Gyomei Himejima's words made Chiba Yo speculate, and what Gyomei Himejima said next confirmed his suspicions.
"Kaigaku was the instigator of that incident; he was the one who let the demon into the Temple."
Recalling that experience, Gyomei Himejima could still feel deep pain and disappointment.
"No wonder he left in a hurry when he heard me say your name. I originally thought he was eager to become stronger and went to seek your guidance.
Now it seems he was hiding from you, afraid to meet you."
At this moment, Chiba Yo also understood why Kaigaku had reacted that way at the time.
"Can you tell me where he is now?" Gyomei Himejima asked Chiba Yo.
Even if not for himself, he had to avenge those children who died tragically. Although they didn't listen to him and stay by his side, which led to them being killed by the demon, Gyomei Himejima believed they only did so because they thought he couldn't protect them. After all, he had been constantly hungry back then, his body wasn't strong enough, and he certainly didn't look like he could provide a sense of security.
Chiba Yo shook his head upon hearing this and replied, "I don't know that. It was my first time seeing him too. When he left, I thought he was going to find you, and I didn't pay attention to his whereabouts after that."
He then added, "However, Master Ubuyashiki definitely knows. Moreover, Kaigaku is now a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman. If we are to deal with him, it would be more appropriate to inform Master Ubuyashiki.
Master Ubuyashiki would certainly not tolerate someone like him."
At this moment, Chiba Yo had no good feelings towards Kaigaku. If that guy appeared before him again, he would definitely choose to teach him a lesson.
Chiba Yo also truly didn't expect that someone who seemed quite polite at the time had done such a thing.
"You're right, I'll go tell Master Ubuyashiki," Gyomei Himejima said, clasping his hands together.
"Thank you for telling me this, Chiba."
Then, with tears in his eyes, Gyomei Himejima thanked Chiba Yo.
"It's nothing. Keeping someone like that in the Demon Slayer Corps is also a disaster." Chiba Yo waved his hand, his aversion to Kaigaku also considerable.
Then Gyomei Himejima left for the Ubuyashiki Estate, while Chiba Yo also went to the Butterfly Mansion to help Kochou Shinobu research methods to treat Breath Styles / Marks.
...
An hour later,
Inside the Ubuyashiki Estate, Gyomei Himejima told Kagaya about Kaigaku.
"Check this swordsman's information," Kagaya said to Amane beside him.
Amane rose upon hearing this and walked into the study, returning a moment later with a document.
"Kaigaku, joined the Demon Slayer Corps two years ago after passing the Final Selection. His cultivator was the former Thunder Pillar, Kuwajima Jigorō, and along with his other disciple, Zenitsu Agatsuma, he inherited the former Thunder Pillar's Thunder Breathing.
His experiences before joining the Demon Slayer Corps are unclear; according to the former Thunder Pillar, he was an orphan.
After becoming a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, he became arrogant and overly ambitious, so virtually no other swordsmen were willing to undertake missions with him.
He recently returned to Headquarters once but left before staying a full day, and his current whereabouts are unknown."
Amane relayed the information about Kaigaku to Gyomei Himejima.
"Gyomei Himejima, I trust you, then as now. I will send a Kasugai Crow to summon this swordsman named Kaigaku back. How to deal with him is up to you," Kagaya said softly to Gyomei Himejima, facing him.
At that time, Gyomei Himejima was wrongly imprisoned, and the person who rescued him was a young Kagaya. Therefore, Kagaya was quite familiar with Gyomei Himejima's case and was willing to believe his words.
Gyomei Himejima hadn't expected Master Ubuyashiki to entrust this matter to him. Originally, he had intended to tell Master Ubuyashiki and then completely follow Kagaya's arrangements, but he didn't expect Master Ubuyashiki to give him this authority.
"Thank you for your trust, Master Ubuyashiki. If he is now truly dedicating himself to hunting down demons and is willing to repent and atone for the children who died, then I will only teach him a lesson."
Gyomei Himejima knelt on one knee and said sincerely to Master Ubuyashiki.
Kagaya smiled upon hearing this, then he had Amane dispatch a Kasugai Crow.
...
Not long after, the Kasugai Crow found Kaigaku's whereabouts.
"Demon Slayer Corps swordsman Kaigaku! Return to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters immediately! Return to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters immediately!"
The Kasugai Crow circled in the sky, shouting loudly.
Kaigaku had been feeling uneasy these past two days, fearing that Gyomei Himejima knew about his past. Now, upon hearing the Kasugai Crow's summons, he became even more startled and suspicious.
Being summoned back to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters was normally a common occurrence; promotions, missions requiring multiple swordsmen to cooperate, and so on, would all result in a summons. But Kaigaku now completely failed to consider these possibilities.
Damn it! That blind man couldn't have already found out about me, could he?
Gripping the hilt of his nichirin blade, Kaigaku's heart was filled with apprehension.
If he really knows I'm in the Demon Slayer Corps, he definitely won't let me go. What should I do?
Looking at the Kasugai Crow circling in the sky, and recalling his experience of becoming a disciple and joining the Demon Slayer Corps, an idea surfaced in Kaigaku's mind.
Why must I stay in the Demon Slayer Corps? I only came here to become stronger, but now that old man has nothing left to teach me, and even if he did, he would definitely favor that yellow-haired crybaby.
Those Pillars now aren't good either; I've humbled myself and begged them, but they still refuse to guide me, utterly selfish! And those swordsmen, they never stopped mocking me because I couldn't use the First Form.
The more Kaigaku thought about it, the angrier he became, and his resentment towards the Demon Slayer Corps gradually grew.
With my current strength, I can live comfortably even if I'm not in the Demon Slayer Corps, and I won't always have to face demons...
"Return to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters immediately! Return to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters immediately!..."
The Kasugai Crow continued to circle in the air, shouting. Kaigaku looked at the Kasugai Crow, and killing intent gradually rose in his heart.
"Alright… I'll go back… I'll go back…" Kaigaku's lips curved into a smile, and his right hand slowly tightened its grip on the hilt of his nichirin blade, then he drew the nichirin blade.
"Thunder Breathing, Fifth Form: Heat Lightning!"
Kaigaku swung his nichirin blade with one hand, and a yellow lightning bolt carrying intense heat was released from the nichirin blade in his hand, then rapidly struck the Kasugai Crow in the air.
A burnt smell emanated as the Kasugai Crow was directly blasted into ash by the lightning bolt in mid-air.
Just you wait! I will definitely get my revenge on you all! Gyomei Himejima, Chiba Yo, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and all those who mocked me, none of you will escape!
With a resentful glance towards the direction of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Kaigaku returned his nichirin blade to its sheath, then stepped forward and walked away...
...
Inside the Butterfly Mansion, Kochou Shinobu had already finished examining Chiba Yo's physical condition.
"How is it, Shinobu-jie jie? Is my condition helpful for your research?" Chiba Yo asked.
Kochou Shinobu shook her head upon hearing this.
"I found that your organs don't appear to be damaged at all, completely unlike Rengoku-san's situation."