Chapter 243: The Decision Is Theirs

"Please, share your opinions."

In the great hall, Kagaya’s voice trailed off.

On any other occasion, the Hashira would never have let his words be met with silence.

But today they all kept a somber silence.

"Why so quiet?"

Kagaya let out a faint laugh. "Last time, with Marcus-kun’s transformation, you all argued quite fiercely."

"..."

Noticing that the room remained deathly quiet, he shook his head with a smile and turned his face to his right.

"Sanemi, you have more right than anyone to weigh in on this. Why don’t you tell us something?"

Sanemi, his body covered in bandages, said nothing.

He rested his hands on his knees, drumming his fingertips one after another.

The concentration on his face suggested he was deep in thought, as if he hadn’t heard the Master.

Under normal circumstances it would have been a grave show of disrespect, but at that moment no one raised the slightest objection.

Perhaps they weren’t as absorbed as he was, but deep in their hearts a similar storm was raging.

To spare the Master an awkward moment, Mitsuri looked at Marcus, glanced over at Shinobu, and spoke.

"I think... we should let them choose. Whether they transform or not, what matters is that they stay alive."

"I think exactly the same," Shinobu said with a nod.

Gyōmei pressed his palms together and recited a mantra.

His vacant eyes passed over Obanai and Tokito.

He seemed able to see the ear Obanai was missing, his ulcerated face and blind eyes beneath the bandages. And the empty pant leg under the sheet covering Tokito.

"What a tragedy. What a painful crossroads..." Two rows of tears slid down his cheeks. "From my own standpoint, I would never wish for the comrades who have fought shoulder to shoulder with me to become beings so close to demons. And yet, neither would I wish for them to spend the rest of their lives in darkness or leaning on crutches. Amitabha... I abstain from voting."

Rengoku, seated beside Sanemi, spoke up.

"My opinion aligns with Himejima-san’s. From the standpoint of the Demon Slayer Corps, it’s hard to accept; our duty is to behead demons, not to become them. However..." He looked at Marcus. "Marcus-san’s deeds are there for everyone to see, and Muzan’s power is something we understand. Without the Vampires, I don’t think we’d have any certainty of defeating him. Therefore... I abstain as well!"

"If you’re going to abstain, just abstain—why all the drama?" Tengen crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

Rengoku looked at him. "Then tell me, Uzui-san, what’s your brilliant opinion?"

Tengen scratched his ear with a finger. "I abstain too. It’s their life; they get the final say."

A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Rengoku’s eye, and his expression changed.

"Don’t look at me like that." Tengen raised an eyebrow. "In the shinobi family I come from, this kind of thing was an everyday matter. Our way of doing things was simple: if you can accept it and get used to it, you keep fighting; if not, you do something else."

"Logistics needs people, and so do the instructors. If they’re content with it, I’d even be happy for them if they could retire. If we’re wracking our brains over this now, it’s simply because we have options."

Tengen shot a glance at the two wounded men.

"The way I see it, if they want to keep fighting, they should transform without hesitation. And if they won’t become Vampires, then let them bow out in dazzling fashion. There’s nothing more to agonize over."

For this point, only Giyū and Sanemi still hadn’t voted.

Sanemi remained completely motionless.

By force of habit, everyone shifted their gaze toward the taciturn Giyū, who showed no emotion whatsoever.

"I don’t consider myself fit to cast a vote," he stated calmly. "Nor do I believe I have any right to dictate someone else’s future through a voting process."

The three who had just abstained were stunned.

What was he trying to say...?

Was he insulting them indirectly? Was he accusing them of presuming to decide over other people’s lives?!

"Pfft—"

Marcus couldn’t hold back his laughter.

’Just as I expected of you!’

Seeing that he’d drawn everyone’s eyes, he made a face and quickly rapped the table.

"You’ve all said plenty, but it seems no one has asked for my opinion as the party actually involved."

Hearing this, Kagaya turned a baffled "look" his way.

"Didn’t you say you were willing to help them with the transformation?"

"Of course. After all, if anyone here becomes a Vampire, their strength will rival that of the Upper Ranks. And that only brings benefits when it comes to wiping out Muzan and his demons. However..." Marcus looked around at all of them. "...our race doesn’t just turn anyone for no reason."

Kagaya stirred in his seat. "Is there some physical requirement?"

"It’s not physical constitution, it’s mentality."

One requirement is psychological readiness.

"As we’ve already made clear, I’m your collaborator, not your subordinate. If you want to transform, I welcome it, but after the process your standing will change..."

"You’ll no longer be Demon Slayers or guests of the Ubuyashiki family, but my subordinates, my people."

He struck the table again. "If you can’t accept that... then I’m sorry, I won’t turn you."

The hall sank into silence once more, this time even more extreme.

Everyone’s expression grew complicated.

If before they’d assumed the conversion was a mere medical procedure to keep fighting under the Master’s command, Marcus’s words shattered that illusion.

His intent was clear: the Vampires were a separate faction, and he wasn’t doing charity—he was recruiting.

To become a Vampire, the basic condition was one: draw a clear line with the Demon Slayer Corps.

At present, both factions shared the same goal against Muzan and cooperated by exchanging information.

But... what would happen if they had to face other matters, or if disagreements arose?

Noticing the growing seriousness on their faces, Marcus spoke again.

"It’s not as dire as you imagine. Before Muzan dies, our interests will never clash. And as for what happens afterward..."

"Would the Demon Slayer Corps even have any reason to keep existing?"

!

Everyone tensed.

...He was right. The only reason they were gathered here was to kill Muzan and put an end to the demons.

"I agree with Marcus-kun," Kagaya sighed. "The organization’s existence was always meant for the sole purpose of exterminating him. If Muzan dies, the Corps will disband. When that time comes, whether they serve Marcus-kun as Vampires or live in peace as humans, the Ubuyashiki family will provide them the support they deserve rather than being a burden. Therefore, their future must rest entirely in their own hands."

His words sealed the matter and laid out an alternative for the Hashira’s fate.

From here on, the choice would depend entirely on the two wounded men.

At that moment, Obanai spoke.

"I refuse."

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