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Originally, seeing that Kisaragi Rin didn't seem to react, Sanemi Shinazugawa had already reduced his strength and didn't intend to really hurt Kisaragi Rin.
But unexpectedly, Kisaragi Rin took the blow.
He had only used fifty percent of his strength, and then reduced it further, but when their blades collided, Sanemi Shinazugawa was directly sent flying by Kisaragi Rin.
Sanemi Shinazugawa spun his body in the air, cushioning the impact as he landed on the ground, plowing two depressions.
His palms trembled slightly, and Sanemi Shinazugawa's face was grim; although he hadn't used his full strength, the person in front of him hadn't even learned Breathing Styles.
Being repelled like this was truly a bit embarrassing.
"How was it, Shinazugawa?"
"I'll provisionally acknowledge you."
Although he said 'provisionally acknowledge', Sanemi Shinazugawa remained irritable, gripping his nichirin blade tightly.
Especially Giyu Tomioka, who had a poker face, seemed to have anticipated the outcome.
This made Sanemi Shinazugawa feel extremely ashamed, and he moved past the two of them, intending to leave.
Giyu Tomioka made way for the Wind Pillar, and before he could leave, Kisaragi Rin called out to him: "Hey, I want to learn Wind Breathing from you."
Sanemi Shinazugawa paused slightly, stopped, and then coldly replied: "Come to my residence tomorrow; tonight, I'm responsible for guarding the Master."
After speaking, he no longer lingered and left the place directly.
Looking at Sanemi Shinazugawa's retreating figure, Giyu Tomioka said to Kisaragi Rin: "That's just how Shinazugawa is."
Kisaragi Rin glanced at Giyu Tomioka; this Water Pillar truly didn't know how to speak.
What he wanted to express was probably "Shinazugawa has always been this irritable, so Kisaragi Rin shouldn't mind," but when he said it, he simplified it into another meaning.
Kisaragi Rin nodded.
"I know, the Wind Pillar is actually very considerate."
The fact that he specifically blocked him here instead of waiting for Kisaragi Rin to return to the village before provoking him was, to some extent, giving Kisaragi Rin face.
The experiences of the Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa, were also tragic; he had seven siblings at home, and his father was abusive, later being beaten to death by someone else.
Sanemi Shinazugawa had originally planned to protect his family with his younger brother, but one night, after his mother went out, she returned as a demon, and his youngest siblings were killed by their own mother.
He personally killed his mother, who had become a demon, and his only surviving younger brother, not understanding, angrily cursed him as the murderer who killed their mother.
This irritable demeanor was formed so that others wouldn't think he was easy to bully; aside from demons, the Wind Pillar was actually a gentle person.
"Even if you learn Wind Breathing, you can't become the Wind Pillar; why not learn Water Breathing? I can step down from the Water Pillar position."
Although he was very skeptical of Kisaragi Rin's statement that "the Wind Pillar is very considerate," Giyu Tomioka didn't ask, but instead, uncharacteristically, spoke such a long sentence; compared to discussing the Wind Pillar, he wanted to find someone to inherit the Water Pillar position more.
Kisaragi Rin rubbed his brow, directly refusing: "Water Breathing is too gentle; it's not very suitable for me."
The attack method of Water Breathing was too gentle; he preferred to violently destroy enemies.
And Wind Breathing was very suitable for him; its attacks were violent enough and could effectively compensate for blind spots in agility and ranged attacks.
"However, I can recommend a disciple to you."
"Who?"
"Hachiman Hikigaya."
One had social skills but didn't want to communicate, while the other wanted to communicate but lacked social skills.
Kisaragi Rin was very much looking forward to the scene of Hachiman Hikigaya and Giyu Tomioka getting along.
Giyu Tomioka was thoughtful; the Savior's attendant in the prophecy shouldn't be too foolish, and teaching him to become the Water Pillar seemed like a good idea.
Returning to the village, there wasn't much light after dark, making it very dark.
Giyu Tomioka led him to a wooden house at the edge.
"This place is empty; you can stay here."
Kisaragi Rin bid farewell to Giyu Tomioka, pushed open the door, and inside, candles were lit, and Yukinoshita Yukino and Hachiman Hikigaya were sitting in the room.
"Oh, you two are here."
Kisaragi Rin greeted them.
"Oh."
This was Hachiman Hikigaya's response.
As for Yukinoshita Yukino, she was staring at Kisaragi Rin, saying coldly: "Why did you hide it from us?"
"Hide what?"
He had hidden too many things; which one was she referring to?
"Of course, when did you become the Demon Slayer Corps' so-called Savior!"
Yukinoshita Yukino hugged her chest, feeling a bit stifled.
Kisaragi Rin retorted: "Is that important?"
It was just a title; it wasn't like Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who could scare Kibutsuji Muzan to death just by his name.
"After you left, a child from the Demon Slayer Corps came to ask us when we were going to kill the Demon King."
Hachiman Hikigaya explained the main reason for Yukinoshita Yukino's anger to Kisaragi Rin from the side.
She wasn't angry at Kisaragi Rin for this, but rather at herself.
Because of her own weakness and powerlessness.
Previously, seeing the rampant demons, Yukinoshita Yukino could still comfort herself that her strength was limited and she couldn't contend with them.
But then suddenly, many people told her that she, Kisaragi Rin, and Hachiman Hikigaya could kill the Demon King and save the common people from suffering.
"When are you planning to kill the Demon King?"
If an adult had asked, Yukinoshita Yukino would have responded unhesitatingly with a sharp tongue: "Can killing demons be something you beg others to do? Instead of waiting for others, why don't you first practice your swordsmanship and do all of this yourself..."
Unfortunately, like Sanemi Shinazugawa, most of the adults in the Demon Slayer Corps were more skeptical of the so-called Savior.
After all, the current Master who made the prophecy was only six years old; they were willing to believe the Master, but they weren't blindly loyal, unconditionally following everything.
They speculated that this was just to reassure the swordsmen and prevent them from despairing about the current state of the Demon Slayer Corps.
So, most of those who asked Yukinoshita Yukino were children.
These children were mostly orphans whose families had been killed by demons, and the Demon Slayer Corps had brought them back.
Facing these expectant gazes, Yukinoshita Yukino could neither tell the truth nor respond to their expectations with lies, only able to respond with silence.
That's why she was in a bad mood, like a relative had come.
What Kisaragi Rin saw was such a scene...
Understanding Yukinoshita Yukino's mood, Kisaragi Rin briefly calculated the time in his mind, sat in front of the two, and answered her in a calm tone.
"Within a month."
"What?"
"Next time someone asks you when you're going to kill the Demon King, tell them within a month."
Previously, he was too lazy to explain his strength, but since it had come to this, Kisaragi Rin also planned to slightly display his power.
What if the Demon Slayer Corps' situation was dire? All he had to do was defeat the Twelve Kizuki and the Demon King.
An 18-year-old college student beating up a thousand-year-old sick demon sounds very reasonable.
Finish this mission within a month.
Kisaragi Rin thought so.
"Huh?"
Yukinoshita Yukino couldn't believe her ears, and she never expected that even in this situation, Kisaragi Rin was still joking with her.
Not taking Kisaragi Rin's words seriously at all, Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Kisaragi Rin with a weary heart and said, "No, what strength do you have?"
"Could it be that you really believe the so-called prophecy? That would be too lacking in self-awareness."
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