CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 32 – YO, LONG TIME NO SEE~

It was a clear day, the sun shining brilliantly in a cloudless sky.

Inside the courtyard of the Ubuyashiki estate, the nine Hashira stood in a line.

Seated calmly beneath the eaves was Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. His pale and fragile figure exuded a strange yet serene aura as he looked ahead with a gentle smile. His gaze fell upon Tanjiro, who was kneeling with his head pressed down by Iguro Obanai.

"So, you are Kamado Tanjiro, yes?" he asked, his voice so gentle and light it could almost carry one into a trance.

What a soft voice... it feels like my brain’s going all floaty...

Tanjiro couldn’t help but think as he blinked in slight bewilderment.

"Hey! The Master’s talking to you! Why aren’t you responding?!" Sanemi Shinazugawa snapped, brows furrowed in irritation.

"The... Master..." Tanjiro murmured, stunned.

This weak-looking man with such a kind face and soothing voice was the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps?

Ubuyashiki Kagaya continued with a smile, ignoring Sanemi’s outburst. "No need to mind Sanemi. Kamado Tanjiro, I’ve long wanted to meet you."

Tanjiro blinked in surprise. "Meet... me?"

"To be precise," Kagaya said, his soft eyes shifting slightly, "I’ve wanted to meet both you and your sister."

Tanjiro’s heart tightened as he followed Kagaya’s gaze—only to see a Kakushi holding that box.

His face paled instantly.

"Nezuko!"

No... this isn’t good.

They were surrounded by the most elite demon slayers in the world—if Nezuko’s identity as a demon was revealed here...

A chill swept through his chest. The worst-case scenarios flooded his thoughts.

But as if reading his heart like a book, Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled gently and said, "You needn’t worry. We already know everything about you and your sister. Rest assured—we won’t harm her."

"Huh?" Tanjiro blinked again, completely caught off guard.

"The reason we brought you here with your sister," Kagaya explained softly, "is because, just in case... we need to perform a little test."

As he spoke, Kagaya turned his head slightly toward the Kakushi holding the box.

The Kakushi nodded silently and, with a swift motion, leapt into the house with the box in hand. He landed soundlessly and opened the lid.

At that moment, Sanemi Shinazugawa—who had been kneeling moments ago—stood up and walked toward the box with a cold, grim face.

A flicker of light flashed in his hand. A dagger, sharp and gleaming, appeared.

Tanjiro’s eyes widened. "What are you doing?!"

"The Master already explained it, didn’t he?" Sanemi replied, his voice low and fierce.

Covered in scars, his appearance was as savage as ever. As he passed Tanjiro, he dragged the dagger across his own palm without flinching. Blood welled up instantly.

"Sanemi’s blood is rare blood," Shinobu explained calmly beside them. "It’s extremely enticing to demons. If your sister can resist the temptation of his blood, it will prove she can maintain her rationality—and isn’t driven by her demon instincts to harm humans."

She glanced at Tanjiro. "This is the most important test for her. If she passes... then she’ll be acknowledged. The entire Demon Slayer Corps will protect her."

"...Huh?" Tanjiro gawked, utterly lost.

Even Giyu Tomioka looked a bit puzzled.

He scanned the faces of the other Hashira. Not a single one looked surprised or angry. Their expressions were calm and composed, as if this decision had been discussed and accepted long before.

Even the ones who usually displayed the strongest hatred for demons... they were fine with this?

What happened at headquarters while I was gone? Giyu wondered.

Did... did they really exclude me like Shinobu said?

The idea crept into his mind like a whisper in the dark, and for the first time in a while, Giyu felt his mood plummet.

In the end, Nezuko successfully resisted the lure of Sanemi Shinazugawa’s rare blood, passing the test.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya clapped his hands gently with a warm smile. "Just as Mr. Ron said, Nezuko truly is special."

"Mr. Ron?"

Tanjiro’s eyes lit up. "Was it Mr. Ron who told you about me and Nezuko? Is he here now?"

Shinobu shook her head. "Mr. Ron was at the headquarters until recently, but when I returned yesterday, I found out he’d already left."

"He’s gone?"

"He left a note saying he had something to attend to and would be back in a few days."

