At this moment, the Hashira all had their hands on their sword hilts, preparing to, once the trial concluded…
draw their blades at any moment and decapitate Hanayuki Ichika.
After all…
their families or dearest friends had all died tragically at the hands of demons…
Facing a demon with whom they shared such an irreconcilable blood feud, it was difficult for any of them to simply let it go.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya, accompanied by his family, sat upright in the temporarily arranged seat of honor.
Lady Amane stood quietly to the side, while the five children stood obediently behind their parents.
The gazes of Hinaki, Nichika, Kanata, and Kanao still drifted curiously from time to time toward the handsome, white-haired Demon Youth bound in the center of the square.
Kochou Shinobu and Hanayuki Ichika were brought to the center of the square.
Surrounding them were…
Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima, Water Hashira Tomioka Giyuu, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai,
Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, as well as Love Hashira Kanroji Mitsuri, who stood slightly further out with a complicated expression, and Kanao Tsuyuri, who had silently retreated to the edge but remained focused on her Master—they all stood solemnly in a semi-circle.
The remaining core members of the Demon Slayer Corps who were able to attend watched with bated breath from the outer perimeter.
The air was thick with invisible pressure and scrutiny.
Almost every Hashira’s hand rested on the hilt of their nichirin sword, appearing casual but ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
Their gazes were as sharp as knives, filled with deep vigilance and unresolvable hatred— a bone-deep loathing for the demons who had snatched away what was precious to them.
A trial might require procedure, but if the result did not meet their expectations, or if the demon before them showed even the slightest hint of a threat, they would draw their swords without hesitation.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s gaze slowly swept across the grounds, finally landing on the two people in the center.
His face still bore that sickly yet reassuringly gentle smile, and his voice reached everyone’s ears clearly:
“Then, the Hashira Trial—begins now!”
His gaze first turned toward Hanayuki Ichika.
“Hanayuki Ichika, according to the trial’s procedure, please state first—how you were transformed into a demon, and…”
He paused slightly, his tone peaceful yet carrying immense weight,
“from the day of your transformation until now, the things you have done, and the’sins’ you have committed.”
Then, he looked at Kochou Shinobu.
“Shinobu, once Hanayuki Ichika has finished his statement, you will recount and verify it. You must ensure his words are not false, and from your position and witness as a Hashira, supplement any necessary details or raise any points of doubt.”
Next, his gaze swept over the surrounding Hashira.
“After hearing both statements, you Hashira may, based on the content, subject Hanayuki Ichika to necessary questioning or ‘tests,’ to verify the truth of his words and the nature of his existence.”
Finally, Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s voice was steady and solemn, setting the final tone for the trial.
“And I, based on all statements, confrontations, and verifications, will listen to the opinions of the Hashira and ultimately issue the final verdict.”
“Now,” he nodded slightly, gesturing to Hanayuki Ichika,
“please begin.”
All eyes instantly focused on the white-haired youth in the center of the square like burning spotlights…
Faced with this, Hanayuki Ichika did not panic too much and slowly began to speak:
“That night, I was originally sitting by the window reading when I was suddenly attacked by a demon… When I regained consciousness, my parents had died tragically in a pool of blood, and I had turned into a demon… The demon that harmed my parents seemed to sense Miss Shinobu’s arrival, so it hid in advance and pretended to flee… I was in despair at the time, so I chose to willingly be killed by Miss Shinobu…”
Listening to Hanayuki Ichika’s words, Kochou Shinobu, who was beside him, nodded silently, a complex mix of sadness and guilt flashing in her eyes…
“Hey, hey, hey… You’re lying, right?”
Genya Shinazugawa, standing to the side, showed an expression of shock and doubt, interrupting quite irritably:
“Don’t be ridiculous! How could a man-eating demon willingly give up resistance and be killed by a demon slayer?”
The other Hashira and Demon Slayer Corps members also showed expressions of doubt and confusion, and they began to discuss in low voices.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya waved his hand slightly for silence and then looked at Kochou Shinobu:
“Shinobu, is what he said… true?”
Kochou Shinobu nodded, recalling the somewhat comical scene from back then, her eyes narrowing slightly as she replied with a smile: “Mm-hmm~ However, although Ippū-san, after turning into a demon, was willing to be killed by me… the request he made was—to have me take off my wooden clogs and stomp him to death with my feet in white cotton socks, He really is… a pervert~”
Looking at the brilliantly black-hearted smile on Kochou Shinobu’s face…
Hanayuki Ichika felt a hint of black-hearted malice at this moment.
probably she was getting revenge on him for secretly using her bed and blanket while she was away?
