𓆩♡𓆪 brought to you by : 𝙢𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 and co.

•

•

•

// your POV //

ʚɞ

The room fell silent, each of us stunned by the Master's declaration. While the boy's sanction was unexpected but plausible, his willingness to allow the demon to live stirred a storm of emotions within the group. I could see the uncertainty reflected in their faces—some subtle, some not.

Sanemi's sharp voice broke the quiet. "Forgive me, Master, but I cannot agree with this. It is the Corps' mission to slay demons. Allowing this to stand undermines everything we fight for."

Tengen crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "I agree. A demon traveling with a Demon Slayer is unacceptable. It tarnishes the reputation of the Corps."

Rengoku's fiery gaze met the Master's. "Although I respect you deeply, Master, I cannot abide by this decision."

Mitsuri, ever loyal and compassionate, clasped her hands together. "I'll do whatever you ask of me, Master," she said earnestly.

As the others voiced their thoughts, I stayed silent, torn between two equally compelling sides. On one hand, the Master's judgment had always been wise and just. On the other, the very idea of accepting a demon went against every principle I held dear. The conflict twisted in my chest, leaving me restless and uneasy.

Tengen must have noticed, for he leaned toward me with a playful smirk. "Try to look more flashy, Y/n. You're bringing the mood down."

I managed a faint smile, more out of politeness than humor. "Sure, I'll try."

But my mind was elsewhere, tangled in a web of doubt and uncertainty. I appreciated Tengen's attempt to lighten the mood—he always had a way of easing tension—but this was beyond his usual flair.

The Master's voice drew me back to the moment. "Y/n, what do you think?"

All eyes turned to me. The weight of their gazes pressed down like a heavy cloak. I hesitated, my mind racing. Should I side with the Master and risk alienating the others? Or should I voice my doubts and potentially undermine his authority? I took a deep breath, finding courage in my own convictions.

"I agree with you wholeheartedly, Master," I said, my voice steady. "You have my support."

I could feel Sanemi's icy glare pierce through me, but I refused to meet it. Instead, I glanced at Tengen, who offered me a small, supportive smile. Despite his earlier opposition, I knew he respected my choice. That silent camaraderie meant more to me than I could express.

// time skip: meeting starts //

We sat in orderly rows before the Master, the weight of his presence commanding our full attention. I found myself seated between Muichiro, who stared blankly ahead, and Tengen, who was uncharacteristically subdued.

"It is evident," the Master began, his voice calm yet firm, "that the quality of our Demon Slayers has diminished significantly. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

Sanemi, ever the first to speak, scoffed. "The incident on Mt. Natagumo says it all. Sending lower-ranking Slayers to face such threats is—"

I couldn't help but interrupt. "I think it's unfair to say that."

All eyes turned to me, the room's atmosphere shifting sharply. I hadn't meant to speak out of turn, but I couldn't let his comment go unchallenged.

Sanemi's gaze hardened. "And what does that mean, Y/n?"

I met his stare evenly. "All I'm saying is that expecting low-ranking Slayers to defeat a member of the Twelve Kizuki is unreasonable. It took Tanjiro, his demon sister, and Giyuu to succeed. Shouldn't that tell us something about the threat we're dealing with?"

The Master nodded, his expression thoughtful. "A fair point. It is my belief that Muzan Kibutsuji is targeting Tanjiro specifically. However, judging by the demon's reckless actions, it seems unlikely that Kibutsuji himself was directly involved in the events on Mt. Natagumo."

His words resonated with me. Even without having been there, it was clear that the chaos on the mountain had been a desperate act, not a calculated move by Muzan. The Master continued to speak, sharing insights and strategies for the Corps' future. Eventually, he turned his attention back to me.

"Y/n," he said, "you've spoken before about training younger Demon Slayers."

I perked up. "Yes, Master. I had hoped to train Tanjiro, but Shinobu beat me to it," I admitted with a small smile.

The Master chuckled softly. "Indeed. However, I have been considering the allocation of trainers. While your skills are exceptional, I believe they are better suited for higher-ranking missions than for training recruits."

His words stung more than I expected. I forced a smile. "Of course, Master. I understand."

Deep down, disappointment gnawed at me. I had wanted to help shape the next generation, to ensure fewer lives were lost in the endless fight against demons. Instead, I would continue my current path, battling day after day. It wasn't unfulfilling, but it felt repetitive—like a cycle with no end.

The meeting had ended, and I found myself walking alongside Tengen, the cool evening air brushing against my skin. The silence between us was companionable, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of our footsteps on the gravel path.

"You did good today," Tengen said, his voice warm.

"Thank you," I replied with a small smile. "I try."

We shared a quiet laugh before arriving at his mansion. His wives—Makio, Suma, and Hinatsuru—greeted us warmly at the door.

"Welcome home, Lord Tengen!" they chimed in unison, their affection for him evident.

"Hello, girls," he replied with a grin as we stepped inside.

While Tengen seemed lost in thought, I turned my attention to the women. We sat around a low table, and Suma, ever curious, leaned forward eagerly. "What happened today, Y/n?"

"Oh, nothing too wild," I said, waving a hand dismissively. "There was a boy who caused some trouble, but it's all been handled."

Hinatsuru's eyes narrowed with interest. "What kind of trouble?"

I hesitated for a moment before explaining. "His sister was turned into a demon, but he's been traveling with her, even as a Demon Slayer."

Suma gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "A demon sister? That's incredible!"

I laughed softly. "That's about all I know."

Before the conversation could continue, Tengen rose from his seat, his expression serious. "Makio, Suma, Hinatsuru," he said, "I have a mission for you."

The women exchanged surprised glances but listened intently.

"There's a demon rumored to be hiding in the Entertainment District," Tengen continued. "Most likely one of the Twelve Kizuki. I need you to infiltrate the houses and locate it."

Makio's expression hardened. "A Twelve Kizuki?"

Tengen nodded. "Most likely."

The women began preparing immediately. As they moved about the room, I leaned toward Tengen. "Are you sure about this?"

"I wouldn't send them if I wasn't," he said, but his tone betrayed his unease.

I said nothing, but I knew better. No matter how often Tengen claimed his only goals were to be flashy and slay demons, I knew the truth. His real mission, the one that mattered most to him, was keeping his wives safe.

And I should know. After all, I was his fourth.

// word count : 1143 //

this chapter has been edited from the previous one