"Currently, the number of Hashira is seriously insufficient."
Sanemi added his opinion and looked at his colleagues.
The number of Hashira has reduced too much in the past year, whether they were injured, martyred, or broken like Shinjuro.
Even some Hashira for five major breathing methods are missing.
"But a drunkard is no use to anyone—"
"Don't worry!"
Sanemi was interrupted by Kyojuro's loud and boisterous voice. His eyes were full of life and hope as a heroic smile graced his face.
"When I become the Flame Hashira, I believe my father will cheer up again!"
"Huh…!?"
Sanemi was stunned for a moment at the audacity. He turned his head and stared at Kyojuro's lively, naive, and positive face. His expression darkened, and the corners of his mouth twisted in a hideous manner.
"What did you say!?"
"You think you can just become a Hashira just because you want to!?"
Sanemi's expression looks even more ferocious because of the scars on his face as he exudes full hostility to Kyojuro.
He clenched his fists, and his muscles tensed as veins climbed up the arms to his neck and face.
"To say such things rashly, you seem pretty confident."
Sanemi's eyes flashed with the image of a blood-soaked figure, and anger surged in his heart.
"Being a Hashira is not something you can just say you'll be!"
Kyojuro did not change his stance, his face still full of confidence and self-belief.
"Of course, I know the conditions required to be a Hashira!"
"Bastard! Let's see where that confidence comes from!"
Sanemi stood and reached for the katana at his waist, ready to rumble.
"Sanemi." Kagaya's voice interrupted before things got violent. He nodded to Kyojuro, silently giving his approval for his dream, as he shifted his gaze away to Tanjuro.
"There is another matter I'm going to talk about next." Kagaya said with a hint of apology.
"Rengoku Kyojuro and Kamado Tanjuro... as Hashira."
He finished.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Oyakata-sama."
Sanemi knelt back down as he apologized softly. He tilted his head to glance at Tanjuro. Following the others' example as they examined this man.
Tanjuro heard his name and raised his head, meeting the gazes of the people around him one by one. His hanafuda earrings swayed lightly in the wind.
He did not expect Kagaya to want to induct him into the Corps as a Hashira.
He thought that his business here was to just relay his encounter with Muzan.
In addition, after learning that the Dragon's Heritage can help restore his physique and may even enhance it.
He planned to go and kill enough demons to fill up the two containers he felt in his body with "resurrection" powers.
'I also need to check in on Kie and the kids in these past two days...'
"It's okay. There is one more piece of news I want to tell you."
Kagaya nodded, then casually revealed the report that surprised all the Hashiras.
"Kamado Tanjuro-san had direct contact with a demon two days ago."
"One named Kibutsuji Muzan, the Demon King."
"What?!"
As soon as the words were spoken, all the Hashiras were stunned, as their faces showed their shock and their mouths opened slightly.
"That guy?!"
"How could it be?!"
Kyojuro, who was sitting next to Tanjuro, also turned his head abruptly and looked at Tanjuro with his pupils shrunk slightly.
"Kamado-san!" Kyojuro couldn't help but look at him in a different light.
Tengen was the first to speak and was soon followed by his fellow colleagues, immediately bombarding Tanjuro with question after question.
"What does that guy look like?!"
"What are his abilities?!"
"Even a Hashira has never encountered him!?"
"Do you know his location?!"
"Talk!"
The Hashira shouted over each other anxiously.
This is the first time there was information about Muzan, the Demon King that was hidden from the Corps intelligence for nearly a hundred years!
This was the equivalent of someone finally finding the oasis in the middle of the desert. Finally, the end of the road is within sight.
"Come on! Talk!"
Tanjuro's eyelids drooped a little. He couldn't help but make eye contact with the master, Kagaya, in the middle of the noise.
The two men locked eyes and saw within each other an understanding. Both of them had the look of a tired father rearing their noisy children in the zoo.
The Hashira right now reminded Tanjuro of a much noisier, more pushy version of his own children.
Tanjuro nodded at Kagaya, who nodded back. Both men unexpectedly bond in a silent conversation.
"It was two nights ago."
He answered in a steady voice, slightly turning his head to look at the Hashiras that were staring at him.
"At the front door of my house."
The Hashiras stopped their questioning as soon as Tanjuro said that.
Then, a choked sob escaped the crowd.
Giyu turned his head to see Shinobu, hand on her mouth with unshed tears in her eyes.
Sanemi was in a daze as his brows furrowed tightly. His grip on his Nichirin sword trembled from anger at another demon tragedy.
Even Tengen's open mouth froze. His excitement and anxiousness ground to a halt.
Looking over Tanjuro's appearance again, suddenly it makes sense why this man looks so miserable. For a while he wondered whether he should continue his question.
—'To be paid a visit by the Demon King in front of your house, those are descriptions for one word that is tragedy.'
'We might not be able to get anything out of him.'
'But! As long as we can get intel on the Demon King...'
Tengen looked at Tanjuro's bloodshot eyes, and he lost any eagerness to ask more questions.
Seeing the Hashiras fall silent, Tanjuro turned to look at Kagaya.
He just noticed that Kagaya already knew about the event that happened in his home.
He hadn't even told Giyu that the demon he had encountered that night was Muzan.
The only other person who knew Muzan, or at least his appearance, was his son, Tanjiro.
Which means...
"Excuse me. My son, Tanjiro... is he here?"
Kagaya bowed slightly at being caught.
"Kamado-san."
"I moved Lady Kie and the children here without consulting you. For that, I am sorry."
"I must have worried you for a moment, but rest assured, they are safe at the Butterfly Mansion. Yes, even Tanjiro."
Finally, he straightened up and smiled as he answered Tanjuro's question.
"Indeed, it was Tanjiro who told me about Muzan."