Chapter 22: The Newly Promoted Tenth Hashira—Mist Hashira

After a journey of more than ten minutes, Zero carried the scythe to the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion.

He found that the other Hashira had already gathered here, but the most eye-catching thing was a child kneeling on one knee on the other side, looking up at the clouds in the sky in a daze.

Zero also recognized that child; it was Tokito Muichiro who participated in the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane.

It's just that he didn't understand why Tokito Muichiro was here too.

"Morning, everyone!"

"Ara, Zero, you're here!"

"Yo, a new weapon? This is truly flashy! I've never seen such a flashy and strange weapon! But it's still a little bit less flashy than me!"

Uzui Tengen looked at Zero's scythe and kept clicking his tongue in wonder.

Zero greeted each of them and then stood aside to wait for Ubuyashiki Kagaya's arrival.

His gaze occasionally swept toward Tokito Muichiro, who was kneeling on the ground in a daze.

Not long after, Ubuyashiki Kagaya walked out of the room, supported by his two daughters.

Hinaki/Nichika: "Master has arrived."

Everyone saw this and knelt down to show respect, except for Zero.

However, everyone was already used to it. After all, he not only helped Ubuyashiki Kagaya clear the curse but also wiped out an Upper Rank demon.

And Ubuyashiki Kagaya had said that they didn't need to kneel every time they saw him.

This was their own willingness, a sign of respect for Ubuyashiki Kagaya.

"Morning, my swordsmen children. Zero, it seems you have received your weapon."

"Thank you. Seeing you still in good health, I am also happy for you."

"Master, your subordinate has a question. Why is a member who isn't even a Pillar-level swordsman here to attend this meeting?" Shinazugawa Sanemi spoke first, pointing at Tokito Muichiro, indicating he didn't understand.

"Sorry, it was my oversight. It was only recently that I started summoning you for a Hashira meeting."

"Namu Amida Butsu, Oyakata-sama, please don't say that. You are also doing it for everyone's sake." Himejima Gyoumei said.

"Thank you, Gyoumei. What I want to talk about today is this swordsman child. I hope he can become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps!"

As soon as Ubuyashiki Kagaya finished speaking, Shinazugawa Sanemi retorted: "Master, this violates the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps! For generations, there have always been nine Pillars. If this is true, it breaks the rules!"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya saw this, just smiled slightly, and looked at Zero, as if waiting for his answer.

Everyone's gaze also turned to Zero, wanting to know what he thought.

"Ah~ Since that's the case, I have a proposal. I will resign from the position of Hashira and let this child serve as the ninth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps! Of course, I won't quit the Demon Slayer Corps. How about that?"

"What kind of joke is this!? You resigning from the position of Pillar? I absolutely disagree!" This proposal was met with Shinazugawa Sanemi's opposition as soon as it was put forward.

Although Shinazugawa Sanemi had a fiery temper, every word he said during the Pillar meeting was reasonable and logical.

Although he was always unconvinced at times, he was very convinced of Zero's strength and ability, and he was just more competitive.

If Zero resigned from the position of Hashira, he would definitely be the first to oppose it.

"That's right, I also flashily oppose Zero resigning from the Hashira position."

"Ara, Zero, this won't do~ I also disagree!"

"Namu Amida Butsu, I also disagree!"

"Hmph, although this guy is a bit annoying, I also disagree with him resigning from the Hashira position!"

"I... I also! I also disagree with Mr. Zero resigning from the Hashira position!"

"Umu, I'm the same as them, I disagree."

Although Tomioka Giyu didn't speak, his expression clearly expressed his disagreement.

Almost everyone opposed this proposal.

"Then are there any other ways?" Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed to understand that Zero definitely had more than one proposal.

"There is indeed another way!" Zero's gaze turned to Tokito Muichiro, then looked at everyone, and said: "I remember there are two conditions for becoming a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. One is to learn Total Concentration Breathing: Constant, and the other is to kill fifty evil demons or one Twelve Kizuki, right?"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya: "Yes."

"Then since that's the case, rules are dead, but people are alive! Positions should be held by the capable. He has achieved these conditions, so why not break the rules and let him become the tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"Some things cannot be bound by rules!"

Zero's words made the Hashira present fall into silence. Since the establishment of the Demon Slayer Corps, there had never been ten Hashira.

If they really followed what Zero said, it wasn't impossible, but was it really okay?

Finally, everyone's gaze turned to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, hoping he could make the final decision.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya saw this, just smiled slightly, and recounted the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane, Zero's role as an examiner, and what he had said to everyone again.

This also indirectly explained that Zero's proposal was not impossible. Some rules could not be broken, but the rules for some exceptional cases could be changed.

