Chiba Yo fell silent at those words. He had considered this possibility before and had already decided what to do if it happened. He had no intention of hiding the truth from Zenitsu.
"I saw him..."
Chiba Yo looked at Zenitsu as he spoke.
"That's a relief. I thought something might have happened to him. Grandpa would be heartbroken if it had."
Zenitsu relaxed at his answer and spoke with a smile.
Seeing the relief on Zenitsu's face, Chiba Yo felt a pang of reluctance.
At the same time, Zenitsu's words made him realize that much of his tolerance toward Kaigaku seemed to stem from his desire not to upset Jigoro Kuwajima.
That was why he had endured Kaigaku's treatment, no matter how vicious it was.
The two of them were almost complete opposites. One had no gratitude whatsoever, while the other could endure anything to repay another person's kindness.
During his last visit to Jigoro Kuwajima's home, Chiba Yo had learned about Zenitsu's past. A woman had swindled him out of all his money and left him deeply in debt. Jigoro Kuwajima had found him, paid off his debts, and taken the opportunity to accept him as a student.
Unlike most members of the Demon Slayer Corps, he had little reason to hunt demons. He bore them no direct grudge.
Yet he had still joined the Demon Slayer Corps and persevered until now despite his overwhelming fear, because he wanted to live up to Jigoro Kuwajima's expectations...
"Kaigaku... is already dead... I killed him myself..."
Chiba Yo's voice was heavy. That weight came not from having killed Kaigaku, but from having to tell Zenitsu about it.
"Ha... haha, you're joking, right?"
Zenitsu's pupils contracted at those words, and he spoke in disbelief.
"I'm not joking."
Chiba Yo answered Zenitsu.