Chapter 26: Evidence |
Shinobu’s entire body trembled with emotion.
'We should be grateful, not angry, if he truly is the god who created the world...' But at that moment, Kanae closed her eyes and took a deep breath, snapping back to her usual self as if by the flick of a finger.
'...' Shinobu bit her lip at the thought.
"...since it turns out we exist because of him. We cannot blame our own misfortunes and failures on God. On the contrary, we should be happy to have met him!" Kanae smiled.
Shinobu gradually calmed down after hearing her older sister's words.
It was true.
A god could not consciously control and direct everything that happened in the world.
The source of their misfortunes was Muzan!
Furthermore, they might not even exist if God had not created this world, so they were obligated to respect him for that much at least.
That could be considered a stroke of immense luck.
Therefore, she actually needed to thank God.
"I offer my sincerest apologies! Please forgive me for those words, if you are indeed watching us..." Having reached this conclusion, Shinobu slowly unclenched her fists and bowed politely to the empty air.
Somewhere far away.
Yeruashi could not help but let a slight smile play on his lips as he watched Shinobu’s initial indignation and resentment turn into repentance and self-reproach.
It is human nature to seek a figure to blame for one's own failures and suffering, such as the heavens or a god.
Caught up in her emotions, Shinobu had done exactly that.
But then she took a sober look at the situation.
However, that was to be expected from a future Hashira.
With these thoughts, Yeruashi glanced briefly at Tsuyuri and returned to his research.
...
A few days later.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Inside a spacious room.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat down carefully on the leader's cushion in the middle of the tatami mats.
Some of the cushions on either side of him were empty, while others were occupied by the Hashira, including Makomo and Kanae.
A short while later.
Two more demon slayers who had been delayed arrived.
One of them was Kyojuro Rengoku, who had only recently been promoted to Flame Hashira.
He had finally managed to follow in his father's footsteps thanks to his killing of the Lower Rank Three in a recent battle with demons, as well as his recognized skills and a series of past merits.
"Oyakata-sama..." Kyojuro bowed respectfully as he entered.
"No need for that, please take your seat," Kagaya said with a wave of his hand.
Six months had passed.
The Hashira were gathered once again.
When everyone was assembled, Kagaya slowly swept his gaze over those present and closed his eyes. Then he opened them again and finally spoke, "Today, I have gathered you here to discuss our strategy for fighting demons, but before that, I have something to report..."
At those words, the Hashira exchanged looks among themselves.
Other matters were rarely raised at these meetings besides the discussion of demon-slaying strategies for the coming year or more.
Well, raising the topic at the very beginning of the meeting indicated its extreme seriousness.
Therefore, everyone present, except for Kanae, immediately focused their attention.
The leader of the Demon Slayers then became visibly grave.
"I am informing you that we have received evidence of the existence of..."
"God..."
Silence fell after those words.
Most of the Hashira began to look at each other in stunned amazement, while some simply drifted out of reality, unable to find words.
God.
Such a distant word...
Despite the fact that most of the Hashira had gone through severe hardships and forged their own paths in life with their own hands, some of them had not lost their faith—for example, the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.
But one way or another, they all saw the essence of a god in the same way.
To put it briefly: faith.
That is to say, food for the soul and an object of prayer.
Something existing in the minds of people, by no means material.
But now they were suddenly being told in all seriousness.
That God literally existed.
Thus, everyone present, regardless of whether they were believers or not, fell into a state of deep confusion for a time.
"God... exists, then? I see, I see..." Kyojuro whispered thoughtfully with his eyes closed. Then he opened them and addressed Kagaya. "Well then, whose side is he on? Is he with us or not?"
The Flame Hashira accepted the news of God's existence easily and, without overthinking it, went straight to the question that concerned him most.
"Based on what is known to us... he is on no one's side, but he likely favors us," Kagaya replied calmly, turning to him.
As Kanae had mentioned in her report, this so-called god could have destroyed the demons with a simple flick of his fingers if he stood on the side of humanity. Well, since the demons still existed...
But the same was true for the demons.
The only irrefutable fact was that Kanae had come into contact with a stranger and received a strand of hair from him whose existence was impossible, akin to a miracle... which is to say, divine.
The only conclusion that could be even remotely drawn from what happened was that the presumed god likely favored them, just a little.
"I see, I see..." The Flame Hashira nodded and said, "It is a pity, of course, but it is what it is... I knew it. It seems God adheres to a policy of non-interference in worldly affairs!"
After those words, silence reigned once more.
But it was a distinctly awkward silence that hung in the air.
Not everyone could accept the existence of a god so easily.
"Hey... hey, hey... stop, what kind of nonsense is this!" A vein pulsed on Tengen's forehead, and his eyes flared with anger mixed with disbelief. "What are you even talking about? What existence of a god? What the hell do you mean by non-interference in worldly affairs? A shitty world like this could only have been created by a total..."
But at that moment, the Sound Hashira’s voice was cut off mid-sentence.
This was because a large hand gripped his shoulder.
It was the hand of the Stone Hashira.
"Tengen, cease your blasphemy, I beg you..." Gyomei said impassively. Releasing the shoulder, he folded his hands in front of him. "The Almighty has his reasons for everything, and we walk this world only by his will. Do not blame God for your pain."
"Gyomei..." Even then, Tengen could not fully calm himself.
"Then tell me, Sound Hashira! Tell me, who caused us all this pain?" The Stone Hashira turned his head and spoke in a heavy voice.
Only after that question did Tengen finally come to his senses.
"Muzan Kibutsuji!" he gritted his teeth.
At those words.
Gyomei nodded affirmatively and turned away from the Sound Hashira. He then clasped his palms together in prayer and whispered under his breath, "Such a fool. Lord, forgive his loose tongue; do not be angry with him without cause..."