Sailing at Sea: The Breath of the Day at the Start

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"That's right. Those are powerful Pillars, the nine strongest swordsmen even in our Demon Slayer Corps. How could there be a human who could easily defeat those adults? Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible."

"..."

"Could it be... really?"

The swordsman, known as Yamada, nodded.

The two men's expressions immediately froze.

"Who the hell is that guy?"

"I don't know, I just heard that she came with Lady Shinobu Kocho, and it seems that she was a guest personally invited by the Lord."

…………

As the news spread within the Demon Slayer Corps...

Inside the quiet and elegant residence of Ubuyashiki.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, dressed in a white kimono, was sitting on a mat on the wooden floor.

About five meters directly in front of Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Ron, holding a silver sake gourd, sat casually on a cushion.

The Stone Pillar - Gyomei Himejima, the Wind Pillar - Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Love Pillar - Mitsuri Kanroji, the Sound Pillar - Tengen Uzui, the Serpent Pillar - Obanai Iguro, the Mist Pillar - Muichiro Tokito, the Flame Pillar - Kyojuro Rengoku, and the Insect Pillar - Shinobu Kocho. The eight Pillars, excluding the Water Pillar Giyu Tomioka, are sitting side by side to the right of Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

The Stone Pillar - Gyomei Himejima - is close to Kagaya Ubuyashiki, while Shinobu Kocho is close to Roon.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, whose upper face was covered with scars, faced forward with a gentle expression and said, "Mr. Roon, after hearing about you in Shinobu's letter, I wanted to meet you. I was really happy to hear that you wanted to visit the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters."

"By the way, I also have to thank you for saving Yanagida, Shuichi, and Aito in that small town. If you hadn't intervened, Mr. Ron, none of the three of them would have made it back alive from a suddenly evolved supernatural being."

"I had my own reasons for that; I didn't save them unconditionally."

Ron said lazily.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and said, "Life is a very precious thing. No matter what your purpose was in saving them from the demons, Mr. Ron, I think it is worthy of thanks and gratitude."

Ron glanced at him, took a sip of his drink, and said nothing more.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki continued, "Mr. Ron, we heard that you discovered traces of Muzan Kibutsuji in Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture, and were attacked by demons he sent? Could you tell us the details?"

The words are astonishing.

The Rock Pillar and the others immediately turned their attention to Ron.

"You saw Muzan Kibutsuji?!"

"Have you located its lair? Have you engaged in combat with it?"

Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro immediately pressed for more information.

Compared to the news about Muzan Kibutsuji, the previous conflicts were nothing.

Under everyone's gaze, Ron took a sip of his drink and said casually, "I didn't encounter Muzan Kibutsuji, nor did I fight him. However, a boy from your Demon Slayer Corps named Tanjiro Kamado did spot him and even had a brief encounter with him."

"Kamado Tanjiro?"

Upon hearing this, the Wind Pillar, the Serpent Pillar, and several other pillars were taken aback.

Shinobu Kocho said, "He is one of the five swordsmen who were just selected for the Demon Slayer Corps this year."

"A swordsman who just passed the selection? That guy actually found the whereabouts of Kibutsuji Muzan, whom even we Pillars couldn't find?"

The group was greatly astonished.

Uzui Tengen couldn't help but exclaim, "He encountered Kibutsuji... and he actually survived? Is that kid really that strong?"

"They did not fight."

Shinobu Kocho said, "Muzan Kibutsuji disguised himself as a human and mingled among humans, probably to hide his whereabouts, which is why he didn't attack him."

Kyojuro Rengoku exclaimed excitedly, "So... it's still in Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture?!"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki shook his head: "He's probably gone. With that guy's extremely cautious personality, once he's exposed, he'll definitely find another place to hide."

Shinazugawa Sanemi and the others immediately showed disappointment.

"Damn it! We finally got a clue... and it's about to slip away again!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa slammed his fist into the floor, his eyes becoming bloodshot.

"With the Demon Slayer Corps' current strength, even if you find it, you might not be able to kill it."

Ron calmly looked at the eight pillars and Kagaya Ubuyashiki in front of him and said, "Perhaps... we might be completely wiped out by it and its twelve demon moons."

21. Discussion

"What did you say..."

