As a Swordsman, Having High-Speed Regeneration Was Perfectly Normal, Right?

"Next, we will discuss the Upper Rank demon You killed."

"That's the most important part, isn't it? You, just how strong are the Upper Ranks?"

Tengen Uzui looked at Lu You intently with his crimson eyes.

At the same time, everyone's gaze grew solemn and settled on Lu You. They were all very curious about just how an Upper Rank could be killed.

Lu You nodded, then held out his arm.

Splat! His right arm cleanly burst into a mist of blood. Everyone froze, then their expressions changed drastically.

"You!"

Horror filled Giyu Tomioka's face. He rushed over and gripped Lu You's upper arm tightly to stop the bleeding. Shinobu Kocho snapped out of her daze and became a purple blur, arriving beside Lu You.

A delicate fragrance lingered.

"Don't panic. I'm fine."

Reverse Cursed Technique activated immediately. In barely two seconds, a brand-new arm rapidly grew from the severed stump, exactly like the old one. Only his poor sleeve was gone.

"Is that... a demon's ability to heal?"

Shinobu Kocho whispered in shock.

"An Upper Rank regenerates at roughly this speed. They only need two seconds to regrow a severed limb."

Lu You explained seriously.

"Wait, wait, wait. You, the important thing now isn't what the Upper Ranks are like. It's why you can do that!"

Tengen Uzui held his forehead and asked, looking somewhat dazed.

Actually, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who was on the platform, knew about this. After all, the Kasugai Crows were all his sources of information.

But he would not take the initiative to probe the children's secrets, even if it would benefit the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Oh, that. Because I'm rather afraid of dying, I have High-Speed Regeneration. That's perfectly normal, right?"

At those words, the entire gathering fell silent.

Giyu Tomioka's eyes turned into little dots again as he stared in bewilderment at his junior fellow disciple.

Shinobu Kocho gave a helpless little chuckle.

"I see! I understand!"

Kyojuro Rengoku responded loudly, indicating that he had gotten the message.

"What do you understand? There's nothing right about that!"

Shinazugawa bared his teeth and continued somewhat irritably, "Be serious, damn it!"

"You, it must be a constitution similar to rare blood, correct?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki was still very understanding and found a reason for Lu You.

"Yes, Commander. An insightful observation.

"But my regeneration is more limited than a demon's. It consumes a considerable amount, so I can't use it many times in battle. The Upper Ranks are different, though. They can regenerate like this almost endlessly."

They could regrow a severed limb in two seconds, almost without limit? So unless their heads were cut off, wearing them down with numbers was probably impossible.

The Hashira pondered this.

"Secondly, I suspect the Upper Ranks possess unusual mechanisms. For example, the Upper Rank Six I killed consisted of two demons as one. Both demons had to be beheaded simultaneously to destroy them."

Two demons?

"It seems you endured a truly brutal battle. How admirable. Namu..."

Himejima turned his prayer beads, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes.

Everyone could almost dimly see the scene of three figures fighting to the death. Even if either side suffered grievous injuries or lost limbs, they would heal rapidly and continue their deadly struggle.

One person fighting an Upper Rank alone-it was tragic heroism taken to its extreme.

Even a hothead like Shinazugawa felt some respect well up inside him.

Uh, it wasn't quite that brutal.

Lu You looked at them, very much wanting to say that.

But with the atmosphere already like this, all he could do was stay silent. He couldn't exactly say he had found it easy.

What would that make all the Hashira who had died encountering Upper Ranks in the past?

"In terms of strength, an Upper Rank demon is very difficult for a single Hashira to kill. Based on what I can sense, only Mr. Himejima has the ability to deal with an Upper Rank demon alone.

"For everyone else, I recommend two or three people surround one Upper Rank. Only then can you destroy it without losing anyone."

Lu You continued his analysis. He was not simply copying the opinions from power-scaling chat groups in his previous life.

Rather, he was offering practical suggestions based on his current observations and his firsthand experience fighting Gyutaro.

"Namu Amida Butsu..."

The Stone Hashira murmured. Hearing these words, the others already believed Lu You's assessment in their hearts.

Because the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, was universally acknowledged to be strong!

A monster of a man!

"I see. So that's what the Upper Rank demons are like..."

Everyone talked noisily, discussing it for another little while.

Finally, Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at everyone gently, then said to Lu You:

"You, according to the Demon Slayer Corps' rules, anyone who kills a Lower Rank can become a Hashira-ranked swordsman.

