Chapter 346: Garp – Is It Too Much to Ask for a Granddaughter if Whitebeard's Taking a Son?
[Family Defense Battle: Victory!]
The remaining bio-ghosts were quickly cleared by the Demon Slayer swordsmen and players from other worlds.
A massive haul of firearms and mutant virus materials was gathered and stored together.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression was solemn.
The guns were manageable—for all their vastly superior power, rate of fire, and precision compared to current black-powder rifles,
a few hundred wouldn't cause mass unrest, especially in untrained hands where accuracy beyond ten meters was unlikely.
But the virus materials…
They were a major problem.
If mishandled, they could easily lead to the creation of monsters similar to the Red Ghosts.
After some thought, Kagaya finally said, "Shinobu, I'll leave these materials to you. Please ensure any research is conducted under safe conditions."
Most Demon Slayer swordsmen lacked the background for scientific research—they only knew how to fight demons.
Shinobu, with her wealth of knowledge, was the best choice.
Garp, having reined in his overwhelming aura, now looked like a kindly old navy man. He gently ruffled Shinobu's hair and said, "So, you're Shinobu's boss, huh? She's quite talented. I'd like her to join the Navy. Can I make her my granddaughter?"
Shinobu looked up in astonishment.
She hadn't expected Garp to say he wanted her to become part of the Navy.
She glanced at Master Kagaya, then back at the elder who had helped her.
"I'm very sorry, sir… but I must decline."
It was a golden opportunity.
Garp was one of the strongest players in the entire Reincarnation Game, backed by the even more powerful Navy Headquarters faction.
If she said yes,
she would gain access to superior resources, mentorship, and a limitless future.
But her hesitation lasted only a moment.
Shinobu chose to stay.
The Demon Slayer family had just been founded—they were still in desperate need of players.
If she left now, it would be a serious blow.
Kagaya had given everything to help the Demon Slayer Corps and its swordsmen.
She couldn't abandon him.
"And as for Kyojuro… I'd like to take him as a son too. That alright?"
Whitebeard shifted uncomfortably in the cramped room—his massive frame barely fit.
Even slight movement threatened to smash the ceiling.
He looked over at a man with the same striking hair color as Kyojuro—Rengoku Shinjuro.
Shinjuro waved a hand casually. "Fine. He can't learn anything from me anymore. If someone strong like you wants to teach him, I've got nothing to worry about."
The other Pillars exchanged complicated looks.
On one side was the family and Master who raised them.
On the other, invitations from stronger, more powerful factions. No one spoke.
No matter what decision was made, they had no right to judge.
The Reincarnation Game had turned everything upside down—
no longer just a world of demon hunters and Pillars.
This was a world where wishes could come true.
In such a reality, it was only natural for Pillars to accept recruitment.
Even if it was hard to watch, the outcome couldn't be changed.
Perhaps to save Shinobu and Kyojuro from further scrutiny from their peers,
Kagaya stepped forward without hesitation and said, "Shinobu, Kyojuro—don't rush to refuse."
"Though I am your master, I won't restrict the choices of any member of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"This organization was formed to hunt demons—nothing more. As long as you continue to do that, you haven't betrayed us."
"If one day, all demons are eradicated, then the Demon Slayer Corps will naturally have no reason to exist. There is no shame in that."
"Whether it's the Navy or Edward's pirate crew—if those paths help you realize your dreams, you should explore them. Step beyond this small Demon Slayer world."
His open-mindedness surprised even Whitebeard.
He had expected Kagaya to use guilt, pressure, or some moral obligation to keep Shinobu and Kyojuro close—
after all, the family was just formed, and they desperately needed loyal, talented players to carry it forward.
Most would never let them go.
But Kagaya…
Was this strength? Or kindness?
Even Whitebeard and Garp were moved.
Each of them had their reasons.
One saw a potential son, the other—perhaps a future admiral in the making.
With proper training, they'd surpass even Sengoku—that goat-loving fool.
Whitebeard spoke first. "Don't worry, Master of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"When a family reaches level 10, it can become an [Alliance]—and invite other families to join."
"The Crimson Legion is already level 9. In two months, we'll be a full Alliance."
"When that happens, I hope we can work with the Demon Slayer family."
An alliance meant one family leading a network of others.
They shared resources, territory, materials, even manpower—allowing lower-level families to grow rapidly, while enriching the higher-level ones.
They could coordinate attacks and expand their influence.
"Hmph!"
