"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work," Kazuki replied.
Despite receiving the news, there was not the slightest trace of joy in his heart.
He had already anticipated his promotion in rank. Kyojuro had previously explained to him the conditions for advancement within the Demon Slayer Corps—becoming a Hashira required either slaying fifty demons or killing one of the Twelve Kizuki. He now met those requirements exactly.
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all."
Hearing this, the Kakushi member waved his hands repeatedly, visibly excited.
I was actually shown concern by a Hashira!
The Kakushi couldn't help thinking excitedly.
After helping the Kakushi finish handling matters at the scene, Kazuki set off back toward the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
He still hadn't fully recovered emotionally. Deep down, he hoped to find someone to talk to.
Since it's a Hashira Meeting… Sensei should be returning to attend as well, right…?
Kazuki pondered as he hurried along.
A woman with long cherry-pink hair braided into thick plaits, the tips fading into grass-green, was the first to arrive.
The Love Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—Kanroji Mitsuri.
"I didn't expect to be the first one here," Mitsuri said, looking around and realizing that no other Hashira had arrived yet.
"Also, this Hashira Meeting is being held a bit earlier than usual, isn't it?"
The Hashira Meeting was typically held once every six months, requiring all Hashira to attend. Matters discussed included regions where demons had appeared, Kibutsuji Muzan's possible whereabouts and movements, as well as the overall discipline and balance of strength within the Demon Slayer Corps.
After a short while, Kocho Shinobu arrived as well.
Upon seeing Shinobu, Mitsuri beamed with joy, ran over, and hugged her.
"Mitsuri, you're here so early," Shinobu said with a smile.
As the only two female Hashira, the two shared a very close relationship.
"Well, my patrol area is pretty close to headquarters," Mitsuri replied cheerfully. Then she asked, "By the way, Shinobu, do you know why this Hashira Meeting was moved up? It was supposed to be later, wasn't it?"
Shinobu shook her head. "I'm not sure either. Maybe something important came up."
At that moment, a man with a white snake coiled around his neck, mismatched eyes—left green, right gold—and bandages wrapped around his mouth arrived as well.
The Serpent Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—Iguro Obanai, along with Kaburamaru.
"Oh, it's Iguro-san!" Mitsuri noticed the Serpent Hashira entering the courtyard. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she waved to greet him. "Iguro-san, have you been well lately?"
Iguro-san is just as handsome as ever!
Seeing Mitsuri, Obanai's mood immediately brightened. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he walked toward her. However, because of the bandages covering his face, neither Mitsuri nor Shinobu could see his expression.
"Pretty well. And you?"
He naturally came to stand beside Mitsuri, looking at her with gentle eyes as he spoke.
"I'm doing well too! I've been working really hard to protect people! A family I saved a few days ago even treated me to sakura mochi. I was worried my hair might turn an even stranger color, so I didn't dare eat too much—just fifty pieces before I said goodbye and left."
Mitsuri spoke proudly to Obanai, then glanced at her braids with a hint of sadness.
After eating one hundred and seventy sakura mochi every day for eight consecutive months, her hair had turned into its current colors. She had even been mocked for it during an arranged meeting.
"That's wonderful. But don't hold back like that in the future—eat as much as you want. Your hair color is beautiful. If anyone dares to mock you, I'll go teach them a harsh lesson myself," Obanai said after praising her.
"Iguro-san… you're really so kind!"
Moved by his words, Mitsuri suddenly hugged him tightly.
Caught completely off guard, Obanai froze. His usually supple body stiffened at once.
Kaburamaru, the snake around his neck, flicked its tongue with a soft hiss before turning its little head away.
Off to the side, the neglected Shinobu simply smiled and turned around.
Fortunately, Mitsuri released Obanai after a short while, not letting the situation linger too long.
Obanai let out a quiet sigh of relief—though at the same time, he felt a touch of regret.
The next to arrive was a black-haired young man with a stern expression, wearing a haori with mismatched patterns on each side over his Demon Slayer uniform.
The Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—Tomioka Giyu.
Upon seeing Giyu, Obanai immediately spoke in dissatisfaction.
"Tomioka, aren't you a bit too slow?"
Giyu merely glanced at him without saying a word, then walked to a spot some distance away and stopped.
When Mitsuri and Shinobu greeted him, he simply nodded in response.
"Heh… how arrogant…"
Giyu's behavior naturally ignited Obanai's anger, but constrained by Corps regulations, he did not act on it.
Meanwhile, Kazuki also arrived at headquarters. As soon as he reached the area, he ran into Kyojuro.
"Sensei!" Kazuki immediately ran over to him.
Kyojuro had already noticed him and spoke loudly, "I've heard the news! You slew Lower Rank Two—excellent work! From now on, you're a Hashira-level swordsman just like me! You don't need to call me your teacher anymore!"
Kyojuro looked at Kazuki with eyes full of pride. He had known that with Kazuki's talent, becoming a Hashira was only a matter of time—but achieving it in such a short span still surprised him.
After Kazuki's Kasugai Crow reported the slaying of a Lower Rank to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, and knowing that Kazuki was Kyojuro's adopted son, another Kasugai Crow had been dispatched to inform Kyojuro as well.
Hearing Kyojuro's words, Kazuki froze for a moment, then replied firmly, "No! You were the one who brought me into the Demon Slayer Corps and taught me everything you knew without holding anything back. No matter what, you will always be my teacher."
In his heart, Kyojuro had long since become the person he respected most.
After hearing this, Kyojuro smiled at him.
The two walked into the courtyard together, where Kazuki saw Obanai, Mitsuri, Giyu, and Shinobu, who had already arrived.
Among them, he only recognized Shinobu; he had yet to meet the others.
"Rengoku-san!" Mitsuri waved cheerfully when she saw Kyojuro.
Shinobu looked slightly surprised upon noticing Kazuki beside Kyojuro, quickly forming a guess in her mind.
That can't be… He joined the Corps less than a month ago and already…
The thought was almost unbelievable.
"Yes, everyone's here quite early!" Kyojuro responded, then introduced Kazuki. "She was once my tsuguko, and now she is the Love Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps—a truly kind and powerful person. Her name is Kanroji Mitsuri!"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/NightShard525