Everyone knew the principle that without rules, there is no order, and everyone understood the principle of sticking to conventions! But sticking to some rules would only lead to a dead end.

After discussion, everyone finally agreed to let Tokito Muichiro become the tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, changing the rule that there had only been nine Hashira since the corps was founded.

"Muichiro, are you willing to become the tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps? To shoulder the mission of protecting humanity and eradicating evil demons?"

"I listen to everything Oyakata-sama says."

"Then have you thought about your Hashira name?"

"Returning to Oyakata-sama, I use Mist Breathing, which branched from Wind Breathing, so I will use 【Mist】 as my name."

"I respect your opinion. From today on, Tokito Muichiro will be the tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Mist Hashira."

The tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps:

Mist Hashira—Tokito Muichiro!

A genius swordsman who became a Hashira in less than two months of holding a sword!

"Ara, congratulations, little brother!"

"Umu, another companion! Congratulations!"

"Namu Amida Butsu, in this way, the Demon Slayer Corps has another Hashira to fight side by side with."

"Tch, I only agreed because of Master's words. Congratulations!" Shinazugawa Sanemi said very tsundere-ly.

Zero was a bit emotional. He didn't expect that after the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane ended, this little child would become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps in less than two months.

Killing fifty evil demons, calculated, that's at least one to two demons a day. He was really hardworking.

Moreover, just when he announced that Tokito Muichiro had become a Hashira, Zero used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to re-analyze his data.

【Name: Tokito Muichiro—Male】

【Age: 11 years old】

【Demon Slayer Corps Hashira: Mist Hashira】

【Breathing Technique: Mist Breathing】

【Older Brother: Tokito Yuichiro (Deceased)】

【Personal Information: Descendant of the Origin Breathing swordsman Tsugikuni Michikatsu...】

【Note: Detected that this person has amnesia. Can use the recuperation chamber for memory restoration, but there is a 50% chance of failure!】

"Hmm? Amnesia?!" Zero only then noticed this data information.

"So it was amnesia... No wonder his eyes were a bit unfocused, looking always a bit dull. So that's it... If I treat him... Forget it, after all, I'm not sure. If I turn him into an idiot, that would be a big problem..." Zero thought to himself.

Afterward, in the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion, Ubuyashiki Kagaya discussed some things with everyone and then announced the end of the meeting.

And Tokito Muichiro was also assigned his jurisdiction and the residence that was about to be built for him.

Zero, having nothing to do, prepared to go to his jurisdiction to walk around, and by the way, use them to practice his hands and exercise the proficiency of the scythe.

After all, he didn't know how long it had been since he used such a weapon, and using those evil demons to practice was the most appropriate.

Leaving the Demon Slayer Corps, he arrived at the outskirts, took out a diary and a pen from the 【Nano Space】, and wrote down today's events as a diary while walking.

As a result, he walked faster and faster, passing by the Rengoku family, completely unaware that someone was calling his name behind him.

Rengoku Shinjuro left his home and went out to buy wine, but after drinking a few sips, it felt tasteless.

It wasn't even as good as the white wine the white-haired boy had given him earlier. Although it was very strong, it was very satisfying to drink!

During this period, he had been wandering around this road, hoping to meet the white-haired boy again, hoping to buy a few bottles of white wine from his hands.

But nearly two months had passed, let alone meeting him, he hadn't even seen a shadow.

Today he planned to try again here. If he still didn't meet him, he planned to give up.

He waited until the afternoon, and the two pots of wine he bought were finished, but he still couldn't see that person.

Just as he was about to give up and get up to leave, he saw the white-haired boy not far away, holding a notebook and a pen in his hand, writing while walking, not knowing what he was recording.

When he wanted to go up and call him, he suddenly recalled that at that time, he had only called him "kid," and felt a very sharp and cold killing intent.

But fortunately, in the end, he put away the killing intent and said his name, otherwise, he wouldn't know how to address him.

When Zero passed in front of him, Rengoku Shinjuro shouted: "Zero."

But Zero was only focused on writing his diary and didn't hear anyone calling him at all, as if he had entered a state of selflessness.

"Zero, wait a moment!" Rengoku Shinjuro saw that Zero didn't respond to him and was still writing things there, so he quickly chased after him.

"Zero, wait a moment..."

"Damn, why is this guy walking so fast?"

Rengoku Shinjuro never expected that this white-haired boy, who looked so young and seemed to be very small in age, would have such strong strength?

He seemed to walk very slowly, but in the blink of an eye, he appeared several meters away.

Every time he was about to touch Zero's shoulder, he appeared several meters away. He was the former Flame Hashira, but he couldn't catch up with this guy.

"Could this guy also be a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps?" Rengoku Shinjuro thought to himself.

