The announcement spread across the Demon Slayer Corps like wildfire. A new Hashira had been appointed — the youngest in history, surpassing even Tokito’s record. Whispers filled the barracks, but those whispers quickly turned into suspicion, then outright fear.

The reason? This so-called “Pillar” wasn’t human. They were a demon.

Though sanctioned directly by Kagaya Ubuyashiki himself, most slayers refused to accept it. “How can a demon stand among us? How can we trust something that feeds on humans?” The doubts piled higher and higher.

Some Hashira glared with open hostility. Kyojuro Rengoku’s fists clenched tighter than usual, while Gyomei stared silently, unblinking, weighing the impossible. Shinobu’s expression was unreadable, but the edge in her voice betrayed the tension when she muttered, “This… this isn’t natural.”

And in the middle of all this chaos, the new Hashira stepped forward, calm yet burdened by the hatred around them. Their presence alone was a contradiction — a weapon against Muzan, or a ticking bomb waiting to betray the Corps. Their crimson eyes didn’t glow; they burned with a strange clarity, an unnatural serenity that unsettled even seasoned slayers. The room grew heavy, until a soft voice broke the tension. Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, leaned forward with teary eyes, her usual warmth struggling against unease.

“W-Wait, everyone… maybe they aren’t like the others. If Master believes in they… shouldn’t we at least give they a chance?”

But the question remained in the air, sharp as any blade: Would the Demon Slayer Corps accept a demon Hashira? Or would this fragile alliance collapse before it even began? The new Hashira bowed deeply, voice steady and calm, though it carried an undertone that hinted at centuries of hidden struggles.