Yuki had even considered the possibility that Sanemi might use this opportunity to "ambush" him, testing his strength.
But he never imagined Sanemi would actually choose to join the mission.
'What is this?'
'I'm not here to disrupt this family, but to become part of it?'
Yuki's expression grew increasingly bewildered, while Kagaya smiled knowingly, as if he had anticipated this outcome all along.
Kagaya chuckled. "Sanemi, your willingness to join is certainly welcome."
"However, I require both you and Kyojuro to follow Mr. Yuki's commands during critical moments. Is that acceptable?"
Before the words had even finished leaving his lips, Kyojuro enthusiastically shouted, "Of course! No problem at all!"
Sanemi, however, didn't respond immediately. He merely glared at Yuki with obvious displeasure.
Ever since Yuki had entered the courtyard, Sanemi had been observing him closely.
'Weak!
This man named Yuki's presence was utterly faint!
To Sanemi, this man's presence felt even weaker than Murata's, who had accompanied them here.
Despite Murata and Giyu's assurances of his strength, and Lord's own acknowledgment of Yuki's achievements—claiming he had not only escaped Muzan unscathed but even protected a family—Yuki's faint aura still left Sanemi unconvinced, even worried.
Sanemi didn't know the specifics of the special mission Lord had mentioned, but the inclusion of Kyojuro, the Flame Pillar, suggested considerable danger. That's why he had joined—to provide extra strength and protect Yoriichi from demons.
But now, at a critical moment, he and Kyojuro were supposed to take orders from this man?
Sanemi's doubts resurfaced.
Seeing this, Yuki couldn't help but sigh again.
'Alright, I get it now.'
Unless he could completely win Sanemi's trust, the man would continue to question him at every turn.
So he stepped down from the platform and stood in the courtyard, speaking plainly:
"Sanemi, I asked you this before."
"Are you trying to investigate my past achievements, or do you want to test my strength?"
As he spoke, Yuki continued to observe Sanemi through his Transparent World, which he had never fully deactivated.
The rhythm of his breathing, the pounding of his heart, the tensing of his muscles...
All this information flooded Yuki's mind, making it clear that Sanemi was poised to strike.
Though Gyomei couldn't see, he too sensed Sanemi's impending attack.
He clasped his hands together, his voice stern:
"Sanemi, you must not act disrespectfully before the Lord!"
"Moreover, internal fighting is strictly forbidden within the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Sanemi's face tightened as he growled under his breath:
"I'll test his strength with my bare hands."
"I hope the Lord will forgive me afterward!"
With those words, Sanemi lunged forward like a cannonball, charging toward Yuki!
Yuki stood his ground, feeling only a sudden gust of wind rushing toward him.
But thanks to the Transparent World, every movement of Sanemi became crystal clear in his eyes.
Yuki clearly saw Sanemi hurtling toward him like a gale.
As Sanemi closed in, his foot suddenly slammed into the ground, his body twisting as he swung his elbow toward Yuki's temple.
Yuki narrowed his eyes.
He could sense that Sanemi had deliberately held back some of his strength.
Evading the elbow strike became effortless.
Yuki leaned back slightly, letting Sanemi's elbow pass harmlessly over him.
Feeling his strike miss, Sanemi's eyes widened in shock.
'This is bad!'
Just as he feared, Yuki tripped him with a quick footwork, then followed through with a decisive push.
*Thud!*
Sanemi, his momentum overextended, lost his balance and crashed to the ground in a humiliating heap.
Yuki remained standing calmly, his hair swaying gently in the aftershock of the failed strike.
"What?!"
"You... you activated..."
Sanemi lay sprawled on the ground, his mind racing with disbelief.
Even if he had held back some of his strength, there was no way he could have been taken down in a single exchange!
It felt like a cruel joke.
But Yuki heard something different in those half-finished words.
'What does he mean by "you activated"?'
'I simply didn't deactivate the Transparent World.'
'Does not deactivating it mean I activated it?'
The courtyard fell silent.
On the other side, the Pillars watching the battle were equally astonished.
Even Kagaya, observing from the veranda, was visibly surprised.
'The legendary Swordsman... his reputation is truly well-deserved.'
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Gyomei, fingering his prayer beads, suddenly murmured in awe, "Truly astonishing!"
Though blind, his senses were exceptionally keen.
Whether Yuki was standing still or in motion, Gyomei had detected no overwhelming aura from him.
A presence that felt no stronger than Murata's had effortlessly defeated Sanemi in a single exchange.
'Truly... astonishing!'
Tomioka opened his mouth as if to speak, but Shinobu, who had somehow slipped up beside him unnoticed, swiftly pulled him back.
Fortunately, Sanemi didn't witness this exchange.
He had just risen to one knee, bowing deeply before Kagaya.
Only now did Sanemi feel the lingering daze finally dissipate.
'No, this was no fluke.'
From the very beginning, the opponent had seen through every move he made.
At that moment, Kagaya turned to Yuki with sincere apology.
"Mr. Yuki, I apologize on Sanemi's behalf."
"Sanemi's temperament is often impulsive. Please forgive him."
As Kagaya spoke, he turned to Sanemi, his tone growing more stern.
"Sanemi, apologize to Mr. Yuki!"
Sanemi lowered his head, gritting his teeth as he forced out, "Please forgive me!"
Yuki waved generously, indicating he didn't mind.
He had come to understand that while none of the Pillars were truly malicious, they were all rather... "eccentric."
Tomioka, the man who couldn't speak properly, was one such example. Gyomei, who wept at the slightest provocation, was another. And then there was Sanemi, who constantly questioned him until he earned his trust.
And—
"Amazing!"
A loud, cheerful voice boomed.
"Shinazugawa's elbow strike was truly magnificent! The power and angle were perfect!"
"Of course, Yuki's counter was equally brilliant! If it were me, I could never have executed such a flawless response!"
The only person capable of praising both sides so enthusiastically was Kyojuro.
Kyojuro declared loudly, "Without further delay, Sanemi, let's set out with Yuki right now!"
Yuki couldn't help but rub his ears, still ringing from the shock.
He suddenly realized that his trip to Asakusa in Tokyo Prefecture would definitely not be a lonely one...