Ubuyashiki Kagaya appeared to be asking both Kanzaki Kumo and Gyoumei, but in reality, he was only asking Kanzaki Kumo.
For Gyoumei, a man whose innate physical constitution far exceeded that of ordinary people, Stone Breathing was the most suitable for him.
On the contrary, for Kanzaki Kumo, who had shown no extra combat talent so far other than his terrifying observational skills, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had not yet determined a choice of Breathing Technique for him.
“As for me, I’ll choose Thunder Breathing,” Kanzaki Kumo stated, voicing the decision he had made on the way here.
Thunder Breathing is the fastest among the five basic Breathing Techniques, especially in terms of instantaneous explosive power.
Kanzaki Kumo was precisely interested in its speed.
As the saying goes from his previous life: in the world of martial arts, only speed is invincible.
Moreover, not just for offense, but if one is fast enough, it also provides a greater advantage for survival.
Kanzaki Kumo thought: ‘Ah, having lived a second life, I naturally have to cherish my life a bit more.
I’m just following my heart—what’s wrong with that?’
Of course, a high-speed Breathing Technique would also be more conducive to utilizing his own advantages.
His terrifying observational skills manifested in combat as extremely powerful Dynamic Vision, which had already been demonstrated when he helped Gyoumei deal with the demon earlier.
This powerful Dynamic Vision allowed him to see everything clearly even while moving or attacking at high speeds, effectively raising the upper limit of the speed he could adapt to.
What he would need to consider later was instead his body’s physical endurance.
At the same time, only a sufficiently fast method of attack could fully utilize the advantages of this talent.
After all, even if he saw the opponent’s opening, it would be useless if his attack speed couldn’t keep up.
“Thunder Breathing?
Then Mr.
Kanzaki might need to wait for a while, because the Demon Slayer Corps’ previous Thunder Breathing Cultivator has already stepped down due to being too old to provide proper instruction.
The next Cultivator is the Sound Hashira, Kuwajima Jigorō.
He retired last night due to injury and is currently recuperating.
Once he has finished his recovery, he will take over the position of Cultivator.”
Kagaya’s words made Kanzaki Kumo dazed for a moment.
After all, he had just seen Kuwajima Jigorō’s figure flash past the temple earlier, and he hadn’t expected to hear the news of his serious injury so soon.
Although he quite hoped his teacher would be that cute Little old man, he really hadn’t expected it to happen right as he retired due to injury.
“That’s not a problem.” Having made his decision, Kanzaki Kumo was unwilling to change his goal easily.
Anyway, staying with the Demon Slayer Corps meant his life was safe for the time being, so a little delay didn’t matter.
“That is good then.”
After Kanzaki Kumo’s choice of Breathing Technique was settled, Ubuyashiki Kagaya turned his gaze toward the silent Himejima Gyomei.
“So, Mr.
Himejima, do you have any thoughts?
“Amitabha.
Since that is the case, I shall choose Stone Breathing,” Gyoumei responded with his hands pressed together.
“Because Stone Breathing is extremely difficult to master, and only a few people have succeeded over the past few centuries, there is no corresponding Cultivator.
There are only training manuals and the insights left behind by each user.
I will personally read the contents to you until you have learned Stone Breathing or decide to give up and switch to another Breathing Technique.”
‘He’s really putting in the effort to truly win Gyoumei over,’ Kanzaki Kumo muttered to himself upon hearing Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s words.
Of course, it wasn’t because he was bitter or anything; after all, Gyoumei’s talent was indeed absurd.
Even Kanzaki Kumo himself wasn’t sure if his future strength could surpass Gyoumei, that super powerhouse who could swing a flail like a propeller.
It’s rare enough for an ordinary person to barely hold their own against a demon, but Gyoumei had directly pinned a demon down and beaten it for several hours until dawn.
One could say that as long as he was given a properly sized nichirin blade, he would already be ready to participate in the swordsmen’s Final Selection.
Kanzaki Kumo felt that even the Hand Demon, whose difficulty far exceeded the normal level of a starter village boss, probably couldn’t handle Gyoumei.
“Amitabha, thank you, master.” Regarding Ubuyashiki Kagaya personally reading the training manual, Gyoumei was naturally very touched, and his eyes, which had only whites, were already welling up with tears.
The congenital defect in Gyoumei’s eyes not only made him blind but also made him more prone to tears than ordinary people, which became more apparent when his emotions fluctuated.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya was also taken aback for a moment seeing such a large man looking like he was moved to tears, but he quickly realized it was likely due to the other’s congenital physiological defect and didn’t say much.
