Konoha's Mission Master

"But what? Even if he possesses strength far exceeding that of a Pillar, I will not allow him to... ruin my meticulously crafted Nichirin Blade in just two months!"

"But…"

"My lord, please stop talking. I must teach him a lesson..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki rubbed his forehead in exasperation. He wanted Hidetsuka to forge a few more specially made Nichirin Blades for Yakumo.

However, Steelzuka, who loved his sword dearly, didn't listen to his explanation and immediately flew into a rage. He didn't even have time to explain to him the terrifying feat of Yakumo killing four Upper Moons and Lower Moon One.

With a whoosh, Rengoku Kyojuro carried Yakumo into the courtyard, put Yakumo on the ground, and then Rengoku Kyojuro and Kocho Shinobu knelt down on one knee at the same time, respectfully greeting Ubuyashiki Kagaya who was sitting on a cushion.

Several large trees were planted in the courtyard, with straight and strong trunks, lush leaves, and gnarled and intertwined branches.

The curtain is embroidered with wisteria flowers.

"My lord."

"So he is the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Yakumo observed Kagaya Ubuyashiki and found that he was seriously ill and probably didn't have many years left to live. His limbs were loose and obviously did not have any strength, but he was filled with a calming aura.

If you ignore the pustules and sores on his face, you can tell that he was once a handsome and refined young man.

Behind Kagaya Ubuyashiki were several bookshelves over a meter tall, filled with all sorts of scrolls and books, presumably archives of various intelligence reports. From top to bottom, they were divided into red, black, purple, blue, and yellow, representing the importance of the intelligence reports.

In the corner stood two exquisitely beautiful little girls.

His eyes, however, seemed somewhat cold, sending a chill down one's spine.

Beside Kagaya Ubuyashiki were scrolls and two books that could be read at any time. Because he was blind, the girl beside him had to read these books aloud. There were also tools for warming hands and an incense burner, and the air was filled with the faint scent of medicine.

Meanwhile, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was also observing Yakumo, but he couldn't sense any aura of a strong person. Yakumo stood there unremarkable yet hard to ignore, a strange person indeed.

"Was it you... who ruined the Nichirin Blade I forged?"

Steel Tomb had already stood up, his eyes filled with anger.

At this moment, Yakumo realized that the person in front of him really wanted to kill him, and he also guessed the whole story from what Steelzuka had said.

“Um… I killed Lower Moon One, Enmu.”

"Even if you kill Lower Moon One, you can't destroy my..."

However, Yakumo could clearly sense that the anger of the person in front of him was gradually subsiding. Although he loved his sword dearly, his hatred for demons far exceeded his own life.

"I also killed Upper Moon One, Two, and Three."

"Are you kidding me!?"

Steelzuka questioned angrily, but when he looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who was nodding incessantly, his angry gaze gradually turned into astonishment, and he lowered his head deeply.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Steel Tomb suddenly raised his head and smiled with great ease.

"You should have said so earlier! I would have gone back and worked overtime to forge it for you. If it can kill the Demon King Muzan, I wouldn't have any complaints even if I lost dozens more swords!"

Even through the mask, Yakumo could sense Steelzuka's excitement and joy, a calmness that even the strongest could not maintain.

"These people are really strange..."

Yakumo thought to himself, "Under the leadership of our half-crippled lord, a group of seventeen or eighteen-year-olds roam the darkness, protecting this world."

These people felt no fear whatsoever, not even towards the steel mound before them. Despite being so weak, they possessed such a deep and unwavering determination to kill demons, as if those demons had slaughtered their entire family…

At Kagaya Ubuyashiki's invitation, the group knelt on the cushions, while Yakumo lay pale-faced to the side.

After passing Yakumo's safety inspection...

Shinobu Kocho slowly began to tell Kagaya Ubuyashiki about Yakumo's plan, the plan that risked the entire Demon Slayer Corps.

In Yakumo's plan, even he himself was a pawn on the chessboard, except that his role was more like an absolute ace that would decide the outcome.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki made no comment after hearing the entire plan.

Yakumo could sense that he was thinking.

"This plan...is feasible...but needs modifications..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki began to recount his plan: using himself and his wife and daughter as bait, he would plant explosives underground and detonate them, then inject the prepared poison into Muzan while he was weakened, so as to weaken Muzan's physical condition as much as possible and provide the most favorable conditions for Yakumo to kill Muzan.

This guy must be crazy.

When the topic of using himself and his wife and daughters as bait was mentioned, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression did not change at all, and even the six little girls around seven years old standing not far behind him did not show any fear.

Even Rengoku Kyojuro and Kocho Shinobu had no objections, as if Ubuyashiki Kagaya's decision was within their expectations, or that it was a pre-arranged plan. Even without his appearance, the Demon Slayer Corps was already planning to kill the Demon King Muzan.

