In the room beside the Hashira Conference courtyard, Takeo and Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat facing each other.
Only three people occupied the small chamber: Kagaya himself, his wife Amane, and Takeo.
Kagaya listened quietly as Takeo recounted everything. When Takeo finally finished, Kagaya spoke in his gentle, measured tone.
"Breath of the Sun… I see. So that is why the Upper Rank One came for you."
"Mr. Kyojuro returned to his family's records and confirmed that Sun Breathing is the origin of all Breathing Techniques. From what I can tell, Muzan Kibutsuji harbors a particular hatred toward this primal style."
Takeo spoke slowly in response. His gaze lingered on Kagaya, heavy with conflicting emotions. Find the newest release on noⅴelfire.net
The leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was deteriorating. The last time Takeo had seen him, Kagaya had still been able to vaguely perceive light and shapes. But now, he seemed completely blind.
And yet, Takeo could still feel Kagaya's sightless gaze resting on him, sharp and unyielding.
"Sigh.. The origin of Breathing has been lost for centuries. I never thought I would encounter it again here," Kagaya murmured with a sigh. Then he turned his attention fully to Takeo.
"So, according to you, Takeo-kun… do you intend to record Sun Breathing?"
Takeo lowered his eyes and answered in a subdued voice.
"I don't know. First, I'm not certain that everyone can even endure Sun Breathing. Second, the more people who learn it, the more likely the Upper Ranks will target them."
"Mr. Kyojuro must have already informed you, my lord, about the intelligence on Upper Rank One. If all the Upper Ranks are that powerful, then no single Hashira could possibly defeat them."
"And since the Hashira usually act alone…"
That was the crux of the problem.
With so many demons rampaging across the country, the Hashira were each responsible for guarding and patrolling their own territories. They seldom had the chance to assemble together.
Take the battle against Kokushibo, for instance.
If Takeo and Kyojuro had not both been stationed in the Tokyo area at the same time, Kyojuro would never have arrived at the crucial moment.
By the time reinforcements truly came, Takeo would have either been killed or kidnapped by the Upper Rank One. And the Demon Slayers Takeo was protecting... Their bodies would already have been cold.
One Hashira alone could not stand against an Upper Rank.
But if the Hashira were to cluster together, then other regions would be left vulnerable.
The Demon Slayer Corps simply lacked enough capable fighters, leaving them constantly on the defensive.
"That is indeed a troubling question… But it seems, Takeo-kun, that you have chosen to teach Sun Breathing to Kyojuro-kun?" Ubuyashiki Kagaya asked softly.
Takeo was silent for several seconds before nodding. "Yes. Mr. Kyojuro is more suited to Sun Breathing than I am."
Not everyone could withstand the demands of Sun Breathing.
First of all, compatibility had to be considered. Secondly, practicing Sun Breathing placed a tremendous burden on the body. Without prior mastery of another Breathing Technique, attempting it directly could easily cause serious injury.
In this regard, Kyojuro was well-suited.
Flame Breathing was the closest style to Sun Breathing, and Kyojuro, who had achieved great mastery in Flame Breathing, was the most fitting candidate to inherit the original form of Breathing.
Takeo had originally never intended to teach Kyojuro.
But the battle the previous evening made him realize that Kyojuro was far stronger than he had assumed. More importantly, Kyojuro had no desire to be pitied or dismissed as weak—an attitude that Takeo had once, unintentionally, imposed upon him.
To Kyojuro, that was an insult.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya remained silent. He sat quietly for a long time, as though deep in thought.
Finally, after several minutes, he spoke.
"I understand. Then, let us record and seal away the training method for Sun Breathing. As for when it should be released… I will leave that decision to you, Takeo-kun. How does that sound?"
"…Me?"
"Yes. After all, it was you who rediscovered the long-lost original Breathing. You should have the right to decide who may learn it, and I will fully respect your judgment."
Kagaya did not attempt to use his authority as head of the Ubuyashiki family to compel Takeo into making Sun Breathing public.
Though he certainly had the right to do so—and if he had demanded it, Takeo would not have refused.
After all, spreading Sun Breathing would indeed strengthen the Demon Slayer Corps.
But that was not Ubuyashiki's way.
He respected others' opinions and treated everyone equally, regardless of who they were. In doing so, he gained the trust and respect of people like Takeo.
"Is this really alright?" Takeo asked quietly.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled faintly. "There's nothing wrong with it. Besides… in truth, the Demon Slayer Corps is not yet prepared for an all-out confrontation with the Upper Ranks. You are all still very young, and you still have room to grow stronger. It will take time."
It was no exaggeration to say that this generation of Demon Slayers was the strongest in the Corps' long history. Even when compared with the era of Tsugikuni Yoriichi—excluding Yoriichi himself—no other generation could match the current one.
Most importantly, the Hashira of this era were still so young.
Youth meant potential. Youth meant the future. Kagaya could almost "see" that the age-old feud between humans and demons, which had endured for a thousand years, might at last be brought to an end by this very generation.
But that time had not yet come.
The Corps needed more time to grow. Perhaps not a long time, but time nonetheless. Until then, the Hashira must not be needlessly thrown into peril.
For even Kagaya had to admit it—the Upper Ranks were terrifyingly powerful.
At present, aside from the Stone Hashira, none among them could defeat an Upper Rank in a one-on-one battle.
And not everyone could wield Sun Breathing.
Rather than forcing those unsuited to it to struggle against a technique that might destroy them, it was far better to allow them to advance step by step, following the natural course of their own Breathing styles.
Still, Ubuyashiki Kagaya wished to preserve the records of Sun Breathing—and on this, Takeo agreed.
"…I understand. Then… I won't trouble you any further."
Having decided how to handle Sun Breathing, Takeo rose to his feet, preparing to leave.
"Takeo-kun, please wait a moment," Kagaya called gently.
"Yes..?" Takeo stopped in his tracks.
"Regarding the region you will be assigned to," Kagaya continued, "it had not been decided before. But now… I have an idea. What do you think of the Swordsmith Village?"
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