Demon Slayer: Can I add points to my Breathing Technique?

Looking at the old man with the celestial dog in front of him, Xia Xi naturally refuted him.

"Of course not enough."

"If I become a Pillar, let alone destroy the Demon King, I probably couldn't even handle the Upper Moons."

"How can you kill the Demon King without surpassing the level of a Pillar?"

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent instantly.

Not only the two children beside him, but even Urokodaki Sakonji's breath caught in his throat.

Is this child really that magnanimous?

He didn't want to kill the evil spirit to avenge his tragically deceased sister.

It's not that I want to climb to the top of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen and become a Pillar.

Instead, he stated quite naturally that he wanted to "kill Muzan Kibutsuji," something that ordinary swordsmen could never do.

Even Urokodaki Sakonji hadn't thought about it like this in a long time.

In all these years since I became a trainer, have I lost the spirit I had when I first joined the Demon Slayer Corps?

Each and every swordsman they have trained.

The words I said most often were "Take care of yourself" and "Survive"...

They have forgotten that they were also swordsmen who existed for revenge and to kill demons.

It wasn't just Urokodaki who started to reflect on himself.

Sabito and Giyu, who were standing nearby, also stared in astonishment.

They are still figuring out how to get through the final selection process safely.

Becoming a Pillar, surpassing a Pillar, or even personally killing the Demon King—these are all realms I had never even considered.

"Impressive," Yi Yong said softly.

Coming to his senses, Sabito patted Giyuu on the shoulder and said earnestly, "We can do that too, Giyuu."

As Urokodaki looked at Natsumi, a slight smile appeared on his aged face beneath the mask.

"A perfect answer."

"I think I understand why Kazami admires you."

He handed Xia Xi a cup of hot tea.

The relaxed atmosphere allowed the old man to start joking around.

"Now that there are three children, we need to prepare more rice in the stove."

Xia Xi acted as if she hadn't understood the meaning behind his words.

He said very seriously, "I have money."

The spare change I'd accumulated over the year, and the money I'd taken from teammates who dropped loot during the final selection.

All of that is enough for him to splurge at upscale restaurants for a month.

Linlong: "It was just a joke. I don't care about that little bit of money."

Having served in the Demon Slayer Corps for many years, he had already amassed a considerable fortune, not to mention the retirement allowance his master would occasionally send him.

In short, former Mizuhashi Urokodaki Sakonji was not short of money.

He even had enough money to hire local hunters to help him build training facilities in the mountains.

"I can cook, and you can also give me daily chores."

“I’d be happy to do these things.”

Urokodaki: "That's not what I meant..."

Xia Xi: "I'm a really good cook."

Urokodaki couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead.

"Alright then, Jiu Che, you and I will prepare dinner together tonight."

Seeing this, Sabito suppressed a laugh.

This senior seems to be someone with a lot of insensitivity.

He looked at Uchiha Giyuu beside him.

The black-haired boy tilted his head, wondering why his best friend's gaze seemed a little strange.

……

As it turns out, Xia Xi's cooking skills are indeed quite good.

"This taste..."

"This wasn't made by a human being..."

Yi Yong had just put the vegetables he had picked up into his mouth when he froze and began to chew them carefully.

He stuffed several more meatballs into his mouth one after another.

"I've never eaten anything so delicious before."

Sabito is no exception; after removing his mask, he appears much more childlike.

"Besides salt, what else did you add? This aroma... Senior, it's such a waste that you're a swordsman."

Seeing that Yiyong seemed to be choking because he was eating too fast, I noticed that Yiyong was standing to the side.

He quickly ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it over.

"It's 'broth,' a rich and flavorful soup I made by simmering mushrooms and kelp."

In front of the fireplace, the three from Sagiriyama were enjoying dinner prepared by Xia Xi.

Wild Game Bandit Hot Pot

A rich broth is made by simmering mushrooms or selected kelp for a long time.

It contains plenty of seasonal wild vegetables, homemade simple fish balls/meatballs, and hunted pheasant meat, seasoned with miso and soy sauce.

【Citrus Juice Salt Koji Grilled Fish】

The remaining fish meat was not wasted; it was marinated with wild garlic, mountain peppers, and wild citrus juice that they found.

Although the marinating time was short, the precise temperature control during baking perfectly made up for this shortcoming, resulting in a slightly charred and crispy texture.

It makes the flavor lean more towards a strong charcoal aroma, but without losing the juicy and tangy fruitiness.

finally.

The plates were unusually clean; even the broth had been used by the three of them to mix with their rice.

Urokodaki Sakonji even exclaimed, "Kazami wouldn't have vouched for you for this reason, would he?"

While everyone was enjoying the delicious food.

Deep in the mountains surrounding Nara.

The residence of Ubuyashiki.

"I never expected that Mr. Kazami would raise such an interesting child."

Put down the letter in your hand.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and chatted with the members of the Hidden Members beside him.

"Are you not content with just learning one breathing technique, but instead want to learn them all?"

"He might be a scholar-type genius."

Yin: "My lord is right."

"Brother Yan Shou also mentioned this child before, and his evaluation of him was also quite high."

“There are quite a few swordsmen who are powerful enough to defeat many demons by themselves.”

"There are also many people who extend a helping hand to other swordsmen in times of crisis and are generous with their kindness."

"But those who possess both are rare."

"If I had the chance, I would really like to meet them."

Yin: "My lord is right."

Ubuyashiki: "Approximately how many evil spirits have fallen at his hands?"

Yin: "What my lord said..."

The sleepy member realized he had said the wrong thing and awkwardly shut up.

Her ears were bright red, and her face under the mask was probably already completely red as well.

Ubuyashiki, however, did not blame him; instead, she comforted him.

"Tanaka, it was my oversight. You've been traveling so far and are already exhausted, yet I'm still keeping you here chatting."

"If you're tired, let's continue tomorrow."

The hidden member quickly said, "No, no, no, I'm not sleepy at all. My lord, are you asking about Lord Jiuche?"

"This new swordsman is quite capable."

"My colleagues at Lake Ashi asked other swordsmen, and they said that he had killed at least 80% of the demons in the selection area."

"In addition, some swordsmen from the surrounding areas were sent to carry out the mission, but when they arrived, they found that the evil spirits had already been eliminated."

"Based on the overlapping routes, it was probably done by Mr. Jiuche."

"In total... there are almost thirty now."

"Among them are two evil spirits who have mastered blood demon magic."

In other words, did this child already have the record of a Rank D swordsman when he passed the selection?

Kagaya Ubuyashiki pondered.

Although he had never personally fought against the demons on the front lines, he knew how powerful they were.