The members of the Demon Slayer Corps also cast looks at Hanayuki Ichika as if they were looking at a pervert…
Hanayuki Ichika gave an embarrassed cough and then continued to recount his subsequent experiences.
Upon hearing him say that before his death, he used his body to protect Kochou Shinobu and blocked a sneak attack from the killer demon…
the expressions of several Hashira and the others changed slightly, all showing looks of surprise, shock, and disbelief.
And when they learned that Hanayuki Ichika had miraculously survived the killer demon’s sneak attack and the Wisteria Toxin, and thereafter, in a desperate situation, had given his all, disregarding life and death, to protect Kochou Shinobu once again…
and that Kochou Shinobu, moved by compassion, chose to harbor Hanayuki Ichika, who, despite being a demon, had never eaten a human and was kind-hearted…
stuffing him into a herb-picking wooden basket and bringing him to the Butterfly Mansion to hide him.
The way they looked at Hanayuki Ichika changed completely, and even their killing intent faded significantly.
“What a flamboyant demon, what a flamboyant bond!”
Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui gave Hanayuki Ichika a thumbs up.
“Namu Amida Butsu… Though he turned into a demon, his heart remains kind? How moving…”
Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima pressed his hands together, and two lines of tears flowed slowly down from his white eyes.
“Mr. Demon, the justice in your heart burns more intensely than my flames!”
Rengoku Kyojuro clenched his fist and praised Hanayuki Ichika in a loud voice.
“Ara ara? Mr. Demon actually gave his all to protect Shinobu-chan twice? Could it be… could it be that Mr. Demon has taken a liking to Shinobu-chan? How romantic!!!”
Kanroji Mitsuri covered her small face with her hands, her face slightly red, her eyes filled with the curiosity of a gossip and the heart of a young girl.
“A demon slayer being protected by a demon, so weak and incompetent that they can’t do anything.”
Tomioka Giyu chimed in expressionlessly.
(Actually, what he wanted to say was: A demon is actually willing to protect a demon slayer, it’s truly moving! Unlike the weak and incompetent me… who once couldn’t even protect my comrades…)
Kochou Shinobu: “…∩_∩ꐦ… Giyuu-san, that’s why everyone hates you~”
Subsequently, the Master, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, after a moment of slight reflection, continued to inquire: “Then, Hanayuki Ichika, why were you having a dispute with a Hashira in the Butterfly Mansion earlier? Did you do something wrong?”
Hearing this, Hanayuki Ichika scratched his head and replied with a slightly embarrassed smile:
“The wooden basket was too small, there was no way to sleep comfortably inside, so I took advantage of Miss Shinobu’s absence… and secretly used her bed and blanket. Then, because I was too hungry, I stole and ate the cakes Miss Shinobu made with Wisteria Toxin… Later, I was discovered and misunderstood by Kanao and Miss Mitsuri… so…”
While speaking, Hanayuki Ichika looked at Kanroji Mitsuri with a serious face and talked nonsense:
“So the reason I did that wasn’t because I have some strange hobby… I just simply wanted to awaken your kindness and didn’t want to be misunderstood and killed by you.”
“Oh oh! So that’s how it is! So Mr. Demon… didn’t really want to call me ‘Mom’!? At the time, it really… it really gave me a big surprise!”
Kanroji Mitsuri showed an “I see” expression.
Being passionate, cheerful, approachable, kind, honest, gentle, and innocent…
she was very easily fooled by Hanayuki Ichika.
Meanwhile, the eyes of everyone on the scene widened like copper bells, their hearts full of shock…
[A demon willingly being killed by a demon slayer?]
[A demon willing to use their life to protect a demon slayer?]
[A demon slayer willing to trust and harbor a demon?]
[A demon returning to the Butterfly Mansion and sleeping in a demon slayer’s bed?]
[A demon, because they were too hungry, stealing and eating cakes the demon slayer used to poison demons?]
[A demon, because they wanted to live, hugging a demon slayer’s thigh and calling her ‘Mom’?]
Listening to Hanayuki Ichika recount those inconceivable yet logically self-consistent experiences, stormy waves rose in the hearts of everyone in the square.
The atmosphere on the scene underwent a subtle change…
In the gazes cast toward Hanayuki Ichika, the pure killing intent and hostility had indeed diminished by more than half, replaced by more complex emotions: suspicion, confusion, disbelief, and…
an imperceptible trace of wavering.
However…
Prejudice in the human heart—is a great mountain!!!
