Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters — Ubuyashiki Estate
"Hey. Wake up. How long are you planning to sleep?"
Inosuke snapped his eyes open.
What greeted him was a courtyard paved with white gravel. The midday sun was painfully bright, and standing around him in a wide circle were a group of people who all looked decidedly not friendly, gazing down at him from above.
"So noisy…"
Inosuke frowned and instinctively reached for the swords at his waist—only to find his hands bound tightly behind his back. He'd been tossed onto the ground like a silkworm cocoon.
Beside him, Tanjiro and Zenitsu were also trussed up, their faces full of anxiety as they stared toward the front.
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters,"
Shinobu Kocho said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"You are currently standing trial at the Hashira Assembly—for the crime of bringing a demon into the Corps."
Inosuke scanned his surroundings.
His superhuman senses screamed in alarm.
These nine people—every single one of them—were monstrously strong.
"Trial?"
Even bound, Inosuke twisted upright. His expensive haori was smeared with dirt, yet he still lifted his chin high, looking down his nose at the so-called Hashira.
"Trial my ass. I came here to collect my reward."
He snorted coldly, eyes locking onto Shinobu.
"Hey, poison-scorpion lady. Where's my sword?
Where are my fans?
And where's the money pouch full of gold I had in my clothes?"
"If even one coin's missing, I'll tear this whole courtyard apart to pay the debt."
The Hashira froze for a moment.
"Truly beyond saving,"
Iguro Obanai said coldly from his perch in the tree.
Just then—
Thud.
A heavy sound echoed.
From the courtyard's shadows emerged a scar-covered man with feral eyes.
Sanemi Shinazugawa.
He was holding Tanjiro's wooden box like a piece of trash.
"Bringing a demon into the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Sanemi sneered, his violent aura making Inosuke frown slightly.
"Which idiot allowed something this stupid?"
"That's my sister!"
Tanjiro shouted.
"She's never eaten a human!"
"Never eaten one?"
Sanemi laughed coldly. "And how do you prove that?"
Clang!
His Nichirin Blade flashed out.
Before anyone could react, Sanemi raised the sword high and drove it straight into the box—
Squelch!
The blade pierced through the wood and into Nezuko's shoulder. A muffled cry of pain came from inside the box.
"Stop!!!"
Tanjiro screamed, eyes splitting.
But someone moved faster.
Or rather—someone was angrier.
"You BASTARD!!!"
Inosuke roared, his voice shaking the courtyard.
"That's my box!
That's premium fog-cloud cedar I bought for five hundred mon!
And inside is my third underling!"
Even with his hands bound, Inosuke compressed his legs and snapped backward like a spring, launching himself straight up.
No hands? Then use his head.
And that iron skull he'd trained in the Eternal Paradise Cult—back when he used to smash through Doma's ice walls.
"PAY UP!!!"
Boom!
Inosuke slammed his head straight into Sanemi.
Sanemi had been focused on tormenting the demon and never imagined that this rich-looking pretty boy would suddenly attack.
BAM!
Inosuke's forehead crashed into Sanemi's right cheek.
The blow was vicious. Though it didn't send the Wind Hashira flying, it staggered him back two full steps. His sword was yanked free from the box, his balance shattered—leaving a massive opening.
"You little shit—!"
Sanemi shook his head, about to explode—
But the nightmare wasn't over.
In the instant Sanemi was still reeling—
"If you can't tell good demons from bad demons…"
The boy everyone thought was gentle and harmless—Kamado Tanjiro—had somehow broken free of the Kakushi restraining him.
Eyes blazing with resolve, he charged in like a cannonball through the opening Inosuke created.
"Then you don't deserve to be a Hashira!!!"
BOOM!!!
Another sickening impact.
Tanjiro's infamous iron skull smashed squarely into Sanemi's nose.
A perfect two-hit combo.
"Ugh—!"
Even a Hashira couldn't withstand two unguarded headbutts in a row.
Sanemi's eyes rolled back. Blood sprayed from his nose as he toppled backward, crashing into the white gravel in a cloud of dust.
Silence.
Kanroji Mitsuri clapped a hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking violently.
Uzui Tengen's eyes went wide—then he whistled.
"Oho! Flashy! Absolutely flashy! Knocking down the Wind Hashira twice!"
Tokito Muichiro stared up at the clouds, seemingly unaware of what had happened. Obanai straightened, killing intent flaring.
At the center of the courtyard, two boys stood side by side.
