So, it turns out the Demon Slayer Corps investigated the deaths on Hachijo Island and are here to hold him accountable.
Although Shinjuro Rengoku pretended not to know what Kurozawa did and didn't report it to the Demon Slayer Corps, the Corps has its own intelligence system. The complete annihilation of the Iguro Family on Hachijo Island was a major incident that caused a stir locally, and after this period of investigation, they finally traced it back to Kurozawa.
Kurozawa originally thought the deaths of these people were minor matters to the Demon Slayer Corps, but the reality seemed different from what he expected.
It seems the Demon Slayer Corps places great importance on protecting human lives, Kurozawa thought silently.
Sending Kocho Kanae, a Pillar, to come here already showed how seriously they took it.
No wonder Kocho Kanae's expression was different from usual, looking a bit uncomfortable and conflicted. Given her inherently gentle and kind nature, she probably wasn't used to handling this kind of thing.
Kurozawa could see the furrow in Kocho Kanae's brow and the hopeful look in her eyes; she hoped to hear a denial from Kurozawa.
However, things didn't go as she wished. Kurozawa had no intention of hiding or lying.
He pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly: "You're right."
"I have nothing to say, no defense to offer. What then?"
The smile with a Charm attribute didn't cause Kanae to react with shock; her mind was entirely focused on what Kurozawa said. Kanae's brow furrowed even deeper: "What then? You have severely violated the Demon Slayer Corps discipline."
"Whether by human law or Swordsman discipline, you could be considered utterly heinous."
Kurozawa glanced at Kocho Shinobu beside Kanae. Kocho Shinobu seemed unaware of her sister's purpose for coming and was standing there blankly, listening to their conversation, unsure of what to say.
She opened her mouth several times as if to speak, then tightly pursed her lips again, her gaze flickering back and forth between Kurozawa and Kanae.
"If laws are not believed in, they are merely empty words." After smiling at Kocho Shinobu, Kurozawa turned his gaze back to Kanae.
Empty words. Kanae's pupils contracted, repeatedly chewing on that phrase.
Kurozawa continued, "I don't think I've done anything wrong. The so-called utter heinousness is just your definition."
"Furthermore, are these laws and rules truly correct?"
Without rules, nothing can be achieved, and having rules is good, but this doesn't mean all rules are correct. Kurozawa would only follow the rules he recognized.
Can human mistakes only be punished and restrained by law? Is vigilantism a crime? That's ridiculous. If the law were completely just and correct, then Kurozawa would have nothing to say, but that's always impossible.
"What you said makes sense, but it's also an undeniable fact that you violated the Demon Slayer Corps discipline. Kurozawa, fifty-three lives, you decided their fate without consideration. Wasn't that a bit too hasty?"
"As another human, your actions make me feel somewhat cruel."
Kanae snapped back to her senses, feeling like she had been cornered by Kurozawa's words, and quickly stopped delving deeper.
She even felt sympathy for Man-Eating Demons, let alone fellow humans. Kanae's personality was too kind, and she completely didn't understand Kurozawa's actions.
This was a difference in ideology, and Kanae's thoughts were firm.
Her gaze towards Kurozawa was now different from before, becoming very complex.
At this moment, after a long hesitation, Kocho Shinobu spoke cautiously, "I think I understand. Did sir kill some bad people?"
"Since they were bad people, sir shouldn't be too much at fault, right?"
Kanae, however, shook her head: "Shinobu, you don't understand. It's not that simple."
"Swordsmen acting against ordinary humans can easily breed other thoughts and are difficult to control."
When the lives of their own kind perish like ants in their hands, do they still retain a sense of reverence for life?
Kurozawa smiled and stopped explaining further to Kanae: "Since that's the case, let's cut to the chase. What is your purpose for coming? How does headquarters plan to punish me?"
As his words fell, the atmosphere instantly became somewhat heavy.
Kanae looked up, then sighed: "Kurozawa, I know you just wanted to eliminate evil, but the complete annihilation of the Iguro Family, in a densely populated area no less, spread widely and the situation is quite serious. Master is also under considerable pressure."
"According to the Demon Slayer Corps rules, since you're involved in human matters, you should be handed over to human authorities. But that outcome is not what we want to see."
Handed over to human authorities? Kurozawa didn't think he would meekly comply. If he resisted, with the firearms of this era, it wouldn't just be a matter of fifty-three lives.
Pausing for a moment, Kanae continued: "You took care of Shinobu on Mount Fujikasane. I owe you a favor, so I came to help you."
Help me? Kurozawa showed an interested expression: "How do you plan to help me?"
"Master ordered me to search and investigate the Upper Moons, hoping to use this to draw out the Demon King's whereabouts. I have investigated many places and ruled out many locations."
"Recently, there's intelligence that in a remote town called Lotus Town, the population has been disappearing for nearly a hundred years, and there's a strange church and belief. All the Swordsmen who went to investigate the truth never returned, including many elite Swordsmen who had mastered Total Concentration: Constant breathing."
"I think that place is not simple."
"Lower Moon Twelve Kizuki couldn't achieve that level, and even if they were initially Lower Moons, after a hundred years of feeding on blood, they likely have Upper Moon strength now."
"I plan to investigate Lotus Town recently. You can come with me and resolve the incident in Lotus Town, atoning for your crime with merit."
Upon hearing the words "Lotus Town," Kurozawa's eyebrows twitched, and familiar memories surged.
Kanae's feeling wasn't wrong. Lotus Town was indeed not simple, because it was the base of Upper Moon Two, the Ice Demon Doma. The title of Upper Moon Two meant that Doma was already a peak existence among all Demons.
Not only that, but this was also the place where Kanae met her demise in the original story, and it changed Kocho Shinobu's personality, turning her into a Swordsman who utterly hated Demons, becoming a Pillar within less than a year.
After thinking for a moment, Kurozawa slowly spoke under Kanae's gaze: "It sounds good, but I refuse, because I don't acknowledge the so-called crime."
"The Demon Slayer Corps cannot tolerate my actions, fine. Then I now announce my withdrawal from the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"After this, whoever wants me to admit guilt, whether it's Demon Slayer Corps Swordsmen or human authorities, just come. I, Kurozawa, will take you all on!"
It wasn't because he feared Doma; it was just that Kurozawa was unwilling to be threatened by what others considered a crime. What crime was there in stepping on some pesky bugs?
If the Demon Slayer Corps chose to let the Pillars waste their time and energy dealing with him, then so be it.
"Kurozawa, if you choose to leave the Demon Slayer Corps, then leave Mount Sagiri."
"All of my disciples are members of the Demon Slayer Corps, without exception."
Before Kanae could speak further, an aged voice came from behind her, carrying an inexplicable emotion.
Sakonji Urokodaki approached, his expression unreadable behind his mask.
Sakonji Urokodaki, who had dedicated his entire life to the Demon Slayer Corps, felt a special connection to it. Hearing that voice, Kurozawa fell silent.
In the Demon Slayer World, there was only one person he was unwilling to disappoint; this was a debt of gratitude spanning over twenty years.
Sensing the gaze on his back, after a long while, Kurozawa turned around, shrugged, and gave a helpless smile: "Just kidding, you know."
"Lotus Town? Sounds like a beautiful place. There should be lots of lotuses blooming there. Going there to relax wouldn't be a bad idea."
Humans are born free, yet reality places many shackles upon them, and this shackle called 'bond' happens to be the hardest thing in this world to break free from, and it is also Kurozawa's only restraint.
I went traveling to Xi'an two days ago, the Grand Tang Everbright City was really cool. Starting tomorrow, I'll post two chapters a day, and add more after it's listed.
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