DS Chapter 81: Voice Actor Mastery! The Demon Slayer Corps Leader's Speech!
"The match is about to begin!"
In front of the Ubuyashiki Residence, a temporary stage had been erected for the long-awaited duel. The flamboyant Sound Pillar, Tengen Uzui, stood at its center, serving as the host.
Dressed as extravagantly as ever, he spread his arms and shouted, "One of today's combatants is the Wind Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, Sanemi Shinazugawa!"
"He is the Wind Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. Although he isn't exactly flashy, he has a face frightening enough to make children burst into tears!"
"On the other side is the Butterfly Mansion's miracle doctor, the man responsible for the Demon Slayer Corps' medical affairs—Katsuragi Ren!"
"He is a physician who saves lives and heals the wounded. Not only is he exceptionally handsome, but rumor has it that his combat ability is equally outstanding!"
"The match will begin in ten minutes! First, our Master will deliver a speech. After that, everyone, enjoy this battle... flamboyantly!"
Following Uzui's passionate introduction, the Demon Slayer Corps members, the Kakushi, and even the swordsmiths who had traveled from Swordsmith Village erupted into cheers.
"It's finally starting! A legendary Pillar-level duel!"
"What Pillar-level duel? The Wind Pillar is already a Pillar! I heard Ren has only been training for fifteen days!"
"You're kidding! He dares challenge the Wind Pillar after only fifteen days? Who gave him that kind of confidence? Lord Sanemi?"
"I heard Lord Ren trained under the Insect Pillar at the Butterfly Mansion. You could say he's the Insect Pillar's successor."
"But why isn't the Insect Pillar here? Is she worried Ren will lose, so she's too embarrassed to show up?"
The crowd buzzed with excitement, every conversation centered on today's match.
Still, the overwhelming majority believed Ren had no chance of defeating the Wind Pillar. To them, today's battle wasn't about victory—it was simply a test to see whether he could earn Sanemi Shinazugawa's acknowledgment.
"Look! The Master is coming!"
At those words, everyone's attention shifted toward the veranda of the residence.
An elegant woman slowly emerged, supporting a graceful man as they walked together.
Most of the man's face had already been consumed by ulcerated scars, and his limbs moved stiffly. Every step required his wife's support. Yet despite his frail appearance, his eyes remained clear, calm, and gentle. His warm smile carried an indescribable dignity that naturally inspired respect.
This was the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps—
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Supporting him was his wife, Amane Ubuyashiki, daughter of a respected Shinto priest family.
The couple slowly approached the assembled crowd.
Kagaya lifted his head and spoke with his usual gentle smile.
"My dear children... you've all come."
"Master!"
"Welcome, Master!"
"We greet you, Master!"
Everyone present immediately knelt.
Swordsmiths.
Kakushi.
Demon Slayer Corps members.
Even every single Pillar.
Without exception, all of them lowered themselves respectfully.
Their eyes shone with admiration, their hearts filled with unwavering faith. Though everyone pursued different goals, they all respected the same person.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Within the Demon Slayer Corps, his authority was absolute.
"He really is... a legendary figure."
Standing among the crowd, Katsuragi Ren looked up alongside Kanao.
As a doctor skilled in observation, diagnosis, and pulse reading, Ren could immediately tell that Kagaya's condition had deteriorated significantly.
His thoughts drifted back to their previous meeting.
At that time, Kagaya's illness hadn't progressed this far. His two daughters alone had been enough to assist him.
Now, however, the ulcerated scars had spread much farther across his face. Just one glance was enough to tell that the curse tormented him every waking moment.
His daughters alone could no longer support his weight.
The fact that Lady Amane herself had to accompany him was proof enough.
Ren instinctively analyzed Kagaya's condition as though it were his own.
The conclusion left him troubled.
This illness was far worse than he had imagined.
It wasn't merely a disease—it was the curse left behind by the Demon King, Muzan. Ordinary medical knowledge alone could never cure the Ubuyashiki family's condition.
Even Ren wasn't confident.
If he had encountered Kagaya earlier, perhaps he could have attempted something.
But now...
Not yet.
His knowledge still wasn't deep enough.
Meanwhile, Kagaya began his speech.
He spoke about the future of the Demon Slayer Corps and addressed several current matters.
Every Corps member listened with complete concentration.
Ren also focused intently, unwilling to miss a single word.
For some reason, Kagaya's voice possessed an extraordinary charm.
Ren frowned slightly.
This wasn't the logical persuasion of a practiced speaker, nor was it empty emotional manipulation.
Instead, every sentence seemed to resonate directly within the listener's heart.
There was an almost magical quality hidden within his voice.
As Ren listened, his thoughts became unusually clear, and he found himself instinctively agreeing with everything Kagaya said.
Before he realized it...
He had entered a state of enlightenment.
[You are listening to a sermon. You have entered a state of enlightenment.]
[Your extraordinary listening ability has fully activated. You begin analyzing the 'magic' hidden within the speaker's voice. As someone who believes in science, you attempt to uncover the secret behind the Ubuyashiki family's speech.]
[You try.]
[You fail.]
[You try again.]
[You fail again.]
[But you gain experience.]
[Bullet Domain fully activated.]
[Your level of thought deepens.]
[You begin deducing.]
[You begin imitating the other party's voice.]
[You begin imitating the movement of the other party's Adam's apple.]
[You begin imitating the expansion and contraction of the other party's lungs.]
[You mentally vibrate your Adam's apple ten thousand times. Your lungs repeat the motion ten thousand times. You discover several patterns, yet you still cannot reproduce the same effect.]
[Conclusion reached.]
[This ability is partly innate. You cannot perfectly replicate it.]
[You refuse to accept that conclusion.]
[You continue observing.]
[Enlightenment achieved!]
[You have comprehended: Voice Actor Mastery!]
[You have comprehended: Ventriloquism Mastery!]
Ren slowly opened his eyes.
A solemn expression crossed his face.
This was the first time he had encountered a skill that he couldn't completely learn simply through observation.
Beside him, Kanao looked at him anxiously.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with concern.
Ren had suddenly started muttering to himself while listening to the Master's speech.
Even stranger, his voice kept changing.
For a moment, Kanao genuinely wondered whether something had gone wrong with him.
Soon, Ren noticed her worried gaze.
He coughed lightly before speaking in his normal voice once more.
"I'm fine."
Not long afterward, Kagaya's speech concluded.
Ren quietly led Kanao back to the preparation room.
Once they entered, Kanao finally couldn't hold back her concern.
"Ren... are you really alright? Just now... I think I heard you speaking in a girl's voice."
Ren smiled helplessly.
"What could possibly be wrong with me? You probably just misheard, Kanao."
"...Oh."
Kanao nodded obediently.
Even so, the doubt in her eyes never completely disappeared.
For some reason...
She couldn't shake the feeling that Ren was becoming more and more like her sister, Kanae.