“Well then, since you two have had a long journey, go and rest first.
The Kakushi who will take you to your quarters have already been arranged outside.”
Hearing this, Kanzaki Kumo turned his head to look outside and saw two people standing in the courtyard, their bodies wrapped tightly in black clothing, even wearing masks on their faces, revealing only their eyes.
These are the Kakushi, responsible for the vast majority of the Demon Slayer Corps’ logistics, including but not limited to purchasing supplies, transporting the wounded, cleaning up battlefields, and guiding the way.
Basically, except for medical care and the forging of nichirin blades, the Kakushi are responsible for all other logistical matters.
“Can I go see my future teacher?” Thinking of medical care, Kanzaki Kumo asked casually as he prepared to leave.
After all, he was someone he would need to get along with for quite a long time, and it wouldn’t hurt to build a good relationship in advance; besides, he had nothing else to do.
“Of course, no problem.”
And so, Gyoumei was taken to his quarters, while Kanzaki Kumo went to the Medical Department.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya stood at the door, watching the backs of the two as they departed, and the sorrow in his heart faded slightly.
Although Kanzaki Kumo was still young and would likely need a long time of training before he could truly participate in battle, Gyoumei already had a good foundation.
As long as he learned a Breathing Technique, he could become a powerful swordsman with significant growth potential, which somewhat alleviated the Demon Slayer Corps’ shortage of talent.
Though only slightly…
Thinking about how the Demon Slayer Corps’ high-end combat power currently relied solely on the Flame Hashira’s bitter struggle, Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s mood ultimately couldn’t improve.
But he was the master of the Demon Slayer Corps, the leader.
No matter what, he could not show negative emotions in front of others.
“Yes.”
The two sisters on the side could only glance at each other and then also cast their gazes toward the departing pair.
…
Demon Slayer Corps Medical Department.
Kanzaki Kumo, led by medical staff, arrived outside Kuwajima Jigorō’s hospital room.
“Lord Kuwajima, there is a young boy claiming to be your future disciple who wishes to visit you.
Would it be convenient for you?” Even though Kuwajima Jigorō had resigned from his position as a Hashira, the members of the Demon Slayer Corps still held heartfelt respect for him.
Lying on the hospital bed with nothing to do, Kuwajima Jigorō was also stunned to hear the term “future disciple” and immediately let the person in.
Looking at the child walking into the room, Kuwajima was a bit bewildered.
‘The Demon Slayer Corps might be short on people, but surely not to the point of sending such a small child to the battlefield?’ Kuwajima muttered to himself.
While Kuwajima was dazed, Kanzaki Kumo had already confirmed that the figure he saw flashing past the temple earlier was indeed him, by the folded bright yellow haori next to his bed.
“You’re the brat claiming to be my ‘future disciple’?
How old are you?
Do you even know what a swordsman does?
Do you know how terrifying demons are?” Seeing the obviously young Kanzaki Kumo, Kuwajima’s first thought was to say some harsh words to scare him away.
Facing Kuwajima Jigorō, who was deliberately making a threatening expression, Kanzaki Kumo said nothing and just looked at him silently.
There was no helping it; Kuwajima’s acting was indeed subpar.
Although it was somewhat intimidating combined with his scarred face, under Kanzaki Kumo’s observation, it was full of flaws.
Only because he knew the man meant well did Kanzaki Kumo manage to suppress the urge to complain.
Looking at Kanzaki Kumo’s calm and somewhat speechless gaze, Kuwajima also couldn’t quite keep it up.
As his eyes wandered, Kuwajima suddenly realized that this child looked a bit familiar.
After thinking about it, he realized it was one of the children from the temple he had arrived at too late that day.
In that case, the boy really had seen a demon.
Thinking of this, Kuwajima’s facial expression became even harder to maintain.
But he still didn’t give up on his plan to persuade Kanzaki Kumo to quit, and continued: “With a small frame like yours, can you even lift a nichirin blade?”
“It should be…
no problem,” Kanzaki Kumo responded after a slight thought.
Although his strength wasn’t as terrifying as Gyoumei’s, the fact that he could affect a demon’s movements by throwing stones earlier showed that his strength was at least not small.
“Oh?
Then pick one up and show me!” Kuwajima said, picking up his own nichirin blade from the bedside and throwing it, scabbard and all, toward Kanzaki Kumo.
He had controlled the force, and the landing point was in front of Kanzaki Kumo; even if he didn’t catch it, he wouldn’t be hit.
But to his surprise, Kanzaki Kumo caught it easily with one hand.