Chapter 22

After a fifteen-minute walk, Zero arrived at the back courtyard of Butterfly House, carrying his scythe.

He found the other Pillers already gathered there, but the most striking sight was a child kneeling on the ground at the opposite side, gazing up at the clouds in a daze.

Zero recognized the child—he was Shinobu Kocho’s test candidate, Tengen Uzui.

Yet he didn’t understand why Tengen Uzui was here.

“Morning, everyone!”

“Oh? Zero, you’re here!”

“Hey, new weapon? That’s truly magnificent! I’ve never seen such a strange, dazzling weapon! But compared to my own magnificence, you’re still just a little short!”

Uzui Tengen stared at Zero’s scythe, muttering in awe.

Zero greeted each of them in turn, then stood aside to await Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s arrival.

His gaze occasionally drifted toward the child kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.

Not long after, Ubuyashiki Kagaya emerged from the house, supported by his two daughters.

Himeko/Nichirin: “My lord has arrived.”

Everyone knelt in respect—except Zero.

But no one found it strange anymore; after all, he had cleansed Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s curse and slain the Upper Moons.

Moreover, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had said no one needed to kneel every time they met him.

Their kneeling was voluntary—an act of respect.

“Good morning, my swordsmen. Zero, I see you’ve received your weapon.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to see you still in good health.”

"My lord, I have a question—why is a member who isn't even a Pillar here for this meeting?" Mukurogami Shinobu pointed at Tengen Uzui, clearly confused.

“My apologies—it was my oversight. I only recently called you all together for a Pillar Meeting.”

“Om mani padme hum, My Lord, please don’t say that. You act for all of us.” Himekawa Gyomei spoke.

“Thank you, Gyomei. Today’s matter concerns this swordsman. I wish for him to become a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.”

No sooner had Ubuyashiki Kagaya finished than Mukurogami Shinobu retorted: “My Lord, this violates the Demon Slayer Corps’ rules! There have always been nine Pillars. If we add a tenth, we break the tradition!”

Ubuyashiki Kagaya merely smiled, turning his gaze to Zero—as if waiting for his reply.

All eyes turned to Zero, eager to hear his thoughts.

“Hmm… If so, I have a proposal: I step down from my Pillar position, and let this child take my place as the Ninth Pillar. Of course, I won’t leave the Demon Slayer Corps. What do you think?”

“Are you joking?! I absolutely refuse to let you step down!” Mukurogami Shinobu immediately rejected the proposal.

Though hot-tempered, Mukurogami Shinobu always spoke with logic and reason during Pillar Meetings.

Though he often resented Zero, he deeply respected his strength and ability—he was merely competitive.

If Zero stepped down, he would be the first to oppose it.

“Indeed, I also splendidly oppose Zero stepping down from his Pillar position.”

“Oh? Zero, that won’t do—I disagree too!”

“Om mani padme hum, I also disagree!”

“Hmph. Though this guy is annoying, I still disagree with him stepping down!”

“I—I’m with you too! I disagree with Zero-sensei stepping down!”

“Mm, I agree with them—I disagree.”

Tomioka Giyu said nothing, but his expression clearly showed his opposition.

Almost everyone opposed the proposal.

“Is there another way?” Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed certain Zero had more than one suggestion.

“Indeed, there is another way!” Zero’s gaze shifted to Tengen Uzui, then to the others. “I recall the two conditions to become a Pillar: mastering Full Concentration Breathing: Constant, and slaying fifty demons or one Upper Moon. Correct?”

Ubuyashiki Kagaya: “Yes.”

“Then if that’s so—rules are rigid, but people are flexible. The capable rise to power. He has fulfilled both conditions. Why not break the rule and make him the Tenth Pillar?”

“Some things cannot be bound by rigid rules.”

Zero’s words left the Pillars silent. Since the founding of the Demon Slayer Corps, there had never been ten Pillars.

If Zero’s logic held, it might be possible—but was it truly right?

Eventually, all eyes turned back to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, awaiting his decision.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled faintly, repeating to them the details of the Tengen Uzui test, Zero’s role as examiner, and his own past words.

This indirectly affirmed that Zero’s proposal was not unreasonable—some rules must never be broken, but others may bend for exceptional cases.

Everyone understood: without rules, there is no square or circle; rigid adherence leads to stagnation.

After discussion, they agreed: Tengen Uzui would become the Tenth Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, altering the centuries-old rule of nine Pillars.

“Uzui, do you accept becoming the Tenth Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, bearing the duty to protect humanity and eradicate demons?”

“I leave all decisions to My Lord.”

“Have you chosen your Pillar title?”

“My Lord, I wield the Xia Breathing, a branch of Wind Breathing. I choose the title: Xia .”

“I honor your choice. From this day forward, Tengen Uzui shall be the Tenth Pillar: Xia Pillar.”

The Tenth Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps:

Xia Pillar—Tengen Uzui!

A prodigy who became a Pillar in less than two months with a sword!

“Oh? Congratulations, little brother!”

“Mm, another ally! Congratulations!”

“Om mani padme hum, now the Demon Slayer Corps gains another Pillar to fight beside us.”

“Hmph. I only agreed because My Lord said so. Congratulations.” Mukurogami Shinobu spoke with prideful reluctance.

Zero felt a quiet awe—he hadn’t expected this child to become a Pillar in less than two months after the Tengen Uzui test.

Fifty demons slain—that’s at least one or two per day on average. He truly worked hard.

Just now, as Tengen Uzui was named Pillar, Zero had used his [Analysis Glasses] to reanalyze his data.

