Hashira Trial

In an instant, all Nine Hashira dropped to one knee before the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps-Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Whether it was Obanai Iguro, who had been lying in a tree, or the hotheaded Sanemi Shinazugawa, they all knelt quietly and neatly before Kagaya Ubuyashiki. Tanjiro knelt on one knee beside Giyu Tomioka.

Giyu Tomioka held the back of Tanjiro's neck, clearly making him join them in paying his respects to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Lin Guang merely dipped his head slightly in greeting.

"Good morning, Master."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Lin Guang and smiled faintly before saying, "Lin Guang, when I last saw you, you said you would join the Demon Slayer Corps in about two years. Yet only a year has passed. Did something happen?"

Lin Guang smiled softly, glanced at Tanjiro beside him, and said, "Yes, a few interesting things happened, so I couldn't resist joining the Demon Slayer Corps."

Seeing where Lin Guang looked, Kagaya Ubuyashiki understood that he had joined the Demon Slayer Corps because of Tanjiro and his sister, Nezuko.

"I see. Then let's discuss your situation later."

At that, Lin Guang stepped aside.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words and attitude left the nine Hashira secretly astonished. He was allowing Lin Guang such freedom.

"Forgive my presumption, but before we begin the Hashira Meeting, I would like an explanation regarding these members named Lin Guang and Tanjiro Kamado, who are traveling with a demon. Would that be acceptable?"

Apart from the scars that made Sanemi Shinazugawa look somewhat vicious, his words and actions were entirely rational at that moment.

"Of course. I'm sorry to have unsettled you."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki first apologized, then continued, "I have approved of Tanjiro and Nezuko, and Lin Guang is their supervisor. I hope all of you will accept them as well."

Hearing that their leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had actually approved of Tanjiro and Nezuko, the Hashira were shocked and found it difficult to accept.

"Ah! Even at your request, Master, I cannot agree!" The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, was the first to express his stance.

"I also flamboyantly object. I simply cannot accept a Demon Slayer traveling with a demon." The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, was the second to state his position.

"I will follow all of our leader's orders!" The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, took the opposite stance and chose to obey Kagaya Ubuyashiki. She was also delighted that the Master had accepted Lin Guang, Tanjiro, and his sister.

"Whichever side I take, I'll forget about it right away anyway." The Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, stated his position with an indifferent expression.

Shinobu Kocho did not voice her opinion. She kept her head lowered, and no one knew what she was thinking.

As for Giyu Tomioka, his stance went without saying. After all, he had made his decision a year ago.

After a few seconds of silence, the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, shook his head and said, "I cannot trust them. At the end of the day, I detest demons more than anything."

"Though I respect you from the bottom of my heart, Master, I simply cannot understand this decision." The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, did not explicitly state his position, but his words made it clear that he opposed it.

Finally, Sanemi Shinazugawa reiterated his deep displeasure. "The Demon Slayer Corps exists to destroy demons! I ask that you punish all three members-Kamado, Lin Guang, and Tomioka!"

Lin Guang had not expected to be given the role of supervisor, but it took him no more than a tenth of a second to understand.

It must be because of Grandpa Urokodaki's letter.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was not angered by their opposition, but neither did he intend to change his decision. Instead, he said to his daughter on his right, "Take out the letter."

"Yes!" The little white-haired girl beside him, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's daughter, answered. She took an envelope from inside her clothes, opened it, and pulled out the letter.

"This letter was sent by the former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki! I will read a portion of it aloud!"

Tanjiro's attention immediately focused on the letter. He wondered exactly what his teacher had written.

Lin Guang had already guessed its contents.

"Please allow Tanjiro to remain with his younger sister, who has become a demon. Through her strong will, Nezuko has retained her human reason. Even while hungry, she has not eaten anyone, and she has lived this way for more than a year. Though this may be difficult to believe, it is an indisputable fact."

"Furthermore, Lin Guang has accompanied them throughout their journey. His convictions are firm, and he will never spare any demon that harms people. He will serve as their supervisor. If Nezuko attacks a human, Lin Guang will dispose of her, while Tanjiro Kamado, Sakonji Urokodaki, and Giyu Tomioka will commit seppuku in atonement."

Once the little girl finished reading the letter, Lin Guang lowered his head in thought.

Just as I thought. Grandpa Urokodaki treats me as his own grandson, so he doesn't want me fully involved in this matter. That's why he gave me the role of supervisor.

Yet he was willing to stake his own life on Tanjiro and Nezuko. How selfish, and how noble.

Lin Guang smiled faintly. In his seventeen years in this world, this was the only time he had felt a sense of belonging-the bond of family.

Tanjiro had never imagined that Sakonji Urokodaki and Giyu Tomioka would go so far for him. Tears filled his eyes and spilled down his cheeks unbidden.

"What does committing seppuku prove?! If they want to die, let them die! That is no guarantee at all!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa did not choose to let Lin Guang, Tanjiro, or Giyu Tomioka off simply because Sakonji Urokodaki had pledged to commit seppuku.

"Shinazugawa is right! If she kills and eats someone, it will be too late! The dead will not come back!"

The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, followed up on Sanemi Shinazugawa's words, addressing Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"You're right, Brother Rengoku. That's why I'm here as her supervisor, isn't it? Throughout our journey, I witnessed how Nezuko helped and protected humans. That's why I believe she won't harm them."

Lin Guang spoke slowly, then abruptly changed tack.

"But, Brother Rengoku!" "If we slaughter every demon based solely on our preconceptions, regardless of whether they are kind, then how are we any different from demons?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Lin Guang and smiled softly before saying, "Indeed. Lin Guang's journey with Tanjiro and Nezuko serves as proof that she has not attacked anyone. And if we kill her without evidence that she has attacked a human, wouldn't that be exactly as Lin Guang said?"

For a moment, Sanemi Shinazugawa was at a loss for words.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "Furthermore, three people have staked their lives on Nezuko. If anyone wishes to reject that, they must offer something of even greater value. Do any of you possess that kind of resolve?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words silenced the Hashira who had voiced their opposition.

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "There is also something else I must tell my swordsmen. Tanjiro and his companions have encountered Muzan Kibutsuji."