Chapter 311

"Exactly! Those are the powerful Pillars, you know — even among our Demon Slayer Corps, they're the nine strongest swordsmen. How could there possibly be a human who could so easily defeat those people? Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible."

"......"

"Could it really be...?"

The swordsman called Yamada nodded.

The expressions of those two instantly stiffened.

"Just who the hell is that guy?"

"Not sure. I only heard he came together with Lady Kochou Shinobu, and seems to be a guest personally invited by the Master himself."

While the matter was spreading through the Demon Slayer Corps.

Inside Ubuyashiki's quiet and elegant estate.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya, dressed in a white kimono, was sitting on a cushion on the wooden floor.

About five meters directly in front of Ubuyashiki Kyouya, Luo En, holding a silver gourd of sake, sat on a cushion in a casual posture.

The eight Pillars — Stone Pillar Himejima Gyomei, Wind Pillar Shinazugawa Sanemi, Love Pillar Kanroji Mitsuri, Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen, Serpent Pillar Iguro Obanai, Mist Pillar Tokito Muichirou, Flame Pillar Rengoku Kyoujurou, and Insect Pillar Kochou Shinobu — excluding Water Pillar Tomioka Giyuu, sat in a row on Ubuyashiki Kyouya's right-hand side.

Stone Pillar Himejima Gyomei sat close to Ubuyashiki Kyouya, while Kochou Shinobu sat close to Luo En.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya, whose upper face was covered in scars, said with a gentle expression, facing forward: "Mr. Luo En, after hearing about you from Shinobu in her letter, I wanted to meet you. When I learned that you wished to visit the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters as a guest, I was truly quite glad."

"Oh, and I must also thank you for saving Yanagida, Shuichi, and Saitou — those three — in that little town. Facing a Supernatural Demon that had suddenly advanced, if you, Mr. Luo En, had not stepped in, the three of them would likely not have come back alive."

"That matter, I had my own purpose as well. I didn't save them unconditionally."

Luo En said lazily.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya smiled and said: "Life is a very precious thing. No matter what purpose you had, Mr. Luo En, in saving them from the demons' hands, I believe it is worthy of thanks and gratitude."

Luo En glanced at him, took a sip of sake, and said nothing more.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya continued: "Mr. Luo En, I heard that in Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture, you discovered traces of Kibutsuji Muzan, and were attacked by demons he sent? Could you tell us the details?"

The words were shocking.

The Stone Pillar and the others instantly turned their gazes entirely upon Luo En.

"You saw Kibutsuji Muzan?!"

"Did you find the location of his lair? Did you fight him?"

Shinazugawa Sanemi and Iguro Obanai hurriedly pressed on.

Compared to news of Kibutsuji Muzan, the earlier conflict was nothing at all.

Under everyone's gaze, Luo En took a sip of sake and said in a casual tone: "I did not encounter Kibutsuji Muzan, nor did I fight him. However, a young man from your Demon Slayer Corps named Kamado Tanjiro did discover his trail and even came face to face with him."

"Kamado Tanjiro?"

The Wind Pillar, Serpent Pillar, and several other Pillars couldn't help but be taken aback upon hearing this.

Kochou Shinobu spoke up: "He is one of the five swordsmen who passed this year's Demon Slayer Corps Selection."

"A swordsman who just passed the Selection? That kind of guy actually discovered Kibutsuji Muzan's trail, something even we Pillars failed to find?"

The several were greatly astonished.

Uzui Tengen, unable to hold back, said: "He encountered Kibutsuji Muzan... and actually survived? Is that kid really that strong?"

"They did not fight."

Kochou Shinobu spoke up: "Kibutsuji Muzan had taken on a human appearance and mingled among humans, likely to conceal his movements, which is why he did not make a move against him."

Rengoku Kyoujurou's face showed excitement: "In that case... he's still in Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture right now?!"

Ubuyashiki Kyouya shook his head: "He's probably no longer there. Given that fellow's extremely cautious personality, having been exposed this time, he will absolutely choose a new place to hide."

Shinazugawa Sanemi and the others instantly showed disappointment on their faces.

"Dammit! We finally had a lead... and he's going to slip away from us again!"

Shinazugawa Sanemi slammed his fist into the floor, his eyes bloodshot.

"With the Demon Slayer Corps' current strength, even if you found him, you may not necessarily be able to kill him."

Luo En said calmly, looking at the eight Pillars and Ubuyashiki Kyouya before him: "It's possible... you might even be completely wiped out by him and his Twelve Kizuki."

