However, now was not the time to dwell on other matters; the most important thing at hand was to find a doctor.
The two unfortunate children who were injured first, while their wounds were not fatal, could not afford to wait any longer.
Fortunately, the temple was not far from the nearest clinic, and with Gyoumei’s leg strength, he could make the round trip very quickly.
The only one who suffered was the doctor he carried back; one could tell from his trembling legs as he stepped onto the ground that he had been severely shaken by the bumpy ride.
Thanks to the doctor’s good medical ethics, he quickly got into character and began treating the injuries of the two young girls.
Treating this kind of penetrating wound that didn’t hit vital organs wasn’t particularly difficult.
The only problem was that the disinfection conditions of the current era were mediocre; whether they would get an infection later was entirely up to fate.
The two girls had long since fainted, and the entire treatment process went without any mishaps.
After simply treating the wounds on Gyoumei’s body and the one on Kanzaki Kumo’s temple—which had been smashed by Kaigaku with an incense burner—the doctor quickly settled the bill and fled.
“Just how much of a psychological shadow did Gyoumei leave on him…
Could it be that he was dragged out of his bed in the early morning?” Kanzaki Kumo muttered to himself as he watched the doctor, who didn’t want to stay for a single moment longer.
Kanzaki Kumo had misunderstood; although Gyoumei was desperate to save people, he wouldn’t go as far as rushing into someone’s home and dragging the doctor out.
The reason the doctor ran away as if escaping was primarily because he was terrified by the scene.
A wall was almost completely shattered, and not far inside was a pit nearly a foot deep.
Moreover, one could vaguely discern a human shape in that pit, and the blind monk who had carried him over was covered in a significant amount of blood.
God knows what had happened here before.
If it weren’t for the fact that the injured children were truly pitiable and his medical ethics wouldn’t allow him to abandon patients, he would have run away long ago.
Just as the doctor left, the government guards arrived.
After all, the massive commotion from Gyoumei’s battle with the demon had lasted from midnight until dawn; it was normal for the surrounding residents to report it to the authorities.
Three injured children, a tall, blind monk who was also wounded, a group of clearly frightened kids, and a scene in total disarray.
This was the scene the government officials saw.
Looking at the suspicious human-shaped depression and the injured Gyoumei, it was obvious that this blind monk had engaged in a fierce fight with an intruder.
With the children’s testimony explaining that Gyoumei was the one protecting them, the government officials did not make things difficult for this monk, who looked like someone not to be trifled with.
However, regarding the claims that “the monster disappeared at dawn,” they could only conclude that the children were overly frightened and hallucinating.
Since Gyoumei himself was blind, his version of events wasn’t believed either.
In the end, the government hastily closed the case as a criminal breaking in to commit violence and then being driven away.
Although he really wanted to complain about the so-called government of this world, at least Gyoumei didn’t end up wrongly imprisoned like in the original plot, so Kanzaki Kumo didn’t say much.
Instead, he was somewhat curious: with Gyoumei not in prison, how would that master of the Demon Slayer Corps take this super combatant under his wing?
As for why he was certain the Demon Slayer Corps would know about the events here, it was naturally because the figure that had flashed past outside the house earlier was a familiar face from his memories.
…
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Ubuyashiki Estate.
A man wearing a bright yellow checkered haori was currently reporting what he had seen.
He was the current Sound Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, a user of Thunder Breathing, Kuwajima Jigorō.
Although he was somewhat short in stature, he was the fastest among the current Demon Slayer Corps.
The current Demon Slayer Corps was severely understaffed.
While the low-level swordsmen were barely sufficient, only he and one other Flame Hashira remained as the pillar-level combatants.
The Water Hashira, Urokodaki Sakonji, had retired to become a Cultivator a year ago after being injured again during a mission, due to his old age and too many internal injuries.
Even he himself was gradually becoming unable to withstand high-intensity combat due to his age; only the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro, was still at his physical peak.
At that time, he had set out immediately after receiving information about a demon’s appearance, but he still only arrived at dawn, witnessing the demon dissipate beneath Gyoumei with his own eyes.
