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6 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment
🕑 Added 2025-01-05 20:14:36 +0000 UTCReturning once again to the wisteria-covered shrine, Haruto was met with a crowd of people chattering excitedly.
The swordsmen who had successfully survived the Demon Slayer Corps' selection process were talking among themselves, their faces a mixture of relief and disbelief, having narrowly escaped death.
Sabito stood with arms crossed beneath the torii gate, his broken sword sheathed at his hip, hanging neatly in place as though it hadn't been snapped.
Beside him was Giyu Tomioka, still looking pale. After passing out from exhaustion earlier, Giyu had been found by Haruto and Sabito while they were in the middle of teaming up against demons. Without saying a word, he had joined their battle.
"This is my fellow disciple, Giyu Tomioka," Sabito had whispered to Haruto earlier. "Don't let his perpetually grumpy face fool you—he's actually a bit of a coward."
When Sabito casually mentioned that he'd almost been killed by the Hand Demon, Giyu's face had turned as white as a sheet.
Determined to lighten Sabito's load, Giyu—despite his small stature—had fought with reckless tenacity, broken blade or not.
Now, the three stood together, watching as Haruto frowned at the Demon Slayer Corps' official escort.
"Tell me," Haruto demanded, arms crossed. "Don't you think it's absolutely insane to have a demon that's lived for over forty years lurking on the selection grounds? How does something like that slip through the cracks?!"
The escort's expression grew solemn. "I sincerely apologize. We do perform regular inspections, but—"
"Regular inspections?" Haruto cut him off, raising an eyebrow. "Do you even realize how much energy it takes to survive in those mountains? Do you understand what stamina means to a swordsman? How many promising youths have been devoured because of your oversight?"
"I… I am deeply sorry…"
"Haruto, that's enough."
The interruption was soft yet firm, like a gentle breeze brushing past. Haruto turned to see a boy with long black hair and striking violet eyes, his face marred by faint, jagged scars near his left eye. Despite this, his smile was warm and reassuring.
"Long time no see," the boy greeted. "How has Master Gotokawa been?"
The escort quickly bowed and stepped aside, as if retreating in the presence of someone far above his station.
It was Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the fifteen-year-old leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. Haruto knew him well.
Though their statuses were worlds apart, they were close in age and had met several times in the Swordsmith Village. The first time Haruto saw him, Kagaya was only six years old but had already been leading the Corps for two years. Though young and soft-faced, his demeanor had been dignified and commanding, even then.
"Ubuyashiki…" Haruto started to address him casually but stopped, realizing he was no longer just a fellow acquaintance. He straightened himself and spoke again. "Ubuyashiki-sama, Master Gotokawa is doing well."
The last time they met was two or three years ago, before the scars spread across Kagaya's face. Haruto swallowed hard, unwilling to dwell on the thought of what those scars signified.
Kagaya's bright violet eyes softened, and his smile grew.
"Would you care to join me inside for a chat? I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Amane." He gestured toward the shrine.
Haruto blinked. Kagaya was married? Of course. It was tradition for members of the Ubuyashiki family to wed children of shrine keepers to stave off the curse plaguing their bloodline. A cruel punishment, it seemed, from the gods themselves for birthing Muzan Kibutsuji.
Haruto nodded silently. "Sabito, Giyu, you're coming too."
The two boys exchanged glances, shrugged, and followed suit.
Inside, they met Amane, a serene and beautiful young woman who had married Kagaya at the age of thirteen and had already given birth to twin daughters. She knelt gracefully and served tea to the guests.
While Sabito and Giyu fidgeted nervously, unsure why they were being hosted by the leader himself, Haruto seemed lost in thought.
They were only a year apart, yet here Kagaya was—leading the Corps, married, and a father—while Haruto hadn't even seen a girl his age in years. His days were spent surrounded by swordsmen, metalsmiths, and the occasional demon.
The tea in Haruto's hands trembled slightly as he grumbled under his breath. "I'm hungry."
Sabito and Giyu froze, their eyes wide in disbelief. Did Haruto just… ask for food in front of the Corps leader?
Kagaya chuckled lightly, as if expecting this. "Amane, if you would."
Amane excused herself, and soon the room filled with the scent of freshly prepared food. Haruto's eyes lit up as a pair of servants entered, each carrying multiple stacked food boxes.
"Forgive me," Amane said, her tone apologetic. "I wasn't sure how much to prepare. Is this enough?"
Sabito looked at the twenty boxes being laid before Haruto and waved his hands frantically.
"This is way too much! There's no way he can eat all of this!"
Giyu nodded hurriedly. "One box is plenty…"
Amane smiled in relief and placed one box each in front of Sabito and Giyu. Then, she set all twenty remaining boxes before Haruto.
Haruto clapped his hands together in reverence. "Thank you for the meal."
With unwavering focus, he began devouring the food, his pace relentless. Sabito and Giyu could only stare, mouths agape, as the seemingly bottomless pit that was Haruto made quick work of the feast.
In the corner of the room, Kagaya watched with amusement, his gentle smile never faltering.
