Chapter 6: Joining
The two issues Akira raised were not new. The masters of the Demon Slayer Corps had been aware of them for generations, but a viable solution had always remained out of reach.
The teaching methods and standards of every Cultivator in the Corps varied, leading to an inconsistent level of strength among the disciples they trained., some recruits performed admirably during training, only to freeze when faced with the true horror of a demon. In the face of death, their composure would shatter, and some lost even the courage to draw their blades.
It was precisely to weed out such individuals that the Final Selection was established as the ultimate trial.
But the assessment method was undeniably flawed, with the two most glaring problems being the ones Akira had just pointed out. In theory, the solution was simple: just assign a few high-level swordsmen to secretly monitor each trial.
The problem, however, was that the Demon Slayer Corps was stretched far too thin.
The more powerful a swordsman was, the more demanding and perilous their missions became. There was simply no one to spare for the task of safeguarding newcomers during the Final Selection.
"I am truly sorry, young Kanzaki." After a long, heavy silence, Ubuyashiki Kagaya slowly shook his head. The quiet strength in his voice seemed to drain away, replaced by a heavy note of guilt and self-recrimination. "Because the Demon Slayer Corps is currently so severely understaffed, the two problems you have raised cannot be resolved for the time being. However, I will continue to think of a solution. For now, the most we can do is slightly increase the frequency of patrols on Mount Fujikasane by Hashira-level swordsmen."
To not dismiss the issues simply because they were raised by a youth, to earnestly consider a solution, and to refrain from blaming the whistleblower—this master of the Demon Slayer Corps was already a far better leader than any of the so-called executives Akira had known in his past life.
also, with his sharp observational skills, Akira could detect no hint of pretense in Kagaya's guilt. The man's self-reproach was genuine. At the very least, it proved that the current head of the Demon Slayer Corps was a good person.
In his heart, Akira had already silently awarded Kagaya a 'good person' card.
While the master of the Corps was still lost in his thoughts, Akira glanced out the window. Evening was already bleeding into night. Kagaya was still pondering a solution, and Gyomei was still weighing whether joining the Corps would shatter the peaceful life he had built. Deciding to move things along, Akira was the first to break the silence.
"I will join the Demon Slayer Corps," he stated, his voice clear and firm, "but on one condition."
Kagaya's head lifted, a flicker of hope diluting the gloom in his expression. "Please, speak freely."
"Among the children this temple took in, there was a boy named Kaigaku," Akira began, his gaze locking onto Kagaya's. "He first stole temple property. After being cast out, he lured a demon here and deliberately destroyed the demon-repelling incense. If not for him, this place would never have been attacked last night."
He let the words hang in the air, his meaning unmistakable.
"My condition is that I never see him again."
The bluntness of the request startled Kagaya. He turned his gaze toward Gyomei, who sat beside him.
"Amitabha." Gyomei seemed to sense the unspoken question, his large hands pressed together in prayer. "I cannot say with certainty who lured the demon, nor who destroyed the incense. However, Kaigaku is… not a virtuous child. He was expelled for repeated transgressions, and the other children have also said it was he who destroyed the incense burner. Therefore, I believe what young Akira says is true. also, such a wicked child should be punished."
He had originally intended to add that Kaigaku was still just a child and that his crimes did not warrant death, but a light touch from Akira on his arm made him swallow the words.
"Is that so…" After a brief moment of thought, Kagaya gave a solemn nod. "I promise you."
On one side was a peerless genius willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps; on the other, a selfish scourge who held no regard for the lives of others. The choice required little hesitation. If anything, Kagaya worried that agreeing too quickly might make him appear as someone who, himself, disregarded life.
"Master Ubuyashiki," Gyomei followed up, his deep voice connecting with conviction, "I am also willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps and contribute to the cause of slaying demons."
"Thank you both, very much."
"In that case," Akira said with a nod, satisfied, "you must have already prepared the subsequent arrangements, correct?" It was for the best. A menace like Kaigaku was better dealt with sooner rather than later.
"Of course. It is getting late. You two should rest well tonight. Tomorrow morning, someone will come to take you to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Night is when demons are most active, which means the work of the Corps is as well. I must return to handle some matters, so I will take my leave."
