Bab 48: Hunter [48]: Judgment
"Brave and insightful... quite interesting!"
A flash of a blade appeared before Old King, severing his hope and his neck.
"It was you... such a wasted effort!"
Old King, who had just been in a shadow state, did not die immediately from having his neck cut. However, once this skill initiates an attack, it quickly exits the shadow state. It couldn't be used again in a short time!
"Red-senpai!"
Tanjiro, with a confused look, recognized the sword-wielding figure and breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's quite lively here..."
At this moment, sensing danger, Rui, who had preemptively severed his head with a thread to avoid death, now carried his head with a thread and reattached it to his neck as he approached.
"Do you all want to become my family too?"
"Why can't that old boss learn?"
Lin Jiu glanced at Rui, drew his sword, and Rui, who had just gotten up, fell again. This time, he turned to ash.
[You have killed Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki, Rui]
[Rui, as Lower Rank Five, is a plot character. You have gained 5% of the world's source, now totaling 16.5%.]
[You have obtained a green treasure chest.]
[Your talent, Soul Condensation, has activated, permanently increasing your soul power. The current soul power does not meet the display threshold.]
[You have gained 100 Demon Slayer Corps contribution points. Current contribution points: 820.]
"Big boss, I was just joking!"
Old King's eyelid twitched as he saw Rui disappear, and he immediately put on a flattering smile towards Lin Jiu.
"Don't be nervous, I quite admire you."
Lin Jiu wasn't lying. He had respect for contractors like Old King, who dared to fight and take risks.
Seeing Lin Jiu nod in approval, Old King instantly beamed with joy, nodding and bowing, "It's my honor to be admired by a big boss!"
"I... uh... aren't you admiring... me?"
Old King's eyes widened in pain, his neck hurting terribly, and the surroundings spun around. He had been beheaded!
"Admiration is one thing... I never said I wouldn't kill you."
Lin Jiu muttered. Contractors like Old King, who seize opportunities to make a big score but act obsequiously and submissively at other times, have the potential to become backstabbing traitors. It's better to eliminate them early.
"Giyur, you're a bit late."
Lin Jiu noticed Giyu Tomioka on a nearby branch and waved.
"They're safe now."
Giyu Tomioka nodded at Lin Jiu. He had a good impression of this swordsman who would invite him for salmon and radish stew after a sparring session.
As Old King had speculated earlier, Giyu had indeed just killed Spider Father and couldn't make it in time. However, Lin Jiu didn't think he would succeed anyway, as he had sensed Rui's threads appearing nearby when he arrived.
One could say success was possible, but the chances were slim. He had ideas but not enough strength!
"What was the situation when you got there?"
Lin Jiu asked Giyu while watching Tanjiro crawl towards Nezuko.
"..."
Describing the situation required many words, and Giyu was organizing his thoughts.
After a long wait, when Lin Jiu turned to look at him, Giyu finally spoke: "They were running around the forest with that demon..."
After a while, there was no follow-up. But Lin Jiu roughly understood. Toko and Inosuke used the dense trees to limit Spider Father's movements.
Although they could only limit him a bit, they managed to hold on until Giyu arrived. With Inosuke's reckless nature, it was Toko's command. As for the injuries, as long as they weren't dead, it was fine.
"Are you sympathizing with these demons? Demons that eat people don't deserve sympathy, even if they look like children."
Giyu said to Tanjiro, seeing his eyes.
Lin Jiu looked over and sighed internally. As expected of the protagonist, he could make the usually stoic Giyu say so much with just a look.
"For the sake of the people who were killed, so they can rest in peace, and to protect more people from being harmed by demons, my Nichirin Blade will continue to strike down evil demons without hesitation! But I am willing to show compassion to those demons who suffer from being demons and regret their actions!"
Tanjiro said with firm conviction.
While Giyu Tomioka was stunned, a butterfly fluttered by. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Shinobu Kocho. She landed next to Giyu, making the three of them stand in a line.
Shinobu smiled at Tanjiro and said, "Little brother, being so close to a demon, be careful not to get hurt... you must have been taken hostage. Let me help you."
"I won't let anyone hurt Nezuko!"
Tanjiro, dragging his heavily injured body, stood in front of Nezuko.
"Little brother, the one you're protecting is a demon..."
Shinobu Kocho said with a smile.
"Nezuko won't harm humans!"
