He was afraid.
The sound was very calm, as calm as the water in a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.
Obanai suddenly turned her head.
Under a beech tree three meters to the left, a boy in white was standing there.
The moonlight shone on him, making his white haori glow with a cool light, and his black team uniform outlined his slender but upright figure.
What's most unsettling are those eyes... ice-blue, so clear they're almost transparent, silently watching Obanai, as if they could see right through his disguise and hesitation.
'When did I get there? I didn't notice at all!'
"Fear of the family, fear of ghosts, and fear of... the consequences of speaking the truth."
The young man in white walked slowly, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible.
"But your eyes tell me you know the truth. And you hate that truth."
Obanai instinctively took a half step back, while Kaburamaru hissed and raised his head, assuming a wary stance.
Giyu stopped two steps away from the two, his gaze sweeping over the small white snake around Obanai's neck before returning to his heterochromatic eyes:
"Take us to the Iguro Family."
It's not a request, it's a statement.
Obanai stared at Giyu, a strange emotion welling up from the bottom of her heart—an almost instinctive resistance.
"You..."
Obanai's voice tightened, "And who are you?"
"Giyu Tomioka."
Giyu's answer was succinct and sharp, "Demon Slayer Corps, Water Hashira."
Column?!
Obanai remembered the word.
Mr. Rengoku just mentioned that he is the "Flame Hashira." So "Pillar" is a title within the Demon Slayer Corps? That sounds impressive.
But he still didn't like this boy named Giyu.
That face was beautiful, even exquisite, but the expression was too cold, the eyes too deep, so deep they seemed to suck you in and dissect you completely.
Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Shinjuro smiled and tried to smooth things over:
"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous! That's just how Giyu is, quiet and cold-faced, but he's actually a good guy!"
"Come on, Obanai, tell us, what's going on with the Iguro Family and the Oni?"
He pulled Obanai to sit down on the tree roots next to them, then sat down cross-legged himself and patted the spot next to him.
Giyu didn't sit down, but leaned against the tree trunk, his icy blue eyes still fixed on Obanai, but the oppressive aura lessened slightly.
Obanai hesitated for a long time.
Moonlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating his pale face. Kaburamaru coiled around his neck, its small head resting on his collarbone, its emerald green snake eyes gazing at the two pillars.
"The Iguro Family... is not a noble family at all; they are a brood of maggots who survive by relying on the Snake Demon."
His lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to laugh, but it only made the outline of the gash on his face, which was covered by bandages, more obvious.
"Since 370 years ago, our clan has been raising food for the 'Serpent God' on the island."
"Whichever fisherman or farmhouse it takes a fancy to, we go and 'invite' it to enjoy."
His right eye, its golden pupil, reflected a cold, metallic light in the moonlight.
In return, it will dump its looted treasures, pearls, and even cargo from shipwrecks elsewhere onto our docks.
He paused, Kaburamaru seemed to sense his emotional fluctuation, gently wrapping her fingers around his.
"And every so often, the Snake Demon needs a 'sacrifice,' and the sacrifice must be a direct descendant of the Iguro Family."
"Of all the babies born in the Iguro Family in the past 370 years, there have been far more girls than boys; I am the only boy."
His voice was eerily calm.
"From the moment I was born, I was designated as the next vessel chosen by the 'Snake God.' As far back as I can remember, the place I lived had no windows, only iron bars. The air was always filled with the oily smell of snakes crawling by, and on the ceiling... at night, I could always hear the sound of scales rubbing together. They told me that it was the 'god' inspecting all his possessions."
Shinjuro's breathing became heavy, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Giyu remained silent, but his icy blue eyes were fixed on the edge of the bandages on Obanai's face.
"To make me more like a 'god,' more like a proper 'serpent,'"
Obanai reached out and slowly unwrapped a corner of the bandage wrapped around the lower half of her face.
Under the moonlight, a roughly stitched wound, splitting from the corner of the mouth towards the ear, was revealed. It wasn't a natural tear; the edges were clean, the marks of a sharp blade.
"They cut it."
He rewrapped the bandage, his movements as practiced as if he'd done it a thousand times.
"They said it would be more beautiful this way, and more pleasing to 'God'. My 'family' all smiled and praised me, saying I'm 'looking more and more presentable'."
His heterochromatic eyes held no tears, only a cold, venomous hatred.
"I hate them. I hate that dark cell. I hate the constant scraping sound from the ceiling. And I hate my own eyes, this body."
"I crawled through a gap in the Kaburamaru when I was five years old."
