All right, I'll serve as the referee for this match!
Under Tōshirō's direction, everyone made room for Scribe and Chizhong.
They drew a circle on the ground as a simple arena, and the two stood apart within it.
After briefly sizing up both sides, Tōshirō shouted loudly.
This match ends at the right moment. Neither side is allowed to strike too heavily or deliberately harm the other.
Whoever loses the ability to fight or leaves the arena will be deemed the loser. Does either side have any objections?
Scribe/Chizhong: No!
Then, begin!
With a sharp wave of his hand, Tōshirō declared the match underway.
Given his strength, neither of them could possibly hurt him.
He remained in the arena to better protect them both and prevent any accidents.
The instant Tōshirō announced the start, Chizhong gave a cold laugh.
I'm a few years older than you, and I've practiced Breathing Techniques for two more years.
Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll let you attack first!
At those words, the spectators all looked at Chizhong in surprise.
Chizhong is amazing. He actually dared to let someone else attack first.
Exactly. I bet that kid is regretting it already.
Senior Chizhong's swordsmanship is already very strong among people his age. That little guy definitely isn't his match.
Feeling the gazes and praise directed at him, Chizhong relished the sensation.
He had already been prepared to put on a good show before the Flame Pillar, yet he hadn't expected some kid he'd never seen before to steal the spotlight.
Whether it was the Flame Pillar's praise or everyone's admiration, it should all have belonged to him!
Whenever he thought of Scribe's earlier performance, he wanted nothing more than to grind him to dust.
Come on, let this senior see just how skilled you really are with a sword.
Looking at the taunting Chizhong, Scribe shook his head.
You said it yourself. Then I won't hold back.
With that, he picked up his wooden sword and walked toward Chizhong at an unhurried pace.
As Scribe drew closer, Chizhong's heart began to race.
He's just walking straight over? Why doesn't he look like he's about to attack at all?
Could this be meant to distract me?
What kind of attack will it be? A downward slash? A horizontal cut? An upward strike?
Sweat began to gather on the hands gripping his wooden sword, and Chizhong swallowed unconsciously.
When only three steps remained between them, Scribe, who had been moving leisurely, suddenly moved.
The wooden sword in his hand flashed out and struck Chizhong directly in the neck.
With saliva caught in his throat, Chizhong failed to react at all. He only felt an immense force slam into his neck.
Coughing as though he were about to choke to death, Chizhong rolled his eyes back and fainted on the spot.
His sturdy body collapsed onto the ground like a puddle of mud, all strength gone from it.
No one had expected the match to end like this.
There were no cheers for the victor in the square, nor any scorn for the loser.
Only a deathly silence remained across the entire place.
After instantly defeating Chizhong in a single move, Scribe also received the reward for the random mission.
Tōshirō's Surprise, Ubuyashiki's Excitement
Rengoku Tōshirō blinked twice before finally coming back to his senses.
The winner, Scribe!
Those simple words were like a match tossed into a barrel of gunpowder, instantly igniting the whole crowd.
The cheers that had long been suppressed erupted, loud enough for half the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to hear.
Holy shit, holy shit, what did I just see?
Chizhong got taken out in one move?!
What just happened? I only blinked once!
While everyone else was shocked, Scribe was somewhat dissatisfied with the reward.
Congratulations, Host. You defeated Chizhong and obtained 50 Breathing Technique points.
Current level: Novice Breathing Technique (9750/10000)
50?
Scribe's eyelid twitched, and he looked rather disappointed.
He had defeated Chizhong in one move, yet he only got 50 points.
Could he take that to mean Chizhong was just trash with a combat power of 50?
But on second thought, wasn't this also the system's way of encouraging him to fight?
His gaze turned toward Chizhong, his eyes looking somewhat unfriendly.
I wonder if exploiting a bug by repeatedly farming the same monster would work.
With that thought, Scribe walked toward Chizhong.
