Ryo Himejima had already been taken away.
The little girl who survived was also nowhere to be found.
Ryo Anzai stood before the shattered wisteria incense burner at the temple gates, anger burning in his chest like a black flame.
In the original timeline, this was the very first incident.
The shame of the Demon Slayer Corps.
And during the final arc, the only Upper Rank fight they took seriously still ended with him getting one-shotted!
What a rainbow clown.
A walking bad-luck charm.
The legendary kryptonite of heroes!
Last night, that scumbag stole money, was caught by the temple children, kicked out, and then met a demon.
To survive, he made a deal and smashed the incense burner…
leading to this massacre.
Later, he would become a demon and be the reason Master Urokodaki had to take his own life.
That bastard.
Not on my watch.
Ryo clenched his jaw.
For the sake of preventing Urokodaki's heartbreak, he swore silently:
I will find Kaigaku first.
Before fate repeats itself…
I will end him.
But first…
he had to save Gyomei Himejima.
Ryo pulled out a simple scrap of paper and brush, quickly writing a message.
To the Honored Master:
Urgent report from Mizunoto swordsman Ryo Anzai.
The tragedy at the temple of Mt. Hinode was not caused by the monk Gyomei Himejima.
The true culprit was a man-eating demon. Gyomei suffered grievous wounds protecting the children.
The sole surviving child falsely accused him in panic. The government arrested the wrong man.
Gyomei wields great strength and unwavering resolve. He is vital to the demon-slaying cause.
Please act immediately and save him from wrongful execution.
Inquiries may be confirmed through the Kakushi on site.
Respectfully,
Ryo Anzai
He rolled the note, tied it to a small messenger bird's talon.
"Go! Deliver it to the Master at once!"
The bird shot into the sky like a silver streak.
Ryo exhaled slowly.
Returning to Momoyama could wait.
He searched every inch of Mt. Hinode instead.
Because leaving empty-handed was never his style.
His fury demanded a target.
If he didn't massacre a few demons today, his blood pressure might explode.
And with luck…
he might even track down Kaigaku himself.
Tokyo Prefecture — Main Prison
Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife Amane followed a guard through the damp corridor.
They stopped before a heavy iron door.
Inside, the cramped cell felt more like a coffin.
Moisture dripped from the stone walls.
A massive figure sat in the corner, his body barely fitting.
Hearing footsteps, he stiffened but did not look up.
The guard wisely excused himself, shutting the door.
Silence lingered.
Only the crackle of torches filled the air.
Kagaya finally spoke, voice soft but steady.
"Master Himejima."
Gyomei lifted his head slightly.
"I know you are no murderer," Kagaya continued, his tone gentle as flowing water.
"You are a protector. A warrior who fought to save the innocent."
"The blood spilled in that temple is not yours to bear."
Gyomei suddenly let out a hoarse, breathless laugh.
"Before they brought me here…
amid that hellish morning…"
He paused, swallowing emotion.
"A boy shouted those exact words at me."
Silence cut deep.
Kagaya blinked.
"…The exact same words?"
Gyomei nodded slowly.
"He told me to lift my head.
That I was defending humanity.
Fighting for those who could not fight."
Kagaya's lips twitched.
Hey!
Those are my lines!
No need for guessing.
He instantly knew who that boy was.
"That would be Ryo," he muttered with a sigh.
"So that is his name…" Gyomei whispered.
"That voice, like thunder splitting through endless darkness…
His name is Ryo."
Kagaya smiled helplessly.
"Master Himejima, since you recognize wisteria and its power against demons…
then you must also know of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Gyomei nodded once.
No more speeches were needed.
Kagaya went straight to the point.
"I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Master Himejima, would you join us?"
Gyomei inhaled deeply.
He pressed his shackled palms together in prayer.
With lowered head, he bowed with reverence.
"Lord Ubuyashiki,
I, Gyomei Himejima, humbly pledge my life to the Demon Slayer Corps.
I will strike down demons.
I will protect the innocent.
Until this body turns to ash."
His vow echoed against stone walls like a sacred bell.
"Well said. Your innocence will be proven," Kagaya assured.
The cell door opened. Chains fell.
The three exited the prison together.
Yet Kagaya's thoughts lingered.
Ryo Anzai…
Already causing ripples.
Amane leaned closer, whispering:
"The Kakushi report that Ryo Anzai has not returned to Momoyama."
She frowned.
"He remains on Mt. Hinode.
Tracking demons. Alone.
As if… actively hunting them."
A spark of admiration lit Kagaya's eyes.
Most new swordsmen trembled after their first mission.
Some required therapy before even holding a blade again.
But Ryo…
had done the opposite.
No retreat.
He chased the fight.
As if death itself nipped at his heels.
"It seems my intuition was correct," Kagaya breathed, smiling wide.
"Ryo Anzai is destined to become a Hashira.
Urokodaki finally has a worthy successor."
Amane raised a brow.
"You think so highly of him?"
"My intuition has never failed me."
"Achoo! Someone must be cursing me!"
Deep within the dense forest, Ryo sneezed.
The canopy blocked the daylight above, leaving the area dim and cold.
Perfect for demons.
He crouched near a set of warped footprints pressed into the soil.
Not human.
His heartbeat quickened.
He rested a hand on the hilt at his waist.
Not yet.
Patience.
The trail led into a pitch-black cave.
A slow grin spread across his face.
Got you.
Come on out
and greet the sunlight, sweetheart.
Time to hunt.