A private talk

"It was Muzan Kibutsuji!"

"How is that possible? No, I should say, so that was what happened..."

Beside Lin Yoriichi, Giyu Tomioka whipped his head around, his face filled with disbelief and understanding:

"You actually went through a battle like that!"

On the other side, Kyojuro Rengoku had recovered somewhat from his shock and was now praising him loudly:

"To survive that monster and protect an entire family, too-Mr. Lin, you truly are incredible!"

His voice was so loud that Lin Yoriichi's eardrums buzzed.

Lin Yoriichi instinctively raised his head, intending to look at Kyojuro Rengoku, only to meet Kagaya Ubuyashiki's smile halfway.

Something suddenly stirred in Lin Yoriichi's mind.

So that was it.

When he had entered the courtyard and noticed that a Hashira Meeting seemed to be underway, other possibilities had crossed his mind.

Perhaps Kagaya Ubuyashiki had deliberately chosen to meet him here to "put him in his place."

In reality, however, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had arranged for him to "show off before an audience" in front of the Hashira.

He had to admit, this arrangement felt... absolutely fantastic!

But a question followed-

How had Kagaya Ubuyashiki determined that he had encountered Muzan Kibutsuji?

Was it the special ability passed down through generations of the Ubuyashiki Family?

Gyomei Himejima suddenly reached out and restrained Tengen Uzui, who had nearly rushed straight over:

"Don't get so worked up."

Tengen Uzui continued shouting:

"How could I not get worked up?!"

"That was Muzan Kibutsuji!"

"We've fought demons for so long and lost who knows how many people, yet we don't even know what he looks like!"

"Now someone has finally encountered him and survived!"

"Of course I have to take this chance to get some answers!"

Then Tengen Uzui turned to Lin Yoriichi, his face brimming with excitement, not even sparing a thought for the jeweled ornament that had fallen from his head:

"What exactly does he look like?"

"What abilities does he have?"

Gyomei Himejima tightened his grip, holding Tengen Uzui back more firmly.

But he, too, could not help chanting the Buddha's name:

"Namu Amida Butsu."

Two streams of hot tears rolled down his face once again.

For nearly a hundred years, the Demon Slayer Corps had obtained no further information about Muzan Kibutsuji.

There had only been countless outstanding swordsmen battling vicious demons again and again at a disadvantage in the darkness, sacrificing their lives time after time.

Now they knew Muzan Kibutsuji's whereabouts, and there was even someone who had survived an encounter with him.

This undoubtedly brought new hope to every member of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Perhaps this seemingly endless road would finally reach its end.

Just as even the longest night would eventually give way to dawn.

Seeing the Hashira growing increasingly agitated, Kagaya Ubuyashiki suddenly spoke:

"Mr. Yoriichi, may I speak with you alone?"

Lin Yoriichi nodded and followed Kagaya Ubuyashiki into a room farther inside.

As soon as he entered, Lin Yoriichi saw a "little girl" wearing the same style of clothes as Hinaki Ubuyashiki, and even looking very similar to her, except with black hair, setting a tea set and refreshments on a low table.

Lin Yoriichi knew that this "little girl" was named Kiriya Ubuyashiki.

His true identity was actually the son of Oyakata-sama, Kagaya Ubuyashiki!

Yes, his son indeed.

It was said that after the family had produced a creature like Muzan Kibutsuji, the entire Ubuyashiki Family had been cursed.

Even though the family had married into Shinto priests' families for generations, no male had ever lived past thirty.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was one such example: despite his youth, purple scars had already appeared on his forehead.

His son, Kiriya Ubuyashiki, was also physically frail.

Thus, until Kiriya Ubuyashiki turned thirteen, they could only raise him as a daughter.

After Lin Yoriichi sat down, Kagaya Ubuyashiki suddenly asked:

"Should I continue calling you Yoriichi, or should I call you Yoriichi Tsugikuni?"

Hearing this, Lin Yoriichi was immediately startled.

Of course he had considered that Kagaya Ubuyashiki would be curious about his identity.

But he had never expected Kagaya Ubuyashiki to point out the connection between him and Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

Seeming to notice Lin Yoriichi's confusion, Kagaya Ubuyashiki explained earnestly:

"Yoriichi Tsugikuni was once a swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps, too."

"Although he was later expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps for certain reasons, his portrait has survived."

"Unfortunately, however, more of his deeds, as well as the breathing method he used, have all been lost."

Then Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Lin Yoriichi and said with utmost seriousness:

"So there are some things I know, and others I do not."

"But I am not someone who likes to pry, so you do not need to explain anything to me."

"I only want to know whether we can put an end to Muzan Kibutsuji in my generation, and what I need to do to assist you."

This time, it was Lin Yoriichi's turn to freeze.

Before meeting Kagaya Ubuyashiki, he had thought of who knew how many ways to persuade him to send him to the Swordsmith Village.

And to give him some information so he could prepare in advance and give Muzan Kibutsuji and Kokushibo a little "surprise."

But Kagaya Ubuyashiki's response had rendered all of Lin Yoriichi's plans unnecessary.

He had simply chosen to trust him, even asking what assistance he needed.

This had indeed caught Lin Yoriichi off guard, but on reflection, it made perfect sense.

For the Ubuyashiki Family, whose lineage had continued to this day, eliminating Muzan Kibutsuji was their mission.

To achieve that goal, never mind Lin Yoriichi merely being "possibly Yoriichi Tsugikuni resurrected."

Even if Lin Yoriichi's true identity were a visitor from Nebula M78 who had come to Japan to search for his lost spaceship.

As long as he could help eliminate Muzan Kibutsuji, Kagaya Ubuyashiki would not mind mobilizing people to help him search for that spaceship.

Lin Yoriichi felt a little like laughing, yet could not laugh at all.

For a moment, Kagaya Ubuyashiki before him merged with the Oyakata-sama Lin Yoriichi had seen in the original work, who had remained commanding and unafraid of death even on his sickbed.

Lin Yoriichi nodded and replied just as earnestly:

"Muzan Kibutsuji will be brought to an end in this generation."

Now that they had spoken openly, Lin Yoriichi had far fewer reservations:

"There are two things I need your help with right now."

"The first is rather urgent. I need to find Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Grave immediately."

"Muzan Kibutsuji is bound to wonder whether I'm an impostor or Yoriichi Tsugikuni truly resurrected."

"I need to get there first and give anyone who might come to investigate a surprise."

"Also, I need to go to the Swordsmith Village to retrieve Yoriichi Tsugikuni's old Nichirin Sword."

Hearing this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki actually looked ashamed:

"I can agree to the Swordsmith Village request right now."

"But after Yoriichi Tsugikuni left the Demon Slayer Corps back then, the family had no further records of his final days."

"This was absolutely a failure on the Ubuyashiki Family's part!"

"However, perhaps you could go to Asakusa and find someone..."