What Natsunishi didn't expect, however, was that after this sharp-tongued woman finished her scathing critique of Kazami Sarayoshi, she didn't seem satisfied yet.
Turning the conversation toward the other Cultivators, she continued her commentary.
"Matsuyama?"
"That big oaf is like a rock. No, he is a rock. It's bad enough that he's like that himself, but his teaching method is also just playing with rocks."
"I bet his teaching boils down to just three words."
"Stand, carry, smash!"
"Breathing techniques?"
"Tactical variations?"
"Non-existent! With Stone Breathing, you just swing and you're done!"
"Train with him for three months, and a disciple's speaking rhythm slows down by half a beat—and he has the gall to call it 'cultivating and tempering one's character.'"
"Brat, let me ask you: aside from the Breathing Style itself, how many sword forms did you learn?"
"And how many practical combat skills did you pick up?"
Ah... Well, truly not a single one.
Natsunishi felt a bit break out in a cold sweat.
"As for Senior Urokodaki? He's a good man, just too brooding."
"I suspect he's worn that wooden Tengu mask for so long that he's forgotten how to communicate with people."
"Communication relies basically on eye contact, teaching is entirely about running through mountains, and once he's done teaching the basic theory, he leaves you to figure the rest out yourself."
"And the result?"
"He either produces honest, rigid good kids who don't know how to adapt, or silent, problem children just like him."
Thinking of Sabito and Giyu, who were still training at Mount Sagiri, Natsunishi found himself unable to refute her for a moment.
The woman grabbed the shochu bottle beside her, tilted her head back, and took a long swig toward the moon. Natsunishi couldn't tell if it was an illusion, but he felt her mood shift slightly.
It was as if a few drops of an indescribable melancholy had seeped in.
"Of course, their methods aren't entirely without merit..."
Kazami's teaching of the fundamentals was very solid; the Wind Breathing swordsmen he produced were always capable of adapting to circumstances.
Though Matsuyama's teaching style was rustic, it was simpler and more effective for those practicing Stone Breathing.
As for Senior Urokodaki...
Aside from the brat in front of her, it had been years since she'd heard of a newcomer in the Corps taught by him.
In short.
"So you see, Kazami is too circuitous, Urokodaki is too stifling, and Matsuyama is too blunt."
"I respect them. In this business of snatching lives back from demons, being able to do it for decades... using their own ways to turn children into warriors, sending them to the battlefield, and then watching with open eyes as some of them never return... not everyone can shoulder that burden."
"But I've always felt that my way of teaching is the most practical and efficient."
She patted the hilt of her blade.
"Fighting every disciple with real blades and live steel."
"Using my strength and experience to force out their potential and broaden their horizons. So that the moment they join the Demon Slayer Corps, they at least have the ability to keep their lives."
"Though I can't compare to the past generations of Sound Hashira and Thunder Hashira, my Thunder Breathing isn't bad either."
"It's enough for these rookie brats to use for a very long time."
"As for you..."
Nikaido placed her hand over her old eyepatch.
It seemed the wound from many years ago was beginning to throb again.
"As for you... you're different from all of them."
"You're the first monster I've ever seen who tries to learn multiple Breathing Styles by mashing them together."
"Don't waste it, brat."
"Whether it's your talent or the things you've learned from them, practice all of it well."
"Come back alive and let these blind eyes of mine see for themselves... just how strong a monster of the new era can truly become."
Although she couldn't quite stand the teaching methods of the other Cultivators, they had all, without exception, placed a significant amount of hope in this brat.
In that case, she, Nikaido Mei, didn't mind placing a bet as well.
It was nothing more than... spending a few more days polishing him up.
Natsunishi remained silent for a moment, seemingly sensing the emotions between her words.
Compared to a distant future, Nikaido's teaching method leaned more toward cashing in potential ahead of time.
But then again, they all seemed to think quite highly of him?
Even though he already knew the answer in his heart, Natsunishi asked tentatively, "So tomorrow..."
Nikaido wore a look of "ultimate bliss."
As a result, the liquor she hadn't yet swallowed trickled down onto her smooth chest.
She said with some excitement, "Of course, we continue fighting to the death."
As I thought, all that stuff before was just an excuse. You're just a pure battle maniac—a total nutcase! Natsunishi couldn't help but complain inwardly.
"Then let's continue... Speaking of which, if you're always like this, won't you really scare some disciples away?"
Recalling how the other disciples looked as if they were used to it during the duel that afternoon, he continued, "The disciples who stay must have a hard time."
Nikaido's smile stiffened.
Whether it was the excitement of battle or the alcohol hitting her face, she actually spoke with a bit of a flush: "Impossible! I still have plenty of disciples! The strongest one is even about to become a Hashira very soon!"
Natsunishi: "Eh? Someone can actually stand you?"
Nikaido: "???"
She shouted angrily, "Are you implying I have a bad temper?!"
Natsunishi spread his hands.
...
The high-intensity sparring continued.
Though Nikaido Mei's strength wasn't as great as Urokodaki or Kazami—being roughly on par with Matsuyama—her more aggressive and explosive Thunder Breathing, her more flexible form and long reach, and that scorching will in battle all made Natsunishi feel a pressure far exceeding that of the other Cultivators.
And this pressure translated into visible growth.
On the second day, Natsunishi was knocked down 16 times.
On the third day, he was knocked down 14 times.
By the fifth day, this number had shrunk to less than five times.
Until the ninth day.
Natsunishi's second week at the Den-Shi Dojo.
Finally, for the first time, he truly knocked her down.
Nikaido's offensive—once as dense and unceasing as a rainy season thunderstorm—was broken.
The lightning was intercepted.
After using a Wind Breathing sword form to deflect the thunder she slashed out, Natsunishi struck with a fainter but equally sharp bolt of lightning.
The back of the blade.
It pressed gently against Nikaido's tanned neck.
[Thunder Breathing] LV.0 (1/250)
Silence lasted for three seconds, and then this woman, who was blunt to a fault, actually burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha! Good! Excellent!"
She slapped Natsunishi's back hard. "Do you know? My last student, that flashy idiot named Tengen, took two months to learn this move!"
"And you?!"
"Even if it was only for an instant, that was definitely First Form fueled by Thunder Breathing!"
"Only nine days! No wonder you're called Kuguruma Natsunishi! Hahaha!"
Tengen was an infuriating genius.
And this Kuguruma Natsunishi was an equally "infuriating" genius.
She spat inwardly.
You brat, don't you dare waste the goodwill of us old fossils.
At this moment, even she was becoming curious about what kind of Breathing Style a swordsman named Kuguruma Natsunishi could develop and derive after contemplating and analyzing the five main Breathing Styles.
Natsunishi turned his head, avoiding Nikaido's burning gaze and unabashed laughter.
He turned his attention to the system.
Stat preview.
[Experience +420]
[Please note, current Breathing Style compatibility: 84%]
[Achievement Point conversion loss: 16%]
This was the highest compatibility to date, far exceeding the Wind Breathing he specialized in.
It's Thunder.
Natsunishi had a clear premonition.
Even with the Flame Breathing he planned to study next, it would likely be difficult to reach this value.
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