Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
After explaining the matters related to the Demon Slayer Mark, the strategy meeting temporarily came to an end.
Leaving Himejima Gyomei behind to guard Gyutaro, Cain and the others dispersed on the spot, each returning to their respective quarters.
"Sister! Cain! You're back!"
Having apparently received the news in advance, Kochō Shinobu was already standing at the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion.
The moment she saw Cain and the others return, she rushed over and carefully examined them from head to toe.
"Thank goodness, neither of you is injured."
"With me around, how could anything possibly happen?"
Cain wore an expression as if that outcome was completely obvious.
Kochō Kanae added with a smile, "This mission went so smoothly largely because of Cain."
"Huh? Even you say that, Sister?"
Kochō Shinobu looked slightly surprised. "Did you really encounter an Upper Rank demon?"
Kochō Kanae nodded. "To be precise, we encountered three Upper Rank demons."
"Three?!"
Kochō Shinobu gasped in shock.
Since neither Cain nor her sister appeared seriously injured, she had subconsciously assumed the mission target had been a Lower Rank demon.
What she had never expected was that Cain and Kochō Kanae had actually encountered Upper Rank demons, and three of them at that.
"Then how did you manage to escape?"
Cain rolled his eyes.
"What do you mean escape? We won completely."
"You won?"
Kochō Shinobu instinctively looked toward her sister.
After receiving a confirming nod, the astonishment on her face deepened even further.
"Sister, did Cain really defeat an Upper Rank demon with a single slash?"
Kochō Kanae recalled the battle.
"When fighting Upper Rank Six, the battle did end with a single slash. However, dealing with Upper Rank Two was a difficult fight. In the end we only managed to win by working together."
"We?"
"Yes. Cain summoned the other Hashira to Tokyo. Together we defeated Upper Rank Two."
Kochō Kanae nodded slightly and recounted the events that had occurred the previous day.
"Even though they are both Upper Rank demons, the difference between Upper Rank Six and Upper Rank Two is simply enormous."
After listening to the story, Kochō Shinobu frowned slightly.
Although Kochō Kanae omitted many details during her explanation, Shinobu could still sense how dangerous the battle must have been.
"Sister, are you really planning to begin the final battle in ten days?"
"Yes. This is a once in a millennium opportunity. We must seize this chance to eliminate Muzan."
As if she had guessed Shinobu's thoughts, Kochō Kanae reached out and gently patted her head.
"Don't worry, Shinobu."
"Cain has already prepared a special training program. The gap between both sides is not as great as you think."
"Special training?" Kochō Shinobu was startled and immediately asked, "Can I participate as well?"
"Well..."
Kochō Kanae hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.
Although she had already agreed to the Demon Transformation Surgery, that did not necessarily mean everyone else would accept it as well.
After hesitating for a moment without knowing how to answer, Kochō Kanae turned her gaze to the side.
"Cain, do you think Shinobu can participate in our special training?"
"Her physical constitution barely meets the required standard. After the surgery, she should be able to meet the conditions necessary to activate the Demon Slayer Mark."
"I see."
Seeing that Cain had no intention of concealing the truth, Kochō Kanae looked toward her still unaware sister.
"Shinobu, what I am about to tell you may make you uncomfortable. I hope you can understand."
"Sister, stop beating around the bush."
"Alright, then I will say it directly."
Kochō Kanae stopped hesitating.
"Myself and the other Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps will undergo Demon Transformation Surgery. We will use the power of demons to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan."
"...Huh?"
Kochō Shinobu's expression instantly froze.
As if she had been struck by lightning, her mind seemed to stop working for a moment.
Her eyes moved blankly between Kochō Kanae and Cain several times before she finally snapped out of her shock.
"Demon Transformation Surgery?"
"Yes."
Kochō Kanae nodded and briefly explained Tamayo's existence and the details of the Demon Transformation Surgery.
"Shinobu, I know that becoming a demon yourself may be something you cannot accept. This news..."
"Sister! Don't decide things for me!"
Kochō Shinobu suddenly regained her composure and interrupted Kanae's words.
Under Kanae's surprised gaze, Shinobu's expression became firm and resolute.
"I don't want to remain in the rear anymore!"
"Even if I have to become a demon, it doesn't matter! This time I want to fight alongside you!"
"Shinobu... I understand."
Sensing her sister's determination, Kochō Kanae stopped trying to persuade her.
"Since you have already made up your mind, then we will fight together."
Kochō Kanae looked toward Cain.
"Just like when we defeated Upper Rank Two yesterday. This time we will join forces to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan."
Kochō Shinobu also turned her gaze toward Cain.
"Cain! This time I will fight beside you!"
"Well... actually, there is no need to be quite this serious."
Seeing the two emotional Kochō sisters suddenly directing their gazes at him, Cain hesitated slightly, leaving the rest of his sentence unsaid.
After staring at the two sisters in front of him for a moment, Cain took a deep breath and forced a polite yet slightly awkward smile.
"If you are feeling motivated, I do have a special task I can assign to you."
...
Time passed, and before long night had fallen.
