Water's Tone, Heads Cut Off

As Lin Yoriichi watched Giyu Tomioka leave, he kept grumbling to himself.

Sending Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, to Mount Fujikasane to slay that Hand Demon was practically like sending a high-level big shot back to the beginner village to farm weak monsters.

He just wondered whether the Hand Demon, who had hidden on Mount Fujikasane for so many years, would accuse the Demon Slayer Corps of playing dirty when he ran into Giyu Tomioka...

But then he thought about how, when he taught the Hashira about the Bright Red Nichirin Sword in the Swordsmith Village, Giyu Tomioka would most likely still have that "I'm different from you" attitude, not fitting in with the others.

Lin Yoriichi figured he might as well let the Hand Demon suffer a little.

Before long, Lin Yoriichi saw Giyu Tomioka walking down Mount Fujikasane.

He had pushed the fox-shaped Disaster-Inviting Mask to one side, revealing his still-calm expression.

But Lin Yoriichi could clearly see a little more emotion in Giyu Tomioka's eyes. He looked as though he had set down a rather heavy burden, and even his steps were a little lighter than before.

Moreover, observing him through the Transparent World, Lin Yoriichi discovered that Giyu Tomioka's aura seemed stronger than before.

Lin Yoriichi was a little stunned at the sight.

What was this?

Farming elite monsters in the beginner village could give you experience too?

Giyu Tomioka had no idea what Lin Yoriichi was thinking just then. He merely bowed to him and said:

"Thank you, Mr. Yoriichi."

His eyes dimmed a little:

"I put an end to that demon. What happened before will never happen again to the students Mr. Urokodaki teaches from now on."

"Also, though I'm sorry to ask, I hope you can keep what happened today a secret. In particular, please don't tell Mr. Urokodaki about any of this."

Hearing this, Lin Yoriichi was genuinely surprised.

He understood that keeping what had happened on Mount Fujikasane from Mr. Urokodaki was to spare him the knowledge that the Disaster-Averting Masks he had carved with his own hands had instead become death warrants for his students.

That would undoubtedly be a tremendous blow to Mr. Urokodaki.

But the person saying this was Giyu Tomioka!

Lin Yoriichi had truly never expected that he would one day associate "emotional intelligence" with Giyu Tomioka.

He couldn't help saying:

"It looks like you gained quite a lot."

Giyu Tomioka nodded and said something that surprised Lin Yoriichi even more:

"When I killed that Hand Demon, I mastered Water Breathing's twelfth sword form."

Lin Yoriichi's eyes widened slightly.

Water Breathing originally had only ten sword forms. For Giyu Tomioka to have developed an Eleventh Form on that foundation already marked him as an extraordinary talent.

Yet now, he had actually developed a Twelfth Form as well!

No wonder he had felt that Giyu Tomioka's aura had grown a little stronger.

He instinctively pressed:

"What is your Twelfth Form called?"

At this, a hint of guilt actually appeared in Giyu Tomioka's eyes:

"When I developed Water Breathing's Eleventh Form, it was not only because of my own experiences, but also because of Mr. Urokodaki's guidance."

"At the time, I named it 'Dead Calm' without first discussing it with Mr. Urokodaki."

"Water Breathing's Twelfth Form was inspired by you."

"But I also took it upon myself to name it Torrent without discussing it with you."

"Water Breathing's Eleventh Form has already been recorded in the Demon Slayer Corps' records, so its name can't be changed."

"But before the Twelfth Form is officially recorded, we can still discuss what to name this sword form."

Lin Yoriichi honestly had no idea when he had inspired Giyu Tomioka to develop Water Breathing's Twelfth Form.

So he felt he shouldn't interfere while Giyu Tomioka worked out its name.

Giyu Tomioka, however, clearly had no idea what Lin Yoriichi was thinking and continued earnestly:

"Now that we're talking about names, I find myself recalling your comments on Water Breathing."

Lin Yoriichi was completely dumbfounded!

I commented on Water Breathing?

When did that happen?!

Giyu Tomioka continued:

"This Twelfth Form fits very well with what you said: water isn't only calm and steady; it also has a surging, turbulent tone."

"I used this sword form to cut through the Hand Demon's layers of defenses and sever his head outright."

"So I was thinking, perhaps I should name this sword form based on your comments."

"Hmm... emphasizing water's tone while also describing the result of cutting off a demon's head."

"Water's tone, the result of cutting off a head."

"Water's tone, heads cut off..."

Lin Yoriichi suddenly reached out and grabbed Giyu Tomioka!

He was genuinely afraid that if he didn't stop Giyu Tomioka now, he would name his new Twelfth Form [Water's Tone, Heads Cut Off]!

At that thought, Lin Yoriichi immediately declared with absolute conviction:

"Call it [Torrent]. That's an excellent name. There's no need to change it!"

Giyu Tomioka blinked, clearly a little surprised:

"Your reaction now is very similar to Mr. Urokodaki's back then."

"When I later brought up whether I should rename the Eleventh Form, he reacted the same way."

"He also said that [Dead Calm] was an excellent name and needed no further changes."

Lin Yoriichi gave a few dry laughs and changed the subject rather stiffly:

"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you about when you went with Murata to investigate the Train Demon's whereabouts."

"According to you, the demon had already disappeared by the time you arrived?"

Giyu Tomioka furrowed his brows as he recalled the situation:

"After Murata and I left, we received another message from a Kasugai Crow on the way."

"While the train was moving, passengers and train staff suddenly went missing at the same time."

"Based on experience, a demon must have slipped aboard the train."

"Rather than saying those passengers and train staff went missing, it would be more accurate to say they were devoured by a demon."

"But when Murata and I arrived, we found no sign that a demon had ever appeared on the train."

"In particular, I made a point of examining the places where the missing people had last been seen, and found no traces of blood."

"I even used bandages I'd brought from the Butterfly Mansion to wipe down several places on the train, then sealed those bandages and took them to Tanjiro."

"But after comparing a demon's scent with the smells on the bandages, Tanjiro said there was no demon scent at all."

Lin Yoriichi was slightly dazed.

Had Giyu Tomioka developed a new way to use Tanjiro?

He suppressed the urge to make a quip and asked:

"In the end, just as you said, every trace and clue a demon might have left vanished into thin air?"

Giyu Tomioka nodded gravely.

Just then, Giyu Tomioka's Kasugai Crow suddenly flew over:

"Caw!"

"Message! Message!"

"Orders from the Master!"

"Hashira-ranked swordsman Giyu Tomioka, return to Headquarters immediately!"