Inosuke rubbed his reddened forehead, spat toward the fallen Sanemi, and shouted arrogantly:
"Compensation!
Repair fees for the box!
Medical fees for my underling!
And medical fees for my scalp!"
"Total: ten million gold pieces!"
Tanjiro, meanwhile, stood righteously and shouted:
"Don't bully Nezuko! She's my family—
and also Inosuke-kun's… um… asset!"
The Hashira: "..."
Why does this feel so wrong? One's a debt-collecting thug, the other a sister-protecting zealot—what kind of duo is this?!
"I'll kill you!"
Sanemi staggered to his feet, face drenched in blood, eyes like a demon from hell.
"I swear I'll kill you two little brats!"
He grabbed his Nichirin Blade, ready to cut them down.
"Trying to silence creditors with murder?"
Inosuke shouted gleefully instead of backing down.
"Everyone look! A Hashira's trying to kill people to dodge his debts!"
"Is this how the Demon Slayer Corps does business?!
Refuse to pay, then kill the creditor?! Where's the law?!"
Sanemi trembled with rage.
"Shut up! I don't owe you anything!
I'll show you what a demon really is!"
Rip!
He slashed his own arm open.
Blood poured out.
Rare blood—irresistible to demons.
"Come on out, monster!"
Sanemi laughed madly, holding his bleeding arm toward the broken box.
"Dinner time!"
The lid was kicked open.
Nezuko slowly stood up.
The moment she smelled the rare blood, her pink eyes shrank into vertical slits. Saliva spilled uncontrollably.
"See?!"
Sanemi cackled, eyes wild.
"This is a demon's true nature! No matter what you do, demons eat people!"
"Nezuko! Don't!"
Tanjiro cried in despair.
Inosuke didn't shout.
"Tch. How ugly."
His voice was calm—arrogant.
"Hey. Number Three."
He stared straight at the trembling demon girl.
"That spicy idiot's blood stinks.
If you eat something that low-grade, you'll embarrass me.
And then you're not allowed to be my underling anymore."
He tilted his head slightly, as if bestowing an extraordinary promise.
"Hold it in. When we get back…
I'll buy you fried shrimp tempura."
"That stuff's ten thousand times better than this stinky blood.
My treat. All you can eat."
Nezuko froze.
Tempura?
The one who always stole her brother's food—
but secretly saved her the crispiest piece of batter…
Under everyone's breathless gaze—
Nezuko clenched her clothes tightly, then turned her back on Sanemi and let out a loud, extremely disdainful:
"Hmph!"
She refused.
Faced with rare blood, she chose Inosuke's promise.
"W-What?!"
Sanemi's pupils shook violently.
Just then—
"The Master has arrived."
Two white-haired girls announced.
All the Hashira instantly knelt on one knee.
"We greet the Master."
Inosuke was still confused when a Kakushi forcibly pressed his head down to kneel.
Struggling, he looked up at the man whose face bore curse marks, whose eyes were blind—yet whose presence was overwhelming.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
"Everyone,"
Kagaya said gently, his voice soothing beyond words,
"it's such a lovely day today."
Inosuke froze.
This feeling… was completely different from his fake-smiling father.
This man was real.
What followed was the reading of Sakonji Urokodaki's letter. When seppuku was mentioned, Tanjiro broke down in tears. Giyu remained expressionless, eyes firm.
"That young man… is Hashibira Inosuke, correct?"
Kagaya asked kindly.
"Huh? Me?"
Inosuke straightened instinctively.
"I've heard of you,"
Kagaya continued warmly.
"A boy who wields fans, calls himself the Young Master of the Paradise Cult, acts outrageously—yet protected his companions on Mount Natagumo. Your creed is equivalent exchange, isn't it?"
Inosuke's heart jumped. How does he know everything?!
"Yes,"
Inosuke answered stiffly.
"No money, no work. That's the rule."
"Excellent."
Kagaya nodded.
"Then, Inosuke-kun, the Demon Slayer Corps would like to employ you.
So long as you slay demons and protect humanity, the Corps will pay you a reward worthy of your value."
"And even…"
He paused, his tone turning profound.
"…the miracle you seek—
the power to turn demons back into humans."
Inosuke's heart pounded.
This man… saw straight through him.
"In that case,"
Inosuke inhaled deeply and flashed his trademark grin.
"Deal."
"But I'm expensive," he added cheerfully.
"Don't come crying when you can't afford me."
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