"I disagree..."

Yakumo shook his head firmly.

"Hunting the Demon King Muzan requires sacrifice... Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps can sacrifice themselves, and I, as his lord, am no exception. The Ubuyashiki clan has been entangled with him for a thousand years, and only when I appear will he lower his guard and walk into the range of the explosives."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice was calm, containing a warm and soothing atmosphere, yet filled with an unwavering determination and will that no one could shake. Even when talking about Muzan, there was not much hatred in his voice.

But... Yakumo could sense that he was trying his best to suppress his emotions.

The large trees in the courtyard rustled in the wind.

Yakumo stared at Kagaya Ubuyashiki. He had to admit that, to some extent, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's revised plan was more likely to completely kill Muzan, especially after Yakumo heard that Muzan had the ability to split into more than a thousand parts and escape...

Yakumo hesitated. In this world... he only had one life.

The second plan was advantageous enough for him.

When he turned his gaze to the two porcelain doll-like girls, he couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart, but more than anything, he felt a pang of reluctance.

"Only by bringing my wife and daughters with me will Muzan truly believe that this is not a trap, so they must die with me."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki followed Yakumo's gaze and explained, his voice always calm, peaceful, and full of wisdom.

Despite being blind, he could guess the reason why Yakumo refused.

Yakumo closed his eyes, and the wind outside suddenly became fierce, just like the turbulent waves in his restless heart. In the courtyard, the blooming cherry blossoms drifted down onto the steps under the influence of the wind.

"They're just NPCs in the instance world, why bother with them?"

"Why stop them from dying so bravely because of their carelessness?"

"Why make the task more difficult when it can be completed easily?"

"Don't forget, in this world... you only have one life!"

"Don't let your 'saintly heart' get the better of you."

"They're just ordinary people I've known for a few days!"

Countless sounds echoed in Yakumo's mind, like demons tempting him to fall, or saints issuing pronouncements... He could think of dozens, even nearly a hundred, reasons to agree to Kagaya Ubuyashiki's plan.

But these voices only grew louder.

Yakumo resisted even more, resisting from the bottom of his heart.

It might even stir up anger within you, anger directed at yourself.

"I once prided myself on justice, but I hesitated when faced with life and death."

"Born between heaven and earth, one should have a clear conscience."

Until… he opened his eyes.

"I disagree. I will take responsibility for killing Muzan."

Yakumo sat up straight, staring unblinkingly at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and spoke each word with unwavering determination.

"If you insist on doing things your way, I'm backing out."

The quiet room became even quieter... and even a little tense.

"Yakumo-kun, I know you can't bear to see your two young daughters die, but they were born into the Ubuyashiki family, and this is the fate they must bear!"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice was somewhat agitated, and he even coughed a few times. This person was truly terminally ill, but he was still living on with a will as strong as steel and as fierce as fire.

Yakumo admires the Demon Slayer Corps, and even more so, he admires Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

But if he disagrees, then he disagrees.

"Actually... there's also Plan C."

Immediately afterwards… Yakumo took out nine bright red reagents and placed them on the floor in front of the group. Inside the scarlet liquid, bubbles gradually rose and fell, like a gift from a demon from hell.

This is the secret medicine, Blood Burning, which is supplied in limited quantities by the Hidden Leaf Village's Dark Guard.

"First of all, the fight against Kokushibo was not my full strength."

"Secondly, this medicine is fatal, but it can unleash almost double the power. Even though I died... I still couldn't kill the Demon King Muzan."

"Then I will definitely inflict a severe blow on him. At that point, I can simply choose a few of the Nine Pillars to burn themselves!"

"Of course, I am confident that I can kill Muzan Kibutsuji!"

PS: It's a new month, please vote with monthly tickets.

Chapter 218 Guidance, The Final Battle Approaches

A few days later, at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

Column Meeting.

All nine Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps participated in this meeting.

In the past few days, ghosts on the mainland have been disappearing one after another.

Under the guidance of Demon King Muzan, an even greater storm is gradually gathering, and the Demon Slayer Corps is tightening its defenses, making final preparations for the battle.

In this meeting.

The vote on the two plans became crucial.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was somewhat quiet. In front of everyone were wooden plaques in red and green. Green represented Yakumo's plan, while red represented Ubuyashiki Kagaya's plan.

Those eligible to vote are the nine Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Fine green tea was placed in front of everyone, with wisps of white steam rising from the rim of the bowls. Yakumo looked down at his reflection in the tea bowl, a slight smile on his lips, appearing exceptionally relaxed.

On the other hand, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was drinking tea, and his aura remained peaceful and serene.