Hashira Meeting

Mitsuri Kanroji was instantly amused by Tanjiro's embarrassment, but she held back, not daring to laugh aloud. She looked utterly adorable.

No, I can't laugh! No, no, no! Mitsuri Kanroji kept reminding herself.

Seeing Tanjiro's expression, Shinobu Kocho lowered her head and covered her mouth, chuckling softly.

After hearing Tanjiro's words, Kyojuro Rengoku's opinion of him improved considerably.

"Mm! Your heart's in the right place!"

Lin Guang couldn't help laughing at Tanjiro either.

"Hahaha!"

Hearing Lin Guang's laughter, Tanjiro was so embarrassed he wanted to dig a hole in the ground with his toes and disappear into it.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned to Lin Guang and spoke.

"Lin Guang, I'll leave Tanjiro and Nezuko in your care from now on. I trust you can supervise them properly."

Lin Guang stopped smiling and nodded. "No problem."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps all possess exceptional talent, of course, but they have also honed themselves through grueling training, overcome crises, and defeated members of the Twelve Kizuki.

"That is why the Hashira are respected and granted special treatment. You should also be mindful of how you speak, Lin Guang."

"I understand," Lin Guang replied.

Then Kagaya Ubuyashiki addressed Sanemi Shinazugawa. "And Sanemi, don't be too hard on the children under you."

Sanemi Shinazugawa knelt on one knee. "Understood!"

"That concludes the matter of Tanjiro. You may leave! Lin Guang, stay here for now."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki intended to let Tanjiro go and rest first.

Tanjiro and Inosuke had fought the Spider-Faced Demon together. Although Inosuke could sever his arms with all his strength, he couldn't cut through his neck, and the demon had become even harder to deal with after shedding his skin.

As a result, Tanjiro and Inosuke had still suffered quite a few injuries. Inosuke wasn't as dispirited as he had been in the anime, however, and remained full of energy.

Hearing the Master's words, Shinobu Kocho took the opportunity to say, "Then my estate will take care of Kamado for the time being."

With that, Shinobu Kocho clapped her hands and instructed, "All right! Please take him away!"

At Shinobu Kocho's command, two members of the Kakushi came running out. One shouldered Nezuko's wooden box, while the other hoisted Tanjiro onto his back despite his resistance, and the two left together.

After Tanjiro and the Kakushi members had left, Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "Then let us begin the Hashira Meeting."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki entered the house, followed by the Nine Hashira. Lin Guang followed behind them into the room.

Once the Hashira had seated themselves, everyone remained silent, waiting for Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"The first matter concerns Lin Guang," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly.

As soon as he spoke, everyone turned toward Lin Guang, who sat at the far end.

Suddenly finding himself under so many gazes, Lin Guang didn't panic. He looked calmly at Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"Master."

"You created Ice Breathing and slew Lower Rank Five during the recent incident at Mount Natagumo," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said. "Therefore, I believe you are worthy of becoming a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Lin Guang smiled faintly at Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words.

The moment Ubuyashiki had mentioned that the matter concerned him, he had already guessed what Kagaya Ubuyashiki was about to say.

"Thank you, Master," Lin Guang said. "It is my honor."

Everyone reacted differently to the news that Lin Guang would become a new Hashira.

Sanemi Shinazugawa turned his head away, refusing to look at Lin Guang. Although he was still somewhat annoyed with him, he acknowledged his strength.

Tengen Uzui rubbed his chin as he looked at Lin Guang. "A user of a new Breathing Style. Now that's flashy. And you landed a flashy hit on Shinazugawa, too. You have my approval."

Shinobu Kocho's eyes narrowed into crescents as she smiled at Lin Guang. "Congratulations, Lin Guang."

Mitsuri Kanroji blushed as she said, "Lin Guang! Congratulations!"

Although Gyomei Himejima was blind, he could sense Lin Guang's strength.

"It is a blessing for the Demon Slayer Corps to have someone as strong as you join us."

Kyojuro Rengoku looked at Lin Guang and said cheerfully, "You haven't been in the Corps long, yet you've already encountered Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Kizuki one after another! You certainly draw them to you! Even I'm envious!"

Obanai Iguro looked at Lin Guang with the unmistakable gaze of a man sizing up a romantic rival.

Damn it. Now that he's a Hashira, won't he get to see Mitsuri every day?

Muichiro Tokito stared blankly at Lin Guang and asked, "What was... your name again? Sorry, I just forgot."

"Lin Guang," he replied helplessly.

Muichiro Tokito nodded. Giyu Tomioka said nothing, merely looking at Lin Guang and giving him a nod.

Understanding what Giyu Tomioka meant, Lin Guang nodded back.

"Now, everyone, please report on the recent situation," Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued.

"Yes!" the Nine Hashira answered in unison.

The nine Hashira then gave their reports in turn, while Lin Guang listened and learned beside them. After all, he had only just become a Hashira.

By the time all nine had finished their reports, night had fallen, and lamps had been lit in the room.

After hearing their reports, Kagaya Ubuyashiki said, "As all of you have reported, the losses caused by demons are increasing faster than before."

"In other words, people's lives are facing an unprecedented threat. I believe we must increase the number of Demon Slayer Corps members. What do you all think?"

Sanemi Shinazugawa was the first to respond. "The incident at Mount Natagumo made it quite clear. The quality of our members has declined to an unbelievable degree. They're practically useless."

Shinobu Kocho raised a concern.

"The more people we have, the harder it becomes to manage them all. The times have changed considerably, too."

"Some join because someone they loved dearly was brutally murdered, while others come from exceptional bloodlines of Demon Slayers stretching back generations. It would be cruel to expect anyone else to produce the same results with equal-or even greater-resolve and spirit."

Gyomei Himejima had also considered the difficulties of improving the quality of their members.

"Yes," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said. "But Lower Rank Five caused such a major disturbance. That must mean Muzan wasn't anywhere near Mount Natagumo."

Lin Guang nodded in agreement. "That's right. It was the same in Asakusa. When Tanjiro discovered Muzan, he immediately turned someone into a demon to create chaos."

"Because of that, we couldn't track Muzan down and find his lair."

After speaking, Lin Guang continued inwardly, Though I know Muzan's lair is the Infinity Castle, there's no telling when he'll actually be there.

"Indeed," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said with a faint smile. "Whenever Muzan has something he wishes to hide, he skillfully diverts our attention. It truly is frustrating."

"Yet even now, the demons are leisurely devouring people, gaining strength, and clinging to their existence. For the sake of those who have already died, there is only one thing we must do."

"I believe the Hashira gathered here are the finest group of swordsmen assembled since the practitioners of First Breathing in the Sengoku era."

Then Ubuyashiki slowly swept his gaze over everyone, speaking each person's name as he looked at them.

"Tengen Uzui, Kyojuro Rengoku, Shinobu Kocho, Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro Tokito, Gyomei Himejima, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Obanai Iguro, Giyu Tomioka, and Lin Guang."

"My swordsmen, I look forward to your accomplishments."