"But," Rokuya raised his voice, forcibly suppressing Sanemi's killing intent, "because I intervened in time, and because that child's own willpower was extraordinarily strong, she retained her human reason and emotions despite becoming a demon. Most importantly, she hasn't eaten anyone. And I intend to protect her."
If the news of Muzan's beheading had been a thunderclap, Rokuya's words now triggered an earthquake.
"Absurd!" Obanai Iguro pointed at Rokuya, his gaze icy. "Rokuya, I admit you're strong. Ridiculously strong. And I owe you a debt. But a demon is a demon! Every demon will eat people! That is an absolute, inviolable rule! Yet here you are, at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, in front of the Master, saying you want to protect a demon?!"
"I agree with Iguro!" Sanemi Shinazugawa said through gritted teeth, his hand already gripping his sword hilt. "Rokuya, did killing Muzan damage your brain? Filthy creatures like demons should be killed on sight! Even if you're the one asking, I absolutely cannot accept this!"
Tengen Uzui frowned as well. "There's nothing flashy about that proposal. Takanashi, do you know what bringing a demon into headquarters means?"
Facing the Hashira's doubts and hostility, Rokuya did not back down in the slightest. He folded his arms across his chest, a cold smirk curling his lips, fully displaying his deep-seated arrogance and fierce protectiveness toward his own.
"I told you, I'm not asking for your agreement. I'm informing you." Rokuya's gaze grew intensely oppressive, and a faint, dark-blue aura of magic began swirling around him. "I personally saw that child put herself in front of the Water Hashira's blade to protect her older brother. Going against a demon's instincts to protect a human is enough to prove she's different."
He glanced at Giyu Tomioka, who nodded calmly. "I can