Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
Musashi hastily made his way to Kagaya's residence.
"Master," Musashi respectfully greeted Kagaya, who was inside the house.
"Musashi, is there something you need to see me about?" Kagaya asked Musashi in a gentle voice.
"Master, do you know about Bright Red Nichirins?" Musashi didn't explain directly, but instead asked Kagaya first.
After Tetsuimaru-san left, Musashi spent almost a day finally figuring out how to turn a Nichirin Sword into a Bright Red Nichirin. He then eagerly came to inform the Master, hoping that all Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen could possess this power in the future.
Kagaya was momentarily stunned when he heard Musashi's words, then, remembering something, he asked, "Are you referring to the Bright Red Nichirin that can suppress a demon's regeneration?"
"That's right. Tetsuimaru-san, who forged my Nichirin Sword, analyzed that the Bright Red Nichirin is a transformation of the Nichirin Sword, and this was confirmed in my previous battles. I have now found a way to turn a Nichirin Sword into a Bright Red Nichirin," Musashi said to Kagaya with some excitement.
Kagaya's state of mind also changed slightly after hearing Musashi's words. The Kasugai Crow's previous report to him hadn't mentioned the Bright Red Nichirin, so Kagaya didn't know that Musashi could turn a Nichirin Sword into a Bright Red Nichirin.
"Have you confirmed that the Bright Red Nichirin can suppress a demon's regeneration?" Kagaya asked Musashi.
"Yes," Musashi nodded and continued, "I confirmed it during my battle with Lower Moon Two. The Lower Moon Two, injured by my blade, couldn't immediately regenerate its limbs."
"Good. In that case, since the other Hashiras haven't gone on missions yet, I will gather everyone now. Let the Hashiras try it first, and if it works, we can gradually teach it to the other swordsmen," Kagaya chose to believe Musashi's words and immediately made arrangements.
Kagaya was very keen on anything that could enhance the Demon Slayer Corps' strength.
Before long, the other Nine Hashiras were all summoned here.
Kagaya first explained to them, and after listening to Kagaya's explanation, the gazes of the Nine Hashiras converged on Musashi.
"Alright, Musashi, please begin," Kagaya said to Musashi.
Musashi didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "The method to turn a Nichirin Sword into a Bright Red Nichirin capable of suppressing demon regeneration lies in grip strength. Powerful grip strength can activate the sun power contained within the Nichirin Sword, causing its temperature to rise rapidly and acquire the ability to suppress demon regeneration."
As Musashi spoke, he took out his Nichirin Sword, then gripped the hilt with both hands and held it upright in front of him. The blade, the color of obsidian, was displayed before everyone.
Then Musashi began to increase his grip strength. A crimson hue appeared on the pitch-black blade and gradually spread across the entire blade. Before long, the originally pitch-black Nichirin Sword transformed into a Bright Red Nichirin.
"How flamboyant," Tengen Uzui couldn't help but exclaim as he watched the scene before him.
"Can turning a Nichirin Sword like this truly grant the ability to suppress demon regeneration?" The Snake Hashira, on the other hand, questioned whether the Bright Red Nichirin could suppress demon regeneration.
Although he currently had a good impression of Musashi, he felt that matters of public importance should be handled with more rigor.
"Its ability has already been tested in my battle with Lower Moon Two," Musashi explained.
"I also just received confirmation from the Kasugai Crow; the Bright Red Nichirin can indeed suppress demon regeneration," Kagaya also spoke up.
The other Hashiras no longer had any questions.
"In that case, we will try to acquire this ability as soon as possible," Gyomei Himejima said, pressing his palms together.
"Also, regarding the Demon Slayer Mark we discussed last time, since Musashi's Demon Slayer Mark are innate, I'll awaken my own Demon Slayer Mark first, and then I'll tell you how to awaken them," Sanemi added with great enthusiasm.
Giyuu, standing by, looked at Sanemi with an expression that seemed to say, "I can't believe you actually said that."
At this moment, Kagaya spoke.
"Regarding the Demon Slayer Mark, I omitted a point last time that I will tell you now."
Kagaya's voice was very solemn, and the Hashiras' attention was drawn to him. They looked at him with questions.
The atmosphere in the room became very serious.
"In the records, every swordsman with Demon Slayer Mark, without exception, did not live past twenty-five years old…" Kagaya slowly finished this sentence.
The reason Kagaya didn't mention this last time was that he was somewhat concerned whether Musashi, who had only recently joined the Demon Slayer Corps, could bear this outcome. He was very familiar with the other Hashiras, but he didn't know much about Musashi before.
However, after speaking with Musashi last time, Kagaya felt that Musashi's resilience was not weak, so he chose to explain this matter to all the Hashiras.
They all don't live past twenty-five… So, what my teacher's father meant by "only being a short-lived Demon" was this…
Musashi now fully understood what Shinjuro had said back then. This news still shocked him greatly.
However, he didn't develop any negative emotions like fear or resentment. Not living past twenty-five was not something difficult for him to accept now.
If it were in the past, he would definitely worry about who would take care of his mother if he died so early, but he no longer had such worries.
However, one thing he didn't know was that what Kagaya said was inaccurate. An exception existed: Yoriichi, the man who, despite having Demon Slayer Mark, lived to be over eighty years old and cornered Muzan in the Sengoku period.
The room fell silent due to Kagaya's words, not out of fear of the side effects of the Demon Slayer Mark, but out of sympathy for Musashi and not knowing what to say.
"In that case, I can only slay all demons before I turn twenty-five," a firm voice broke the silent atmosphere. Musashi looked at Kagaya and said nonchalantly.
"That's right! Your words are very much to my liking! It's just not living past twenty-five. If we can exterminate all demons, what does it matter if we're short-lived?" Sanemi expressed strong agreement with Musashi's words, clenching his right hand and grinning.
"That's what I wanted to say too," the Snake Hashira followed, expressing his agreement.
"I'm really looking forward to my Demon Slayer Mark. It will definitely make me even more flamboyant," Tengen Uzui said, stroking his chin.
The other Hashiras also didn't mind this drawback of the Demon Slayer Mark; in fact, they were all somewhat looking forward to their appearance.
"I see… So what will happen if I awaken Demon Slayer Mark then…" Gyomei Himejima murmured to himself.
Seeing the atmosphere in the room lighten, Kagaya also smiled.
Just then, a Kasugai Crow flew in through the window and landed in front of Kagaya. A letter was tied to the crow's leg.
Kagaya untied the letter from the crow's leg and read it, then looked up.
"A Twelve Kizuki has appeared on Mount Natagumo. Many Demon Slayer Corps members have already been sacrificed. Giyuu, Shinobu, you two go there. Musashi, you go with them too. It'll be a good opportunity to test the Bright Red Nichirin again."