In this generation, an unprecedented tenth Hashira was born.
This marked the peak of the Demon Slayer Corps' strength—arguably the most powerful generation since the one that first created the Breathing Techniques.
If any generation could defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, it might truly be this one.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya announced the news of Takeo's promotion to Hashira, likely in an effort to boost morale throughout the Corps.
On the third day after Takeo slew the Twelve Kizuki and officially beca a Hashira, Kagaya personally summoned him.
This was a rite of passage for every newly appointed Hashira—upon their promotion, the leader of the Ubuyashiki family would speak with them in person, offering words of encouragent and welco.
It was the third ti Takeo had seen the Master. He stood quietly in the courtyard where Hashira etings were held, his gaze resting on the small stream flowing below.
Beside him was his wife, the ethereal woman who seed like a spirit of the forest. She gently supported Kagaya, whose body had long since begun to fail him.
When he noticed Takeo approaching, Kagaya turned his head and smiled softly.
"Takeo-kun, you've co."
"My Lord," Takeo said, bowing respectfully.
The Ubuyashiki family had founded the Demon Slayer Corps and continued to pour imnse resources into its survival. For that alone, they deserved Takeo's respect.
In addition, because the other party was his imdiate superior.
Kagaya nodded slightly at Takeo, then raised his head and looked up at the sky. There was no reflection of the sky in his dim eyes. His vision had grown increasingly blurred, and he could no longer see clearly.
But even so, he could still perceive the clear blue hue above.
"The weather is very nice today," Kagaya said softly.
His voice remained gentle, flowing through others' hearts like a warm current.
He was a truly charismatic man.
Takeo was once again reminded of this. This person had an undeniable persuasive power. In ancient tis, soone like him would have beco a king.
No wonder he was the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Takeo remained silent.
Ever since that experience, he found himself unable to laugh as freely as before, or speak to others as casually.
Takeo knew there might be so psychological issue with himself.
But he didn't care. As long as it didn't interfere with killing demons, nothing else mattered.
Seeing Takeo's silence, Kagaya continued gently:
"You did well this ti, Takeo-kun. But… please don't push yourself too hard. Over the next few days… you and Muichiro should rest until your Nichirin blades are reforged."
Kagaya gave Takeo a day off with just a few simple words.
Now that he had beco a Hashira, Takeo's dual Nichirin swords had to be reforged, mainly to engrave the words "Destroyer of Demons" on them.
These were the words that appear on a Hashira's blade, signifying their identity.
The sa applied to Muichiro. His sword had been sent back to the Swordsmith Village long ago, but Takeo's was only delivered today.
Without a sword, even as a Hashira, Takeo could only rest temporarily.
He bowed slightly to Kagaya again and was about to take his leave when Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke once more:
"Takeo-kun, the passing of your comrades is truly a sorrowful thing. But at the sa ti, I believe they would not want to see you lose your smile. Takeo-kun, believe in them. I'm sure… they've been watching over you all along."
"…"
After hearing Kagaya's words, Takeo lifted his gaze and looked at the man.
There was no color left in those eyes, long eroded by disease and scars. The leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was likely on the verge of losing his sight entirely.
Yet even so, Takeo could still feel the weight of his gaze.
He was looking at him with such gentle eyes, like a father watching over his own child.
What was incredible was that the words themselves were nothing more than a simple comfort, and Takeo had long since beco familiar with Kagaya's soft-spoken voice.
And yet… at that mont, Takeo truly felt the presence of Sakoma Iori and Yoshizuru Asato. It was as if their hands were gently resting on his back, silently encouraging him—pushing him forward.
Tears fell silently—rolling down Takeo's face, which had gradually grown numb and expressionless.
He felt as though he had beco weak.
But he didn't hate that feeling.
The haze clouding his heart seed to lift ever so slightly, and a faint light flickered once more in Takeo's red eyes.
This ti, as he looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya, there was a deeper respect in his gaze. He spoke softly:
"Thank you… my lord."
…
The conversation with the lord did not last long.
After it ended, a mber of the Kakushi, who had been waiting outside the door for so ti, stepped forward.
It was a woman, though her face was mostly obscured by a white cloth, and she wore a hat that shadowed her features. Only her eyes were visible, making it impossible to guess her age.
She had been waiting silently outside, and upon seeing Takeo exit, she bowed respectfully and said,
"Lord Kamado, please allow to escort you to the Swordsmith Village."
"Yeah," Takeo responded softly.