21. Deliberation

"What did you sa—"

The hot-tempered Shinazugawa Sanemi, hearing these words, was just about to flare up in anger.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya's voice rang in his ear: "Sanemi, calm down."

Shinazugawa Sanemi glanced at Ubuyashiki Kyouya, recalled the scene from earlier where Ubuyashiki Kyouya had bowed and apologized to Luo En on his behalf, and could not help but clench his fist tightly, forcibly suppressing the agitation in his heart, and lowered his head.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya looked at Luo En: "Mr. Luo En, regarding Kibutsuji Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki, do you perhaps know some intelligence? Could you share it with us?"

The rest all looked at Luo En together.

Luo En unhurriedly took a sip of sake: "You really want to find and kill Kibutsuji Muzan, don't you?"

"Of course!"

Rengoku Kyoujurou said boldly: "Even if it costs our lives, we wouldn't hesitate!"

Luo En glanced at him: "The one willing to stake his life — is it you, or the entire Demon Slayer Corps?"

Iguro Obanai said in a low voice: "Of course the entire Corps. The Demon Slayer Corps was established precisely to kill Kibutsuji Muzan!"

Luo En's gaze swept across the Pillars; even Love Pillar Kanroji Mitsuri at this moment wore an expression that took it for granted, looking as though she had long since made her resolve.

Ubuyashiki Kyouya said softly: "Life is incomparably precious to every person. If possible, I hope every member of the Demon Slayer Corps can survive. However... Kibutsuji Muzan is clearly not an enemy that can be destroyed so easily. If the entire Demon Slayer Corps does not have the resolve to face death, who knows how many innocent people will have their lives taken by Kibutsuji Muzan in the future..."

"The Master speaks truly!"

Rengoku Kyoujurou, with a confident and bright smile on his face, said: "To fight demons, one must carry the resolve to face death! Compared to the countless innocent lives that may be taken by Kibutsuji Muzan in the future, our lives count for nothing at all!"

Luo En nodded: "Is that so... Since you all carry the resolve to face death, then I'll teach you the method to kill Kibutsuji Muzan."

The crowd's spirits lifted at once.

Everyone, even Shinazugawa Sanemi, fixed their full attention on Luo En.

"To lure out Kibutsuji Muzan, we first need to know what he desires and what he fears."

Luo En's words gave everyone pause.

"What Kibutsuji Muzan desires and fears?"

Kanroji Mitsuri tilted her head, her cute round face full of confusion.

"Would a Demon King like Kibutsuji Muzan really have something he fears?"

"Of course," Luo En smiled. "Otherwise, why do you think Kibutsuji Muzan has been hiding in the shadows these past few hundred years, never daring to show himself before the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Kocho Shinobu seemed to think of something: "Could it be… because of that swordsman?"

"A swordsman?"

The Hashira looked puzzled.

Kocho Shinobu explained: "It seems a swordsman four hundred years ago named Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who created the Breathing Styles, once drove Kibutsuji Muzan to the brink of ruin all on his own. That encounter is probably what gave Kibutsuji Muzan his fear of death."

Hearing this, the crowd's faces showed shock.

Shinazugawa Sanemi's eyes widened slightly: "Created the Breathing Styles, and drove Kibutsuji Muzan into a desperate corner all by himself… this…"

He found it hard to imagine just what kind of talent and strength it would take to accomplish such a feat.

Rengoku Kyojuro's face took on a thoughtful look: "I think I've heard of this somewhere…"

Iguro Obanai looked toward Luo En: "If that's the case, then what Kibutsuji Muzan fears is death. What does he desire?"

Luo En smiled: "He is now a creature infinitely approaching perfection, yet still faces the possibility of death — still imperfect. What he desires, of course, is to become an immortal, perfect being who no longer fears even the sun."

"To that end, he has spent several hundred years searching for a single thing — a medicinal catalyst called the Blue Spider Lily."

"The Blue Spider Lily…"

Kocho Shinobu murmured to herself.

Well-versed in poisons and medicines as she was, she had never heard of this ingredient.

"What happens if he finds it?"

Shinazugawa Sanemi couldn't help but ask.

"He would complete his final evolution, no longer fear the sun, and become a truly perfect being."

Hearing Luo En's words, everyone felt a jolt in their hearts.

They hadn't expected Kibutsuji Muzan to have been pursuing evolution all these years. If he truly succeeded… then everything would be over.

"The fact that Kibutsuji Muzan still hasn't appeared before us means he hasn't found it yet. We still have time."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya said softly, his voice calming the others slightly.