During his years in Hell, the power Hiru had once possessed as a demon gradually began to return. The moment his strength recovered, he used every connection he had to find Doma, grabbed him by the throat, and beat him senseless.
However, Doma showed no remorse at all. He remained stubbornly convinced that Hiru was Akiwa. For the first time, Hiru began to question Hell's system of punishment. Could punishment alone truly make someone repent from the heart?
Because of this, he specifically went to Tamayo-san, hoping to work with her on developing a drug that, once taken, could draw out a person's subconscious and induce hallucinations, forcing them to truly repent for their actions.
After hearing Hiru's idea, Tamayo-san also thought it was feasible and began development. Naturally, Hiru took on the role of test subject.
Through repeated trials, Hiru experienced all kinds of hallucinations brought on by the drug. They varied wildly, and if he had not already been skilled in this area, he would have ended up mentally shattered for days.
"So… what am I facing this time?"
Hiru looked over the scenery before him. It felt familiar, yet left him uncertain. It was not that he was afraid. He had simply been tricked by the drug's hallucinations far too many times.
For example.
He could no longer remember which time it had been, but one hallucination had dragged him back to the day he dressed in women's clothing to scheme against Doma.
He had just finished saying, "You're quite good-looking, your taste is decent, your Blood Demon Art is easy to deal with, and your color is to my liking…"
Before he could say the latter half, "I'm starting to feel a little reluctant to kill you," Muzan had walked out with a teasing look on his face and added, "Very well. I approve of this marriage."
But that was not even the end of it. Before Hiru could react, Michikatsu-aniue and Yoriichi-aniue appeared from who knew where. First, they cut Muzan down with murderous expressions, then turned solemn and began debating whether Doma should be allowed to live.
Every time Hiru tried to clear his name, he was ruthlessly shut down. In the end, that bastard Doma even deliberately transformed into a female form just to disgust him.
That was the first time Hiru truly understood what it meant for trouble to come from careless words.
But just as he was wondering what new trick this scene would throw at him, he heard an angry roar.
"If you can't even tell the difference between good demons and bad demons, then I'd advise you to stop being a Hashira!"
That voice…
Tanjiro?
Hiru froze slightly. Did Zenitsu finally get himself into trouble? But what is there here that would make me feel regret?
With that curiosity in mind, Hiru suppressed his presence and slowly approached. By the time he climbed onto the wall, he saw Sanemi firmly pinning down Tanjiro, whose hands were bound, with one hand. Then Sanemi respectfully knelt on one knee and greeted Ubuyashiki.
Hiru tilted his head, his confusion deepening.
…What is going on?
What followed was like a farce. Ubuyashiki hoped everyone could accept Tanjiro and his younger sister, who had become a demon, while the group led by Sanemi opposed it with all their might.
This really brings back some unpleasant memories…
Hiru frowned as he watched the scene before him.
Is this hallucination trying to make me regret not giving those people a few punches back then?
Just then, Hiru's gaze met Tanjiro's. He saw Tanjiro's expression instantly turn into a mix of shock and fury. But before he could say anything, Sanemi cut his own arm and let the blood drip onto the box that had been pierced straight through by a sword.
"Come out, demon! Here's the human blood you love most!"
Tanjiro was about to speak, but before the words could leave his mouth, Obanai pressed an elbow into his back from the other side, pinning him down so he could not move.
Oh? He noticed me already? Looks like my subconscious really acknowledges that kid's sense of smell…
But…
Hiru rubbed his chin, his gaze sweeping past Obanai, who was making sarcastic remarks, and toward the figures below.
Are a few people missing? Are they sick? Or is this another emergency meeting?
While he was lost in thought, Sanemi stabbed the box straight through again, spilling even more blood over it.
"What's wrong? You must be starving, right? This is the most nutritious Rare Blood there is."
But in the next second, Sanemi felt someone lift his arm. That person then began staunching the bleeding with practiced ease, and a slightly regretful voice sounded beside him.
"Hey, hey, hey. I know it's a renewable resource, but isn't this way too wasteful?! And what are you even doing? Bullying a kid? Can't you learn something good from Sabito?"
Cold sweat soaked through Sanemi's back in an instant. Before he could even get a clear look at the figure, his right hand swung his sword diagonally upward, but it cut through empty air.
Sanemi was not the only one who swung his blade. Including him, at least four swords struck the same point in that instant, while Gyomei and Tengen immediately moved to shield Ubuyashiki.
"Hey, hey, I mean…"
Hiru lowered his head and looked at the sleeve that had been torn by the blades, his expression rather troubled.
"Even if my identity is suspicious, you don't have to treat me like this the moment we meet, do you? That attack was clearly aimed right at my head… It's daytime right now, you know."
Ubuyashiki turned his head slightly, his pale eyes facing the direction of the voice. The smile on his lips remained unchanged.
"Did something happen?"
"Amida-butsu…"
Gyomei's equally pale eyes looked toward Hiru's direction.
"Someone covered in demonic aura has intruded here… Please do not worry, Oyakata-sama. We will protect you.