From Kagaya's perspective, the incident with Gyomei Himejima had resulted in far more than just restored vision. Under Sukuna's influence, Gyomei had also awakened the Mark. And from the looks of it, thanks to Sukuna's intervention, Gyomei would not have to worry about the Mark's side effects until he used it again. The only cost for all these benefits was simply having to forge a new Nichirin blade.
The injuries Gyomei had suffered in battle had all been healed afterward when the Mark's effects were reversed. Aside from the painful memories, there were no lasting consequences. Those could be ignored.
Because Sukuna was eating, Kagaya, Shinobu, and Gyomei temporarily withdrew to another room. Kagaya asked Gyomei, "What do you think of him?"
Gyomei did not answer immediately. He looked down at his ruined ax. "He is overwhelmingly strong. Even without using those invisible slashes, even with just Flame Breathing, it would be completely impossible to defeat him."
Shinobu sighed silently. Though the Hashira did not have a formal ranking like the Twelve Kizuki, Gyomei was undoubtedly among the strongest of them. Even with his awakened Mark, it made no difference. She could not bring herself to feel any sense of resistance against Sukuna.
Gyomei paused, then added in an extremely grave tone. "If he were the enemy, even gathering all of the current Hashira would almost certainly change nothing."
Kagaya sighed as well. "So that is how it is. In truth, massive amounts of explosives have been buried throughout this entire estate. I was certain that one day Muzan would find this place and appear before me, so I prepared them."
Gyomei and Shinobu were both startled. Their master had never mentioned this to them.
And from his words, Shinobu understood. Kagaya had intended to use himself as bait, luring Muzan in before detonating the explosives.
Though he could not see their expressions, he knew they were intelligent enough to catch his meaning. He continued calmly. "I do not have much time left. Do not feel sorry for me over this decision. I once considered whether to use this on Sukuna. But I had a feeling that even detonating all the explosives in the estate might not be enough to fatally wound him. So in the end, I abandoned that idea."
The reason he was telling them all of this now was because he sensed that Sukuna's arrival meant the thousand-year conflict between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons would reach its conclusion in a way far beyond their original understanding. These contingency plans might not even be needed. That was why he had chosen this moment to reveal them.
Shinobu ventured a suggestion. "Since Sukuna was able to heal Himejima-san's eyes, perhaps we could ask him to heal your illness?"
Both Shinobu and Gyomei had witnessed Sukuna's miraculous healing capabilities. Neither doubted that he had the ability to heal their master. They looked to Kagaya, waiting for his decision.
Kagaya simply smiled and shook his head. "My condition is not what matters. What matters is whether we can use this opportunity to destroy Muzan once and for all."
Though his voice was soft, both Shinobu and Gyomei could hear the steel in his resolve.
Kagaya continued in a far more serious tone. "But I am sure you both understand. Sukuna is no righteous savior. In this short time alone, he has already accumulated a massive body count. Three Hashira have died by his hands."
The topic was heavy. Shinobu and Gyomei fell into grim, silent agreement.
"Even so, I will continue to do my best to meet his demands. Whatever the outcome, I alone will bear the burden of all responsibility."
All of them now held deeply complicated feelings toward Sukuna. Just the fact that his arrival had brought back the long-lost Mark was already a tremendous boost to the Demon Slayer Corps' strength.
Even if Sukuna did not help them kill the Twelve Kizuki or Muzan, the Corps' chances of victory were undeniably higher than before.
...
Shortly after Sukuna finished eating, he saw a middle-aged man with hair strikingly similar to Kyojuro being led into the courtyard by Amane Ubuyashiki.
He was not wearing the Demon Slayer Corps' standard uniform. In one hand, he carried a large jug of sake, roughly the size of a human head. If not for the Nichirin sword in his other hand, no one would have guessed he was a swordsman.
Shinjuro Rengoku could not help himself. He took another gulp from his jug, then asked Amane beside him. "Amane-sama, hic, is this the place? I just need to demonstrate Flame Breathing fully, and then I can leave?"
"Yes." Amane nodded.
Before, even after stepping down as Flame Hashira, Shinjuro would not have behaved so rudely in front of Amane.
But that had changed after he heard the news of Kyojuro's death not long ago. He said that Kyojuro had died because he insisted on being a swordsman despite having no real talent. But in truth, hearing that Kyojuro had not died at the hands of a demon had only deepened his despair.
Amane extended a hand toward Sukuna and introduced him seriously to Shinjuro. "It is Sukuna-sama who wishes for you, Shinjuro, to demonstrate Flame Breathing for him."
"Sukuna...-sama...?" Shinjuro mumbled the name, feeling like he had heard it somewhere before. But the alcohol was slowing his thoughts to a crawl.
He slowly turned his head in the direction Amane was pointing. He saw Sukuna bathed in sunlight, black curse marks on his face, two sets of eyes.
He repeated the name again, almost unconsciously. "Sukuna...?"
Sukuna caught on. He rested his chin on his hand and studied Shinjuro with clear amusement, a smile on his face. "You wouldn't happen to be that brat Kyojuro Rengoku's father, would you? I'm looking forward to this. You'd better be able to cut harder than that kid did with his dying slash."
The nerves that the alcohol had numbed were suddenly pierced through by the blade of painful memory. Shinjuro glared at the man who had killed his son, not far away, and roared.
"SUKUNAAAAAA!?"
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