"You are the only swordsman in a hundred years to kill an Upper Rank, so naturally, you qualify as well. Is there a title you would like?"

"Becoming a Hashira is not my wish, Master.

"Rank is certainly important, but I joined the Demon Slayer Corps to do just three things: hunt demons, hunt demons, and hunt demons.

"After becoming a Hashira, I might more easily attract the demons' attention, so I request permission to decline this proposal.

"Renown is of no use to me. Please let me become the sharpest blade in the shadows, aimed at Muzan Kibutsuji's heart."

Lu You smiled faintly. His voice was soft, yet his words rang with conviction, like a thunderclap.

"How noble!" Himejima's eyes brimmed with tears.

"You." Giyu sighed softly.

Back then, Giyu had invited Lu You to join the Demon Slayer Corps simply because he thought the other man was upright, kind, and exceptionally gifted, so he had tried inviting him.

But now, it seemed that his arrival had not been a coincidence arising from Giyu's choice, but an inevitability of fate. For those of utmost righteousness always reached the same destination by different paths.

"If that is your request, You, then forgive me for declining as well. This is the honor you deserve, and the goal every member of the Demon Slayer Corps aspires to.

"Those who are strong and compassionate shall be granted titles and distinction. That is the Ubuyashiki Family's promise.

"If even you cannot receive rewards and honor, then the children who come after you will feel disheartened and discouraged by it."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was moved by Lu You's words as well, but he did not relent, instead explaining patiently.

[Baseness is the passport of the base; nobility is the epitaph of the noble. Yet even in a murky world, some people can still shine brilliantly. Synchronization +1%!]

Lu You nodded and bowed slightly in respect.

"In that case, I accept."

Of course, he had carefully considered reasons for not wanting to become a Hashira. Although becoming one would indeed greatly improve his standing and renown.

But in practical terms? He already had everything he should have.

Having killed an Upper Rank, would Ubuyashiki leave him out of discussions on important matters in the future? That was impossible.

It was merely a matter of a title. Compared to that, he wanted to deal with Muzan sooner.

A demon hunter operating outside the Demon Slayer Corps-that had been his original idea. He could enjoy the Ubuyashiki Family's intelligence resources without being bogged down by trivial matters.

But now, he might as well accept it.

"By studying the five fundamental Breathing Styles, I developed the breathing style best suited to me, called Source Breathing. If a title is to be chosen, please use 'Source.'"

Holy shit, Source!

Although it did not sound all that great, the whole point was to keep it plain, unadorned, and free of any need to think.

And since he had Yuji Itadori as his template, if it had not sounded so awful, Lu You would have wanted to call himself the Fist Hashira outright.

Then, in Infinity Castle, he could trade punches with Akaza, both of them deploying their Cursed Techniques at the same time...

You deploy your Compass Needle, and I'll deploy my Malevolent Shrine. Yes, perfectly fair!

By this point in the meeting, the important matters were essentially finished. What remained was mostly individual reports: what each Hashira had been doing recently, whether they needed assistance, and so on.

Ubuyashiki stated that he would do everything he could to help.

During this time, Lu You also received permission to borrow books from the Ubuyashiki Family's collection, which contained many manuals on the five fundamental Breathing Styles and their derivative styles.

Over their long history, quite a few people had devised derivative Breathing Styles. In the end, they would all write them down and contribute them to the Demon Slayer Corps, and all these writings ultimately remained with the Ubuyashiki Family.

As the meeting neared its end, Lu You felt somewhat tired.

Three matters: reforming the Mount Fujikasane selection, sharing information on the Upper Ranks, and the birth of a new Hashira.

There clearly had not been much to do, yet it had left Lu You exhausted.

This was hardly any different from going to work in his previous life.

He still preferred simple, direct demon hunting.

"With that, the meeting is adjourned. May fortune favor you all in battle."

"We wish only for Oyakata-sama's good health, and for the flame of his life to burn forever."

Less than half a day after the meeting ended, news of the reforms began spreading rapidly through headquarters, reaching farther afield with the flight of the Kasugai Crows.

The birth of a new Hashira shook people's hearts as well.

After a hundred years, another Hashira-ranked swordsman with a solo Upper Rank kill to his name had appeared: the Source Hashira!

Unlike the jubilation in the Demon Slayer Corps, Infinity Castle was currently filled with an overwhelming oppressive presence.

"An Upper Rank demon has been killed!"

Abruptly summoned there, Upper Rank Three, Akaza, felt his pupils contract slightly.