Almost every Hashira, every member of the Demon Slayer Corps,
The screams of their dearest, the mangled bodies of their kin, the despair of countless innocents being devoured…
These memories had long since become brands, fused with their hatred for demons.
They fought demons day after day, accustomed to their cunning, cruelty, and cold-bloodedness.
“Demons are evil” had become an instinct that required no thought.
At this moment, even if reason told them that the white-haired youth before them might truly be “different,”
the deep-rooted prejudice and vigilance in their emotions remained like a heavy shackle, difficult to cast off.
They could suspend their killing intent because of his good deeds, they could grant him a hearing because of his uniqueness, but for them to immediately and fully accept, be close to, or even trust a “demon”?
It was too difficult.
That great mountain named “the past” and “hatred” still stood there.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya took in everyone’s expressions.
He was silent for a moment, his gaze shifting between Hanayuki Ichika and Kochou Shinobu, finally speaking slowly, his voice clearly reaching throughout the square:
“Based on the statements of both parties, as well as the witness and guarantee provided by Shinobu with her honor as a Hashira…”
“It is now ruled: Hanayuki Ichika, though possessing a demon’s body, has no record of eating humans, and has the merit of rescuing and protecting a demon slayer. Regarding his’sins’… he is innocent.”
He paused and continued: “Kochou Shinobu, though she engaged in concealment and unauthorized harboring, did so for a reason, her motive stemming from judgment of a special situation and compassion, and it did not lead to any evil consequences. She is also… innocent.”
Once the announcement was finished, the scene was silent.
No one spoke up in opposition, but many faces still bore complexity and reservations.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya looked at Hanayuki Ichika and asked gently:
“Hanayuki Ichika, the ruling regarding you has been made. However, your identity is special, and there is temporarily no place for you within the Demon Slayer Corps. The prejudice in everyone’s hearts cannot be dispelled in a single day; this is only human nature. If you were to temporarily reside at the Butterfly Mansion, would you be willing? Would you feel wronged?”
Hearing this, Hanayuki Ichika raised his head almost immediately, a nearly brilliant smile appearing on his face as he hurriedly patted his chest and said:
“I’m willing! Of course I’m willing! I don’t feel wronged at all! Master’s arrangement is truly too thoughtful! The Butterfly Mansion is great, very great!”
His tone was excited, appearing incredibly cooperative and satisfied.
However, in his heart, another murmur with a completely different style sounded simultaneously:
[Although… the prejudice in the human heart is a great mountain, and I temporarily cannot be truly accepted by the members of the Demon Slayer Corps. But if I am ‘isolated’ because of this, and it allows me to naturally move into the Butterfly Mansion…]
[Then please, by all means, isolate me a bit more!]
[The girls of the Butterfly Mansion… ah, no, the quiet environment and medical atmosphere of the Butterfly Mansion are just too good!]
[I’ll just peacefully mooching off… ah no, I’ll cooperate with the recuperation and observation, and just lie flat and rot…]
Just as he was happily calculating his “bright future” in his mind, a gentle and sweet voice drifted from beside him, yet it made the hair on the back of his neck stand up slightly.
Kochou Shinobu had approached a couple of steps at some point.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she wore that signature, brilliantly gentle smile, her purple eyes curved into crescents as she said in a light tone:
“Ara ara~ It seems our Ippū-san is not some man-eating evil demon, but rather has more potential to become a ‘lecherous demon’~”
Her voice was not loud, but it was enough for those nearby to hear clearly.
“Then, while living at the Butterfly Mansion, please be sure to follow the ‘rules,’ Ippū-san~”
She leaned in slightly, her smile unchanging, and in a sweet tone that hid a sharp edge, which only the two of them could hear clearly, she added in a soft whisper:
“Don’t secretly do anything strange while the girls are sleeping in the middle of the night~”
“And absolutely do not take advantage of my absence again to secretly crawl into my bed and secretly smell my blanket~”
“Otherwise…”
She smiled even more gently and harmlessly, as if giving the most considerate advice.
“For the sake of the chastity and safety of all the girls in the Butterfly Mansion, I can hardly guarantee… that I won’t use this nichirin sword in my hand to cut off some ‘crucial’ and ‘extra’ part of Ippū-san’s body~”
The smile on Hanayuki Ichika’s face froze instantly.
He looked at that gentle and brilliant yet black-hearted to the extreme smirk on Kochou Shinobu’s face…
A chill ran up his spine to the top of his head, and he felt a nameless sense of horror.
This Miss Insect Hashira…
truly says the most terrifying things while smiling!!!