In the end, Giyu lowered his head with difficulty.
He agreed to his Oyakata-sama's outrageous plan.
"Very good! Go and prepare. Do your best at the Hashira Meeting in two days!"
Kagaya nodded in satisfaction.
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Giyu stood up and bowed deeply to his Oyakata-sama and Lady Amane once again.
Then, the current Water Hashira, who always walked with a brisk and light step, turned and left with an inexplicable heaviness in his back.
Watching Giyu Tomioka's retreating figure,
Kagaya Ubuyashiki slowly wiped the smile off his face.
The patriarch, burdened with the curse of his race and the hopes of all humanity, tilted his head slightly, feeling the petals falling in the breeze.
His empty eyes held an extreme clarity that could see through all of humanity and hatred.
"To reach a reconciliation, simply proving harmlessness is far from enough."