Upon hearing this, the hot-tempered Sanemi Shinazugawa was about to fly into a rage.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice rang in his ear: "Sanemi, calm down."

Shinazugawa Sanemi glanced at Ubuyashiki Kagaya, recalling the scene where Ubuyashiki Kagaya bowed to Ron to apologize for him earlier. He couldn't help but clench his fists, suppressing the irritation in his heart, and lowered his head.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at Ron: "Mr. Ron, do you know anything about Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Demon Moons? Could you tell us about it?"

The rest of the people all looked at Ron.

Ron took a leisurely sip of his drink: "You really want to find and kill Muzan Kibutsuji, don't you?"

"Of course!"

Rengoku Kyojuro declared boldly, "I'd be willing to risk my life!"

Ron glanced at him: "Is it you who's willing to risk your life, or the entire Demon Slayer Corps?"

Obanai Iguro said in a deep voice, "Of course, it's all of them. The Demon Slayer Corps was formed to kill Muzan Kibutsuji!"

Ron's gaze swept over all the Pillars, even the Love Pillar, Mitsuri Kanroji, looked completely at ease, as if she had already prepared herself for it.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke softly, "Life is incredibly precious to everyone. If possible, I hope that all members of the Demon Slayer Corps can survive, but... Muzan Kibutsuji is clearly not an enemy that can be easily eliminated. If the Demon Slayer Corps doesn't have the resolve to die, who knows how many innocent people will lose their lives to Muzan Kibutsuji in the future..."

"What you say is true, my lord!"

With a confident and cheerful smile on his face, Rengoku Kyojuro said, "To fight demons, you must be prepared to die! Compared to the countless innocent lives that may die at the hands of Kibutsuji Muzan in the future, our lives are nothing!"

Ron nodded: "Is that so... Since you're all prepared to die, then I'll teach you how to kill Muzan Kibutsuji."

Everyone's expressions brightened.

Everyone, even Sanemi Shinazugawa, was intently watching Ron.

"To lure out Muzan Kibutsuji, we must first know what he desires and what he fears."

Ron's words surprised everyone.

"What does Muzan Kibutsuji crave and fear?"

Kanroji Mitsuri tilted her head, her cute round face full of confusion.

"Does Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, really have anything he's afraid of?"

“Of course,” Ron chuckled. “Otherwise, why do you think Muzan Kibutsuji has remained hidden in the shadows for centuries, never daring to show himself to the Demon Slayer Corps?”

Shinobu Kocho seemed to have thought of something: "Could it be... because of that swordsman?"

"Swordsman?"

The pillars looked puzzled.

Shinobu Kocho explained, "It seems that four hundred years ago, a swordsman named Yoriichi Tsugikuni created a breathing technique and once single-handedly cornered Muzan Kibutsuji. It was probably that encounter that instilled in Muzan Kibutsuji a fear of death."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked surprised.

Sanemi Shinazugawa's eyes widened slightly: "He created a breathing technique and single-handedly cornered Muzan Kibutsuji... This..."

He found it hard to imagine what kind of talent and ability it would take to achieve this.

Kyojuro Rengoku looked thoughtful: "I feel like I've heard about this somewhere before..."

Obanai Iguro looked at Ron: "If that's the case, then what Muzan Kibutsuji fears is death. What does he crave?"

Ron laughed and said, "It is now a creature that is infinitely close to perfection, but it is still possible to die. It is not perfect enough. What it desires to pursue is to become an immortal creature that is no longer afraid of the sun."

"For this reason, it has spent hundreds of years searching for one thing, a medicinal ingredient called the Blue Spider Lily."

"Blue Spider Lily..."

Shinobu Kocho muttered to herself.

Despite her expertise in poisons and medicines, she had never heard of this particular herb.

What would happen if he found it?

Sanemi Shinazugawa couldn't help but ask.

"It will then complete its final evolution, no longer fear the sun, and become a truly perfect creature."

Everyone was shocked when they heard Ron's words.

I never imagined that Muzan Kibutsuji had been pursuing evolution all these years. If he actually succeeds... then everything will be over.

"Kibutsuji Muzan hasn't appeared in front of us yet, which means we haven't found him yet, and we still have time."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke softly, his voice calming the others down slightly.