Chizhong slowly opened his eyes, sat up straight, and clutched his neck.
A somewhat familiar figure was walking toward him. Chizhong narrowed his eyes and looked carefully.
Who is that?
Holy shit! Scribe!
The moment Chizhong recognized him, he instantly sobered up and sprang from the ground as if rockets had been strapped to his ass.
Y-you, don't come any closer!
His expression twisted grotesquely. As though he had been beaten senseless with fear, he fled the square outright.
Watching Chizhong leave, Scribe no longer felt like conducting the experiment.
A guy who had lost his confidence wasn't even qualified to be his test subject.
Tsk, I'd better get ready and head out to hunt demons.
Muttering inwardly, Scribe turned and walked out of the square.
The moment the people around him saw that Scribe was leaving, they all made way for him.
A path opened through the once-crowded square. Scribe did not stand on ceremony and quickly left.
Tōshirō did not stop Scribe from leaving. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Scribe's retreating figure.
Young, bold, talented, neither arrogant nor impatient.
A talent like that is truly rare. I need to report this to Master right away.
After having several people organize the crowd's departure, Tōshirō left first.
His destination was the residence of the current Master, Ubuyashiki Kagaya!
When he arrived outside the house, Tōshirō expressed his wish to meet Master.
Although he was the Flame Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tōshirō still placed great importance on such etiquette.
Before long, he received permission to enter.
However, there was another visitor besides him.
Mr. Yoriichi is at Master's residence too?!
Tōshirō raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised.
Although Tsugikuni Yoriichi was the teacher who had taught him and the other Pillars Breathing Techniques, he had never required them to address him as teacher.
Tōshirō had always felt that Yoriichi did not truly regard them as his disciples.
Though somewhat puzzled, Tōshirō still quickly entered the residence.
Sitting seiza, Tōshirō raised his head after paying his respects.
His black hair fell slightly past his ears, while his sickly pale cheeks were covered in revolting acne scars and pockmarks.
This man was the current Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
At Kagaya's side, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was slowly drinking tea.
Master, your health—Tōshirō had just begun to speak when Kagaya interrupted him.
Cough, cough. You needn't worry about my health.
Covering his mouth, Kagaya coughed several times, his complexion becoming even paler.
More importantly, Tōshirō, you suddenly wished to see me. Is there something important?
Seeing Master's gesture, Tōshirō had no choice but to recount what had just happened.
It was like this. When I was explaining Breathing Techniques in the square earlier, there was a young man named Scribe—
As he listened to Tōshirō's account, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's expression changed again and again.
Calmness turned to curiosity, curiosity turned to surprise, and finally, it became intense delight and admiration.
Meanwhile, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who had remained silent while drinking tea, had set down his cup at some point.
He seemed to care greatly about what Tōshirō was saying.
There really is such a person among the children of the Demon Slayer Corps?
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ubuyashiki Kagaya's lips, and he seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
It seems that in a few years, an extraordinary person will emerge among my children.
Perhaps he will become the next Pillar, or perhaps even the strongest Pillar.
Treating the members of the Demon Slayer Corps as their own children had always been a tradition among its Masters.
Together with their unique charisma, this was why they had the support of the entire Demon Slayer Corps.
At that moment, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was like a father who had discovered his child's talent, filled with delight.
Yoriichi, what do you think of this child?
Turning his head slightly, Kagaya seemed to want to hear Tsugikuni Yoriichi's thoughts.
Tōshirō also turned his head and stared intently at Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
He too was curious what kind of evaluation the strongest member of the Demon Slayer Corps would give the youth he had described.
Yet even before the Master and a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tsugikuni Yoriichi's expression remained as calm as ever.
The atmosphere became exceedingly awkward.
Just as Tōshirō and Kagaya thought this would be another fruitless question, Yoriichi's next words directly stunned them both.
Scribe is my disciple.
The moment those words fell, the atmosphere in the entire room instantly changed.
Before you continue