But Kagaya was indeed Kagaya. This hot potato didn't stump him.
After hearing everyone's proposal, he only thought for a moment before saying with a smile: "I understand everyone's eagerness to improve their strength. Whether by age or seniority, surely some would be dissatisfied. Since that's the case, let's use the fairest method."
Right. The method he came up with was drawing lots.
Everyone was convinced.
By the way, the final result of the competition—as expected, Tengen won the championship.
The rest either had no interest in competing for victory or were absorbed in studying combat techniques.
Second place was actually Ritsuka.
She proudly pulled out an extra badge from her chest. Though everyone knew how she got it... But didn't want to quibble with a little girl. No one raised objections.
But I still wanted to tell Gyomei—spoiling disciples isn't done this way. Look at her smug expression.
Of course, cheating had its price. When drawing lots, Ritsuka drew last place.
She held her lot with a face full of bad luck. Sabito beside her unceremoniously delivered a mocking laugh.
Then their friendship shattered again. Quarreled on the spot.
These two—when there's no external enemy, they unite to fight internally, right?
Giyuu usually looked out of it. This time had the best luck and drew number one.
His expression was full of disbelief. Looked left, looked right.
Discovered he really drew a good lot. Only then showed some happiness. Joyfully put the lot away.
They all had their own missions. Couldn't come to me for special training... So finally decided I'd go to their territories to accompany patrols. Switch to the next person every month.
The advantage of guiding Pillars was not needing to start from basics. They already had mature combat techniques. Just had some confusion seeking further breakthroughs.
For example, Giyuu told me he was planning to figure out a new Water Breathing technique. But the practical effect wasn't very good yet.
He found a demon. Demonstrated for me. I made adjustments based on his breathing habits and Water Breathing characteristics.
A month later when I prepared to leave, his seventh form technique was approaching completion.
Giyuu was so happy he directly wrote to Ritsuka and Sabito. I glanced at it. Felt his inarticulate description especially resembled provocation.
But no one scolded him in reply. Sabito praised a few words. Said to show him next time they met.
Ritsuka said she was also researching new techniques. Could try coordinating with him in battle.
Couldn't tell—you two usually bully him so much. When writing letters, you act all proper.
Right after Giyuu was Sabito. Seeing me, he smiled: "How's Giyuu? Heard his new technique is quite impressive."
Indeed quite good. Also full of novelty.
I briefly told Sabito about the new technique's characteristics. He also seemed relieved. Said to me: "Now he should finally feel at ease being the Water Hashira."
Hm? You guys have some little secret I don't know about?
Sabito didn't hide it. Said frankly: "It's still Giyuu. Because he passed the Final Selection without personally killing a demon back then, he's always brooded over this."
"That guy keeps saying this Water Hashira position should be mine." Sabito was somewhat helpless. "If I weren't holding him back, he'd go petition the Master."
"Giyuu is indeed more suitable than you." I said. "Even if you became a Pillar, the title shouldn't be Water Hashira."
Though temperament couldn't decide everything, Sabito, whose personality was completely different from Giyuu's, wasn't very suitable for traditional Water Breathing.
And he also adjusted his own Breathing Style. Long ago extended a new Breathing Style from Water Breathing.
I remembered Sabito named his Breathing Style "Mist."
"That's what I said too. But who told that Giyuu guy not to listen to advice?" Sabito muttered. Complained a few words before changing the subject.
His concerns were different from Giyuu's. Wanted to find the trick to activating the Demon Slayer Mark.
"I thought and thought. Also asked that Ritsuka girl. As expected, life-or-death battles more easily trigger the Mark, right?"
Sabito said: "The other Pillars' strength isn't far from mine. Once going all out, worried about being unable to hold back. So still asking Miss Chihaya for help."
After all that talk, he just wanted me to beat him up.
This I'm familiar with! I patted my chest and said I'd definitely beat him with all my strength.
Sabito's expression became strange again. Muttered: "No need to be that harsh..."
To give him a better experience, I decided to ambush him.
Anyway, during this month, Sabito never rested well. Had to constantly be alert for me charging out from some bizarre tricky angle to give him a slash.
Finally, Sabito with dark circles under his eyes said he felt he'd grasped the trick. Didn't need me to spur him on anymore. Sincerely sent me off.
I was a bit regretful. Felt I hadn't played enough. But he refused to keep me no matter what.
Sigh. Had to find the next person.
Kanae was squeezed to third place by those two Water Breathing guys. But wasn't unhappy.
I met her as usual at the Butterfly Estate. Besides Shinobu, I saw Kanao who'd grown quite a bit.
Though she still didn't like talking, when seeing people, her face could naturally show a smile.
The Butterfly Estate's atmosphere was as always warm and harmonious. But Kanae dragging me to research newly designed poison formulas wasn't warm at all!
My eyes glazed over. Gaze dazed, wandering everywhere. Tried to find someone to translate the professional data from her mouth into words I could understand.
Kanae and Shinobu got excited talking. After chatting, only then noticed I was spacing out. Smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, forgot you don't like hearing these things."
Really wanted to drag Giyuu over. Make him learn the art of speaking.
Anyway, considering I didn't understand professional terminology, Kanae said simply and clearly—since I mentioned wisteria was highly toxic to demons because of Muzan's allergy.
So they found some allergy cases. Used other medicines combined with wisteria to strengthen toxicity.
"Little Shinobu said if we added your blood, the effect might be even better. So planning to try it."
Haven't seen Shinobu for a while. She still had that stern-faced appearance. But was much more polite to me.
After discussing this matter, Kanae prepared to go out on patrol... Because I was accompanying her, left Shinobu at the Butterfly Estate to focus on her research.
Shinobu looked somewhat worried: "Sister, really don't need me to come along?"
"Of course. Miss Chihaya is here. At most a month and we'll be back."
Kanae looked gentle. Once she made a decision, she wouldn't change it.
But she also smiled at me: "Seems I'm still not reliable enough. That's why Little Shinobu worries about me so much."
Shinobu worrying about her was normal. That child secretly wrote me letters. So I asked directly: "Now do you still insist demons and humans can also get along well?"
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