As Kagaya Ubuyashiki finished speaking, several Pillars reacted at once.
Their reactions were not directed at Raiden, but at Nezuko. They had seen and slain far too many demons over the years. Accepting the existence of a demon based solely on their Lord's words was not something they could do easily.
At that moment, Raiden was almost completely ignored by several of the Pillars.
"As special as Nezuko?" some of them muttered inwardly. No matter how special a human was, how could they be compared to a demon who had not been executed?
Hearing the repeated objections, Kagaya Ubuyashiki remained silent.
When the Pillars finished speaking, Kagaya asked his daughter to bring out Urokodaki Sakonji's letter and read it aloud.
After quietly listening to the contents, Tanjiro stared blankly at Tomioka Giyu's side profile.
"What does seppuku prove?" Sanemi Shinazugawa scoffed. "If someone wants to die, they can die. That proves nothing."
"Just as Shinazugawa said," another Pillar added. "If we wait until a demon kills and eats someone, it will already be too late. The dead will not come back."
Even with the guarantee of two Hashira level swordsmen, Sanemi Shinazugawa and Kyojuro Rengoku, several Pillars still could not accept it.
"That is true," Kagaya said calmly. "We cannot guarantee that she will never attack humans. However, we also cannot prove that she will."
"Nezuko has not eaten a single human for over two years. That is a fact. Furthermore, three people have wagered their lives on her."
"If you wish to deny this," Kagaya continued, "then those who deny it must present something of even greater value."
Raiden clicked his tongue softly beside them. Setting everything else aside, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's ability to persuade with words was almost frightening.
"Additionally," Kagaya said, "there is one more thing I must tell my swordsmen."
"Tanjiro and Raiden once encountered Kibutsuji Muzan. Raiden even spoke with him, if only briefly."
All attention immediately shifted toward Raiden.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. When that happened, he had driven away his Kasugai Crow. How did Kagaya know? Had the crow stayed behind anyway? That took some nerve.
Facing the questioning gazes of the Pillars, Raiden looked toward Kagaya.
Kagaya lifted a finger to his lips, and the courtyard fell silent at once.
"Kibutsuji Muzan is actively attempting to capture Tanjiro," Kagaya said. "This is the first time he has revealed himself so openly. I do not intend to let this opportunity slip away."
"Something must have happened to Nezuko, something even Kibutsuji Muzan did not foresee."
"I still cannot accept this, Lord," Sanemi said coldly. "If it were a human, perhaps letting them go would be acceptable. But a demon is different."
"Our Demon Slayer Corps exists to kill demons. Countless lives have been lost for this belief. Because of that, I cannot agree."
Kagaya fell silent once more.
Sanemi suddenly drew his blade and cut his wrist. Blood dripped down his arm as he spoke.
"Then allow me to prove it to you, Lord."
After speaking, Sanemi turned his gaze toward Raiden.
Raiden already knew this trial was unavoidable. He steadied the wooden box on his back and leaped into the room.
"Please excuse me, Lord."
Sanemi followed closely behind, and the rich scent of blood quickly filled the room.
Raiden carefully released Nezuko from the box.
When Nezuko turned her head away from Sanemi's blood instead of lunging for it, Raiden let out a quiet breath of relief. The nichirin blade in his hand lowered slightly.
Although he had expected this outcome, experiencing it firsthand still carried a trace of tension.
"So," Kagaya said gently, "this proves that Nezuko will not attack others."
"Tanjiro," Kagaya continued, "you must also prove to the other Hashira that Nezuko will not eat humans in the future. Show them your resolve, and your strength."
"With that settled, we shall now discuss Raiden's matter."
"Raiden?" several voices echoed.
Raiden placed Nezuko back into the box, exited the room, and stood in the courtyard facing Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Unlike the Pillars, he did not kneel.
He respected Kagaya deeply, but Kagaya had not saved his life nor bestowed him with personal favor. There was no reason for him to kneel.
Kagaya did not seem to mind such details.
"As I said earlier," Kagaya spoke calmly, "Raiden is as special as Nezuko."
"That is because Raiden, though human, can use Blood Demon Art."
"What?"
"Blood Demon Art?"
"A human?"
The Pillars' expressions changed instantly.
The terror of the Twelve Kizuki and Kibutsuji Muzan came not only from their long lifespans, but from their powerful Blood Demon Arts.
And now their Lord was telling them that a human could use one?
That was impossible. Humans did not possess Muzan's blood. How could Blood Demon Art even exist within a human body?
While the other Pillars were stunned, Sanemi stood frozen.
Raiden could use Blood Demon Art?
Then why had he not used it earlier?
Did that mean the fight before was not Raiden's full strength?
For a moment, Sanemi did not know whether to feel angry or laugh.
Raiden, unfazed, raised his hand.
From his palm, transparent spider silk slowly emerged, glimmering faintly in the sunlight.
The sight made every Pillar tense. They had all fought demons before. They recognized that aura instantly.
Blood Demon Art.
The bodily change that accompanied its use was unmistakable.
However, the ability itself looked subtle, almost harmless.
Was this really powerful?
Then again, if a human controlled Blood Demon Art as destructive as a demon's, would that not be completely unreasonable?
A human who feared neither sunlight nor demon arts was an existence that sent a chill down their spines.
"This does not seem like much," Tengen Uzui began.
Before he could finish, the spider silk in Raiden's hand suddenly snapped taut.
Raiden flipped his wrist and let out a low scoff.
The spider silk shot downward.
It no longer looked fragile or faint. It was like hardened steel wire, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Soft hissing sounds followed as the silk pierced straight into the ground.
When the dust settled, the sight left everyone silent.
The sandy courtyard floor was riddled with countless tiny holes. Each one was clean, precise, evenly spaced, and identical in depth.
It looked as though the ground had been drilled by countless fine needles.
"It really is Blood Demon Art," Uzui said, his voice dry, eyes widened slightly.
The more he had dismissed it before, the more unsettling its power now felt.
This ground had barely been damaged during Raiden's fight with Sanemi.
Yet under Raiden's spider silk, it crumbled like soft clay.
Combined with Raiden's speed, the technique sent a chill through Uzui's spine.
If Raiden had used this during the earlier fight, the result would have been very different.
Uzui glanced toward Sanemi.
He was not the only one.
Every Pillar understood the implication.
If Raiden had used his Blood Demon Art while suppressing Sanemi earlier, would Sanemi still be standing there unharmed?
Each of them imagined themselves in that position.
None of them believed the answer was yes.
____
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