As Kagaya Ubuyashiki finished speaking, murmurs rippled through the ranks of the Pillars.
But their reactions weren't aimed at Lucas—they were fixated on Nezuko. These warriors had slain countless demons over the years, and trusting one, even at the Lord's word, wasn't something they could do easily.
In fact, many of them were outright ignoring Lucas.
"As special as Nezuko? What does that even mean?" The Pillars muttered among themselves. No matter how "special" a human was, it couldn't possibly compare to the uniqueness of a demon who refrained from killing.
Despite the growing objections, Kagaya remained silent, his expression unreadable.
After everyone had spoken, he gestured to his daughter, who promptly stepped forward and took out a letter.
"This letter," Kagaya said softly, "is from Urokodaki Sakonji."
As the letter was read aloud, Tanjiro listened intently. When it ended, he turned to look at Giyu Tomioka, his expression filled with conflict.
"What does committing seppuku prove?" one of the Pillars scoffed. "If someone wants to die, that's their business. It doesn't guarantee anything!"
"Exactly," Sanemi Shinazugawa added firmly. "If we wait for a demon to harm someone, it'll be too late. The dead won't come back!"
Even with endorsements from both Urokodaki and Giyu, the skepticism from the Wind and Flame Pillars lingered.
"It's true we can't fully guarantee that she'll never attack a human," someone conceded. "But we also can't prove that she will."
"Nezuko hasn't eaten a human for over two years," Tanjiro countered. "That's a fact. And three people have pledged their lives for her."
"If you're going to deny that," he added, voice steady, "then show us something of even greater value in return."
Standing nearby, Lucas clicked his tongue. Whatever else one might say, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's skill in persuasion was almost divine.
But Kagaya wasn't finished.
"There is one more thing I must share with the Pillars," he said. "Tanjiro and Lucas have encountered Muzan Kibutsuji. And Lucas even briefly fought him."
A hush fell over the courtyard as all eyes turned to Lucas.
Wait—what?
Lucas raised a brow. He was sure he'd driven off the Kasugai Crow before that encounter. How did Kagaya know?
Could the crow have secretly lingered nearby?
His musings were interrupted by a signal from Kagaya—one finger raised to his lips.
Instantly, the entire discussion fell silent.
"Kibutsuji is trying to capture Tanjiro," Kagaya said gravely. "This is the first time he has made a move in the open. We cannot let this opportunity pass."
"There is something unusual about Nezuko," he continued. "Something even Kibutsuji didn't foresee."
"Still, Lord," one of the Pillars argued, "this is a demon. If it were a human, maybe we could talk. But not a demon."
"Our Corps has spent generations killing demons. Too many have died to make exceptions now. I can't agree with this."
Kagaya said nothing in response.
Instead, Sanemi Shinazugawa stepped forward.
"I will prove it to you, Lord," he said, slicing open his wrist.
The pungent scent of blood filled the air.
Lucas, understanding what was about to happen, tightened his grip on the wooden box strapped to his back and stepped into the room.
"Lord, please forgive me," he said.
Sanemi followed closely, his blood now saturating the room.
Lucas carefully opened the box.
Nezuko stepped out, her nose twitching, eyes wide. But instead of lunging at the scent of rare blood, she turned her head sharply away.
Lucas exhaled in relief and lowered his hand from his sword hilt. Even though he'd expected this, the moment was still tense.
"So this proves it," someone muttered. "Nezuko won't attack people."
Kagaya nodded slightly. "Tanjiro, you must continue to prove Nezuko's restraint. And show your strength as well."
"With that settled," he continued, "let us now discuss Mr. Lucas."
"Mr. Lucas?" several Pillars echoed in surprise.
Lucas packed Nezuko back into the box and stepped out into the courtyard. He stood upright, unlike the other Pillars who knelt before Kagaya.
Although he held great respect for the Demon Slayer Corps leader, Lucas didn't believe in kneeling without cause. Kagaya had never done anything to warrant that level of reverence from him.
Kagaya, as always, didn't mind.
"As I mentioned before, Mr. Lucas is just as special as Nezuko."
There was a pause.
"That is because, though he is human, Mr. Lucas can use Blood Demon Art."
"WHAT?!"
The Pillars practically shouted in unison.
Shock rippled through the ranks. The very idea was unthinkable.
Blood Demon Art was what made the Twelve Kizuki—and Muzan himself—so terrifying. It was tied directly to the demon blood in their veins.
But a human? How?
This defied every known law of nature. Without Muzan's blood, a human shouldn't be able to manifest such power.
Sanemi stared, mouth slightly agape. Lucas could use Blood Demon Art?
Then why hadn't he used it during their battle?
Wait a second…
Had that punk been holding back?
Lucas, unfazed by the disbelief around him, raised his hand calmly.
In a fluid motion, he summoned his ability.
Thin, nearly invisible threads of spider silk unraveled from his palm, glinting faintly in the sunlight.
Those who had faced demons before instantly recognized the blood aura clinging to the threads. It was unmistakable—Blood Demon Art.
Some of the Pillars scoffed.
"This is it? Looks like a parlor trick."
But before the words were fully spoken, Lucas let out a breath, flipped his palm, and drove the threads downward.
The spider silk stiffened like steel wires and shot toward the ground with a sharp whistle.
The threads pierced the earth as easily as if it were butter.
When the dust settled, the ground was dotted with perfectly drilled holes—tiny, precise, evenly spaced.
The entire sandy courtyard was now riddled with needle-thin perforations. The same ground that had remained unscathed during Lucas and Sanemi's earlier battle now looked like it had been chewed up by a hundred drill bits.
The Pillars fell into stunned silence.
"It… It really is Blood Demon Art," the Sound Pillar whispered, his throat dry.
The strength of Lucas' threads—their speed, precision, and cutting power—was terrifying.
If Lucas had used that technique during his fight with Sanemi...
The Sound Pillar's thoughts trailed off. He turned to look at Sanemi, who was still processing the revelation.
And he wasn't the only one.
Each Pillar considered the implications. If Lucas had chosen to reveal his Blood Demon Art during the earlier battle, the outcome might've been very different.
Some even doubted Sanemi would still be standing.
Before today, no one would have believed a human could overpower a Pillar. But now, things had changed.
A human, immune to the sun, wielding Blood Demon Art?
That wasn't just rare—it was terrifying.
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