As he and Giyu Tomioka hurried toward Headquarters, Lin Yoriichi voiced a question:
"Can these Kasugai Crows deliver messages that quickly?"
Hearing Lin Yoriichi's question, Giyu Tomioka instinctively opened his mouth to answer.
But Shinobu Kocho's "teachings" surfaced in his mind again.
There was little he needed to keep secret from this swordsman, whom even Oyakata-sama was willing to meet at Headquarters.
Besides, he could tell from the way Lin Yoriichi had shown no confusion when the Kakushi mentioned the Wisteria Family House.
This Yoriichi knew something about the Demon Slayer Corps.
So even when the other man called the "Kasugai Crows" by name, Giyu Tomioka was not surprised.
However, Lin Yoriichi clearly did not know that, besides Kasugai Crows, the Demon Slayer Corps also used "telegrams" to convey information (note 1).
Kasugai Crows could carry messages from telegraph stations to the Demon Slayer Corps' swordsmen.
Naturally, it could also work in reverse: the Kasugai Crows could deliver messages to telegraph stations, which would then relay them to Oyakata-sama.
So Giyu Tomioka said:
"You only know about Kasugai Crows, but you don't know about telegrams?"
Lin Yoriichi was immediately at a loss for words.
All right, all right. That way of talking was just what you'd expect from Giyu Tomioka!
Still, Giyu Tomioka's words made Lin Yoriichi realize the limitations of his own thinking.
When watching the original series, Lin Yoriichi would always forget that the story was set in the "Taisho era."
By this time, electric lights, telegrams, and even telephones had already begun to spread throughout Japan.
In fact, there was something even more incredible: as long as he killed Muzan Kibutsuji and ensured that every member of the Demon Slayer Corps survived,
in another decade or so, Lin Yoriichi could invite the members of the Demon Slayer Corps to watch the classic cartoon "Tom and Jerry."
So, could Muzan Kibutsuji have spent so long in hiding that he didn't know enough about some emerging technologies?
Could I use that to find him?
As he pondered this, Lin Yoriichi noticed Giyu Tomioka looking at him.
He suddenly said, "Giyu Tomioka, you've actually..."
"Been disliked by people all along, haven't you!"
At those words, Giyu Tomioka's eyes widened a little.
His face, which usually looked somewhat wooden because of its constant calm, actually became more animated.
But a moment later, Giyu Tomioka said in a low voice:
"I... nobody hates me."
An odd smile appeared on Lin Yoriichi's face as he gently prompted him:
"In the Demon Slayer Corps, have you ever had someone suddenly get angry the moment you opened your mouth, or even try to surround you?"
He was, of course, referring to the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, and the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Those two were often annoyed with Giyu Tomioka.
There was even a term coined to describe this situation-
The "Giyu Circle"!
Giyu Tomioka suddenly fell silent.
Lin Yoriichi continued:
"Is there anyone in the Demon Slayer Corps who's often willing to strike up a conversation with you?"
Giyu Tomioka immediately thought of Shinobu Kocho.
Now that Lin Yoriichi had brought it up, Giyu Tomioka suddenly realized that Shinobu Kocho seemed to be the only person in the entire Demon Slayer Corps willing to initiate conversations with him.
But Lin Yoriichi's next words were:
"Then does that person's expression ever suddenly turn sour?"
Giyu Tomioka fell silent once again.
Lin Yoriichi's smile grew increasingly odd:
"Because of certain experiences you've had, do you always feel that your abilities don't quite match your position?"
Giyu Tomioka nodded instinctively.
Lin Yoriichi spoke again:
"Then, when you interact with other people, do you try to put that thought into words?"
Giyu Tomioka nodded again.
That's right. My situation is exactly as Mr. Yoriichi described!
Wait...
Why did I instinctively call him "Mr."?
Giyu Tomioka frowned slightly, feeling that something was off.
Yet the very next moment, Lin Yoriichi's words made his eyes go wide!
"Giyu Tomioka, the words you use to express that thought are probably 'I'm different from you,' right?"
Exactly right!
Giyu Tomioka looked at Lin Yoriichi in bewilderment.
Mr. Lin Yoriichi has only spent a little time with me. How can he understand my thoughts so well?
Then a thought suddenly surfaced in Giyu Tomioka's mind.
So, do people really hate me?
Several times, Giyu Tomioka tried to speak.
But in the end, he sank into silence.
Looking at the silent Giyu Tomioka, Lin Yoriichi suddenly recalled that lyric-
"Your silence is deafening."
For the rest of the journey, Giyu Tomioka did not speak again.
Even when Lin Yoriichi asked him something, Giyu Tomioka answered with nothing more than a simple nod or shake of his head.
Seeing this, even Lin Yoriichi felt a little embarrassed.
Surely I haven't made Giyu Tomioka completely shut down with just a few words...
When Lin Yoriichi and Giyu Tomioka had set out from Mount Kumotori, dawn had already been approaching.
After a full day of travel, night once again shrouded the sky.
Giyu Tomioka finally spoke:
"Once the sun sets, those demons begin to move."
"We swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps generally travel and search for demons during the day."
"Now, we can rest at a Wisteria Family House or somewhere else."
"But if a Kasugai Crow brings a message, or we discover signs of a demon, we act immediately."
Lin Yoriichi looked at Giyu Tomioka in some surprise.
So you can communicate normally without rubbing people the wrong way.
Just then, a Kasugai Crow suddenly flew over:
"Caw!"
"South-southeast! South-southeast!"
"Kinoe-ranked swordsman Murata has encountered a demon!"
"Requesting assistance! Requesting assistance!"
Hearing the Kasugai Crow's call for help, Giyu Tomioka's gaze sharpened.
Wisps of white mist escaped the corners of his mouth.
The next moment, he shot toward Murata at astonishing speed.
Lin Yoriichi followed close behind, and before long, he saw Murata pinned beneath a demon, his face filled with terror.
The demon was about the same size as a human.
But his mouth split all the way to his ears!
Sensing Giyu Tomioka and Lin Yoriichi's arrival,
the demon paused involuntarily, then raised his head, his face filled with disgust.
"You damn bastards dare interrupt my meal!"
"Especially you, the black-haired one!"
"What's with that expression?! Just looking at you pisses me off!"
"Hah! I've got to tell you! Black-haired guy, I hate you!"
Hiss-
Lin Yoriichi heard Giyu Tomioka suddenly draw a deep breath beside him.
Then-
[Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust]
Giyu Tomioka launched a thrust at astonishing speed.
The blade in his hand pierced straight through the Mouth-Splitting Demon's neck in an instant, like a thrust sending ripples across the surface of water!
Lin Yoriichi faintly heard Giyu Tomioka's words:
"Nobody hates me!"
Note 1: This detail about telegrams was not directly shown in the original work.
However, I looked up some information, and Japan had already opened telegraph lines in 1869.
By the Taisho era, when the story took place (around 1920), telegrams should have been widespread...
Before you continue