Hashira

According to Kyoujurou, the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps was known as the Ubuyashiki Estate.

Because the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps was a descendant of a family called Ubuyashiki who had held this position for generations, the Corps was also established by this family.

As a result, the place where the Master resided was the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps as well as the residence of the Ubuyashiki family.

Due to the sensitive nature of the location, Riezel wasn't informed of its whereabouts on the way to the Ubuyashiki Estate. Furthermore, he didn't have the opportunity to see the route. Instead, he sat with Kyoujurou in a tightly sealed carriage and was transported to the destination without even glimpsing outside.

As a result, when Riezel got off the carriage, he didn't even know where he was or what this place was. All he knew was that Kyoujurou had brought him to a very secluded place and arrived at the courtyard of a large Japanese mansion.

Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Inosuke did not accompany them but were arranged by Kyoujurou to go to his own home. Only Riezel and Kyoujurou came to this estate, and there wasn't even a servant responsible for guiding them.

Riezel looked around and found the environment here was quite beautiful.

Not only was the ground paved with stones, but there were also flowers and plants specially planted around, along with flowing water and small bridges.

Undoubtedly, the style of the estate was Japanese, with a sense of historical weight and ancient feeling.

"Yup! We are here!"

Kyoujurou, who brought Riezel to this place, patted his shoulder and then loudly announced toward the direction of the manor.

"Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyoujurou and Swordsman Tsugikuni Yoriichi is here!"

With Kyoujurou's already loud voice, after deliberately shouting aloud, it turned into an echo, reverberating throughout the entire estate, persisting for a long time.

Riezel quietly watched this scene and, at a certain moment, calmly lifted his head.

*Swish!* *Swish!* *Swish!* *Swish!*

In this split second, sky-splitting sounds resounded one after another as several figures flew from all directions to the courtyard.

They landed on the walls surrounding the courtyard and looked down at Riezel standing in the center of the courtyard, emitting different but equally powerful auras.

"Huh?"

Seeing this scene, Kyoujurou was somewhat astonished.

"Ohh! You guys are here too?"

It was no wonder he would be surprised.

As the deliberately hidden headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Ubuyashiki Estate was rarely visited by people on ordinary days.

Even the Hashira rarely gathered here at the same time. Only during the semiannual Hashira meeting did they gather together to discuss the overall management of the Demon Slayer Corps and future action plans.

Normally, the Hashira were busy with their respective missions, not only responsible for guarding vast areas and collecting information related to demons but also training to improve their own strength, coupled with various other tasks.

Under normal circumstances, the Hashira would not gather at the headquarters.

After all, the semiannual Hashira meeting had ended recently, so logically, they should have been out completing missions or dealing with the tasks of the Demon Slayer Corps. Yet, at this moment, rare as it was, all the Hashira, seldom seen on ordinary days, had gathered together once again.

"You finally made it back, Rengoku."

A petite girl standing on the courtyard walls closest to Kyoujurou greeted him.

She had dark purple curly hair with bangs that ended in purple, purple eyes, and wore a Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a haori draped over it patterned with butterfly wings, giving her the appearance of a butterfly ready to take flight—exceptionally beautiful.

She was Kochou Shinobu, the Insect Hashira.

"Hey there, Rengoku, heard you made quite a show on the Mugen Train, not bad!"

A young man standing straight with arms crossed, perched on a tree branch like a ninja, remarked with a smile.

He was a muscular young man wearing a sleeveless Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a jeweled forehead protector and silver chain-like ornament hanging from each side of the headpiece. His silver-white hair was tied into a prominent ponytail, and he carried two swords on his back, exuding a strong aura.

He was Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira.

"So-Sorry, Mr. Rengoku, because everyone was curious about what the person who defeated the Upper Rank looked like..."

A shy-looking girl standing modestly in the courtyard spoke guiltily.

She had large light green eyes, rosy cheeks, a mole under each eye, and three grass-green and cherry blossom-colored braids cascading down her back. She wore a white haori over a specially modified Demon Slayer Corps uniform, with a short skirt and green-striped stockings—quite fashionable.

She was Kanroji Mitsuri, the Love Hashira.

"And then? Is that boy the one who defeated the Upper Rank?"

A young man with a white hedgehog-like head, three scars on his face, and a terrifying appearance covered in scars that exuded a vicious aura asked with a somewhat irritated expression.

He wore a white haori with the character 'kill' on it, his uniform open to reveal muscles, emanating a terrifying vibe, as if he could draw his sword at any moment and strike someone down.