After all, he hadn't paid much attention to the Demon Slayer Corps' affairs recently, so naturally, he didn't know that Zero was a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Finally, he directly operated his Total Concentration and caught up with Zero, came in front of him, and said: "Wait a moment!"

Only then did Zero notice the old acquaintance in front of him—Rengoku Shinjuro, but why did he seem a bit out of breath?

Curious, he asked: "Rengoku-san, is there anything?"

"Zero, do you still have that wine? Sell it to me! No matter how much money, I want it!"

"Uh..." Zero's mouth twitched slightly. Just to buy wine, he tired himself out like this?

But thinking about it, he had nothing to do next, and he hadn't drunk wine for a long time, so he simply threw the notebook and pen directly into the 【Nano Space】.

"Forget it, I haven't drunk wine for a long time either. You drink with me. It just so happens that I have nothing to do now."

As for the matter of going to his jurisdiction, put it aside for now. Let's just give those evil demons one more day to live.

(Evil demons:......)

"Is there any tavern nearby?" Zero asked Rengoku Shinjuro in front of him.

"Yes! I'll take you there!"

Rengoku Shinjuro didn't care about other things. He just wanted to drink the white wine Zero gave him. As long as there was wine, other things had nothing to do with him.

After walking for about twenty minutes, they soon arrived at a tavern.

The guests in the tavern saw this person and were already used to it. After all, he often came to this tavern to buy wine, and sometimes when there was no wine, he would lose his temper.

However, most of the time it was his youngest son, Rengoku Senjuro, who came to buy it. Coming and going like this, they naturally knew who he was.

And his youngest son was more polite than him.

The boss saw that he had come again and quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Hello, Rengoku-san, the wine you want is already prepared for you, I'll help you..."

"No need, help me prepare a separate private room, and prepare some good side dishes for me! I brought my own wine!"

Zero's mouth twitched slightly. It was clearly his, but he said he brought his own wine...

The tavern boss was a bit dumbfounded. Every time he came, didn't he buy wine? Why was he so abnormal today?

"What are you stunned for? Hurry up!" Rengoku Shinjuro roared.

"Ah ah! Yes yes yes, please follow me."

Afterward, the tavern boss led Rengoku Shinjuro to a separate private room, but looking at Zero behind him, he was a bit curious. He had never seen Rengoku Shinjuro bring anyone else before.

"Hurry up and prepare!"

"Yes yes yes, please wait a moment!"

The tavern boss quickly went down to order people to prepare wine and dishes for the two of them.

Arriving at the private room and sitting down, Zero took out a few bottles of white wine from the 【Nano Space】, gave one bottle to Rengoku Shinjuro, and one to himself.

Rengoku Shinjuro couldn't wait to open the bottle cap, picked up the cup already prepared on the table, poured it in, and tasted it carefully.

White wine was good. When Rengoku Shinjuro drank this kind of wine for the first time, he drank it in one breath and almost became unconscious.

Later, he learned that it was best to drink this wine in small sips slowly.

"Gulp~ Ah! It's really good wine! Hahaha!"

"Zero, do you still have this wine? I want to buy some from you. Don't worry, the price is definitely not a problem!"

"Rengoku-san, if you want it, I can give you some. Anyway, I rarely drink this wine."

Rengoku Shinjuro chatted with Zero while drinking. Soon, the tavern boss brought some wine and dishes in.

However, upon entering the private room and smelling the wine, he was a bit curious. The smell was very strong, but the wine aroma was also very strong. Looking at the table, it was wine he had never seen before.

"This guest, your wine...?" The tavern boss asked curiously.

"This wine is my own. Why? You want it too? Then I'll give you a few bottles!"

Anyway, his 【Nano Space】 still had some of this wine, although he didn't understand why he would put so much wine in it.

Saying this, he gave the remaining two bottles of white wine on the table to the tavern boss.

"This is too embarrassing. How about this, I'll treat you to this table today as a return gift."

"In that case, thank you very much!"

Afterward, the tavern boss collected the white wine and turned back to the servant: "Go and prepare a few more wine and dishes for the people in this private room."

"Then you two, I won't disturb you!"

After the tavern boss left, Rengoku Shinjuro chatted with Zero while drinking and eating side dishes.

Probably because of the white wine, Rengoku Shinjuro chatted until the end and shed tears, telling his past.

(Note: In the original work, one year after Kocho Kanae died, Kocho Shinobu became a Hashira. At that time, Tokito Muichiro was 12 years old, and Tanjiro was 13 years old, training on Mount Sagiri for two years, and at 15 years old, he participated in the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane to become a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman. At this time, Tokito Muichiro was 14 years old. I still don't know the specific situation, so if there is anything wrong, let me know, and I will find a way to see if I can change it.) ===== CHAPTER 23 =====