Chapter 42: Killed with a Single Punch
"AAGH!"
Another scream rang out. The female Demon Slayer—a woman with black hair, purple eyes, and a butterfly-patterned haori—frowned, her face filled with pain. She knew that another of her comrades had just been killed by a demon. She had to kill all of these man-eaters as quickly as possible, but…
"You're a Hashira, aren't you? I never thought a Hashira would still dare to come out at night in these times."
A grim voice spoke. Kanae Kocho stared at the human who was holding a bright Nichirin Blade to a young girl's throat.
Yes, the one leading this pack of demons against her Demon Slayer squad was a human…
Pain filled Kanae's face. Behind her, her comrades were clearly on the verge of being overwhelmed by the dozens of demons.
As if sensing her resolve, the swordsman with gray hair falling from his temples pressed the blade two inches deeper into the girl's neck. "If you make a move, this girl will become another victim of a Nichirin Blade," he threatened. "You understand the situation, don't you…?"
"The Ubuyashiki Clan has been under scrutiny by the higher-ups for a long time for harboring swordsmen like you. If a Demon Slayer were to be seen slaughtering an ordinary person now, I think even hiding in the mountains wouldn't save the Ubuyashiki Clan from being eradicated!"
Kanae's face grew pale. She hadn't expected that a simple rescue mission would turn into this. On one side were her comrades, surrounded by demons. On the other, a traitor holding a hostage. What was she supposed to do?
"Help me, Lady Hashira!"
Another desperate cry came from behind her. Kanae's expression changed. She could no longer bear to watch her comrades die. She drew her sword in a flash, the orange, four-leaf clover tsuba glinting in the moonlight. In the next instant, her Flower Breathing bloomed.
The gray-haired swordsman only saw a blur as Kanae moved with incredible agility, flowing backward into the fray. She unleashed a single slash, and the sword light scattered like flower petals, instantly decapitating several demons.
Panic seized him. No! If all these demons die here, I'll be in deep trouble when I get back!
He lightly dragged his sword across the neck of the girl he held, and a line of blood instantly appeared. "Stop! Do you want to get everyone killed?!"
But now that Kanae had acted, her resolve was firm. As her figure danced gracefully through the battle, her voice rang out, clear and steady. "What happens tonight is my decision alone and has nothing to do with the Master. After I have seen everyone to safety, I will take my own life to atone!"
Her voice was resolute, and her blade was merciless. In an instant, the dozens of demons were cut down and sent scattering in retreat. Thanks to their year-round Breathing Style training, the physical abilities of the Hashira were immense, and their swordsmanship was specifically designed to kill demons. Ordinary demons were no match for a Hashira. Only the powerful demons known as the Twelve Kizuki were monsters capable of fighting, and even hunting, the Hashira.
Hirano Katsumi's heart went cold. His mind raced, trying to figure out how he could possibly survive the wrath of his superior. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with a desperate idea. He picked up the dazed, unresisting girl and charged straight at the female swordsman.
Sensing his movement, Kanae glanced behind her. She saw the girl being thrown at her. Kanae immediately broke off her sword stance and gently caught the girl with one hand. While her physical strength wasn't the greatest among the Hashira, she was considerably stronger than her sister, Shinobu. In her Total Concentration state, she was much stronger than an ordinary man. Her movements were fluid; Flower Breathing was a branch of Water Breathing, and she was exceptionally skilled at redirecting and absorbing force.
Just as Kanae secured the girl, the man's sword finally arrived. She flicked her own blade up and easily parried his strike. Hirano knew that the shoddy imitation of a Breathing Style he had learned was no match for a true Hashira, but he had his own trump card.
He ignored Kanae's fluid swordsmanship and, gritting his teeth, charged straight at her with his tachi held in both hands. It was as if he were trying to impale himself on her blade. His face twitched as he snarled, "Today, you, a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, have killed me, a public security officer! Let's see if your one life is enough to appease the Minister's wrath!"
Hearing his words, Kanae faltered. She twisted her blade, actively avoiding Hirano's charge.
Seeing that his strategy had worked, Hirano pressed his attack even more aggressively. The demons, who had been on the verge of fleeing, saw that this useless human swordsman was somehow able to tie up the powerful woman. They turned back and pounced like a pack of wolves.
Kanae was instantly put on the defensive. Her sword flow became choppy, each of her strikes interrupted by Hirano, who would throw himself in the way.
Hirano was secretly overjoyed. This woman… she's just as I thought. The type to sacrifice herself for the so-called 'greater good' and the safety of others. It seemed the Demon Slayer Corps was full of such fools. He couldn't believe he had actually found a way out of a hopeless situation. If he could capture this beautiful Hashira today, he figured his master wouldn't blame him for the loss of a dozen or so demons. After all, the great man in Kyoto had likely already reached an agreement with Muzan Kibutsuji. Even the Twelve Kizuki probably wouldn't be acting too recklessly right now.
At this joyous thought, he completely forgot his fear. He attacked Kanae with a complete disregard for his own life, actively becoming a meat shield for the demons, as if to say, You'll have to cut me down before you can kill them!
Kanae was continuously forced back. Suddenly, Hirano spun and thrust his sword toward the dazed girl. Only then did Kanae realize the battle had unknowingly shifted to that location. She instinctively moved to block, but Hirano lunged forward. Kanae barely managed to retract her sword, and Hirano's Nichirin Blade twisted, stabbing her in the calf.
He was ecstatic. Her leg is injured! She can't run now!
BOOM!
At that moment, a massive sound echoed from the hillside behind them.
BOOM!
Another one. Hirano thought it was a demon at first, but when he turned, he saw a muscular giant in a pink robe sprinting down the slope. The man was coming down the steep hill at a full, bounding run, as terrifying as a rolling boulder.
A demon smelled the fresh human and turned to pounce on the newcomer. The next second…
SPLAT!
The man in the pink robe threw a single punch, and the small demon exploded into a fine mist of blood and flesh.
A jolt of fear shot through Hirano. The man was already charging toward him. He immediately shouted, "I am Hirano Katsumi, a security officer under the command of the Minister of the Left—!"
CRUNCH!
Kaito Shirogane's fist slammed squarely into his chest. The sounds of a shattering sternum and disintegrating flesh rang out as one.
As gore flew through the air, Kanae's pupils dilated. She stared, stunned, as a spray of blood painted her beautiful face crimson. Kaito's left fist was still covered in gore that could have been from a demon or a man.
Hirano felt a colossal force strike him, and then he was flying, as if on a cloud. He felt no pain. But he looked down at his completely caved-in chest and tried to speak, only to vomit a mouthful of purplish-black blood and viscera.
"Who… are you…?"
Kaito held his punching posture. His right arm was still injured from using the Devil Lance, and now his left was covered in filth. A terrifying smile that Kanae couldn't possibly comprehend was spread across his face. His body was held so straight that it looked almost twisted.
"There is no need to speak my noble name to fiends like you. JoJo."