He was Shinazugawa Sanemi, the Wind Hashira.

"He killed an Upper Rank? Unbelievable..."

A young man lurking in a darker corner chimed in.

He had heterochromatic eyes, one green and one gold, the lower half of his face wrapped in bandages, and black medium-length hair curled like seaweed. He wore a black and white striped haori, with a white snake coiled around his neck, hissing at Riezel.

He was Iguro Obanai, the Serpent Hashira.

"Aah, so young, looks only a bit older than Tokitou. To fight with an Upper Rank at such a young age, it's too pitiful, Namu Amida Butsu."

A large man dressed as a monk and the most muscular among the rest, remarked.

With hands clasped together and tears streaming down his face, he had a long scar on his forehead and seemed to be completely blind. He wore an olive green robe over his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, with a string of prayer beads in his hands, giving the impression of a monk to those who didn't know him.

He was Himejima Gyoumei, the Stone Hashira.

At this moment, two people suddenly leaped down from the walls into the courtyard and stood silently, not uttering a word.

Between these two, one appeared calm and composed, seldom smiling or speaking unnecessarily. He had black hair and wore a Demon Slayer Corps uniform with a haori draped over it, the patterns on its left and right sides differed.

On the other hand, the second one had long black hair, the tips tinged with a minty green hue, and his expression was blank and indifferent. He wore a dark, slightly turquoise-tinted Demon Slayer Corps uniform that resembled more of a kimono than the standard cuffed uniform.

They were the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyuu, and the Mist Hashira, Tokitou Muichirou.

"All of you really came! Good, this calls for a celebration!"

With Kyoujurou's loud proclamation, every Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps gathered here, a rare occurrence outside their official meetings.

Riezel's gaze swept over these newcomers one by one, identifying their identities. Every Hashira also observed him, some with curiosity in their eyes, others with suspicion.

For example, Wind Hashira Shinazugawa Sanemi and Serpent Hashira Iguro Obanai didn't hide their suspicions.

"I say, Rengoku, you didn't send Kasugai Crow back with fake information, did you?" Sanemi said impolitely. "Can this boy really kill an Upper Rank? I don't buy it!"

"Agreed..." Obanai nodded, twirling the white snake around his neck with a gloomy expression. "Upper Ranks that haven't had member changes in over a hundred years, even we wouldn't dare claim we could behead one of them. Now, out of the blue, a young swordsman we've never heard of claims he succeeded in killing one. Unfortunately, I don't buy it either."

"You two must have teamed up, right?" Tengen pressed his forehead, striking a bizarre pose. "Although not flamboyant, in terms of results, this makes it easier for people to accept."

"Ahh, indeed..." Gyoumei said, clasping his hands, tears welling up. "Killing an Upper Rank, even if it was teamwork, is still a great achievement."

Wind Hashira, Serpent Hashira, Sound Hashira, and Stone Hashira expressed their opinions one after another, seemingly doubting the accuracy of the information.

"Don't say that, everyone. Perhaps Tsugikuni Yoriichi is a genius like Tokitou?"

Mitsuri intervened, tapping her fingers while speaking up for Riezel. However, after speaking like that, she stole a glance at him, then secretly squealed in her mind.

'Tsugikuni looks so handsome!'

"Um, he does seem smart and talented." Shinobu, who had been eyeing Riezel since his entrance, said with a smile before turning to Muichirou. "What do you think, Tokitou?"

"...I don't care." Muichirou seemed uninterested in the topic.

As for the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyuu, he hadn't spoken a word from beginning to end, standing silently, apparently not one for conversation.

Eventually, Kyoujurou spoke up.

"I've already reported everything truthfully through Kasugai Crow. Every word is true, not a single lie. If there's any deception, I'm willing to commit seppuku!"

Although the Flame Hashira went so far as to say that, even so, some Hashira were still reluctant to believe it.

"If it's true, we'll know if we try it out, right?" Sanemi smirked menacingly and, in front of everyone, drew the sword on his waist.

"Shinazugawa! What do you want to do?!" Kyoujurou shouted in surprise, his eyes widened.

"Tch, don't fuss. I just want to test the waters, so it shouldn't matter, right?" Sanemi sneered. "Anyway, he's not even a member of the Corps, so it wouldn't be against the rules to lay a hand on him, no?"

In the next moment, Sanemi turned his head to Riezel.

"Boy, you dare to take a swing at me?"

Soon, a whirlwind stirred around Sanemi's body, disturbing the air in the courtyard.