Guided by a Kasugai Crow, Tamayo and Yushiro arrived at the Ubuyashiki Residence.
After exchanging greetings with Ubuyashiki Kagaya, they all sat down in the reception room.
"Mr. Ubuyashiki, just to confirm, this letter was sent by you, correct?"
Tamayo took the letter she had received earlier from her sleeve and placed it on the table in front of her.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya glanced down at it.
"Yes, it was sent by me."
Tamayo's expression grew serious.
"Then what the letter says about the reincarnation of a deity and the Demon Transformation Surgery..."
"All of it is true."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded.
"Cain is the reincarnation of a deity. I have personally confirmed this."
"He possesses the ability to control lightning and can obtain special information through divine power."
"The information I previously mentioned in my letters about Cain knowing details regarding Kibutsuji Muzan and the Upper Rank demons was all obtained through this divine power."
"In addition, he is aware of certain secrets of the Demon Slayer Corps, as well as confidential information about you, Miss Tamayo."
"About me?"
"Yes. Cain knows that you are researching a medicine capable of turning Muzan back into a human. He knows about the Blood Demon Arts you have mastered, and he is even aware of your life story."
"According to Cain, you once suffered from an incurable terminal illness. In order to see your child grow up, you searched everywhere for a cure, only to be deceived by Muzan and transformed into a demon."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya calmly shared the information he had learned during his earlier conversation with Cain.
Seeing Tamayo fall silent after hearing these words, he made his judgment regarding the credibility of that information.
"Miss Tamayo, now you understand why I believe Cain truly is the reincarnation of a deity."
"It certainly resembles the power of a god. However... Mr. Ubuyashiki, if I may speak frankly, Kibutsuji Muzan also knows all of these things."
Tamayo reminded him cautiously.
Although she did not believe Muzan would patiently continue plotting after discovering the location of the Ubuyashiki Residence, there was still a one in a million possibility. The chance that Cain might be Muzan's agent could not be completely dismissed.
"Please be at ease, Miss Tamayo."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya had already anticipated this possibility and turned his gaze to the side.
Ubuyashiki Amane, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward and placed a tray on the table.
"Miss Tamayo, please allow me to introduce these."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya pointed toward the four reagent tubes resting on the tray and spoke slowly.
"From left to right, these four tubes contain the blood of Upper Rank Six Daki and Gyutaro, Upper Rank Five Gyokko, and Upper Rank Two Doma."
"Hmm?"
A look of surprise appeared on Tamayo's face.
She was surprised not only that Ubuyashiki Kagaya possessed the blood of Upper Rank demons, but she also immediately understood the implication behind his words.
"These... were all obtained by Cain?"
"Yes."
"I see. No wonder you are willing to believe that Cain is the reincarnation of a deity."
A look of realization appeared on Tamayo's face.
Regardless of whether Cain truly was the reincarnation of a god, the fact that he had killed three Upper Rank demons was already sufficient to clear him of suspicion.
Shifting her gaze away from the tubes on the table, Tamayo looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya sitting across from her.
"I now understand Cain's identity. However, what exactly is the situation regarding the Demon Transformation Surgery?"
"In ten days, we will begin the final battle against Kibutsuji Muzan to determine everything once and for all."
"Ten days?"
Tamayo's expression became serious.
"Why so soon? Could we not have more time to prepare?"
"Cain believes ten days of preparation is the most suitable. If we delay longer, unforeseen variables may appear."
In truth, Ubuyashiki Kagaya himself also felt that the preparation time was somewhat short.
However, since Cain, the central combatant, had insisted that ten days was optimal, he could only choose to trust his judgment.
"The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps have already agreed."
"In order to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan in the final battle ten days from now, we require your assistance, Miss Tamayo."
"...I understand."
Tamayo remained silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Demon Transformation Surgery was a special technique Tamayo had developed after freeing herself from Muzan's control.
Using her own blood as the medium, she could transform others into demons in a way similar to Muzan.
However, unlike Muzan's demons, those she created did not need to consume humans. They only needed to drink an appropriate amount of blood to maintain their strength and sanity.
Although this went against the traditional ideals of the Demon Slayer Corps, if they wished to increase their combat power within a short period of time, Demon Transformation Surgery truly was the best option available.
"Mr. Ubuyashiki, please call them in."
Tamayo stood up.
"Since time is limited, we cannot waste even a single moment."
"After completing the Demon Transformation Surgeries, I will still require some time to develop a poison specifically designed for Muzan."
"Please remain calm, Miss Tamayo."
A smile appeared on Ubuyashiki Kagaya's face.
"Even before you arrived, Cain had already prepared two assistants for you."
As he spoke, Ubuyashiki Kagaya turned toward a nearby side door and spoke gently.
"You may come in now."
Click.
The closed shoji door slid open, and two slender figures entered from outside.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Tamayo."
Kochō Kanae slightly inclined her head, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
"I am the Flower Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kochō Kanae. You may simply call me Kanae."
T/N- 6 more chapters then muzan is cooked, next 50 chapters would be focused on Danmachi world.
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Read advance chapters on p@treon
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GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.