He stroked the little white snake's head; this was the only faint trace of warmth in the entire narrative.
"It was probably lost. With it around, I didn't go crazy when I heard noises overhead at night. I stole a hairpin that a female guard had dropped and used it to grind through an iron bar of the fence."
He raised his head, looked at Shinjuro, and then glanced at Giyu.
"I ran away. I knew the Snake Demon would chase after me, and I knew that being caught and taken back would only lead to a worse fate. But I'd rather die on the run, be eaten by it, than go back to that greasy cage."
"Just now, I couldn't run anymore! I thought, 'So be it, it's better to be eaten. These eyes, this body, the filth in my blood, all of it will be eaten away, and maybe then I'll be clean.'"
He took a deep breath; the cold night air stung his lungs.
"And then, you came."
He looked at Shinjuro, and for the first time, a faint light appeared beneath the deathly ice in his eyes, like seeing a burning star in endless darkness.
"With fire still burning, one slash and... it was burned to ashes."
The courtyard was silent, save for the rustling of the leaves in the wind.
The smile on Shinjuro's face had vanished, replaced by a somber, volcanic rage.
He reached out and pressed heavily on Obanai's thin shoulder; the warm and firm force seemed to penetrate her bones.
You are not a sacrifice.
His voice was deep and rumbling like thunder, each word deliberate and distinct.
"You are Obanai Iguro. A survivor who crawled out of hell. Now you see, demons can be killed, and cages can be broken."
He stood up, his flame-patterned haori fluttering in the night wind, as if the rage within him had materialized.
"Take us to the Iguro Family, to demand an explanation."
He stared in the direction of the manor, golden flames burning in his eyes.
"It's time to burn that snake nest, along with all the maggots and snake eggs inside, to the ground with this fire!"
Obanai was stunned.
"But... but..."
He was speaking incoherently.
"There are many people in the family... they won't agree... and although the Serpent God is dead, what if there are other ghosts..."
That's why we need to go.
Shinjuro stood up, his fiery eyes burning in the moonlight.
"The Demon Slayer Corps' mission is to vanquish all evil spirits and end the tragedy between humans and demons. As for your family..."
He paused, then spoke with a firm tone:
"If they continue to collude with demons, then they are the enemies of the Demon Slayer Corps! But if there are those who are willing to repent and help us slay demons, then they are the ones who can be saved."
Obanai stared blankly at him.
This fiery man spoke simply and directly, yet his words were like a heavy hammer, shattering the wall of despair in his heart.
So... there was this option?
So, when faced with evil, there's not only running away or compromising, but also... fighting?
"I..."
His voice trembled.
"I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
The moment the words left his mouth, Giyu spoke up.
You will die.
Three words: cold and direct.
Obanai suddenly turned her head to look at him.
Giyu remained leaning against the tree trunk, his icy blue eyes showing no emotion.
"The Demon Slayer Corps has a mortality rate of over 70%! The training is brutal, the battles are bloody, and every mission could be their last."
"Furthermore, you're only thirteen, physically weak, and have no swordsmanship background. Even if you manage to pass the training, you might be killed by a demon in your first real battle."
Every word was like an icicle, piercing into the nascent passion within Obanai.
His face flushed red, and anger surged in his heterochromatic eyes:
"How dare you talk to me like that! How much do you even know about me?!"
"Yes, I am weak! But at least I want to change! I want to rebel! Unlike you, cold and emotionless, like a machine without feelings!"
"Obanai!"
Shinjuro frowned and stopped him.
Giyu, however, was not angry.
He even nodded:
"You're right, I don't know you! That's why I'm telling you the truth!"
"The Demon Slayer Corps is not a place to escape reality, but a place to confront hell. If you're just looking for a 'place to hide,' you'll die very quickly."
Obanai bit her lip and clenched her fists tightly.
But what Giyu said next stunned him:
"But if you truly wish to slay demons and end a tragedy like the Iguro Family's... then welcome to Hell."
Her icy blue eyes stared directly at him:
"See for yourself what will happen at the Iguro Family tonight! Then make your decision."
After saying that, Giyu turned around and walked out of the woods.
Shinjuro sighed and patted Obanai on the shoulder:
"That's just how Giyu is, don't take it to heart. But what he said... is true!"
"The Demon Slayer Corps is cruel, really cruel!! But if you're determined, I'll train you myself!!"
Obanai watched Giyu's departing white figure, then glanced at Shinjuro beside her, who was like a flame.
Finally, he wiped his face hard and stood up:
"... I'll take you to the Iguro Family."