"All right, let's put the arguing on hold for now. First, hear me out."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki was not surprised by the scene. After all, no one knew the Wind Hashira's temperament better than he did.
Sure enough, the moment the Oyakata-sama of the Demon Slayer Corps spoke, the Wind Hashira released Ye Chen's collar and obediently fell silent, though the eagerness in his eyes barely changed.
Ye Chen could not be bothered to say anything more either and continued listening to the Oyakata-sama's address. He also wanted to know what else would change in the Demon Slayer Corps compared to the original story now that he was here.
"Ye Chen, you were responsible for what happened in the Wisteria Flower Sea, weren't you?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki was pleased to see the rowdy Wind Hashira and the other Hashira, who had been itching to act, quiet down at his words. He smiled and continued his questions.
"What exactly do you mean? If you're asking about all the demons in there dying, or about the wisteria leaves, then yes, that was me."
Ye Chen blinked. He might as well admit it. There was nothing worth hiding.
"So it really was you..." Kagaya Ubuyashiki was not surprised, since he had already suspected as much. Rather than press him further, however, he continued:
"Then, in my capacity as the Oyakata-sama of the Demon Slayer Corps, I would like to invite you to become our tenth Hashira. What do you think?"
His words startled all nine Hashira present. Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira, spoke up in confusion. "Master, we deeply respect your judgment, but having nine Hashira has always been a tradition of the Demon Slayer Corps. Even if he is to become a Hashira, he should do so as a Tsuguko."
"That's right, Oyakata-sama! Making a decision like this could cause discontent among the members below Hashira rank!" The Flame Hashira also stepped forward, expressing his objection to the proposal.
I have no objection to such an adorable boy becoming a Hashira, but I still think things should be taken one step at a time. Although the Love Hashira beside them said nothing, she kept exclaiming inwardly.
"Master, I am not questioning your decision, but making a newcomer we have only just met a Hashira, and creating a new Tenth Hashira for him at that, would change the structure of the Demon Slayer Corps. I do not believe that is appropriate." Holding a string of prayer beads, the Stone Hashira voiced his opinion as clear tears streamed down his face.
"I don't have any strong objections, but I still think this is too sudden." Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, shook her head, finding it difficult to understand. Making a newcomer they had only just met the tenth Hashira was certainly hard to accept.
After all, the Demon Slayer Corps had always appointed new Hashira through Tsuguko. Even Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, had first been observed by the Oyakata-sama, then brought to the Corps headquarters to train for over two months. Only after gaining sufficient strength had he become a new Hashira as a former Hashira's Tsuguko. What had this newcomer done to deserve becoming a Hashira the moment he entered headquarters?
At that point, the only ones who had not expressed an opinion were Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira; Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira; Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira; and Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira.
Giyu Tomioka had not objected because, on some subconscious level, he felt he had a connection with Ye Chen. Muichiro Tokito was still spacing out, while Sanemi Shinazugawa did not particularly care about such matters. Tengen Uzui had crossed paths with Ye Chen and witnessed his strength, so he had not voiced any opposition either.
"I know this may be difficult for you to accept, but I believe Ye Chen has the strength to earn your acceptance." The Oyakata-sama continued with a smile. "He once supplied a friend of mine with Muzan Kibutsuji's blood, along with a considerable amount of information about Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki. This allowed my friend's research to produce some results. That friend also informed me that, before joining our Demon Slayer Corps, Ye Chen had already killed Lower Rank Three and Lower Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki."
"Then, just a few days ago, this newcomer killed Upper Rank Six, when we have not killed an Upper Rank in a hundred years. Given those achievements, do you really think granting him the rank of Hashira is excessive?"
At Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, everyone fell silent.
The reason was simple: those accomplishments were truly remarkable. Even setting Upper Rank Six aside, killing two Lower Ranks was a major achievement. Although a Hashira could kill a Lower Rank alone, finding one was a rare opportunity!
Besides, Lower Ranks would flee the moment they saw a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, making them difficult to catch. This newcomer killing two Lower Ranks was already an extraordinary accomplishment. Killing an Upper Rank and providing Muzan's blood, along with information about them, amounted to an astonishing contribution. Even among all the Hashira present, only a handful had achievements that could compare.
"Well, I can vouch for that. This kid's strength really is something else. Killing Upper Rank Six would probably be difficult for me, at least, but he did it with ease. Once he activated his Breathing Style, he killed Upper Rank Six in under twenty seconds. Add the achievements the Oyakata-sama mentioned, and I certainly have no objection to giving him an extra Hashira seat."
Tengen Uzui stepped forward. If a kid this strong was not a Hashira, he would feel embarrassed to keep calling himself one.
"I have no objection either." Giyu Tomioka had little to say, merely expressing his approval. After all, he was doing so because Ye Chen had ties to his master and his fellow disciple, and had helped him take revenge.
"All right. If all of that is true, then I have no objection either. But whether he earns our acknowledgment remains to be seen."
Hearing that neither Tengen Uzui nor Giyu Tomioka objected, and taking the Oyakata-sama's words into account, Obanai Iguro found the idea somewhat easier to accept.
"If what the Oyakata-sama said is true, then killing so many demons must have helped a great many people! In that case, I have no objection!" The ever-cheerful Flame Hashira also changed his mind. He had only considered Ye Chen unqualified because he was a newcomer without sufficient accomplishments. Now that neither of those was a valid reason, he had no objection either.
"Ah, the information he provided must be able to save so many lives!" The Stone Hashira continued to weep as he held his prayer beads. Although he did not explicitly say so, his words made his position clear.
"Hmm... I've only just become a Hashira myself, and my circumstances were unusual too, so I don't really have any objections." Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, was still staring up at the sun with a vacant expression.
The other Hashira also voiced their lack of objections.
"Then it seems we are all in agreement. Ye Chen, are you willing to become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled at Ye Chen. He was fairly certain Ye Chen would not refuse. Everything he had done clearly pointed toward one goal: attracting the attention of the Demon Slayer Corps' leadership. He would therefore presumably not turn down becoming a Hashira.
"Of course. I couldn't be more willing."
Ye Chen smiled. He had indeed joined the Demon Slayer Corps to become a Hashira. Only as a Hashira would he have greater freedom than ordinary members and access to more intelligence. Most of that information could help him hunt demons, not to mention that he still had a system mission to complete.
"Then you are now the tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. Since you are not a Tsuguko, you have no established Hashira title. What would you like your title to be?"
"That's a good question..." Ye Chen thought for a moment and drew his Nichirin Blade. Its blade shimmered with waves of blue-white light.
"Since my Breathing Style is Netherworld Breathing, let's call me the Netherworld Hashira."
Before you continue