Garp scoffed. "Kagaya, our Navy Headquarters has already become an [Alliance]. We're the strongest faction in the Pirate World. Joining us would be way better than joining Whitebeard's crew."
"And when you're ready, I'll support you as the next Navy Fleet Admiral."
Originally, he had hoped for Aokiji.
But lately, that kid had been acting weird—philosophizing about peace and dabbling in pirate and revolutionary ideologies.
Garp couldn't understand it.
Kizaru, Akainu, and Smoker were strong—but none were suited to lead.
So when he saw Kagaya…
Well, the more he looked, the more he liked him.
He couldn't let Whitebeard steal this one.
"Uh…"
Kagaya smiled helplessly.
He'd thought they only wanted Kyojuro and Shinobu.
Now it sounded like they were trying to snatch up the whole family.
Still, they were being genuine.
And unless they were in a danger zone, players couldn't attack each other—so even if he refused, there'd be no repercussions.
After a moment's thought, he said,
"Forgive me. I don't know enough about your factions yet. May I have some time to think it over?"
It was a reasonable request.
Forming alliances would help with future defense battles.
A powerful backer could be a huge asset.
But if the alliance didn't suit the Demon Slayer family's values, it could do more harm than good.
"No problem!"
Garp grinned. "Ask around! Anywhere in the Pirate World or the Shinobi World—the Navy has a flawless reputation!"
He was proud. No way Whitebeard's crew had a better image.
Whitebeard, deadpan, muttered, "Lapdogs of the Celestial Dragons."
"Old man, we cut ties with the World Government ages ago. Don't talk nonsense."
"Once a dog, always a dog. Can't pretend you didn't eat crap just because you left the yard."
"It was a necessary evil! The world wasn't like this before the Reincarnation Game!"
"Still a dog. Mangy mutt, Garp."
Whitebeard pointed at Garp's pocket, where his dog-head cap was peeking out.
"You wanna fight, just say it!"
"Afraid of you? You loser!"
Whitebeard smugly showed off his four-piece [Dark Elf] armor set, full of provocation.
But Garp just smiled—
and finalized the contract.
A game window popped up for both of them:
[Contract complete. Based on terms, Player Garp is the winner!]
Whitebeard's eyes widened in shock.
He felt his reward points draining rapidly into Garp's account.
"What the hell?!"
He had held the frontlines.
He had summoned the Dark Elf King phantom. How could he not have earned more points?
Garp laughed, tousling Shinobu's hair again—messing up her recently rebraided style.
Ignoring her annoyed stare, he chuckled,
"Thanks to little Shinobu here, I triggered a hidden quest, killed a Titan-level variant equal to the Demon-Winged Dragon, and then helped you kill the boss."
"That's basically one and a half bosses. Of course I won."
"You sneaky old bastard!"
Whitebeard was furious.
If he hadn't been so confident, he would've pummeled Garp first and hunted the dragon alone.
Instead, a little overconfidence had cost him.
He turned to Kagaya and grumbled,
"See? This is what the Navy's full of—shady, two-faced crooks. Better to join my crew!"
"Bullshit! She clearly wants to join the Navy!"
"Wanna fight, dog-head Garp?!"
"Let's go!"
After adding the Demon Slayer family as friends, the two vanished—off to the PvP arena.
The chaos faded.
Kagaya laughed softly. "Not just Shinobu and Kyojuro. Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps is free. I may be your master, but I want you all to find your own future—so don't carry this burden."
This wasn't a political move—it came from the heart.
He didn't see himself as their superior.
He saw them as family. And who doesn't want the best for their family?
"Master Kagaya, at least until every demon is eradicated… the Demon Slayer Corps stands united."
Most Pillars were people of strong character.
And even within the family, they could still form bonds with otherworldly players.
"No need to worry," Kagaya continued. "Our family gets two game invitations every month. Once you become players, explore those worlds yourselves. Learn what they stand for. Then come back to me, and we'll choose the right alliance together."
"Yes, Master!"
Every Demon Slayer swordsman's heart pounded with excitement.
No one could stay calm in the face of a chance to become a player.
As families continued to spring up like mushrooms across the world,
Fang Yi—watching from Reincarnation Space—turned his gaze to the edge of the Land of Hot Water in the Shinobi World.
There, a newly founded family had taken root: [Cult of the Evil God]
After a moment of stunned silence, Fang Yi muttered in disbelief:
"Are these people insane? They're offering corrupted monsters to worship a dark god?!"
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