"Shock, excessive grief, illness taking hold…"
Qingshui frowned slightly.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's condition was quite complex, even harder to treat than Nora's neurological disorder.
It wasn't merely an illness; it seemed more like a preordained curse.
Medical Ninjutsu could restore his body, but it couldn't offer a complete cure. Even a top Medical Ninja who mastered the forbidden medical technique, Creation Rebirth Technique, would face the same limitation.
They simply couldn't find the true root cause of the illness.
All the visible symptoms were merely manifestations of this underlying condition.
Even if temporarily alleviated, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's symptoms would persist and progressively worsen.
The Ubuyashiki Clan had never lived past the age of thirty.
Kagaya was twenty-three when he died in the original timeline.
And if this incident hadn't occurred, Qingshui estimated that occasionally using the Mystical Palm Technique on him might have extended his life by another six or seven years, pushing close to the Ubuyashiki Clan's natural limit.
"Qingshui-kun… Kagaya… How is he?"
Amane held one of Ubuyashiki Kagaya's hands, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.
"Not very well. His condition worsened too rapidly. No matter how much we alleviate it, Senior Kagaya likely has less than a year left."
Qingshui said with a frown.
"Cough, cough… Qingshui, I apologize for wasting your energy on a useless man like me, who cannot fight Demons like you and is about to die anyway."
After receiving a Mystical Palm Technique, Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed a bit better; he had regained some strength and struggled to sit up from the bed.
Amane quickly supported her husband's back.
But Ubuyashiki Kagaya gently removed Qingshui's hand.
"There's no need to continue treatment. The Ubuyashiki… will soon cease to exist."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's eyes were filled with pain.
Qingshui, Gyomei, and Muichiro immediately looked at Amane with curious gazes.
Amane, also in pain, closed her eyes.
"At noon… the Kasugai Crow reported that Kiriya, who was hiding in the Osaka House, was discovered by a Demon. He, along with the two Class-A Swordsmen guarding him, and Kanata and Kuna, were killed by an Upper Rank."
Kagaya and Amane had one son and four daughters. Their only son was seven-year-old Kiriya, while Kanata and Kuna were two of their younger daughters.
According to the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps, the male members of the Ubuyashiki Clan usually lived in separate locations to prevent Demons from discovering the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, which could lead to their lineage being cut off.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, after Ubuyashiki Kagaya's death, Kiriya was to take over as the head of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Since last year, due to my weak body, I haven't been able to be intimate with Amane and conceive more children. Now that Kiriya has passed away, the Ubuyashiki line has come to an end."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya said sadly.
"Master, you still have two daughters alive. Why not find someone to marry into the family?"
Himejima Gyomei asked.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya simply shook his head faintly.
"Kiriya was a wonderful child. I believe if I were gone, he could shoulder the responsibility well. But Hinaki and the others cannot, especially now, when we face a situation unprecedented in three hundred years.
Humans and Demons are about to usher in their final battle. How can I possibly entrust the Demon Slayer Corps to them?
Moreover, they are too young. How can I… sigh!"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya sighed sadly.
"Then what do you plan to do, Master?"
Tokito Muichiro asked.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya simply looked at Qingshui.
"As I just said, this is the most critical period in three hundred years. Whether humanity can exterminate the Demons will be decided within the next year or two. Therefore, during this time, the Demon Slayer Corps must be led by someone with sufficient ability and prestige.
And that alone isn't enough. The Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen are spread across various regions. We are now also contacting the government to assist in producing batteries and incandescent lights, and we need to order materials like vacuum tubes from distant Europe. Without sufficient knowledge and connections, it would be impossible to manage these affairs well."
A faint premonition rose in Qingshui's heart.
Could it be…
"Qingshui."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke:
"Among all the people I know, only you, Qingshui, can bear these responsibilities."
Aside from Amane, who had already known Kagaya's intentions, Tokito Muichiro and Himejima Gyomei looked at Qingshui with shocked expressions.
Qingshui remained silent.
He was also surprised that Ubuyashiki Kagaya would make such a choice.
Did he want the position of head of the Demon Slayer Corps?
He certainly wanted it, but he couldn't say it outright.
"Your uncle is already Superintendent-General, and I've used the Ubuyashiki Clan's connections to help him reach the position of Commissioner General of the Metropolitan Police Department."
This position was essentially the pinnacle of the police system.
With sufficient backing, Uesugi Sakaii's age might allow him to enter the cabinet and become a top figure before retirement.
Although the Uesugi Clan's influence wasn't what it once was, its foundation remained. It had the capacity to absorb some of the Ubuyashiki Clan's assets and connections. If Uesugi Sakaii proved capable, what the Uesugi Clan could achieve might not be any less than the Ubuyashiki Clan.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's choice of Qingshui likely stemmed partly from this.
"Thank you, Senior Ubuyashiki, but... what do you need me to do?"
Qingshui's eyes were calm as he looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Of course, Qingshui also greatly admired Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
This man truly had very little self-interest; even if he did, his public-mindedness far outweighed it.
If he were selfish, he could have easily demanded that one of his daughters, or his wife Amane, succeed him as the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps after his death. Then, he could have chosen a capable man from an ordinary family with weaknesses to marry into the family, ensuring that when the next generation of Ubuyashiki male heirs was born, nothing would have changed.
But he didn't do that.
Because Ubuyashiki Kagaya genuinely believed that now was the best chance to defeat Muzan, and such an opportunity might never come again.
He truly viewed the eradication of Demons as a sacred mission, greater than anything else.
From a rational perspective, having Qingshui take over the Demon Slayer Corps was the best choice, but for Ubuyashiki Kagaya, it must have been an extremely difficult one.
"There are three things I need you to do, but even if you don't complete them, you will still be the acting leader of the Demon Slayer Corps after today."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya forced a smile onto his face and looked at Qingshui.
"First, eliminate Muzan. Then, after my death, you will be the true leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Second, I want you and Kocho Shinobu to marry within this month and have children as soon as possible. Because if we want to defeat Muzan, we must rely on your strength, and fighting Muzan is an extremely dangerous undertaking."
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