Chapter 48 – Anomalies in the Final Selection
In the main garden, the ten Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps had finally gathered.
The strongest swordsmen—the very pillars that held the Corps together.
Even though this was Hikaru's first time attending such a high-level meeting, there wasn't a shred of nervousness in his demeanor. His expression was calm, composed… steady.
The reactions from the other Hashira, however, varied.
"…This guy's strong."
Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa, his messy white hair and scarred face giving him a wild look, eyed Hikaru with a shadowed expression.
"If he really forced Upper Moon One to retreat… his swordsmanship must be beautiful to behold."
Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui muttered, adjusting his white headband.
"The weather's… nice today."
Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito gazed up at the sky, his thoughts drifting as always.
Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka remained silent. He simply looked at Hikaru, but the change in his eyes said enough—he could tell Hikaru's strength had grown tremendously since their last meeting.
"Hikaru-san… you've gotten stronger,"
Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro murmured honestly, his voice low.
Hikaru-kun… you're so cool… truly an incredible man.
Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji thought to herself, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at him.
Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima stood quietly, his head slightly bowed, expression unchanged.
"Welcome!"
Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku greeted him with his usual bright, booming voice.
"Thank you. I'll be in your care from now on, senpai." Hikaru replied with a calm smile.
"Hmmm~"
Shinobu tilted her head slightly, watching the exchange with her ever-present gentle smile.
Rengoku looked like he was about to say something else when footsteps from within the building drew everyone's attention.
Two women emerged, both wearing pure white kimonos—personal attendants to the Ubuyashiki family.
"Oyakata-sama will be arriving shortly."
Their voices were soft, yet clear.
In an instant, every Hashira moved in unison. With near-perfect synchronization, they formed a line and knelt respectfully in place.
Except for one person.
Hikaru.
"…Hikaru-san," Shinobu whispered, tugging lightly at the hem of his haori, "Oyakata-sama is here."
But Hikaru only shook his head slightly before offering a polite bow toward the main building.
"It's been a while, Lord Ubuyashiki."
The Hashira's faces shifted almost instantly. Hikaru wasn't kneeling… and he had greeted first.
"…I wanted to greet him first…"
Mitsuri bit her lip, lowering her gaze in mild disappointment.
But then, a gentle, warm voice flowed from inside.
"Hikaru-san, you're as polite as ever."
Light, deliberate footsteps followed. A pale, frail figure slowly emerged from the doorway, stepping into the garden.
Hikaru's gaze lifted.
The man hadn't changed much since their last meeting—except for one thing. The purple markings on his face had spread further, and his eyes…
Had completely lost their light.
He was now fully blind.
Hikaru's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
"Oi, you arrogant brat! Why the hell aren't you kneeling?!"
Sanemi couldn't hold back, stepping forward with a scowl.
"Apologies. I'm simply… not accustomed to such customs." Hikaru's voice remained calm as his eyes met Sanemi's.
"From what I understand," Ubuyashiki Kagaya said gently from the side, "Hikaru-san is not from our country. It's natural that he doesn't follow our traditions. Please, make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you."
Hikaru sat cross-legged where he stood—polite, but without blind subservience.
He respected those worthy of respect. But as someone from another land, he'd never bow to anyone other than his own parents.
"Tch…"
Sanemi clicked his tongue. Even with Kagaya's permission, his irritation lingered, but it would have been inappropriate to push the matter further in front of their leader.
"…Another land?"
Rengoku spoke up. "Do you mean… a great nation beyond the sea?"
"Yes," Hikaru replied. "A nation rooted in the values of equality and freedom. My parents taught me never to kneel to anyone but them."
The words—family tradition—carried weight.
In Japan, while hierarchy was valued, family customs were deeply respected. The discomfort faded.
Hikaru had thought this through from the start. He didn't want to stand out unnecessarily, but he would not abandon the principles he lived by.
And just like that, the atmosphere steadied again.
"In that case… let's begin," Kagaya said softly. "The Hashira Meeting."
At his words, the faint murmurs in the garden vanished. The breeze carried the scent of wisteria through the air.
"As you all know," Kagaya began, "you are the pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps—the strongest warriors we have."
"This meeting will determine the future course of our organization."
He inclined his head slightly before continuing, "Lately, Kibutsuji Muzan's activity has increased drastically. Demons have been appearing more frequently. We've managed to handle this only because of your tireless efforts."
Then, his tone deepened.
"In particular, I want to express my gratitude to Hikaru-san."
The air stilled.
The Hashira's expressions shifted—surprise, curiosity—but none interrupted.
"Hikaru-san has faced Kibutsuji Muzan… and forced him to retreat."
The words struck like a hammer.
Faces stiffened. Some Hashira even straightened in shock.
"What—?! Muzan?! Are you serious?! What does he look like? What can he do?!"
Sanemi, who had already been on edge, lunged toward Hikaru, hand reaching for his collar.
But—
His fingers closed on nothing but air.
"…Huh…?"
Hikaru was gone, reappearing several meters away at Sanemi's side.
"…An illusion?"
Sanemi froze. This was his first time witnessing the uncanny nature of the Void Hashira's abilities firsthand.
"Calm yourself, Sanemi-san."
Hikaru's voice came from just behind his shoulder.
"I'll explain everything shortly. But for now, we're still in the meeting."
Sanemi exhaled slowly before dropping into a deep bow toward Kagaya.
"My apologies, Oyakata-sama."
"It's fine. I understand your urgency," Kagaya replied with a small nod.
"Muzan's appearance is indeed a grave matter. But if we're to truly confront him, it must be with careful planning."
"For now, there's another urgent issue."
He paused.
"Even with the new training methods from the Hikaru-Style… this year's Final Selection has once again shown unusual signs."
"The active number of Demon Slayers… has now fallen below two hundred."
"If we cannot recruit new members…"
"…Sooner or later, we will run out of strength."
The cause was twofold: Muzan's increased activity, and the strange anomalies that had persisted in the Final Selection for years.
The Corps was running low on fresh recruits. Most of the remaining swordsmen were aging veterans who couldn't retire because there was no one to take their place.
The situation… was critical.
The air in the garden tightened.
The Hashira held their breath.
And Hikaru's gaze grew sharper.
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