"I see!"

Tanjiro’s spirits instantly lifted.

Noticing his reaction, Shinobu asked curiously, "You seem really eager to see Mr. Ron. Are you looking for him for something specific?"

Scratching his head with a sheepish smile, Tanjiro nodded. "Back on Natagumo Mountain, I was in a life-or-death battle with a demon. I saw a vision—like a life-flashing-before-my-eyes kind of thing—and somehow ended up using the Hinokami Kagura. I think it might be the Sun Breathing technique Mr. Ron mentioned. So... I really want to ask him more about it."

"I see..."

Iguro Obanai, arms crossed and fingers thoughtfully tugging at his chin, murmured, "So that was Sun Breathing..."

He had witnessed the moment himself—he’d been ready to step in and rescue Tanjiro when it happened.

Tanjiro, who had been using Water Breathing, suddenly underwent a complete transformation. His aura shifted dramatically, his entire body wrapped in fierce flames. Like a blazing dragon, he danced and spun, his blade wreathed in fire as he surged at Rui, the Lower Moon Five. In perfect harmony with Nezuko’s awakened Blood Demon Art—Exploding Blood—Tanjiro had delivered a devastating Flame Waltz, beheading the demon.

Even the normally composed Snake Hashira had been momentarily stunned by what he saw.

Next to him, Mitsuri Kanroji perked up at his muttering and leaned in curiously. "You saw it, Obanai?"

Iguro glanced at her approaching, her face adorably close. His face flushed, and he quickly turned his head, trying to act cool. "Y-yeah... I happened to see it."

"Ehhh~? Was the Sun Breathing amazing?"

"It w-was... pretty powerful. B-but that kid can’t really use its full strength yet..."

His voice stumbled a bit. Iguro’s heart was pounding—just being near Mitsuri threw him off completely.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya looked at Tanjiro kindly and said, "Fighting one of the Twelve Kizuki... that must’ve been difficult."

Tanjiro’s heart, which had been burning with excitement, suddenly dropped. As soon as he registered Kagaya’s words, it felt like all the strength drained from his body. Every bone and muscle began screaming in pain.

"I guess... I’ve been holding myself together out of sheer will. But now, everything just hurts..."

His face twisted in agony, and his body slumped to the side.

One of the Kakushi attendants quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Take him to the Butterfly Mansion," Shinobu instructed calmly.

"Yes, Lady Shinobu!"

The Kakushi nodded and, without another word, hoisted Tanjiro onto his back before dashing off.

"Nezuko!" Tanjiro called out urgently toward the room where the box was.

When another Kakushi emerged from the building carrying Nezuko’s box—her small form already tucked safely inside—Tanjiro finally relaxed.

With Tanjiro and Nezuko in tow, the two Kakushi made their way to the Butterfly Mansion.

"Is anyone home?"

"Hello? Anyone?"

"No one’s coming out... Should we really enter without permission?"

"Maybe we should take a look around the garden first," the other Kakushi suggested.

They stepped through the entrance and into the courtyard.

There, standing serenely on a patch of grass, playing with butterflies, was Kanao Tsuyuri.

"Oh, there’s someone."

"That’s right... She’s Lady Shinobu’s adopted daughter, isn’t she?"

"Her name is...?"

"Kanao Tsuyuri," Tanjiro said weakly from the Kakushi’s back.

The two attendants turned toward him. "You know Lady Kanao?"

Tanjiro nodded. "Yeah, we met before."

Kanao turned toward them, smiling softly.

"Um... we’re here under orders from Lady Shinobu. May we come in?"

Kanao’s smile remained unchanged.

"Can we...?"

Still, she said nothing—only gazed at them with that same gentle expression.

"Uh..."

Just then, a smooth, amused voice—young and warm—cut through the silence.

"Let them in."

The group turned toward the sound.

Walking through the gate, dressed in black, a tall and lean young man entered the courtyard. A long blade hung at his waist, and in his hand, he casually held a silver-blue flask. He carried himself with an easy grace, his face brightened by a relaxed smile.

Tanjiro’s eyes went wide in delight. "Mr. Ron?!"

Ron smiled back at him. "Yo, long time no see~"