Faced with Charles's question, Tanjiro didn't take long to arrive at an answer.
He wanted to become stronger, then find Muzan Kibutsuji. His aim wasn't revenge; it was to find a way to restore his sister to normal.
Though he did want revenge as well, what Tanjiro wanted even more was to keep his family's tragedy from happening to others.
You could say the kid was almost overly kind. But this kindness wasn't foolish, which was why Charles was willing to help such a person move forward more smoothly.
Looking at Tanjiro bowing to the floor before him, Charles couldn't help thinking.
If Tanjiro wanted to grow strong, he needed two things: first, this world's Breathing Styles and their matching swordsmanship; second, combat experience.
He already had the first. His family's Hinokami Kagura was the original and strongest Breathing Style, Sun Breathing.
What he lacked was the training to turn it into fighting capability.
As for combat, Charles could claim expertise, and he also very much wanted to learn this world's Breathing Styles. Wasn't that a two-way street?
So Charles sat kneeling opposite Tanjiro and said, "To be frank, I know the family that inherited Sun Breathing has been living in seclusion here.
"And you should be the one who has mastered that supreme art. So it's not you asking me; it's me hoping to learn Sun Breathing from you."
Charles chose to be candid with Tanjiro. Though it wouldn't have been hard to freeload Sun Breathing from such an honest kid, that would be meaningless. A win–win approach was the proper way.
Tanjiro sat up straight, a question mark practically popping over his head. "Sun Breathing? But I don't know anything like that."
Charles solemnly recounted Yoriichi Tsugikuni's story to Tanjiro, including how he had taught his swordsmanship to his friend Sumiyoshi Kamado.
"Mr. Tsugikuni's life was anything but meaningless!"
After hearing Yoriichi's judgment of himself, Tanjiro exclaimed like this, then said, "So the Hinokami Kagura my father taught me is the Sun Breathing created by Mr. Tsugikuni?"
Tanjiro recalled his sickly father slaying a giant bear and couldn't help believing Charles's explanation.
Tanjiro had no intention of hoarding it. "If it would help, I'm willing to teach you Sun Breathing."
Looking into Tanjiro's earnest eyes, Charles said, "I'll also help you learn how to fight."
As they spoke, the sound of a door opening rang out. Judging from the footsteps so light as to be almost inaudible, the newcomer paused at the entrance for a while, likely examining the blood at the threshold.
Then, under Tanjiro's startled gaze, a flash of steel split the wooden door before them in two.
The halved door panels fell away, revealing the man behind them with a face full of blankness.
The man wore a haori with different colors on each side and held a katana with a cerulean blade, the words "Destroy Demons" engraved on it.
He looked at Charles and Tanjiro sitting opposite each other, cocked his head, and showed a puzzled expression.
Charles also recognized the intruder: Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, one of the Demon Slayer Corps' Nine Hashira.
He had probably seen the blood at the door and realized a demon had attacked here, then heard people inside and assumed the demon was still present, so he drew his blade.
Seeing neither bore demonic traits, Giyu Tomioka sheathed his sword and said, "I'm Giyu Tomioka of the Demon Slayer Corps. This place was attacked by a demon, correct? Tell me the details."
Although he already knew Giyu was extremely poor at speech and social dealings, even Charles was taken aback by how outrageous his manner of speaking was.
Speaking in such an imperious tone that at first hearing sounded like giving orders—no wonder the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, and the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, so often "righteously 'surrounded' Giyu."
Tanjiro froze for a moment, then said, "My family was indeed attacked by a demon, but that demon has already left."
Giyu looked at Tanjiro, his face still utterly expressionless, as a string of black dots seemed to stretch between them.
Giyu Tomioka: (￢_￢)
...
Tanjiro: (_)
The awkwardness dragged on for several minutes before Tanjiro realized the other party didn't believe him, so he hurriedly added, "I'm not lying. The demon that attacked my family left before I got back. I don't know where he went."
Giyu's face remained wooden, making one want to grab him by the collar and make him say something.
Just then, a side door suddenly opened and Nezuko rushed out. Her eyes lit up when she saw Tanjiro, and she ran straight over.
But at that moment, Giyu's vacant eyes turned sharp. In the next instant, his blade flashed from its sheath, a ukiyo-e wave cutting toward Nezuko's neck.
Tanjiro had no time even to be startled before he saw that both Charles's and Giyu's positions had changed.
Giyu was frozen mid-swing in front of Tanjiro, while Charles stood beside him, hand clamped around his wrist.
Giyu felt as if an iron clamp had fastened around his wrist, leaving him unable to move no matter what.
He was inwardly shocked; it was the first time someone had interrupted him so directly after his sword form had begun.
But none of that shock showed on his face. Giyu wore the same expression as he said, "What are you doing? Slaying demons is my duty. Don't get in my way!"
Charles said, "Don't be rash! That child was just turned into a demon by Muzan Kibutsuji and hasn't eaten anyone.
"She's special, too. She's already broken free of Muzan's control and can survive without eating people."
Giyu looked at Charles half in doubt, with no intention whatsoever of lowering his blade.
"No. Demons must be slain!"
Charles sighed; anyone would get a headache dealing with someone this hard to communicate with, and he blurted, "With a personality like yours, people must dislike you a lot, huh!"
It was as if a bolt of lightning flashed. Tanjiro's mouth fell open, while Nezuko beside him looked bewildered, and the mood turned awkward in an instant.
"I… am not disliked!"
Giyu's tone was quite earnest, as if he truly believed it.
So Giyu's low interpersonal skill came partly from the way he spoke, and partly from the fact that he simply couldn't read other people's emotions and thoughts.
...
...
After another long silence, Charles took the initiative to change the subject. "How about this: from here on, this child will stay with me at all times. I will guarantee she never commits a single sin."
...
"Hey, could you at least give me a reaction?"
Even someone with Charles's excellent composure got tilted by Giyu Tomioka.
______
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