Regarding these two issues, the previous masters of the Demon Slayer Corps had been aware of them, but there had never been a good solution.
The teaching methods and standards of every Cultivator in the Demon Slayer Corps vary, and the strength of the disciples they train is also inconsistent.
Furthermore, some people perform fine during training, but when faced with a demon or the threat of death, they might lose their composure or even the courage to draw their blade and fight.
It is precisely because of this that the Final Selection was established as a means of testing.
But this assessment method does indeed have drawbacks, the most obvious being the two pointed out by Kanzaki Kumo.
In theory, the solution isn’t difficult; just arrange for a few high-level swordsmen to secretly monitor each assessment.
The problem, however, is that the Demon Slayer Corps is too short-staffed.
The more powerful a swordsman is, the more heavy and dangerous their missions become, making it impossible to spare personnel to guard the newcomers’ Final Selection.
“I’m very sorry, young Kanzaki.
Because the Demon Slayer Corps is currently severely understaffed, the two problems you raised cannot be resolved for the time being.
However, I will continue to think of a solution.
For now, we can only slightly increase the frequency of Hashira-level Swordsman patrolling Fujikasane Mountain.”
After thinking for a long time, Ubuyashiki Kagaya shook his head.
His tone lost its previous vigor, replaced by guilt and self-reproach.
To not look down on the issues raised just because Kanzaki Kumo was young, to seriously consider a solution, and to not resort to making the whistleblower solve the problem or’solving’ the person who raised the problem—this master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, was already far better than the so-called leaders Kanzaki Kumo had seen or heard of in his past life.
Moreover, with Kanzaki Kumo’s observation skills, he couldn’t see any signs of pretense in that guilt and self-reproach.
At the very least, it showed that this current master of the Demon Slayer Corps was a good person.
Well, Kanzaki Kumo had already silently given Ubuyashiki Kagaya a ‘good person’ card in his heart.
While Ubuyashiki Kagaya was still blaming himself, Kanzaki Kumo glanced out the window; it was already evening.
Kagaya was still pondering ways to solve those two problems, and Gyoumei was also considering whether joining the Demon Slayer Corps would shatter their current peaceful life.
Kanzaki Kumo was the first to break the silence.
“I can join the Demon Slayer Corps, but I have one condition.”
“Please, speak.” Kanzaki Kumo’s agreement to join temporarily diluted Kagaya’s gloom.
“Among the children taken in by this temple, there was a boy named Kaigaku.
He first stole temple property, and after being kicked out, he lured a demon here and even destroyed the demon-repelling incense.
Otherwise, this place wouldn’t have been attacked by a demon last night at all.”
Kanzaki Kumo looked directly into Kagaya’s eyes.
“My condition is that I never see him.”
This blunt “hint” gave Kagaya a start.
He turned to look at Gyoumei beside him.
“Amitabha.
I do not know who lured that demon or who destroyed the incense, but Kaigaku is indeed not a good child.
He was kicked out before for repeated mistakes, and the other children also said it was Kaigaku who destroyed the incense burner.
Therefore, I believe what Xiao Kumo says.
Moreover, such a bad child should be punished.”
Gyoumei seemed to sense Kagaya’s gaze and spoke slowly with his hands pressed together.
He originally wanted to say that Kaigaku was still just a child and his crimes didn’t warrant death, but Kanzaki Kumo touched his arm, causing him to swallow his subsequent words.
“Is that so…
I promise you.” After a brief thought, Kagaya nodded in agreement.
This choice required little hesitation.
Instead, Kagaya worried that agreeing too quickly might make him appear as someone who also disregarded life.
“Mr.
Ubuyashiki, I am also willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps and contribute to the cause of slaying demons,” Gyoumei followed up.
“Thank you both very much.”
“In that case, you should have prepared the subsequent arrangements, right?” Kanzaki Kumo nodded.
It was better to get rid of a scourge like Kaigaku early on.
“Of course.
It’s getting late now.
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, and the same goes for the work of the Demon Slayer Corps.
