I must admit—specialization matters. Some things can only be entrusted to professionals. Otherwise, you get painful lessons.
Like after a hundred years, I still remember—when I picked up chopsticks of Ume's cooking and put it in my mouth—that flavor punching and kicking inside.
Before it rolled into my stomach, my tongue, my throat were screaming in protest. Even my entire stomach spasmed. Gastric juices surged wildly to eliminate that evil invader.
Right now, my stomach was spasming exactly like that.
The scent of corpses wasn't pleasant.
This was normal. Now was midsummer. And after receiving news, rushing here—took ten days.
Though large amounts of ice filled this room, the putrid smell remained clear to a demon's keen sense.
I lightly held my breath. Looked down at that young face in the coffin.
He had features inherited from his father and grandfather. Bloodless, snow-white skin made him look more like a delicate girl.
Only nineteen. Already left this world.
I closed the coffin lid. Walked out of this room. In the adjacent room sat a woman quietly. She held a one or two-year-old infant in her arms. Beside her, a three or four-year-old boy.
Though he wore a girl's dress, seeing his jet-black hair and plum-red eyes—I knew this was the new Ubuyashiki.
The woman nodded lightly to me. "Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to come. Now that Lord Tomoaki has passed, according to regulations, the new Demon Slayer Corps Master position will be inherited by Lord Tomoaki's eldest son, Lord Kagaya."
The child beside her clearly couldn't even sit steadily. Yet his tender face showed mature calmness. Bowed to me.
"First meeting, Lord Chihaya. I am Ubuyashiki Kagaya."
His voice was gentle and pleasant. Yet made me momentarily dazed. As if hearing an old friend's laughter.
Speaking of which—compared to his father and grandfather, this child resembled Kiyohiro more.
How long since I'd thought of him?
I asked, "How old are you?"
Kagaya calmly smiled at me. "Already four years old."
Too young.
Though the Ubuyashiki Clan suffered deep curses—children taking over as Demon Slayer Corps Master were common—four was still an age very prone to early death.
But no choice. Ubuyashiki Tomoaki died very suddenly.
On the way after receiving the letter, I already knew—he didn't die early due to the curse's influence. But died by suicide.
As for the reason, I didn't ask. Only asked Ema, as the widow, about future plans.
Ema gently stroked her abdomen. "Truly sorry. I still carry Lord Tomoaki's posthumous child in my womb... No matter what, must properly give birth to this child. But Lord Kagaya is still young. I worry that being pregnant, I cannot properly care for him. Therefore, must seek your help."
True enough. Pregnant women must take good care of themselves. The Ubuyashiki's remaining children were too young. They were also prone to early death. Really couldn't do without adult supervision.
Just watching Kagaya for a few years—I took on this matter. Settled in the Ubuyashiki residence.
Because I couldn't return for several years, Ume was very unhappy. Wrote many letters yelling loudly. Complained I was biased, thought I didn't like her anymore, decided to be angry and never be friends again.
But demons other than me weren't allowed to enter the Ubuyashiki residence. This was also a rule continued for many years. No reason to casually make exceptions.
I could only reply with a worried face. Timidly agreed to many of her demands. Only then did this girl calm down.
Speaking of caring for Kagaya—actually, his daily life didn't need my help. The residence had reliable servants caring for him.
What I needed to assist him with was handling Demon Slayer Corps affairs.
Ema said Kagaya was a very intelligent child. Temperament also very steady and gentle. From birth, rarely cried or fussed.
When his father was still alive, loved holding him on his lap. Carefully teaching him many principles.
However, no matter how precocious and wise—this year, he was only four.
Not only did Ema worry enough to ask me to come watch him—even the Pillars were uneasy.
Kagaya already knew quite a few characters. But having him read those complicated documents one by one still required much effort.
Though young, he understood protecting his body well. Simply handed most matters he couldn't handle to me. Only when I was free would he listen to my brief explanations of events and results.
From my observations, what he most loved reading—were still Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen's files.
Whether newly enrolled Corps members or Cultivators who'd retired to second line—he'd carefully read these people's files once through. Encountering complex, awkward vocabulary, would rather check dictionaries than give up reading.
So when I handled those documents, he sat beside me. Occasionally would suddenly pop out with, "How's Yamato?" "Mr. Watanabe has lower back problems. Now living in seclusion—convenient to buy medicine?"
I was forced to memorize all Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen with him. Could recite everyone's files backwards and forwards.
Kagaya felt very embarrassed. Secretly saved confections his wet nurse gave him. Sent them to me to eat.
I felt he still had some conscience. Holding confections, humming and hawing as I continued working. These tasks weren't actually troublesome.
The Demon Slayer Corps continued for a thousand years. Already formed a complete system. Just that with different eras, details would change. I handled them quite smoothly.
After processing affairs accumulated from Ubuyashiki Tomoaki's sudden death, only one matter remained to resolve.
"Water Pillar Urokodaki Sakonji has reached retirement age."
I suddenly spoke. Kagaya, who was reading, looked up. First thought about this Pillar's information. Then smiled and nodded. "Yes. Did Mr. Urokodaki encounter problems?"
"He believes his health is good. Plans to postpone retirement. Continue working." I held Urokodaki's letter. "Probably worried you're too young. So can't bear to retire at this time."
Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, after reaching a certain age, would retire to second line. Become Cultivators training demon hunters.
This age wasn't fixed. Generally, swordsmen who lived past thirty-five would be included in observation range.
The Ubuyashiki would combine information fed back by their crows, plus swordsmen's annual physical examination results, to judge whether they'd reached retirement time.
Honestly, swordsmen who could live this long were extremely rare in the Demon Slayer Corps. Longevity meant their swordsmanship was superb. And luck was good.
These swordsmen's most precious asset was no longer combat ability. But experience fighting demons.
So if the Ubuyashiki judged they should retire, swordsmen would also readily accept. Change locations to continue contributing their strength to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Urokodaki Sakonji was Water Breathing's most outstanding swordsman. In the past year, his stamina showed obvious decline. Continuing missions would be very dangerous.
If he had an accident, Water Breathing's inheritance would definitely have problems.
These matters didn't need me to break down for Kagaya. After hearing just that sentence, the smile on his face had already disappeared.
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