After briefly explaining the plan, Kagaya rose to depart. Akira and Gyomei walked him out of the quiet room.
That night, Akira lay on his futon, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.
When he had watched the anime in his past life, he had felt a deep sense of pity for the tragedies that befell so many characters in this world. Now that he had been reborn here, and with the timeline clearly still in its early stages, many of those future tragedies could potentially be rewritten.
Of course, the most important thing was to improve his own strength. Otherwise, forget rewriting tragedies—even self-preservation would be a struggle. In this world, one could run into a demon any night, at any time.
Thinking of improving his strength led him to think of Breathing Techniques. He began to wonder which style he should choose to train in, which then led him to fantasize about how he would look after mastering those incredible skills…
Lost amidst a storm of chaotic thoughts, Akira unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
…
The Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Ubuyashiki Estate.
Traveling with haste, Kagaya returned under the deep cover of night. Just as he reached the entrance, his wife, Amane, came to meet him, her expression urgent.
"Kuwajima-sama was seriously injured during a mission and has lost a leg," she reported softly. "He is currently receiving treatment in the Medical Department."
The news instantly extinguished the quiet joy Kagaya had felt from recruiting two geniuses.
"Let's go see him together."
"Yes."
Inside the house, two young girls awakened by the commotion, Hinaki and Nichika, stood by the window. They watched the receding figures of their parents hurrying away and sighed with a helplessness that belied their age.
"Go back to sleep," Hinaki whispered, patting her younger sister's shoulder.
"Okay…"
The two sensible girls knew their parents carried heavy responsibilities. At their young age, the only way they could help was to take care of themselves and not be a distraction.
…
In the Medical Department of the Demon Slayer Corps, the severely injured Sound Hashira, Kuwajima Jigoro, had regained consciousness. A dull, throbbing pain radiated throughout his body, but it was nothing compared to the phantom ache from the empty space below his right knee. His spirit was crushed.
He had traveled to multiple locations to slay demons tonight. In the end, worn down by exhaustion, he had been caught off guard by a demon with a particularly insidious Blood Demon Art. Though he had managed to slay the creature despite his grievous injuries, it had cost him a leg.
"Sigh…"
Kuwajima was not just sighing for his own injury, but for the future of the Demon Slayer Corps. The old man, who had dedicated half his life to the cause, was anxious. He knew he would have to retire. With his departure, the Hashira would be down to just Rengoku Shinjuro, making the Corps' future even more precarious.
After a while, a soft knock came from the ward door. "Jigoro-dono," Kagaya's gentle voice called from outside, "is it convenient for me to come in?"
"Of course, Master. Please, come in."
Watching the Ubuyashiki couple enter the room together, Kuwajima sighed inwardly again. He hadn't even registered the sound of two sets of footsteps outside. It was just another confirmation of how severely his body had declined.
"Forgive me, Amane-sama," he said, his voice raspy. "I failed to notice you had come as well."
"Please don't mind it, Kuwajima-sama."
"…"
A heavy silence fell over the room. Kuwajima was too ashamed to bring up his retirement, while the Ubuyashiki couple felt their hearts ache at the sight of his injuries. This gray-haired pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps had, without exaggeration, watched the current master grow up. Now, this venerable elder was covered in scars, no longer able to fight on the front lines.
"Jigoro-dono," Kagaya finally said, taking the initiative to break the oppressive atmosphere, "once your injuries are healed, please become a Cultivator."
"Yes, Master," Kuwajima accepted, his voice trembling slightly.
"There is no need to feel burdened. The Demon Slayer Corps has been passed down for hundreds of years. Under the resilient will of our swordsmen, any setback can be overcome. Besides, I believe that with your skills, you will surely be able to train many outstanding swordsmen in the future."
"I will not fail your trust, Master!"
"It's just… things will be hard for Shinjuro and the other swordsmen."
"Jigoro-dono, please focus on recovering," Kagaya said, his tone gentle but firm. "Only by nursing your body back to health can you teach others. I have already contacted a technician who makes prosthetic limbs. While it won't restore you to how you were, it will make your daily life easier."
"Thank you, Master."
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]