The Decision

Kagaya emerged with two children supporting him by the hands.

All the Hashira dropped to one knee at once. Tanjiro stood frozen for a moment before the Wind Hashira shoved him to the ground with one hand.

"Forgive me for gathering you all again on such short notice," Kagaya said in a calm, measured voice.

"I summoned you here primarily to discuss two matters."

Sanemi raised his head and spoke. "Forgive my impertinence, but before that, I would like an explanation regarding this swordsman named Tanjiro who travels with a demon. Would that be acceptable?"

All the Hashira looked toward Oyakata-sama. Sanemi had voiced the very question they wanted answered.

Kagaya smiled at his words. "That is one of the two matters I wished to discuss. I apologize for troubling you.

"I have approved of Tanjiro and Nezuko, and I hope you will all accept them as well."

Kagaya looked over the Hashira. Apart from Giyu, Chiba Yo, Mitsuri, and Shinobu, the others seemed dissatisfied with his decision, though Muichiro remained as vacant as ever.

Chiba Yo breathed a sigh of relief at Oyakata-sama's words. With his approval, Tanjiro and Nezuko would most likely be safe.

"Ah, even at the Master's request, I find this difficult to accept," Gyomei replied, tears streaming down his face as he pressed his palms together.

Tengen flamboyantly pointed his thumb at himself. "I flamboyantly object as well. It is hard to accept a member of the Demon Slayer Corps who travels with a demon."

Mitsuri's cheeks flushed slightly as she said, "I will follow all of the Master's wishes."

"I'll forget right away anyway, whichever side I take," Muichiro said calmly.

Shinobu Kocho and Giyu said nothing. Obanai likewise did not agree with Oyakata-sama.

"I can't trust them. I can't trust them. Above all else, I despise demons."

"Although I respect the Master from the bottom of my heart, I simply cannot understand this decision! I oppose it wholeheartedly!" Kyojuro declared loudly.

Next came Sanemi. Naturally, he neither agreed with the decision nor accepted Tanjiro and Nezuko.

"The Demon Slayer Corps exists to slay demons. I ask that you punish both Tanjiro and Tomioka."

Sanemi had also learned that Giyu had stopped Shinobu Kocho from killing Nezuko, and believed that Giyu, too, had sheltered a demon.

"I am willing to believe Tanjiro's words, and I accept both him and Nezuko. As long as we can ensure that Nezuko does not eat humans, I see no problem with the two of them being members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"And I recall that Tanjiro has been searching for a way to turn demons back into humans. If he truly finds one, he could undo many tragedies.

"Turning a demon back into a human can also count as slaying that demon. After all, most demons have entirely different memories and ways of thinking from when they were human. Therefore, this does not go against the purpose of our Demon Slayer Corps."

While the other Hashira had been answering, Chiba Yo had been organizing his thoughts. Now that his turn had come, he delivered a well-structured response.

After hearing Chiba Yo's words, the other Hashira all turned their attention to him, silently considering what he had just said.

So far, five Hashira refused to accept Tanjiro and Nezuko. Only Mitsuri and Chiba Yo had explicitly accepted them, while the remaining three had either stayed silent or declined to take a side.

Seeing this, Kagaya lowered his head and told the white-haired child beside him, "Take out the letter."

The child took a letter from inside her clothes and addressed the Hashira and Tanjiro. "This letter was sent by Lord Sakonji Urokodaki, a former Hashira. I will read part of it aloud."

She then began to read.

"Please allow Tanjiro to remain with his younger sister, who is a demon. Through her strong will, Nezuko has retained her human reason. Even when hungry, she has not eaten anyone, and she has lived this way for over two years.

"Though this may be difficult to believe at once, it is an established fact.

"If Nezuko attacks another person, Tanjiro Kamado, Sakonji Urokodaki, and Giyu Tomioka will commit seppuku in atonement."

With that, Hinaki finished reading Sakonji Urokodaki's letter. Everyone present fell silent for a while.

After hearing the letter, Tanjiro turned to look at Giyu. Giyu remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned.

Tears welled in Tanjiro's eyes. The weight of their kindness was almost more than he could bear.

Chiba Yo was also deeply moved by what Sakonji Urokodaki and Giyu had done.

What an incredibly gentle master and pair of disciples. Were all users of Water Breathing like this...?

Yet even this pledge failed to convince Sanemi.

"What does seppuku prove? If you want to die, then go ahead and die! That doesn't guarantee a damn thing!" Sanemi snapped, furious and agitated.

She retained her reason through sheer strength of will? If a strong will was enough to stay sane after becoming a demon, then what about Mother? She threw herself in front of us to protect us whenever that bastard of a father flew into a rage, even though he was so much bigger than her. Are they saying she didn't have a strong will?

Was her will weaker than some girl barely in her teens?

But back then... only Genya and I survived...

Chiba Yo's words about turning demons back into humans and undoing tragedies had stirred something in Sanemi. But after hearing Sakonji Urokodaki's letter, anger instantly filled his chest.

To everyone else, those lines merely explained Nezuko's condition. To Sanemi, however, they were nothing less than an insult to his deceased mother.

"Just as Shinazugawa said! If she kills someone and eats them, it will be too late! The dead will not come back! This letter does not prove that this boy's demon sister will never eat anyone!" Kyojuro said loudly.

"So the only question left is whether Nezuko still possesses human reason, and whether she might eat someone in the future. As it happens, I have a way to test that."

After hearing their words, Chiba Yo had realized what the real issue was.

He continued, "We only need to let his sister out and see whether she can resist attacking us, right? Since everyone is here, why don't we test her now?"

After speaking, Chiba Yo looked at Oyakata-sama, who turned toward the other Hashira present.

Kyojuro considered Chiba Yo's suggestion for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Yes! That is a good way to prove it! If she can pass this test, I will accept them both!"

Tengen stroked his chin. "Fine. Then let her prove it flamboyantly!"

None of the other Hashira objected, but Sanemi spoke up.

"I agree to this test, but I will be the one to conduct it. Some people are more enticing to demons than others. Proving that she won't attack an ordinary person means nothing.

"My blood is rare even among rare blood, and it is immensely enticing to demons. If she can resist the temptation of my blood, I will accept the two of them for now.

"But..."

Sanemi's lips spread into a grin.

"If she can't hold back, I'll cut off her head on the spot!"