Toko appeared, standing with Tanjiro to block Shinobu.
"And who is this little girl?"
Shinobu looked at Giyu and asked.
"She said she seems to know Red..."
"Hey, Brother Red, what are you thinking?"
Toko called out, waking Lin Jiu from his thoughts.
"Hmm? What's up... why is it just you, Toko? Where's the boar head?"
Lin Jiu looked up and saw Toko, but Inosuke was nowhere to be seen, so he asked.
Giyu explained from the side, "That guy was too noisy, so I hung him on a tree."
"Mr. Red, you aren't going to protect this demon too, are you?"
Shinobu looked at Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu nodded. Nezuko was his backup plan. Her blood was an important material for Tamayo to research a drug to turn demons back into humans. If he couldn't defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, he'd give him a shot first! Although the reward might be a bit less, it was better than nothing.
"Thank you, everyone!"
Tanjiro was very moved to see so many people willing to help him.
"What have I forgotten..."
Seeing Shinobu made Lin Jiu feel even more that he had forgotten something. But he couldn't remember, which meant it probably wasn't very important. [Insert Meme Here.]
"Orders! Orders! Bring Nezuko and Tanjiro back to headquarters!"
The Kasugai Crow delivered the order from headquarters. There was a Kasugai Crow beside Tanjiro, so Kagaya Ubuyashiki naturally knew about Nezuko's existence.
He didn't issue any extreme orders against Tanjiro immediately but observed the situation. He also confirmed the situation with Tanjiro's Cultivator, the former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki, who had taken care of Nezuko.
Soon, Nezuko and Tanjiro were tied up by the Kakushi responsible for the aftermath and taken away.
"Brother Red, what about us?"
Toko suddenly remembered that she was not a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and looked at Lin Jiu to ask.
"Let's go."
Lin Jiu, of course, had to return to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to complete that side quest and then gathered the Hashira to kill the Violator.
...
Zenitsu and Inosuke were sent to the Butterfly Mansion immediately. Zenitsu was tied up like a dumpling, while Inosuke kept roaring, wanting to fight Giyu.
But Tanjiro, who was also injured, did not receive such good treatment. After a simple wound dressing, he was pressed in front of the headquarters mansion, waiting for judgment.
Besides Shinobu and Giyu, who escorted Tanjiro and Nezuko back, the other Hashira gradually gathered at headquarters. Among them were Iguro Obanai, the Serpent Hashira, and Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, who Lin Jiu hadn't interacted with before.
"Who are these people?"
Tanjiro was very confused as he looked at these individuals who each gave him immense pressure.
"You don't know... these nine people before you are the pillars supporting the Demon Slayer Corps, the nine highest-ranking swordsmen. They are the powerful demon slayers called Hashira," the Demon Slayer Corps member controlling Tanjiro explained with great respect.
"The strongest... is Red-senpai also a Hashira?"
Hearing such a description, Tanjiro couldn't help but think of a certain figure.
Hearing this name, most of the Hashira present had somewhat unnatural expressions. Only Mitsuri Kanroji looked forward eagerly and asked softly, "Is Mr. Red also at headquarters? Why haven't I seen him?"
Iguro Obanai silently clenched his fists, wanting to challenge this person named Red!
The Hashira: Good, good! Go for it!
Iguro Obanai: Let's discuss how to deal with this member who harbors a demon first.
"I don't think there's any need for a trial. His act of harboring a demon violates the Corps' rules. Let's handle it ourselves and behead him along with the demon!"
Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, said with a bright smile.
"Trial... Nezuko! Where's my sister? Where's my sister?"
Tanjiro suddenly noticed Nezuko's absence and looked around, calling out.
"She's just temporarily restrained, not in danger yet."
Giyu couldn't help but mention.
Tengen Uzui lightly stroked his forehead decoration and said, "If that's the case, let me splendidly behead them. I will make their blood flowers bloom more splendidly than anyone else's!"
Shinobu poked her chin with her finger, troubled, "But it seems Mr. Red is on their side..."
Tengen Uzui: "Haha, then let's wait for Oyakata-sama to splendidly judge them!"
Kyojuro Rengoku: "Agreed!"
"..."
Tanjiro wondered if it was his illusion, but it seemed that besides the girl with big light green eyes, two long pink braids, and grass-green hair tips, everyone else didn't seem to want to see Red-senpai.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone