Chapter 193: Razor's Astonishment x The Change in the Hashira
"Oh," Razor glanced indifferently at Roy, then swept his gaze to Gotoh, who had been beaten to a pulp.
Clutching the booklet, he turned and left.
Creeak~ The door opened and closed. A faint voice came from outside: "I'll be waiting."
The man's tall figure nearly filled the doorframe. Leaving the room, he strolled under the dim lights of the corridor back to his own room. On the way, he met a man in a hood, arms crossed, leaning against the wall, who called out to him. "Maybe he was joking."
Ging pushed up the brim of his hat. "Although I hate to admit it, I must say..."
"A person's origin determines most of their potential."
"Gotoh... can't compare to you."
Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and mice beget burrowing sons... Ging had been exploring ruins for ten years, seeing everything from civilized heritage to personal histories... He had seen too much. He didn't want to admit it, but he had to: "Origin" and "Bloodline" determine "Talent" and "Limit." There might be "exceptions," but they remain just that—exceptions.
Razor stopped, glancing at him coldly. "If he weren't a Zoldyck, you might not have even asked him to help."
Ging didn't deny it. In the original story, Ging was the only one who acted in the prison break.
At most, Elena was added to monitor the battlefield and provide support.
In the dim light, Razor stroked the "Water Breathing" booklet, saying softly, "I don't know if Roy was joking, but I know that when you say this, even you don't sound very confident."
"After all, he is the Zoldyck family's butler, and... someone close to Roy." Ging didn't hide the uncertainty in his voice, looking calmly at Razor. "That kid always brings unexpected things."
"And you... isn't that exactly why you value him?"
"Exactly." Razor started walking again. Ging remained silent. Tap... tap... The footsteps faded away...
Until... Creeak~
Razor opened his door and returned to his room, slamming it shut with a BANG.
Only then did Ging look up at the soft halo around the corridor light, shaking his head with a laugh. "Who's the one lacking confidence?"
His figure flashed, disappearing from the corridor.
Night. Neon lights flickered.
The small seaside city of Vebis welcomed its most bustling and noisy nightlife.
The streets were full of traffic and tourists... It was early summer, getting warmer, and everyone was out playing...
Razor showered after getting out of prison, washing away the prison stench. Shirtless, he sat at the desk provided by the hotel, spreading out "Water Breathing" and studying it carefully...
From "Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash... Second Form: Water Wheel... Third Form: Flowing Dance... Fourth Form..."
To "Seventh Form..."
Until...
"Eleventh Form: Dead Calm."
He went through it all in his mind...
Sharp light flashed occasionally in his narrow eyes. After a long while, he closed the booklet... eyes shut in deep thought, savoring the aftertaste. "I owe him a favor for this."
Guiding Gotoh wasn't nearly enough to offset Roy's gift. This "Water Breathing" looked like "Swordsmanship," but in reality, it was a "Secret Art" anyone could practice!
It could actually change a person's "breathing" method. Through specific acupoints and techniques, it expanded the body's oxygen absorption rate, greatly improving cardiopulmonary function, accelerating metabolism and blood flow rate, all to drastically improve physical strength and combat readiness in a short time!
Truly... a genius idea!
[If the "Human Body" is likened to a "Reservoir," then "Nen" is the water in it, and "Breathing Style" is the nature and taste of the "water"...]
[Mastery allows adding "Salt," "Sugar," or making it "Freeze" or "Boil" through "Breathing Style," displaying different properties and changes...]
[And "Water Breathing" acts as a "Seasoning," injecting the characteristics of "Water" into "Nen." It not only increases the "Nen User's" "Recovery Speed" but also greatly improves the "Nen Bullet's" ductility in the short term, using the "Gentleness of Water" to stretch and shorten the "Nen Bullet's" shape, creating more attack modes...]
Razor carefully savored Roy's series of conjectures about combining "Water Breathing" with "Nen Ability" at the end of the booklet. He tried condensing a Nen bullet at his fingertip, changing it into a "Number 1," then a "Number 2"... Then he stood up, mimicking the movements of "Water Breathing," using his hand as a blade, and began to practice... The "Nen bullet" constantly changing shape at his fingertip vaguely "stretched," "shortened," and "reshaped." With each cycle, it became more effortless, until...
Razor completed a full practice run. The "Nen bullet" at his fingertip instantly transformed into a "Nen Light Sword." With a casual sweep, it easily sliced the desk in two. The cut was smooth as a mirror, sharper than a laser...
Razor exhaled lightly, waves surging in his heart, unable to calm down...
[Notification: "Potential Believer" Razor, Loyalty +5...]
Same hotel.
10:00 PM.
More than an hour after the battle between Gotoh and Razor, Roy received the panel notification. Letting Goldie roll around on the bed, he spread out a sheet of white paper alone, contemplating the [Doctrine]. Hearing movement behind him, he said warmly, "If you're injured, don't move around. Rest well."
With a groan, Gotoh woke from his coma. Hazily opening his eyes, he saw he was lying on the sofa in the Young Master's room, covered with a blanket. His gaze moved to the desk... The boy's back wasn't particularly broad or tall, but vaguely bore seventy percent of the Master's likeness... In a trance, Gotoh opened his mouth to say something, but it turned into a soft hum.
Defeated... and defeated wretchedly. The young butler silently accompanied Roy, reviewing today's battle. The opponent was clearly superior in both "Aura Quantity" and understanding of "Nen."
Unfortunately, neither "Aura Quantity" nor understanding of "Nen" could be compensated for by hard work alone; they relied more on "Talent"... Gotoh couldn't help but feel a bit lost, staring blankly at the ceiling for a long time...
"What, giving up already?" Roy turned around, leaning back in his chair, smiling.
Feeling the warmth in his gaze, the young butler smiled bitterly. "To be honest, Young Master, a little bit."
"Especially realizing that no matter how hard I try, I might never catch up to him... That despair is quite unpleasant."
Roy nodded. "Razor ranks high even among 'Emitters.' Except for Grandfather and Father, almost no one can beat him in the path of 'Emission'."
"Young Master, I never thought of comparing myself to the Oldest Master and the Master."
"Why not?" Roy looked at the young butler seriously. "Gotoh, my expectations for you are not as simple as just beating Razor."
Gotoh: "..."
Does he want... me to beat the Master?
"Young Master, you really think highly of me."
"It's you who looks down on yourself." Meeting the butler's astonished gaze, the boy didn't say much more, only adding meaningfully, "Heal well. I'll solve the other problems for you."
With that, he closed the notebook.
He walked to the window, watching the deep night illuminated by neon lights...
Roy narrowed his eyes, stroking the "curse" on the back of his hand. Calculating the time carefully, it was time to deal with Muzan and restore clarity to the Demon Slayer world.
Dong...
10:00 PM.
The Big Ben of the church located in the center of Champs-Élysées Avenue in northern Vebis struck the hour.
The boy pointed backward, manipulating [Magnetism · Repulsion] to turn off the lights.
In the dark, he silently admired the night view of Vebis. A moment later, he got into bed, instructed Goldie to keep watch, folded his hands on his abdomen, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
Soon, as time ticked by...
Soft snores drifted...
Roy entered the dream, stepping on the multicolored dream tunnel, arriving at the familiar Sea of Cognition.
Without stopping, he pushed open the Demon Slayer gate and walked in.
Caw~ A Kasugai Crow circled above his head. As he beckoned, it opened its beak and dropped a letter.
[To Eiichiro Kamado]
[We haven't met for a few days; are you well?]
[I have granted Kyojuro's request and sincerely offer the position of Leader. Please take charge of the Demon Slayer Corps on my behalf, improve the strength of the Hashira, and exterminate the demons. Please do not refuse; return for a discussion.]
[Kagaya Ubuyashiki, bowing in respect.]
[April 17, Taisho Year 2.]
After reading one letter, another crow flew over, delivering a second letter... Roy opened it and scanned it. It was from Kyojuro Rengoku, detailing everything that happened at the Ubuyashiki estate during his absence.
Roy rubbed his right fingers, a small flame appearing and burning the letters to ash.
Opening the panel, he saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki noted as a "Potential Believer" with "Absolute Loyalty." He couldn't help but admire him... A man willing to use himself, his wife, and his daughters as bait, sacrificing his entire family and leaving only his young son and daughters to continue the demon-slaying cause. His determination and resolve to remove the family curse and kill Muzan Kibutsuji were... seemingly even stronger than Roy had imagined!
Giving up the "Position of Power" directly... for some leaders, for most leaders, this would absolutely be harder than killing them!
"The Demon Slayer Corps still needs you to lead. I have no intention of taking the leader's position."
