What had to come would come eventually.
That was Lin Yoriichi's strongest impression upon meeting Upper Rank Three, Akaza.
Akaza had deathly pale skin, and his hair and eyebrows were a peculiar peach-pink.
His eyes bore the inscriptions "Upper Rank" and "Three," respectively.
The moment he saw Akaza, Kyojuro Rengoku drew his blade, his expression graver than ever:
"Mr. Yoriichi, this demon is Upper Rank Three!"
Kyojuro Rengoku had slain Lower Rank Two, Hairo, and had also slain Lower Rank Six, Kamanué, and Lower Rank Three, Byōyō, while operating alongside Lin Yoriichi.
In his view, there was already an enormous difference between ordinary demons and the Lower Rank demons of the Twelve Kizuki.
Even the differences in strength between the Lower Rank demons were like heaven and earth.
Following that reasoning, Kyojuro Rengoku had long since estimated the strength of the Upper Rank demons.
Even a single Upper Rank Six would probably be difficult for a Hashira to contend with.
After all, over nearly a hundred years, while the Demon Slayer Corps had no shortage of victories against the Lower Rank demons of the Twelve Kizuki, it had yet to slay a single Upper Rank demon!
And the one standing before him was Upper Rank Three!
Yet at that moment, although Kyojuro Rengoku's expression had grown extremely grave, he showed no fear.
He quietly shifted his feet, placing himself in front of Lin Yoriichi-
Even if there is an enormous gap in strength between this Upper Rank demon and me.
With me at the front, risking my life to create an opening for Mr. Yoriichi, he'll definitely be able to defeat this demon with his strength!
Looking at Kyojuro Rengoku standing in front of him, Lin Yoriichi appeared somewhat surprised.
But more than anything, he was moved.
He knew Kyojuro Rengoku's personality all too well.
Thus, the moment Kyojuro Rengoku stepped in front of him, Lin Yoriichi knew that he intended to use his life to create an opening for him.
Just as in the original story, Kyojuro Rengoku would protect the Demon Slayer Corps' new swordsmen even at the cost of his life, refusing to let demons pluck away the Corps' new shoots.
But!
Lin Yoriichi's Restoration Rate had already reached 55%!
Remember, when his Restoration Rate had only been 42%, Lin Yoriichi had already been able to barely hold his own against Upper Rank One, Kokushibo.
At his current Restoration Rate, neither he nor Kyojuro Rengoku would be in danger—only Akaza would!
Meanwhile, most of Akaza's attention was on Kyojuro Rengoku.
In fact, the moment he saw Kyojuro Rengoku, Akaza's eyes lit up:
"Of all the humans I've seen, your fighting spirit burns the strongest!"
"Given a few more years, your strength will definitely reach a new peak!"
"But that peak is only a peak by human standards."
"What do you say? Why not consider joining us and becoming a demon..."
Hearing this, Lin Yoriichi immediately began commenting inwardly:
He really does live up to his name as the ultimate salesman, Akaza. Whenever he sees a human with potential, he always invites them to become a demon.
In the original story, even during the final battle in the Infinity Castle, Akaza didn't forget to invite Giyu Tomioka to become a demon too.
Kyojuro Rengoku refused in a deep voice:
"No matter the reason, I will never become a demon!"
Akaza narrowed his eyes, looking past Kyojuro Rengoku at the ground behind him:
"Human bodies grow old and die. What's so bad about becoming a demon?"
"Speaking of which, judging by these marks on the ground, you really have killed Enmu, haven't you?"
"Tsk, there's nothing surprising about someone so weak, who can only resort to tricks, getting killed."
"Besides, he brought it on himself. He was already about to withdraw, yet he just had to..."
At those words, something stirred in Lin Yoriichi's mind.
From Akaza's few remarks, he had already deduced part of what had happened.
Enmu had indeed followed Muzan Kibutsuji's instructions and temporarily gone into hiding, concealing his whereabouts.
But he had encountered Kyojuro Rengoku along the way, so he had wanted to ambush him in this bento shop.
As for why Akaza had suddenly appeared here-
Lin Yoriichi sensed Akaza turn his gaze toward him.
Akaza's eyes were full of puzzlement as he looked at Lin Yoriichi.
To his senses, this fellow seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary Demon Slayer Corps swordsman. Compared with the owl-like swordsman beside him, he could barely sense any fighting spirit from him.
Why would such an unremarkable fellow draw that lord's attention?
That lord had even specifically ordered me to come personally to the site of Enmu's death and check whether there was a swordsman here with dark red hair, a mark at the corner of his forehead, and Sun-patterned hanafuda earrings.
Could Enmu have deliberately passed that information to that lord before his death?
But why did that lord also tell me that I only needed to confirm this fellow's presence from a distance?
Once I saw him, I had to leave immediately!
Akaza saw nothing special about this person at all, which was why he had chosen to reveal himself directly.
He had already made up his mind: rather than waste time on this unremarkable fellow,
he might as well see whether he could recruit this owl-like swordsman.
That was what Akaza thought, and that was what he said:
"Hey! You over there with the hanafuda earrings."
"You look completely unremarkable to me. Why would that lord..."
The instant that thought arose in Akaza's mind, his body stiffened.
Seeing this, Kyojuro Rengoku immediately tightened his grip on his Nichirin Blade, guarding against a possible attack.
But Lin Yoriichi knew very well that, just like Kokushibo back then, Akaza had probably had Muzan Kibutsuji "log in remotely."
Even Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, had briefly frozen the instant Muzan Kibutsuji "took over his account."
Let alone the Upper Rank Three before him!
An opening!
Lin Yoriichi's eyes immediately lit up, and he drew his blade in an instant:
[Sun Breathing · Seventh Form · Sunflower Thrust]
Meanwhile, Akaza felt a will forcibly thrust into his mind.
That will spoke in a cold, furious voice:
"Akaza! Leave at once!"
"Have you forgotten the task I gave you?"
"Leave now!"
The power within his blood emerged in an instant and began fighting Akaza for control of his body.
Akaza's eyes widened, and his body involuntarily pitched forward.
Every word Muzan Kibutsuji spoke in his mind was like a falling sledgehammer, almost pounding his own will apart.
But Akaza still struggled to gather his will and asked in his mind:
"W-why?!"
"He's just an unremarkable fellow..."
Before you continue