Shocked by the powerful combat strength Gyoumei possessed despite being clearly untrained, he immediately rushed back to headquarters to report after confirming the demon had dissipated.
Such a promising talent was exactly what the Demon Slayer Corps was currently in dire need of.
“I see…
To be able to suppress a demon with bare hands and even fight it until dawn…
Thank you for your hard work, Mr.
Kuwajima.
You may go down and rest now; I will handle the rest.” The current head of the Ubuyashiki Family and the master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, responded softly while sitting opposite Kuwajima Jigorō.
His tone was gentle, calm despite his joy, carrying the composure of a leader.
“Yes, master.”
Kuwajima took his leave.
After Kuwajima Jigorō left, Kagaya slowly stood up and walked outside, accompanied by his wife, Amane.
“Mr.
Kuwajima has discovered a child with infinite potential.” Facing his wife, Kagaya shed the composure he maintained in front of others and appeared a bit more excited.
“Are you going to invite him personally?” Amane easily guessed her husband’s plan.
“Of course.
As long as someone like that is trained, they can quickly become a new Hashira.
He is a rare talent for the current Demon Slayer Corps.
Moreover, those children who witnessed the demon with their own eyes also need to be properly settled.”
The Ubuyashiki Family did not just establish the Demon Slayer Corps to fight against demons; they also used their influence to do everything possible to suppress news related to demons.
After all, if those so-called upper-class people knew that becoming a demon could grant immortality, with the only side effect being the need to be careful of sunlight, Kagaya didn’t dare imagine to what extent the demon problem would proliferate.
As for the need to feed on humans after becoming a demon?
When had those people ever cared about the lives of ordinary people?
Even without becoming demons, people who took pleasure in killing or watching others engage in bloody combat for entertainment were not uncommon.
…
Shortly after, the group of government guards who had gone to the temple to investigate were summoned collectively by their superior.
“Not a single word of what you saw and heard today is to be leaked to the outside world, including to me!
Otherwise, we will all die!”
This was the first and only sentence the superior said to them before driving them out.
In the following days, the members of this squad died in the line of duty due to various reasons.
No one cared about the lives of these lowest-level bailiffs, except for their families.
…
On the afternoon of the demon attack, the head priest and two monks who had been away returned.
Kanzaki Kumo noticed that following them was a young man with a gentle and sunny expression, yet carrying a natural air of nobility.
“Ubuyashiki Kagaya.”
The face, which was almost identical to his memory, allowed Kanzaki Kumo to recognize the visitor’s identity at a glance.
Watching Kagaya and the head priest chatting happily, and seeing the priest’s clearly respectful attitude toward him, Kanzaki Kumo roughly guessed Kagaya’s plan—start with the priest to learn about Gyoumei and have him help persuade Gyoumei to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
From the presence of demon-repelling incense in the temple, it was clear that the head priest knew some information about demons; he just hadn’t shared it with those below him.
And the head priest of a remote little temple naturally had no power to resist the Ubuyashiki Family, which was currently as wealthy as a nation.
“Head Priest.”
Upon hearing the head priest’s voice, Gyoumei went to greet him.
“Yes, Gyoumei.
I heard that you fought a monster last night to protect the children.
You did well.
That kind of monster is called a demon; it is a man-eating creature that is difficult for ordinary people to kill.” The head priest was quite old, and his voice was slightly raspy, but he still seemed kind.
“I don’t know much about these monsters, but this Mr.
Ubuyashiki beside me has a better understanding.
He would very much like to chat with you.
Take him to the quiet room and host him properly.”
It seemed they had already reached an agreement on the road, as the head priest immediately had Gyoumei and Ubuyashiki Kagaya speak privately.
However, Kanzaki Kumo noticed that when Gyoumei led Kagaya away, the head priest quietly moved in the opposite direction, seemingly unwilling to know even a shred of extra information related to demons.
At his age, he only wanted to live out his life peacefully.
As for demons and such, knowing how to avoid them was enough; knowing more information was actually detrimental to a peaceful life.
Contrary to the head priest, when Kanzaki Kumo saw Gyoumei leading Kagaya away, he actively approached them.
Since he had been reincarnated into this world, he might as well do something—save some lovely people, and change some unfortunate events…