I still need to return to handle some matters, so I will take my leave now.”
After briefly explaining the situation, Kagaya rose to leave.
Gyoumei and Kanzaki Kumo also walked out of the quiet room one after another.
That night, Kanzaki Kumo lay in bed with a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.
When watching the anime in his past life, he had felt pity for the tragedies of many characters in this world.
Now that he had been reincarnated here, and the timeline was clearly still early, many future tragedies had the possibility of being rewritten.
Of course, more importantly, he had to improve his own strength.
Otherwise, let alone rewriting tragedies, even self-preservation would be an issue.
In this world, who knows when you might run into a demon at night.
Thinking of improving his strength led him to think of Breathing Techniques, and then he began to wonder which Breathing Technique to choose for his training, and then he started to fantasize about how he would look after learning those cool techniques…
Amidst various chaotic thoughts, Kanzaki Kumo unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
…
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Ubuyashiki Estate.
Traveling with haste, Kagaya returned here under the cover of the deep night.
Just as he reached the entrance, his wife Amane came to meet him with an urgent report.
“Mr.
Kuwajima was seriously injured during a mission and has lost a leg.
He is currently receiving treatment in the Medical Department.”
This news instantly extinguished the joy Kagaya felt from having recruited two geniuses.
“Let’s go see him together.”
“Yes.”
Inside the house, the two young girls awakened by the commotion, Ubuyashiki Hinaki and Ubuyashiki Nichika, stood by the window and sighed helplessly as they watched the receding figures of their parents hurrying away.
“Go back to sleep.”
Hinaki patted her younger sister’s shoulder.
“Okay…”
The two sensible young girls knew their parents carried heavy responsibilities.
Being so young, the only way they could help was to take care of themselves and not distract their parents.
In the Medical Department of the Demon Slayer Corps, the severely injured Sound Hashira Kuwajima Jigorō had regained consciousness.
Feeling the pain throughout his body, especially the missing lower part of his right leg, his mental state was very dejected.
He had traveled to multiple locations to slay demons tonight, and ultimately, due to physical exhaustion, he was caught off guard by a demon with a rather insidious Blood Demon Art.
Although he managed to slay the demon despite his heavy injuries, it cost him a leg.
“Sigh…”
Kuwajima Jigorō was not only sighing for his own injuries but also worrying about the future of the Demon Slayer Corps.
This old man, who had dedicated half his life to the cause of slaying demons, was anxious that he would now have to retire due to his injury.
The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps would be left with only Rengoku Shinjuro, making the future of the Corps even more difficult.
After a while, the door to the ward was knocked.
Kagaya asked softly from outside: “Mr.
Jigorō, is it convenient to come in?”
“Of course, master, please come in.”
Watching the Ubuyashiki couple open the door and walk in together, Kuwajima sighed in his heart again.
He hadn’t even noticed there were two sets of footsteps outside just now, which further informed him that his physical condition had indeed declined severely.
“Forgive me, Lady Amane, I failed to notice you had come as well.”
“Please don’t mind it, Mr.
Kuwajima.”
“…”
The room fell into a temporary silence.
Kuwajima Jigorō was somewhat ashamed to ask for retirement, while the Ubuyashiki couple felt heartache over his injuries.
This gray-haired pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps could be said, without exaggeration, to have watched the current master grow up.
Now, this elder was covered in scars and could no longer fight on the front lines.
“Mr.
Jigorō, once your injuries are healed, please become a Cultivator.”
In the end, it was Kagaya who took the initiative to break the heavy atmosphere.
“Yes, master.”
Kuwajima Jigorō accepted with a slightly trembling voice.
“There is no need for a psychological burden.
The Demon Slayer Corps has been passed down for hundreds of years.
Under the resilient will of the 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 swordsmen moving forward.”
“Mr.
Jigorō, please focus on recovering.
Only by nursing your body back to health can you teach better.
I have already contacted a technician who makes prosthetic limbs.
Although it won’t restore you to how you were, it will make your daily life easier.”
“Thank you, master.”