So this was why Tanjiro had been asking about ways to turn demons back into humans...
On the way back to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Chiba Yo had learned some of the details from Shinobu Kocho.
The demon girl named Nezuko was Tanjiro's younger sister. While he had been away from home, a demon had attacked his family, killing everyone except his sister. His surviving sister had become a demon, too.
Sigh. How would this all turn out?
Looking up at the sun hanging in the sky, Chiba Yo felt that this situation had taken him somewhat by surprise.
Under the Demon Slayer Corps' rules, Tanjiro's actions counted as harboring a demon. That alone was enough to warrant his execution.
But thinking of Tanjiro's personality, Chiba Yo felt that he would never harbor a man-eating demon. Recalling the question Shinobu Kocho had asked on their way there, he guessed that perhaps Tanjiro's sister did not eat humans, even though she had become a demon.
The chances of that were extremely slim. Chiba Yo had never even heard of anyone encountering a demon that did not eat humans, but he still hoped it was true.
If Nezuko doesn't eat humans, I'll do everything I can to save them both. If she's already eaten someone, then I can only save Tanjiro.
That was what Chiba Yo thought. Although he and Tanjiro were friends, and he liked him a great deal, his bottom line was that man-eating demons could not be forgiven. If Nezuko had eaten anyone, he would not let her go.
Still, since Oyakata-sama had ordered them to bring Tanjiro and Nezuko back rather than execute them on the spot, Chiba Yo felt that the outcome should not be too terrible.
Chiba Yo had originally intended to ask Zenitsu what exactly had happened, but Zenitsu was now wrapped up like a mummy and could not speak at all. Asking him would be pointless.
Sunlight spilled across the familiar courtyard. Only a few short days after their last gathering, the Hashira had been summoned once again.
The Wind Hashira was still training and had yet to arrive, but all the other Hashira had gathered there. After lying down for a while, Giyu had recovered and now stood alone off to one side. Shinobu Kocho gave the Hashira present a brief account of the situation.
The Kakushi member carrying Tanjiro on their back set him down, and Chiba Yo stepped forward to untie the ropes around him.
"Lord Chiba..."
The Kakushi member felt somewhat troubled. Although no specific instructions had been given about what to do with Tanjiro, he had violated the Corps' rules. Tying him up to prevent resistance was standard treatment.
"Thank you for your help, but all the Hashira are here. Nothing will go wrong," Chiba Yo told the Kakushi member.
"Yes, sir." Hearing that, the Kakushi member said nothing more.
"Hey, Chiba, this guy broke the Corps' rules, didn't he? And he was harboring a demon, no less. What are you doing? This isn't flashy at all," Tengen Uzui said, displeased by Chiba Yo's actions.
"He's badly injured. Keeping him tied up could make his injuries worse. Besides, with all of us Hashira here, we don't need to worry about him resisting, do we?" Chiba Yo replied.
He had just used the Transparent World to examine Tanjiro's injuries. They were extremely severe, with numerous wounds both internal and external. Right now, even moving was probably difficult for him.
For the moment, Chiba Yo was still willing to believe that Tanjiro had a reason for doing this.
After Chiba Yo untied him, the noise around him brought Tanjiro back to consciousness.
"Yo? What are you doing here? Nezu... cough, cough..." Seeing Chiba Yo upon waking, Tanjiro was confused, but his thoughts soon turned to Nezuko's whereabouts. His injuries were too severe, however, and he began coughing after only a few words.
"Hey! You're standing before a Hashira, the highest rank in the Demon Slayer Corps! Show some respect!" the nearby Kakushi member snapped, angered by the way Tanjiro had addressed him.
"It's all right. We already know each other. He's my friend," Chiba Yo told the Kakushi member with a wave of his hand.
Then he turned back to Tanjiro.
"You're badly injured, so try not to talk too much right now. You'll have plenty to say in a moment," Chiba Yo reminded him.
A Hashira? The highest rank in the Demon Slayer Corps? Didn't we join the Corps together? I'm pretty sure I'm still at the lowest rank, Gui...
The Kakushi member's words had left Tanjiro stunned, and he looked at Chiba Yo with newfound admiration.
"Before the trial begins, let us explain the crime you've committed..." Shinobu Kocho said when she saw that Tanjiro had awakened. All she knew was that the demon was his younger sister.
"There's no need for a trial!" Kyojuro spoke up, his voice as forceful as ever.
"Harboring a demon is a clear violation of the Corps' rules! We have all the authority we need to deal with him! He must be beheaded along with the demon!" Kyojuro declared loudly.
Kyojuro's attitude did not surprise Chiba Yo. Through their time together, he had come to understand his teacher's personality fairly well. Kyojuro was warmhearted and liked taking care of others, but he was also quick to jump to conclusions, sometimes without waiting for the other person to finish speaking. Still, he was highly sensitive to people's changing emotions and very considerate of them.
Even so, his stance on demons was perfectly clear: they were beings that had to be slain.
"Then let me cut off his head in flashy style. I'll make his blood spray everywhere, flashier than anyone else. It'll be so flashy I can hardly stand it," Tengen Uzui chimed in after hearing Kyojuro's words.
"Ah, what a wretched child. How pitiful. The very fact that he was born is pitiful enough. Let me kill you," Gyomei said, pressing his palms together as tears streamed down his face.
"Yes, flashily," Tengen Uzui agreed.
"I think we should let him explain first. Tanjiro is a friend I met during Final Selection. He could cut off a man-eating demon's head without the slightest hesitation, and he saved quite a few people during Final Selection, too. I believe he has a reason for doing this. Please give him a chance."
Seeing that several of the Hashira were about to execute Tanjiro on the spot, Chiba Yo rose and bowed to the other Hashira as he spoke.
I couldn't save that boy back then. I can't stand by and watch the same thing happen to Tanjiro...
Unlike the other Hashira, Chiba Yo knew Tanjiro to some extent. He believed Tanjiro could offer an explanation he would understand, and he hoped that would be the case.
The other Hashira paused at Chiba Yo's gesture, and silence settled over the courtyard. Obanai, who had been about to speak from his perch in a tree, also held his tongue for the moment.
Likewise, the other Hashira knew Chiba Yo to some extent. The matters of the Demon Slayer Mark and the Bright Red Nichirin Blade had shown them that he was willing to give everything to eradicate demons.
"Very well! Since Yo-chan has asked, let's hear this boy's explanation! But if he can't give us a valid reason, he'll still be beheaded along with the demon!" Kyojuro was the first to speak, expressing his willingness to give Tanjiro a chance.
The other Hashira said nothing more.
Yo...
As Tanjiro looked at Chiba Yo standing before him, his heart filled with gratitude.
Chiba Yo straightened, turned to Tanjiro, and said:
"Go ahead, Tanjiro. I want to know why you did this, too."
Before you continue