Ubuyashiki Kagaya

"I agree, I am willing to go with Hiruma to slay all the demons in the world!"

Shinobu Kocho said without hesitation. Hiruma had given her the sword to cut ties with her past, and she was determined to return the favor with a blade of her own.

"Mm!" Kanae Kocho nodded, her eyes shining with a determined light. "I don't want anyone else to suffer because of demons."

"I want them to have happy lives, so I've chosen to join your organization."

Regardless of their individual motivations, once those who had been harmed by demons gathered together, they would resolutely advance towards a future without them.

Hiruma secretly wished that Shinobu Kocho wouldn't embark on this path, as slaying demons was truly a life-risking endeavor. However, he respected their choice.

"By the way, whether we can join the Demon Slayer Corps isn't something we two can decide. We'll have to ask Oyakata-sama!"

"Follow us for now!"

The four returned to the Wisteria House. Rengoku Shinjuro had already gone to rest, and the owner of the Wisteria House had arranged accommodations for the Kocho sisters.

As dawn broke, Shinjuro, who had come for breakfast, stood stunned at the entrance. He rubbed his eyes, his face a mask of surprise.

He quickly pulled Hiruma and Iguro Obanai aside and said earnestly:

"You two are still young, there's no rush to find wives!"

"And what's the deal with those two girls?"

"The Demon Slayer Corps forbids bullying ordinary people!"

Iguro Obanai shrugged, pointing at Hiruma with an innocent expression, and said something that led to a misunderstanding. "Last night, I was just following Hiruma, and he went to the sisters' house…"

Iguro Obanai stopped there. After a moment's thought, he added:

"Oh, right! Those two sisters were crying, bawling their eyes out."

Hiruma's jaw dropped. What was this guy implying? Stopping mid-sentence, what a jerk.

Following strange girls?

Making them cry?

What was going on?

Shinjuro's gaze turned cold, and he almost drew his sword. It seemed necessary to discipline this brat Hiruma on behalf of Senior Kuwajima.

To have such wicked intentions, how can this be acceptable?

Iguro Obanai casually returned to the table, watching the unfolding drama while eating. The Kocho sisters had indeed cried; he was telling the truth.

"Uncle, please let me explain… I mean, no… explain! It's very complicated…"

Hiruma had no way to express his misery. What was all this about? Iguro Obanai was really screwing him over.

How could Shinjuro not be suspicious? Hiruma didn't come home all night and then brought back two young girls. It was hard not to jump to conclusions.

"Brat, bullying girls, you're getting a beating first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a small figure blocked Hiruma's path. It was Shinobu Kocho.

Unlike typical shy and reserved girls, she was straightforward, expressing her thoughts and actions directly.

"Sir, Hiruma saved my sister and me, and he avenged us. He did nothing wrong!"

Unexpectedly, Rengoku Shinjuro placed his hands on his hips and burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

"I haven't even asked for clarification yet, why would I hit him? I was just joking!"

"Eat up, eat up!"

Kanae Kocho watched her sister with a smile, saying nothing more. Her sister had changed.

After breakfast, Shinjuro learned the full story. He expressed his sorrow for the Kocho sisters' ordeal and praised Hiruma and Iguro Obanai.

He would write a letter to Oyakata-sama, believing that Oyakata-sama would also sympathize with the Kocho sisters' situation.

Shinjuro's Kasugai Crow took the letter and departed from the Wisteria House. It flew over many towns and into a desolate mountain range.

The boundless forest resembled a green ocean, stretching as far as the eye could see.

When a gentle breeze swept through, the leaves rustled, like beautiful music played by nature, bringing a sense of peace and exhilaration.

Amidst the dense foliage, there was an extremely hidden complex of buildings, completely concealed by the mountains and trees, blending perfectly with the surroundings.

This was one of the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, a place even the Demon King Muzan would find difficult to locate.

The Kasugai Crow flew over numerous courtyards and finally landed in a secluded small yard.

The yard was laid out with a winding cobblestone path. On one side of the path was a shallow pond, and next to the pond stood a wooden pavilion.

Inside the pavilion sat a young man dressed in simple white attire.

The young man had a handsome face, was gentle and refined, with clear and bright eyes, like a brilliant star. At this moment, he was sitting quietly, holding a book and reading with complete concentration.

This person was the ninety-seventh head of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who was only fourteen years old.

At that time, the young Oyakata-sama had not yet been disfigured by the curse and was still the most dazzling presence in this forest.

"Oyakata-sama, Rengoku has a letter for you!"

The Kasugai Crow landed on the stone table, its loud voice shattering the peaceful atmosphere.

Oyakata-sama, far from being annoyed, gently rubbed the crow's head. He scattered a handful of rice grains, his gentle tone like warm sunlight in the dead of winter, making the crow's head feel light and its journey's fatigue instantly vanish.

"Taro, you've worked hard!"

He opened the letter and began to read. During this time, a deep sadness flashed in Oyakata-sama's eyes; he was grieving for the fate of the Kocho sisters.

A moment later, Ubuyashiki Kagaya let out a long sigh and said to Taro:

"Tell Shinjuro Rengoku that I agree. If the Kocho sisters wish, they can help out at the Demon Slayer Corps' medical house!"

"They will need their knowledge there!"

"Understood, Oyakata-sama!" Taro nodded and spread his wings to fly away.

After the Kasugai Crow departed, a mature, intelligent, white-haired older sister appeared beside Ubuyashiki Kagaya. She had pale purple eyes and exuded an ethereal aura, like a shrine maiden detached from the mundane world.

Ubuyashiki Amane, who hailed from a family of Shinto priests, had married Oyakata-sama a year ago. Though it was an arranged marriage, they treated each other with utmost respect.

Ubuyashiki Amane was four years older than Kagaya, and standing beside him, she seemed more like his elder sister.

"Kagaya, it's chilly outside. Let's go back inside!"

Amane thoughtfully draped a blanket over her husband, her voice filled with concern.

Kagaya took his wife's hand and smiled, saying, "It's alright. The sunlight outside is better. You should get some sun too."

"Then I'll stay with you!"

Amane moved a wooden chair to her side and quietly stayed with her husband.

"Amane, please get me some paper and a brush. I want to do some writing!"

"Okay!"

A moment later, she brought Xuan paper and an ink brush, grinding the ink beside him. The scent of ink spread, this was top-quality ink from Hiruma's hometown.

For the Ubuyashiki Family, this was not a difficult matter. They had been able to maintain an organization of several hundred people for over a hundred years, so their financial resources were naturally abundant.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya picked up the brush and wrote five large characters on the paper. It was a person's name.

Amane looked on curiously and read it aloud.

"Tendo Hiruma!"

"He's Kuwajima's disciple!" She had a deep impression of this name. In her correspondence with Kuwajima, he had mentioned him many times, and with immense pride.

For the strongest Hashira of the previous generation to praise someone, that person must be extraordinary.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya's lips curved into a calm, expectant smile as he said:

"Tendo has already killed three demons. He's only twelve years old and hasn't even participated in the Final Selection yet."

"I'm looking forward to meeting him!"