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In the Demon Slayer Corps, every Pillar is stationed in a specific region.
Their daily duties involve patrolling their assigned territories, always ready to support lower-ranking swordsmen or deal with powerful demons that others cannot defeat.
Thus, Tengen and Obanai soon bid farewell to Kaito and went their separate ways.
However, as they left, their dazed expressions suggested they had suffered some significant shock.
To this, Kaito could only remark that there was no helping it—the collapse and reconstruction of one's worldview was simply like that.
With a sigh, he settled alone in the deep mountains and began his research.
After completing the barrier, Kaito modified the seals previously placed on the two demons of Upper Rank Six.
Given how noisy Daki was, this time Kaito converted the full seal into one that only locked the souls of the two demons.
With the seals complete, the demons' bodies were freed, but their souls were isolated deep within, unable to control their bodies in the slightest.
The two demons were bound by their shared aura—as long as one remained, the other could not truly die, making them ideal test subjects for Kaito's experiments.
Thus, Kaito settled in the mountains. In his current state, he needed neither food nor sleep; a brief practice of his mental energy techniques was enough to restore his spirit. He devoted himself entirely to studying the demons.
Meanwhile, as the Kasugai Crows swiftly spread the news, everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps learned that a mysterious figure had recently joined them. In a short time, he had assisted the Pillars in defeating three Upper Rank demons.
This news greatly boosted the morale of the entire Demon Slayer Corps.
The Pillars, named for their elite status, knew even more details—including the specifics of the battles, Kaito's miraculous "reformation" of Upper Rank Three, and his peculiar remarks.
Recently, several Pillars had begun suspiciously glancing behind themselves.
Among the secretive Kakushi unit, rumors quietly spread: the Wind Pillar was seen constantly looking over his shoulder, the Flame Pillar suddenly turned and shouted "Mother," and the Water Pillar was heard muttering apologies, though the truth of these stories remained unclear.
Even Kagaya, one day, said to his wife Amane, "The ancestors of the Ubuyashiki clan and the fallen members of the Demon Slayer Corps must be watching over us. We must end Muzan in this generation."
He now held great confidence, believing Kaito's arrival was the result of divine destiny.
"Destiny is on our side."
This had become a phrase he often repeated.
Each time, Amane simply smiled at him, her eyes full of encouragement.
That day, a typhoon from the distant sea swept into the mountains, bringing torrential rain.
While Kaito was engrossed in his experiments, he heard a startled cry from above.
Flashing outside, he looked up to see a man dressed as a mountain villager falling from a cliff on one side of the valley.
"Really now, if he keeps falling like that, he'll crash into my roof," Kaito muttered.
He leaped into the air, grabbing the man's belt just before he hit the roof and bringing him safely to the ground.
"Thank you, thank you so much!" the villager immediately knelt and thanked him loudly.
"Come inside," Kaito said, glancing at the pouring rain before turning to head back into the hut.
"No need." The man gave a simple smile and stood up. "My wife is waiting for the medicine I gathered to save her life, so I won't disturb you, benefactor."
Only then did Kaito notice the handful of herbs the man clutched tightly.
Even as he fell from the cliff, the man had held onto the herbs.
"My name is Tokitou Ichirou. Benefactor, I'll come back to thank you properly!" the man said, waving as he ran down the mountain through the rain.
Kaito watched him leave the valley, then turned back to the hut.
To him, saving someone's life was a simple act, especially since this Tokitou Ichirou had fallen right onto his roof. That was all there was to it—he wouldn't meddle further.
However, the day after the storm subsided, the man returned to his doorstep with two children.
"What's this?" Kaito asked, opening the door to see the man unloading a basket of wild fruits from his back.
"Benefactor, thank you for saving my life. This is a small token of my gratitude," the man said with an embarrassed smile. "It's not much, but…"
Kaito glanced at the worn clothes of the father and his two sons, shaking his head. "No need. It was just a small effort. I can see your situation—take these back for your children to eat."
"These are my two sons, the older one, Tokitou Yuichirou, and the younger one, Tokitou Muichirou," Tokitou Ichirou said, pushing forward two boys who looked identical and were around ten years old. "They also want to thank you."
"Thank you for saving our father's life," the two boys said, kneeling immediately. "Please accept our gift."
Seeing the earnest looks in the children's eyes, Kaito sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll accept it."
He reached out to help the two boys to their feet.
"Great!!" The older brother, Yuichirou, remained composed, but the younger, Muichirou, immediately cheered.
Kaito looked at him and smiled.
"So, how is your wife's condition?" he asked Ichirou. "Yesterday, you seemed very anxious, risking a typhoon to gather herbs."
The smile on Ichirou's face dimmed, though he forced himself to say, "She's fine now, thank you for your concern."
"Let's go," Kaito said, stepping forward with a quiet sigh.
"What?" Ichirou looked confused.
"No matter what illness it is, let me take a look. I'm a physician of sorts, training here in the mountains. Since fate has brought us together, I can't just stand by and let someone die," Kaito said, tilting his chin. "Lead the way."
"This… this…" Ichirou rubbed his hands excitedly, clearly wanting to accept but too shy to agree outright.
"Go," Kaito said, patting Muichirou's head.
"You can't let children so young lose their mother."
At these words, the two boys stared intently at their father. Yuichirou's eyes were filled with stubborn determination, while Muichirou's pleading gaze brimmed with tears.
Seeing his children's expressions, Ichirou's eyes grew moist.
He bowed deeply and said loudly, "Then I'll trouble you, sir!"
Seeing their father agree, Yuichirou's stern face relaxed slightly, while Muichirou immediately broke into a joyful smile.
Kaito followed the father and sons to their impoverished home, where he saw Tokitou's bedridden wife, coughing incessantly.
Pneumonia.
With just one glance, Kaito understood her condition.