Hearing this news, Akaza lowered his head even further, not daring to look at Muzan Kibutsuji's face.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
How was this possible?
Every one of his attacks had struck vital points. There was no way the Flame Hashira should have survived.
Seeing Akaza remain silent, Muzan's voice dropped colder.
"What? Are you doubting my words?"
As his voice fell, the pressure in the entire study plummeted.
A crushing aura filled the room, pinning Akaza in place. His body trembled uncontrollably as large beads of cold sweat dripped from his forehead onto the floor.
"Lord Muzan… I—"
"You what?" Muzan interrupted coldly. "Even if you had killed that Hashira, what of it? He was merely a Hashira. Is that enough to satisfy you?"
Akaza slammed his forehead heavily against the ground, not daring to breathe loudly.
"Do you still not understand, Akaza?" Muzan said icily. "What I want is the complete annihilation of the Demon Slayer Corps. I want every last one of them crushed to death so they can never interfere with my eyes again."
His voice darkened further.
"Has Upper Rank Three fallen so low, Akaza?"
"The Lower Ranks failed, so I personally sent you to eliminate them. And yet… you failed as well!"
Muzan's expression turned sinister, his previously calm eyes turning blood-red.
"Akaza… I am very disappointed in you."
The thick book in Muzan's hand was suddenly torn into shreds.
Pages scattered through the air like falling snow.
"Puh—!"
Akaza spat out blood. Blood also streamed from his eyes.
This was Muzan's punishment.
After a moment, Muzan's anger subsided.
He calmly turned back to the bookshelf and selected another book as if nothing had happened.
"You may leave."
Akaza withdrew, but his mind remained in turmoil.
He had lost.
Lost to Aoyama Ren
Aoyama had ruined everything—saving the Flame Hashira and destroying his plan.
And that brat who chased after him shouting curses…
All of them deserved to die.
Akaza slammed his fist into a nearby tree.
The massive trunk snapped instantly.
Next time they met—
He would crush them all.
After the battle ended, Rengoku Kyojuro decided to personally return to headquarters to report the details of the fight to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Hearing they were returning, Zenitsu's face bloomed like a flower.
He would finally get to see the beautiful Miss Shinobu and the lovely girls of the Butterfly Mansion again.
The Kakushi support members carried the injured Tanjiro and Inosuke ahead of the group.
Aoyamawalked behind them.
He had also been injured, though not badly enough to require carrying.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
Hearing the footsteps behind him disappear, Rengoku turned around.
"Aoyama ? What's wrong? We should head back. Is it because of your injuries? I can carry you if needed! Hahaha!"
Aoyama smiled and shook his head.
"Rengoku-san, you all go ahead. I need to return to Mount Sagiri. There's something waiting for me there."
Tanjiro, who was being carried at the front, turned his head back. The Kakushi carrying him stopped as well.
"Aoyama -senpai, you're going back to Mount Sagiri? Then I—"
"You're not coming with me."
Aoyama cut him off before he could finish.
"Eh? Why?"
Tanjiro looked confused.
Wouldn't it be better if they traveled together?
"You're injured," Aoyama replied calmly. "If you follow me back to Mount Sagiri in that condition, do you think Urokodaki-sensei would allow it?"
Tanjiro was instantly speechless.
Beside them, Rengoku seemed to fall into brief thought. When he noticed the sudden silence, he snapped out of it.
"Ah! Then let Aoyama return alone. I'll escort Tanjiro and the others back to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment."
Zenitsu, who had only suffered minor injuries, immediately agreed.
He had been wanting to return to the Butterfly Mansion anyway.
After watching the group leave, Aoyama turned and headed in the opposite direction.
Soon, a crow circled above his head again.
Aoyama glanced upward slightly.
Then he bent down and picked up a small stone.
The crow instantly flapped its wings and fled.
At Mount Sagiri, Urokodaki sensei received a letter delivered by the crow from Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
After reading it, a relieved smile appeared on his face.
Aoyama and Tanjiro had not disappointed him.
If the other children were still alive, they would surely have grown just as outstanding as those two.
The thought made Urokodaki feel a sudden wave of sadness.
Behind him stood the spirits of the children who had died during the final selection.
At the front stood Sabito.
He stepped forward and reached out toward Urokodaki's shoulder.
But the moment his hand touched it, his spirit dissolved into the air.
Urokodaki suddenly felt something.
He turned his head to look behind him.
There was no one there.
But just now, he had clearly felt someone touch his shoulder.
Makomo looked sorrowful.
Like the others, she turned and slowly faded from the wooden house.
Since the previous incident, Urokodaki now lived alone in the cabin.
He no longer removed his tengu mask inside the house to wash.
Instead, he would go to a fixed waterfall nearby.
Morning had arrived.
Dew still clung to the blades of grass.
Urokodaki arrived beneath the waterfall and removed his tengu mask, placing his hand into the cool river water.
High above, sitting lazily on a large rock above the waterfall, Aoyamawatched him.
Just as he thought.
Urokodaki-sensei was here.
When Aoyama had returned to the cabin earlier and found no one inside, he had guessed Urokodaki would be at the waterfall.
After finishing washing, Urokodaki sensed someone watching him.
He looked up.
There, smiling brightly from the rock above—
Was Aoyama Ren
"…!"
Aoyama Ren you—!"
His voice echoed loudly beneath the waterfall.
Moments later, Urokodaki stood before him again, tengu mask already back on, his expression gloomy.
Aoyama jumped down from the rock and waved cheerfully.
"Long time no see, Urokodaki-sensei!"
"Draw your sword."
"…Eh?"
Aoyama blinked in surprise.
A flash of steel suddenly descended toward him.
He swiftly dodged.
Behind him, the giant rock he had been sitting on split cleanly in half.
Looking at the shattered stone, Aoyama said slowly,
"You're serious?"
The playful expression on his face faded, replaced by focus.
Urokodaki spoke calmly.
"You fought an Upper Rank demon."
"Aoyama … show me what your strength has become."
The moment he finished speaking, Urokodaki attacked again, leaving Aoyama no time to react.
Aoyama smiled slightly.
If his teacher wanted to "take a look"—
Then he would show him properly.
His eyes locked onto Urokodaki.
He dodged the first strike, instantly drawing his blade from his waist.
Defense turned into offense in a single motion—smooth, precise, and without hesitation.
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