The Kakushi woman then took out a piece of cloth and a pair of earplugs, handing them to Takeo.
"Please put these on as well."
"Hm?"
Takeo looked at her, puzzled.
The girl explained, "Due to the special nature of the Swordsmith Village, anyone traveling there must have their vision and hearing blocked to prevent morizing the route… so—"
"I see."
Takeo picked up the cloth and earplugs, covering his eyes and blocking his ears.
Then the girl pulled out a few more items and said loudly to ensure he could still hear:
"Lord Kamado, since your sense of sll is also highly developed, please wear this as well!"
"..."
Takeo reached out and felt around—it was two smaller strips of cloth ant to plug his nose.
Silently, without comnt, Takeo stuffed the cloth into his nostrils.
Finally, the girl bent down, lifted Takeo onto her back, and sprinted off in a specific direction at incredible speed.
mbers of the Kakushi had also trained in Breathing Techniques, so their physical strength was far beyond that of ordinary people. Even while carrying Takeo, she moved swiftly and steadily.
Besides, Takeo wasn't very heavy.
He was only twelve years old and weighed just over fifty kilograms. To most Demon Slayer Corps mbers, he would hardly register as a burden.
The Swordsmith Village, due to its critical role, was the most heavily guarded and secretive location under the Corps' protection.
After all, the Corps' ability to slay demons depended entirely on the Nichirin swords forged there—so the village's security was paramount.
Therefore, no one knows the complete route to the Swordsmith Village. Even the mbers of the Kakushi responsible for guiding others only morize a portion of the path.
After escorting soone along their segnt, they hand the traveler off to the next guide who knows the next part.
Additionally, the individuals assigned to these routes are frequently rotated, and the paths themselves are regularly altered.
When replacents are made, the new guides are familiarized with their assigned section of the route under the direction of a Kasugai crow. The crows guiding the way are also rotated frequently.
This is how the Demon Slayer Corps ensures the Swordsmith Village's location remains a tightly guarded secret.
Similarly, the main residence of the Ubuyashiki family—where Ubuyashiki Kagaya resides—is protected using similar, if not more elaborate, thods.
Takeo understood the Corps' reasoning.
The Ubuyashiki estate served as the brain of the Demon Slayer Corps, while the Swordsmith Village was its heart. If either were compromised, the Corps would cease to function effectively.
So such extre caution was entirely justified.
After switching between more than a dozen guides and spending an entire day being carried on the backs of Kakushi mbers, Takeo finally arrived at the Swordsmith Village.
"This is the Swordsmith Village, Lord Kamado."
The last mber of the Kakushi in charge of escorting him gently set Takeo down, then removed the cloth from his eyes and the plugs from his ears and nostrils as she spoke.
Takeo glanced at the mbers of the Kakushi.
The one who had first led him was a woman, and the one who released him at the end was also a woman. During the changes in escort along the way, many of the replacents had been female as well.
Compared to the relatively low number of female Demon Slayers, the Kakushi seed to include far more won than one might expect.
If Iori had joined the Kakushi...
Before that thought could finish forming, Takeo cut it off completely.
He nodded politely to the Kakushi mber and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Takeo's simple words of appreciation left the Kakushi visibly moved.
"No, it's nothing! You're the one who's worked hard, Lord Kamado! Please take care of yourself, and keep supporting the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Seeing her excitent, Takeo recalled that most mbers of the Kakushi deeply admired the Hashira.
And it seed he was now the youngest Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps.
Well… Muichiro, too.
Seeing how excited she was, Takeo chose not to say anything more.
After calming down a bit, the Kakushi mber began explaining the layout of the Swordsmith Village to Takeo and described the position of the village chief. She also told him that if there was anything he didn't understand, he could ask the chief directly.
After saying this, she bowed once more and took her leave.
Once she was gone, Takeo turned and began walking toward the heart of the Swordsmith Village.
After only a few steps, a group of Demon Slayer Corps mbers responsible for guarding the area approached and gathered in front of him. One of them—a boy who looked quite young—stepped forward and saluted Takeo, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Lord Kamado! Allow us to guide you from here!"
"You…" Takeo looked at the boy. The open admiration in his eyes made Takeo a bit uncomfortable.
Oblivious to this, the boy responded loudly, "Shibata Ken! Class C Swordsman! Currently in charge of guarding the Swordsmith Village! It's an honor to et you, Lord Kamado—please guide us to glory!"
As he spoke, the young man bowed deeply to Takeo.
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