The new Ubuyashiki was only six years old. Right in this troubled time.
Though his mother was still beside him assisting, I still stayed. Counted as helping him hold down headquarters.
Didn't know where news of the Demon Slayer Corps' generational change leaked. Or perhaps pushed too hard—news of Muzan's appearances became somewhat more frequent than before.
Couldn't contact Yoriichi for a while. But after the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira discussed, still decided to go surround and kill Muzan.
They probably held the same thoughts as Yoriichi. Wanted to try solving this trouble before passing away.
Results weren't satisfactory. Muzan evolved faster than human swordsmen.
Eight Hashira mobilized. Only two or three returned.
Tsugikuni Michikatsu wasn't among those who returned. Rengoku said he turned to Muzan. Before his colleagues and comrades, drank demon blood. Transformed into a demon.
Tolerating the remaining defeated soldiers to return—counted as his last bit of sentiment toward former companions.
The boy who became the new Master heard the battle report. Looked toward me somewhat worriedly. "Lord Chihaya, according to the Corps rules father established—if a swordsman betrays the Demon Slayer Corps, his relatives and friends must also apologize."
I didn't speak. Somewhat regretted not killing Tsugikuni Michikatsu earlier. Turned this trouble into a big problem.
Seeing me not speak, that child said again, "Father's regulation isn't wrong. But also too harsh. I'm unwilling to violate father's wishes. But taking Yoriichi's life this way—too hasty."
I said, "He has another choice. Leave the Demon Slayer Corps. Abandon his former glory and title. Become a hunter. If he can personally kill his traitorous brother, can be pardoned."
This was a hidden rule. If they were willing to swear—personally kill former relatives and friends—then could have a chance to live.
And I would become the supervisor. Urge them to complete their vows.
This young Master heard this. Showed a smile. "Yes. Father and Lord Chihaya thought far more thoroughly than me."
Rengoku volunteered to find Yoriichi. Tell him this news.
Result—after they returned, Yoriichi's sins multiplied.
He also encountered Muzan. Even almost killed that guy.
I heard Yoriichi say Muzan split himself into countless tiny pieces of flesh to escape. Didn't even know what expression to make on my face.
After several hundred years, this guy became far more shameless than imagined.
Besides this, he also let go of a female demon. Named Tamayo. Originally followed beside Muzan. But harbored deep hatred toward him.
Hearing this, I felt so familiar. Turned my thoughts—working for that dog bastard as a maid. Sure enough, whether human or demon, would all develop murderous intent.
Because thinking these irrelevant things, slightly zoned out. When I focused again on Yoriichi's later words, he'd already mentioned this female demon seemed to have broken free from Muzan's control.
An unexpected variable appeared. Yoriichi didn't kill her. Requested her help assisting in killing Muzan. Then let her go.
Words just finished—immediately stirred the remaining Hashira's dissatisfaction.
They surrounded Yoriichi, loudly scolding. Suspected he, like Tsugikuni Michikatsu, had long secretly communicated with demons.
If not for Rengoku desperately blocking, these people would probably immediately attack.
Yoriichi hung his head. No matter how others cursed him, didn't refute. After everyone's anger mostly dissipated, the young Master issued his first order after taking office.
As I'd previously told him—Yoriichi was expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps.
He must swear to Ubuyashiki and all fallen comrades—his remaining life must be used to subjugate that brother who became a demon. However many people his elder brother killed, he must save that many people to atone.
Yoriichi had no objection to this. Removed everything belonging to the Demon Slayer Corps from his body. Only kept one demon-slaying blade.
He performed a deep bow to the young Master. "Truly deeply sorry. I will definitely shoulder responsibility. One day will subjugate my brother. With this, apologize to innocently deceased people."
The young Master silently watched him walk out. Ended this Hashira meeting. Turned back to ask me, "Lord Chihaya, do we still have a chance to kill the Demon King?"
Though the Hashira's lives entered countdown, the Demon Slayer Corps still had many new members. Had continuous new forces to fill this gap.
But I thought about it. Still shook my head.
At least this era's brilliance had passed. I clearly felt the arrival of the era's ending notes.
Even after so many years, this still wasn't the endpoint.
The young Master didn't lose heart. Used a mature tone beyond his years to tell me, "If so, I have one matter I wish to entrust to Lord Chihaya."
Yoriichi didn't kill Muzan. But sent back very valuable intelligence.
Muzan had modified his body. Now possessed five brains and seven hearts.
Though I didn't understand how his body structure becoming like this could still live properly—obviously he was an unreasonable existence.
Unless all these vital organs could be destroyed in one go, no way to defeat him.
But the matter the young Master entrusted to me had nothing to do with him. He only asked if I could, like Muzan and many demons, modify my own body.
"I'm not equating you with those demons. Just regarding Breathing Style inheritance—I think can only entrust it to you."
This child was quite clever. Not inferior to his father at all.
He said Breathing Styles differed because everyone's muscle content and organ structures had differences.
If I could adjust my body structure, then perhaps could simultaneously master multiple different Breathing Styles.
Must say, his idea was bold and crazy. Originally also a helpless measure.
The young Master said, "No matter which era—even without battles between humans and demons, struggles between humans have never ceased. Rengoku and the others' worries about inheritance aren't unreasonable... If encountering irresistible great disasters, Breathing Style inheritance indeed has danger of being severed."
And I would be living inheritance.
He hoped I could memorize all existing Breathing Styles... If in the future some generation's inheritance was severed, then could obtain continuation from me.
"I wish to ask you to become the Demon Slayer Corps' spark of hope. No matter how times change—as long as you exist, the Demon Slayer Corps won't perish."
I felt the weight of this mission. From now on, what I had to carry seemed to become more and more.
But I wouldn't refuse him.
I only said needed to research it.
Before the next Hashira passed away, I finally learned to perform mimetic modifications on my own body.
The Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira—this era's most elite swordsmen—one by one walked before me, bowing. The techniques they'd invested their life's effort into—demonstrated one by one before me.
Time passed day by day. Swordsmen demonstrating sword techniques before me became fewer and fewer. Finally gradually replaced with new faces.
And the last time I encountered Yoriichi, he'd already become a white-haired old man.
Though never understood why only he lived past that time... but this didn't prevent me from teasing his face full of wrinkled black spots. Like old tree bark.
The pair of earrings he'd always cherished were also nowhere to be seen. I asked where he put them. He said many years ago, gave them to Sumiyoshi.
Why give them to Sumiyoshi?
Yoriichi rarely smiled at me. "Because on a certain day in the future, we may reunite in the same place."
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