Morning. Dawn broke, a red sun ready to emerge... After receiving the letters, the boy casually wrote a reply. Then, using "Wind Breathing" to ride the wind, combined with Mastered "Shadow Step," he unhurriedly used En along the way to kill a few demons hiding in the dark, harvesting ten points of Life Energy... Before noon, he arrived once again at the place hidden by the wisteria forest.
"It's Eiichiro-sama."
"Reporting to the Master, Eiichiro-sama has arrived!"
At the Ubuyashiki estate, learning of Eiichiro's return, the nine Hashira gathered rarely.
Supported by Amane, Kagaya Ubuyashiki huddled next to a heater, wrapped in a blanket, sunbathing. As the curse worsened step by step, his health visibly deteriorated day by day. Though spring had long passed and early summer arrived, he still felt cold, shivering occasionally, incredibly fragile.
Whoosh~ A wind blew, swirling a few wisteria petals...
Accompanied by the excited "Kakushi" member tumbling and crawling, finally prostrating on the ground to report loudly...
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, with his wife Amane, daughters Hinaki and Nichika, and... all the Hashira, including Gyomei Himejima, Giyu Tomioka, and Sanemi Shinazugawa, looked over in unison...
In the courtyard once pierced by Roy's hundred-meter flaming sword that cut through the wall... amidst falling wisteria petals, a swamp appeared. The boy emerged, his fiery red hair swaying in the wind, the midday sun overhead, a faint smile on his lips as always.
"Namu Amida Butsu..."
"Eiichiro Kamado, we meet again."
"Yes,"
"Eiichiro..."
"Junior Brother."
Before the corridor, accompanied by Gyomei Himejima's Buddhist chant, the Hashira greeted him.
Some nodded, some stared, some smiled, some watched silently. Seeing him again, the Hashira's expressions varied, but mostly... their gazes held a trace of complexity.
Thump~ Following Giyu Tomioka's soft "Junior Brother" and brief nod to Roy, Kyojuro Rengoku, standing at the head of the left row, seeing him appear, placed his hand on his Nichirin Blade and suddenly knelt on one knee, bowing devoutly. "Kyojuro pays respects to Eiichiro-sama."
The small courtyard fell silent. One could clearly feel the complexity in everyone's gazes deepen by half a measure.
Roy quietly took everything in. Smiling, he raised his hand to help up the young man who was vaguely half a head taller than him. With a thought, he opened the Believer Panel.
[Believer: Kyojuro Rengoku]
[Sect: Sun God Sect]
[Physique: 17 → 51 (Average person is 1)]
[Aura Output: D (3446/10000) (Rating based on Chimera Ant benchmark)]
[Potential Aura: D+ (8741/10000)]
[Loyalty: 540/1000 (Absolute Loyalty)]
[Evaluation: Elite Chimera Ant Squadron Leader level. After learning Ren and awakening a Nen ability, can solo all Upper Moons, comparable to Upper Moon One · Kokushibo]
Physique tripled...
"Praise the Sun. Kyojuro, all efforts deserve a reward. Congratulations on your progress."
"Praise the Sun. It is all thanks to Eiichiro-sama's gift." Kyojuro stood up, looking at Roy with gratitude.
Roy patted his shoulder, flipping his hand to produce a thin booklet from his pocket and gifting it to him. "This is a gift from the [Sun]. I hope you will not slack off, continue to work hard, and step onto the divine path soon."
"Mortal" and "Nen" are different. To ordinary people, a "Nen user" mastering "Nen abilities" is no different from a "God."
The booklet contained Roy's experience on developing the subsequent Ren and Hatsu, as well as relevant essentials recorded in his father Silva's and Grandpa Zzigg's notes. Kyojuro Rengoku took it and flipped through two pages, instantly engrossed. His "devoted" and even "intoxicated" demeanor... made everyone envious.
Just following Eiichiro Kamado gave him power surpassing Gyomei Himejima. What was recorded in that thin booklet? Was it related to "Divine Power" or something else amazing?
Even Muichiro Tokito, the "dazed goose" who had lost his memories, couldn't help but crane his neck to look...
A light cough suddenly brought everyone back to their senses.
Supported by Amane, Kagaya Ubuyashiki struggled to stand up. In front of everyone, he bowed to Roy. "Eiichiro-sama..."
☆☆☆
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