Slaying a Lower Rank, the Hashira Meeting

"Do not reveal anything about me. Do you understand?"

Under the moonlight, Muzan Kibutsuji raised his right index finger and spoke expressionlessly to Rokuro, who knelt on the ground, newly appointed to the Lower Ranks.

His faintly resonant voice held no emotion.

Although Muzan had not threatened him with what would happen if he spoke, Rokuro's terror-stricken cells had already told him that, no matter where he was, the man before him could easily take his life.

"Y-yes... I understand, my lord," Rokuro answered repeatedly, his voice trembling.

The terror of that moment remained etched into his cells, never to fade...

Now that he was being questioned about Muzan, Rokuro recalled that scene once again.

The Lower Ranks changed extremely often. Demon Slayers hunting them down accounted for some of this, but competition among demons was another reason. To gain more blood and grow stronger, most intelligent demons sought to become members of the Twelve Kizuki.

But even becoming one of the Twelve Kizuki did not guarantee safety. As Muzan's direct subordinates, any Lower Rank whose strength or behavior failed to satisfy him would, at best, be stripped of their rank. At worst, they would be devoured outright.

Rokuro, Lower Rank Two, had once witnessed Muzan instantly kill another Lower Rank simply for saying the wrong thing.

I can't tell him... I absolutely can't... Otherwise, I'll die horribly. Even if this Demon Slayer kills me, I can't tell him...

Rokuro trembled all over as he thought.

"Muzan was the one who turned you into a demon, wasn't he? As one of the Twelve Kizuki serving directly under him, how could you know nothing about him?" Chiba Yo asked coldly, looking down at Rokuro.

Having finally encountered a demon with relatively close ties to Muzan, Chiba Yo naturally wanted to extract as much information about him as possible.

"I don't know... I don't know..." Rokuro still seemed determined to keep silent even at the cost of his life. He shook his head over and over, shifting his body-but he was actually inching closer to Chiba Yo.

As long as I can touch him, I might still be able to escape with my Blood Demon Art.

That was Rokuro's plan. When the moment was right, he would immediately regenerate his arms, grab Chiba Yo's leg, and activate his Blood Demon Art.

It seems Muzan Kibutsuji has quite a hold over demons.

Chiba Yo felt a little disappointed. He had naturally noticed Rokuro's little movements as well, and slowly raised his crimson Nichirin Blade.

There's no time left.

Seeing Chiba Yo's movement, Rokuro immediately tried to regenerate his limbs.

"Aah!!"

The next instant, bone-searing pain shot from the stumps of his severed limbs. The regeneration he had expected never happened at all.

How could this happen? Why can't I regenerate? I ate plenty of people tonight. I definitely have enough strength to regenerate. Why?

Rokuro could not believe it. Now, he sank into despair.

"In that case, go to hell and atone for everything you've done," Chiba Yo said, his voice fairly calm.

Judging by Rokuro's reaction, he suspected Muzan most likely had some means of controlling demons that left them unable to defy him-or even reveal information about him.

So he had no intention of wasting any more time on this demon. The Bright Red Nichirin Blade swept across Rokuro's neck too fast for the eye to follow, and his head rolled to the ground.

"Damn it! I finally became a Lower Rank, only to die at the hands of a brat like you!" Rokuro's severed head shouted from the ground as both his body and head gradually crumbled to ash.

"I can't accept this... I just... can't..." His shouting grew fainter, until his entire body had turned to ash.

Chiba Yo silently sheathed his Nichirin Blade, his heart heavy.

These two consecutive missions had made him realize just how heavy a responsibility the members of the Demon Slayer Corps bore. Every mission brought them to death's door, placing immense strain on their minds as well.

With his formidable strength, he at least did not need to worry about his own life, but the other members...

Chiba Yo slowly walked over to the Demon Slayer who had just died, bent down, and gently closed his wide-open eyes.

Please rest in peace...

Grief and anguish filled his heart. Then he recalled something Kyojuro had once said...

"Yo-chan, do you know why some people are born stronger than others?"

At the time, he had just finished developing the Sword Techniques for his Breathing Style. He and Kyojuro were resting together on the steps of the Corps Barracks beneath the setting sun when Kyojuro suddenly asked him that question.

After his teacher's constant praise over the past few days, Chiba Yo had gradually come to understand that he seemed to possess considerable talent. Hearing that question, he had a vague feeling that Kyojuro was talking about him.

Chiba Yo thought in silence for a while. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then finally said, "I'm not really sure..."

He had originally wanted to say it was to eradicate evil, but on reflection, he felt that evil was not so easily defined. If a powerful person mistook someone good for evil, they might well kill an innocent person.

Then Kyojuro turned to look at him and said with solemn conviction, "It is to help the weak. Those blessed with exceptional talent, who surpass ordinary people, must use that strength for the world and for others.

"They must never use their heaven-given abilities to hurt others for personal gain.

"Helping the weak is the duty of those born strong. It is also a responsibility we must shoulder, a lifelong mission we must uphold..."

When Kyojuro finished, Chiba Yo noticed that the corners of his eyes seemed a little wet.

Chiba Yo did not understand why, but he committed those words firmly to memory.

After a moment of silence, Kyojuro continued, "Yo-chan, your talent is extraordinary. You could say it surpasses that of anyone I've ever met. That talent makes you stronger than most people from birth.

"But precisely because of that, you must hold yourself to even stricter standards and help the weak. The talents heaven has given us must be meant for protecting, not destroying. Do you understand?"

In his teacher's calm words, Chiba Yo felt an extraordinary strength and conviction, deepening his understanding of the man.

"Yes!" Chiba Yo answered firmly, meeting Kyojuro's gaze.

I'm sorry, Teacher. I couldn't do it...

With the demon slain, the anger in his heart gradually faded, and guilt and self-reproach welled up in its place. On both missions, he had watched others die before his eyes. The pain in Chiba Yo's heart was easy to imagine.

But he did not remain immersed in grief. He rose, took down the bodies hanging from the trees, and buried them one by one.

About twenty minutes later, Kakushi members who had received word arrived. By then, Chiba Yo had buried nearly half the bodies there.

"Lord Chiba Yo, Oyakata-sama has learned that you defeated one of the Twelve Kizuki alone. You have now been promoted to Hashira. Oyakata-sama has summoned you back to attend the Hashira Meeting."

A Kakushi member ran up to Chiba Yo and spoke in a respectful tone.