On the train.
Teiichi sat quietly by the window, his gaze drifting aimlessly out the window.
The scenery outside the window flashed by like a flowing painting.
Fields, mountains, villages, and cities appear in turn, gradually enlarging before quickly disappearing from sight.
Sunlight filters through the clouds, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the earth. Occasionally, birds flit past the window, bringing with them cheerful chirping. The river shimmers in the sunlight, reflecting the azure sky like a mirror.
However, no matter how beautiful the scenery was, it could not linger in Teiichi's eyes. His gaze gradually lost focus, as if he had fallen into deep thought.
The girl's delicate face seemed to appear before Teiichi's eyes.
Ultimately, is it just a difference in values...?
Furthermore, Kanae is 17 years old this year, so in the original work, she will meet Doma this year, right?
But what can I do?
Should we tell her not to go on the mission?
What reason could they give for not letting her carry out missions? Besides, the Demon Slayer Corps doesn't have a lot of Hashira Rank fighters to begin with; how could they let a Pillar remain idle indefinitely?
If I tell her she'll encounter Doma on her mission, will she die?
Regardless of how she found out, even if she knew the situation, she would definitely still insist on going. If she didn't go, someone else would, and with her gentle nature, how could she allow someone else to die in her place?
Damn it, the author didn't even bother to be clear when drawing it. They just wrote a story, but didn't include any place names, dates, or anything like that. How am I supposed to fix this?
A dead end...?
Sigh~
After a long while, Dingyi, unable to come Teiichi a solution, couldn't help but sigh.
"What's wrong, Lord Wind Hashira?"
Hearing his sigh, Ichiro Tanaka, who was sitting next to him, immediately asked with concern.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about some things."
Teiichi regaining his composure, he shook his head and then asked,
How much longer until we arrive?
"This place is quite far from Kyushu Island. Headquarters has assigned you a base in Kumamoto City, which will take about a day."
" Kumamoto? Kumamoto Bear?"
Upon hearing the familiar place name, Teiichi immediately perked up.
"It's Kumamoto, but what is Kumamoto Bear you're talking about? Is it the bear from Kumamoto City?"
"No, I was just saying. Tell me about the situation in Kumamoto City!"
Ichiro Tanaka was a little puzzled, but he didn't pursue the matter and began to introduce the situation in Kumamoto City.
" Kumamoto City was originally one of the largest cities in Kyushu Island. However, about two or three decades ago, the government carried out reforms, and some samurai families in Kyushu Island rebelled. It was quite a big rebellion, but they ultimately lost."
Although they lost, Kumamoto City suffered considerable damage due to the war. However, its advantageous location allowed it to gradually develop afterward.
Furthermore, Kumamoto City is located in the central part of Kyushu Island, which is why your base is located there. This way, if any demons appear Kyushu Island, you can provide support more quickly.
Upon hearing that Japan's reforms had even led to a rebellion, Teiichi became slightly interested and pressed for more details.
"Reform? Is it the Meiji Restoration?"
"Yes, that's right, that's what it's called!"
"How long did the fight last?"
Upon hearing Teiichi's question, Ichiro Tanaka frowned, raised his right hand to scratch his head, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes, as if he were going through the limited knowledge he had in his mind.
Why does Lord Wind Hashira like these things?
After thinking for a while, seemingly unable to find a specific answer, he hesitated and said...
"It seems like it's been going on for more than half a year."
"It's been going on for more than half a year..." Teiichi repeated, then continued, "How many people died on both sides?"
"I remember that; more than ten thousand people died on each side."
Only a little over 10,000... After all, it's still a small country with a small population. In half a year of fighting, only about 20,000 people died.
Having lost interest, Teiichi turned back to look out the window.
"Lord Wind Hashira."
Teiichi turned to look at Ichiro Tanaka and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Tell me, did more people die in this war, or were more casualties caused by ghosts?"
"Hiss~"
Upon hearing this question, Teiichi immediately gasped and couldn't help but scrutinize Ichiro Tanaka closely.
To even ask this question shows some level of awareness!
After thinking for a while, Teiichi slowly said, "If we extend the timeline back to the moment the demon was born, then the demons would definitely have caused more casualties."
"What about the last hundred years?"
"If we consider the last hundred years, then the casualties from both are probably roughly the same."
After saying that, Teiichi glanced at Ichiro Tanaka, smiled, and asked:
What? You hate war?
Ichiro Tanaka nodded with a heavy expression.
Seeing Ichiro Tanaka nod, Teiichi turned to look out the window.
"If a government invades other countries and kills many people, but brings many benefits to its citizens and improves their lives, would you support that government?"
After hearing Teiichi's words, Ichiro Tanaka lowered his head and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:
"No, I will condemn them. What difference is there between them and demons!"
Ichiro Tanaka's firm voice came from beside my ear.
Looking at the scenery rushing past the window, Teiichi smiled.
The following afternoon.
"Clang, clang--"
The train slowly pulled into the station in Kumamoto City, Teiichi and Ichiro Tanaka disembarked with the flow of people.
Led by Ichiro Tanaka, the two headed towards their base on the outskirts of Kumamoto City, a journey that took another hour or two.
Finally, after climbing a small hill, a building came into view. The building was located at the foot of the hill and covered an area of about a thousand square meters. The exterior adopted the traditional Japan architectural style, with neatly tiled roofs and exquisitely carved patterns on the walls.
The two followed the hillside to the building's entrance, finally arriving at their base. A smile involuntarily appeared on Teiichi's lips. Then, as if remembering something, Teiichi turned to Ichiro Tanaka and asked.
"Will I be living here alone from now on?"
Upon hearing Teiichi's question, Ichiro Tanaka replied:
"Yes, because you are a Pillar, any problems in Kumamoto City will be handled directly by you. Therefore, under normal circumstances, no other Demon Slayer Corps members will come here to carry out missions."
Upon hearing Ichiro Tanaka say that he lived alone in such a large house, Teiichi frowned and glanced around the house, but there were no other houses nearby.
"Isn't this too empty? We'll be exhausted from cleaning afterwards."
Tanaka Ichiro, who had thought Teiichi was dissatisfied with the house and was planning to let him stay for Teiichi couple of days while he contacted the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters to see if they could change houses, immediately realized what Ichiro Tanaka meant when he heard Teiichi say that.
His gaze swept over Teiichi, and he said:
"It does seem a bit like that."
The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima a monk and longs for peace and quiet; the Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, is currently heartless and doesn't care about love; the Sound Hashira has three wives, and who knows what shameless things he does in his quarters every day; the Flame Hashira comes from a family of Demon Slayer; and the Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho, lives in the Butterfly Mansion, where she is often seen by strangers.
Ichiro Tanaka looked at the Wind Hashira before him, hesitated for a moment, and said:
"How about I report to headquarters and ask them to give you a smaller one?"
"Okay, this will do. Thank you for your help this time."
"Okay, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now!"
Teiichi nodded, watched Ichiro Tanaka's figure gradually disappear into the distance, and then turned to face the gate of the mansion.
Sigh, being alone is fine.
It's better to have some peace and quiet, so no one will disturb my meditation.
Then he stepped into the house.