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

"He was the most outstanding one in our selection process."

Shizi still had that quiet yet energetic look.

Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she looked at the boy, a hint of joy on her face.

Her voice was as gentle as ever, but Xia Xi always felt that there was something else in it.

Like a small... complaint?

"It's been a long time, Senior Xia Xi."

Xia Xi nodded somewhat awkwardly: "Yo... Persimmon, long time no see. Um, you're doing a bit better than last time."

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the hint of resentment in the other person's words seemed to have faded a little.

"Really?" the girl said somewhat shyly, "After all, I've been training very hard these past few days in order to catch up with you, Xia Xi-kun."

effort?

You mean upgrading Water Breathing from level 2 to just over level 3?

Xia Xi suppressed the urge to complain and looked at Dojima beside her.

The male swordsman stared at him expressionlessly.

Dojima:?_?

She just called you by your name, didn't she?

Are you that close?

In the end, he swallowed back his rant and simply said, "Dojima Kazuma, Rank D. The situation is urgent, let's talk as we go."

The three moved quickly toward the factory, with Dojima at the front speaking in a low voice about what he knew about the mission.

Several days ago, someone in the Shonan area of ​​Kamakura reported a crime.

He claimed that he and his friends had been attacked by a monster and wanted to ask the local police station for help.

However, the police found nothing at the crime scene and even detained the person who reported the crime as a suspect.

The local wisteria flower house took notice of this and relayed the information to the local secret service members.

Afterwards, the Demon Slayer Corps dispatched a swordsman named Ren to investigate.

As expected, the swordsman still met with an accident.

The swordsman has also lost contact.

Naturally, a new squad of swordsmen was sent to provide support, with the highest-ranking member already at the [Self] level.

This time, we made some more discoveries.

The demons are not located in Kamakura, but rather in a large area centered around southern Yokohama.

After battling and temporarily repelling the demons, the squad tracked them all the way to the textile factory.

Upon discovering that there were still innocent people imprisoned inside the factory, the swordsmen immediately decided to storm in and rescue them.

However, the communication ended there.

The swordsmen failed to rescue the hostages, and they themselves disappeared within the textile factory.

The raven brought back little news.

Aside from the fact that "the evil spirit is suspected of having the ability to create clones" and "there are a large number of survivors," there is nothing else.

and so……

"When we take action later, I am not entirely confident of victory, so please be careful."

Dojima Kazuma said this.

And behind him.

"Lord Lanzhu must be very strict, right? Otherwise, Xia Xi-kun wouldn't be unable to spare even a little bit of time..."

"It's not particularly strict, although Mr. Igarashi does have very high standards."

"Or does Natsumi-kun think that not replying to any letters is also a requirement of Lord Arashi-ju...?"

Kazuma Dojima: ...

"Hey, you two,"

He couldn't help but turn around, his voice low but clearly filled with helplessness: "Can we stop reminiscing for now?"

Do we really have to chat at a time like this?!

Dojima felt like a gas lamp caught between the two of them, emitting light and heat...

I'm inexplicably annoyed.

Xia Xi immediately quieted down.

It wasn't because of Dojima's complaint, but because a large number of system panels appeared through the windows in several directions ahead.

Except for a few red ones.

The values ​​were almost all below 12.

Deeper in, it's because the target acquisition range has been exceeded, and the control panel is no longer visible.

So many ordinary NPCs...

"I think we've found those who went missing."

Upon hearing this, Dojima's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he listened intently to the sounds coming from deep within the factory area.

Shiko also regained his focused swordsman demeanor, his hand already resting on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade.

“Left, right, no, there are some ahead too.” The swordsman’s keen senses allowed him to detect the direction Xia Xi was pointing to. He said, “There are many people. They should be the missing swordsmen and ordinary people.”

His expression turned somewhat troubled for a moment.

Should we split our forces?

Dojima gazed into the darkness-shrouded depths of the factory, hesitating for a moment.

Xia Xi, however, spoke up as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "You two lower-level players can go over there; there are fewer monsters there."

Areas with high monster density and high experience points should be cleared out by yourself.

This time, it's Dojima's turn not to do it.

Low-level?

me?

He subconsciously looked at Yukizoku Osamu beside him.

He'd worked with this girl before; her skills were just average.

At most, the [Ren] level is [Xin] level.

As a student in the same class as the other team, how strong can one be even if they are number one?

and many more!

He thought of some rumors he had heard in the team.

Most of the pillars are promoted at a breakneck speed, and the number of selection sessions cannot be used as a reference.

The person in front of him was not any of the Nine Pillars he knew.

In addition, there's the [Storm] Pillar that Yukizoku just mentioned...

Then there's only one answer!

Dojima bowed his head respectfully to Natsumi and said, "I will follow your arrangements, Your Excellency, my stepson."

Strange weapons in Dojima's eyes.jpg (various gauntlets and blades)

Chapter 53 Say something, will you?!

Stepson?

What the heck?

Xia Xi's eyes were clear as she looked at Tangdao and then at Shizi.

Xue Zou Shizi quickly realized what was happening.

"Stepchildren" are also known as "adopted children".

He is an outstanding member of the Demon Slayer Corps, recognized and chosen by the nine Hashira to inherit their mantle.

They were receiving guidance from the pillars.

They will also undertake even more dangerous demon-slaying missions in the future.

Xia Xijun is not the stepson of the Pillars.

However, his current training situation with the Storm Pillar is not much different from that of his stepson.

The girl had no intention of correcting Dojima's misunderstanding; instead, she mimicked Dojima's tone and nodded slightly to Natsumi.

"Xue Zou will obey your orders, my stepson."

Xia Xi: ...

I always feel like this way of addressing me is a roundabout way of taking advantage of my seniority...

After the mission is over, I need to go back and ask that cheap senior brother what the deal is with this "inheriting a son" thing.

The group dispersed according to Xia Xi's instructions.

Xia Xi headed towards the most densely populated area and then randomly pointed out a direction to Shi Zi that seemed to have no red-named monsters.

As for Dojima, he sent him to a small monster with only one [energy level 62].

……