Sure enough, in a world like this, knowing someone badass was enough. Who Newton was didn't really matter.
"Tch." Sanemi Shinazugawa sucked his teeth, a hint of disdain in his voice. "It's that easy to activate?"
Giyu tossed back a casual remark without even turning his head.
"I really envy that... simple brain of yours, thinking those conditions are easy to meet."
"Huh? What did you say?"
Sanemi and Obanai glared at him from behind.
These two Hashira didn't just get along well; they were perfectly in sync when it came to disliking Giyu, too.
Kanae raised her hand. "So... our top priority now is to study the Demon Slayer Mark and awaken our own?"
"...My suggestion is," Haruto said, his eyes flickering, "that we discuss this a little more first."
"Is there a problem?" Shinobu reached over and tugged at the hem of Haruto's clothes.
There were far too many problems.
Would Gyomei Himejima, who was already over twenty-five, die immediately after awakening his Demon Slayer Mark?
When lives were at stake, they couldn't be too careful.
Kagaya calmly shared this information with all the Hashira. They exchanged glances, a thoughtful look settling over each face.
Twenty-five...
That was so...
Close at hand.
For human beings, for Demon Slayers, it was far too cruel.
After being robbed of happy childhoods, were these swordsmen also going to lose every year of their lives beyond twenty-five?
Were their lives to be even more fleeting than a night-blooming flower?
Would they bloom in dazzling splendor, only to swiftly wither?
Silence flowed through the room. Haruto clenched his fist, tightening his hold on Shinobu Kocho's hand as well.
A moment later, Gyomei Himejima, the oldest among them, let out a long sigh.
He straightened and pressed his palms together. There was no sorrow