Yuki and Tomioka hurried back to Headquarters.
He had assumed that Kagaya's message, delivered via Kasugai Crow, summoning Tomioka back immediately, meant a new mission awaited.
But upon entering the courtyard, Yuki was surprised to see Hinaki and Kiriya standing on the veranda, clearly having been waiting for some time.
As soon as they saw Tomioka, they spoke in their ethereal voices:
"Tomioka Giyu, congratulations on passing the Final Selection at Mount Fujikasane."
Hearing this, Tomioka froze in place.
The Final Selection at Mount Fujikasane had always been a thorn in his heart.
Tomioka had always believed that he had only passed the selection by sheer luck, having been unconscious for seven days, and was therefore unworthy of joining the Demon Slayer Corps.
Even now, despite having earned the title of Pillar, Tomioka still felt unworthy.
But under Yuki's guidance, he had returned to Mount Fujikasane, slain the Hand Demon, and avenged Urokodaki's disciples.
Now, hearing the words "Congratulations on passing" with his own ears, the thorn that had been buried deep in Tomioka's heart for years finally vanished.
After the congratulations, Tomioka was once again presented with a Demon Slayer Corps uniform.
He was also given the opportunity to choose a piece of Tamahagane, Scarlet Crimson Sand Iron Ore mined from the mountain peak closest to the sun, to forge his Nichirin Blade, the sword used to slay Demons.
Even Tomioka's Kasugai Crow cooperated, circling once in the sky before landing on his shoulder, completing the "master recognition" process anew.
Yuki watched from the sidelines, feeling a pang of emotion.
This entire ritual was the standard procedure for Swordsmen who had just joined the Demon Slayer Corps after passing the selection at Mount Fujikasane.
Yet Kagaya had arranged this elaborate ceremony specifically to help Tomioka finally remove the thorn from his heart.
He now understood why the members of the Demon Slayer Corps revered Kagaya so deeply.
At that moment, Kiriya turned to Yuki and bowed.
"Mr. Yuki, please follow me to the rear."
"Lord Ubuyashiki is waiting for you."
Yuki was surprised. Did Kagaya have something to discuss with him?
He followed the young boy to the back of Headquarters, where they came upon a vast cemetery.
Clearly, this was where the fallen swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps were buried.
Kagaya stood there, holding a cloth as he wiped down an aged tombstone.
Beside him, Kiriya spoke in a subdued voice:
"Father's health has deteriorated greatly, yet he still insists on personally cleaning the tombstones of the swordsmen on their memorial days."
"I've tried to dissuade him countless times, but..."
Only then did Yuki realize that the boy guiding him, Kiriya, was simply a child worried about his father's well-being.
However, the words "every day" and "memorial days" still struck Yuki as odd.
Sensing his confusion, Kiriya explained in a low voice:
"Because in the past, almost every day, a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman would sacrifice their life."
"And most of these graves are cenotaphs."
"Many of the fallen swordsmen were devoured by demons, leaving no remains for burial..."
Yuki fell silent.
Some truths, no matter how well he knew the original story, could only be truly grasped through firsthand experience.
Only by witnessing this graveyard could Yuki truly comprehend the perilous and brutal nature of demon hunting.
And only by seeing Kagaya personally wipe the tombstones of the fallen swordsmen could he truly understand the weight behind the Lord's ability to remember every member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
He crouched down, gently ruffled Kiriya's hair, and said warmly, "I promise you, I will end Kibutsuji Muzan."
With that, Yuki turned away from Kiriya and walked toward Kagaya.
"Cough, cough..."
Despite the noticeably warmer weather that day, Kagaya remained heavily bundled in thick layers.
Upon seeing Yuki, he said apologetically, "I hope Kiriya didn't say anything to trouble you."
Yuki shook his head.
Kagaya continued, his voice filled with remorse:
"The Kakushi stationed at Mount Fujikasane informed me that you and Tomioka went to slay a Demon that had been hiding for many years."
"This matter is my responsibility. I feel deeply ashamed towards Mr. Urokodaki and his disciples. I will seek his forgiveness..."
Yuki interrupted him, lowering his voice:
"Please do not tell Mr. Urokodaki about this. This is also Tomioka's wish."
Kagaya remained silent for a long moment before sighing:
"Giyu has truly grown so much."
Then, Kagaya moved on to the main topic:
"Mr. Yuki, I have asked you here today to request something of you!"
"I would like you to investigate the matter of the train."
Yuki quickly waved his hand, signaling Kagaya not to be so formal:
"Is this the same train you previously sent Tomioka and Murata to investigate?"
"But I heard from them that they found no traces of Demons on that train."
Kagaya's expression turned grave:
"Precisely because of this, it becomes even more suspicious."
"Moreover, I have received an even more peculiar report."
"The missing passengers and train staff have been found."
Hearing this, Yuki frowned:
"Found?"
Kagaya nodded:
"Yes, they have all been found."
"Moreover, during subsequent questioning, they all gave reasons for suddenly leaving the train."
"Because the number of passengers and staff who went missing on the train was small, and they later reappeared, the incidents weren't taken seriously."
"But I used my connections to find the people who had questioned those who went missing."
"He said that when they gave their reasons for suddenly leaving the train, their expressions were strange."
"They looked like people who had just woken up, trying to recall what had happened in their dreams."
Yuki's expression turned serious.
The mention of "dreams" immediately reminded him of a certain demon—
Lower Moon One - Enmu
This demon's ability was to trap people in sleep and dreams, perfectly matching the situation described by Kagaya.
Yuki began to ponder.
So, unlike in the original story, Enmu hadn't fused himself with the train to devour all the passengers.
Instead, after selecting his targets, he had trapped them in dreams, fabricating reasons for them to disembark, then waited for the opportunity to devour them?
As for why he suddenly let them go, it was likely due to the order he had predicted— Muzan instructing him to conceal his presence.
Just as Yuki was deep in thought, Kagaya's next words made him instantly freeze in shock:
"I've already sent Kyojuro to investigate."