【Name: Tengen Uzui—Male】

【Age: 11】

【Demon Slayer Corps Pillar: Xia Pillar】

【Breathing Style: Xia Breathing】

【Brother: Tengen Ichiro (Deceased)】

【Personal Info: Descendant of the original Breathing Swordsmen, Kyojuro Rengoku…】

【Note: Memory loss detected. Memory restoration possible via Healing Pod, but 50% failure rate!】

“Huh? Memory loss?!” Zero only now noticed this data entry.

“So that’s why… his gaze is vacant, his expression dull. That explains it… If I tried to heal him… no, I have no confidence. If I turned him into a fool, it would be disastrous…” Zero thought.

Later, in the Butterfly House courtyard, Ubuyashiki Kagaya discussed a few matters with the group before ending the meeting.

Tengen Uzui was assigned his jurisdictional region and a residence under construction.

With nothing else to do, Zero planned to tour his assigned region, using demons as practice to hone his scythe skills.

After all, he hadn’t used such a weapon in a long time—demons were the perfect targets.

Leaving the Demon Slayer Corps compound, he stepped into the outer area, retrieved his notebook and pen from his [Nano-Space], and began writing his daily journal as he walked.

But he walked faster and faster, passing the Rengoku household without noticing someone calling his name behind him.

…

Rengoku Makio left his home to buy wine, but after a few sips, it tasted bland.

It couldn’t compare to the white liquor the white-haired boy had given him—though harsh, it had been exhilarating.

For weeks, he had lingered near this road, hoping to meet the white-haired boy again and buy a few bottles of that liquor.

But nearly two months had passed—he hadn’t seen even a shadow of the boy.

Today, he decided to try once more. If he still didn’t find him, he’d give up.

He waited until afternoon, finishing both jugs of wine he’d bought, yet still saw no sign of the boy.

Just as he was about to leave, he spotted the white-haired boy ahead, holding a notebook and pen, walking slowly as he wrote something down.

He moved to call out—then remembered how, the last time he’d called him “kid,” he’d felt a chilling, deadly intent.

Fortunately, the boy had withdrawn that intent and revealed his name, or Rengoku Makio would never have known how to address him.

As Zero passed by, Rengoku Makio called out: “Zero.”

But Zero was absorbed in writing his journal, deaf to the call—as if in a trance.

“Zero, wait!” Seeing Zero ignore him, Rengoku Makio hurried after him.

“Zero, wait—”

“Damn, how is this guy walking so fast?”

Rengoku Makio never imagined that this seemingly young, almost childlike white-haired boy could move with such speed.

He appeared to walk slowly, yet vanished several meters away in the blink of an eye.

Each time Rengoku Makio nearly touched Zero’s shoulder, the boy reappeared meters ahead—he, a former Flame Pillar, couldn’t catch him.

“Could this guy also be a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps?” Rengoku Makio wondered.

After all, he hadn’t been paying attention to the Corps’ affairs—he didn’t know Zero was a Pillar.

Finally, he activated his full concentration, caught up to Zero, and stood before him, saying, “Wait!”

Only then did Zero notice the familiar face before him—Rengoku Sakonji—yet why did he seem so out of breath?

Curious, he asked, “Mr. Rengoku, what’s the matter?”

“Zero, do you still have that liquor? Sell it to me! I’ll pay any price!”

“Uh…” Zero’s lips twitched slightly. All this just to buy liquor?

But after thinking it over, he had nothing else to do, and it had been a long time since he’d had a drink, so he simply tossed his notebook and pen into the [Nanospace].

“Forget it. I haven’t had a drink in ages either. Have one with me—I’ve got nothing else to do.”

As for the region he was supposed to oversee, he’d put it off for now. Let those demons live one more day.

(Demons: …………)

“Is there a tavern nearby?” Zero asked Rengoku Sakonji.

“Yes! I’ll take you!”

Rengoku Sakonji didn’t care about anything else—he only wanted the white liquor Zero had given him. With liquor, nothing else mattered.

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

The patrons inside had long grown used to seeing him; after all, he frequently came here to buy liquor, and sometimes flew into rages when they ran out.

But most of the time, it was his younger son, Rengoku Senjurō, who came to buy it. Over time, everyone knew who he was.

And his younger son was far more polite than he was.

The tavern owner, seeing him again, hurried forward to greet him: “Hello, Mr. Rengoku, your liquor is already prepared. Let me just—”

“No need. Just prepare a private room for me, and some good snacks. I brought my own liquor!”

Zero’s lips twitched. It was his own liquor, yet he claimed he’d brought it himself…

The tavern owner was stunned. Hadn’t this man always come here to buy liquor? Why was he acting so strangely today?

“What are you standing there for? Hurry up!” Rengoku Sakonji bellowed.

“Ah! Yes, yes, yes, this way, please.”

The tavern owner led Rengoku Sakonji to a private room, but glanced curiously at Zero behind him—he’d never seen Rengoku Sakonji bring anyone else here before.

“Hurry up and prepare it!”

“Yes, yes, yes, please wait!”

The tavern owner hurried down to instruct his staff to prepare drinks and dishes for the two.

Once seated in the room, Zero took out several bottles of white liquor from the [Nanospace], handing one to Rengoku Sakonji and one to himself.

Rengoku Sakonji eagerly uncapped the bottle, poured the liquor into the cup already on the table, and savored it slowly.

The liquor was excellent—but when Rengoku Sakonji first tried it, he downed it in one gulp and nearly passed out.

Later, he learned that the best way to drink it was in small sips.

“Gulp… Ah! Truly excellent liquor! Hahaha!”

“Zero, do you still have more of this liquor? I’d like to buy some. Don’t worry—I’ll pay whatever you ask!”

“Mr. Rengoku, if you want it, I can give you some. I rarely drink this liquor anyway.”

As Rengoku Sakonji drank and chatted with Zero, the tavern owner soon entered with drinks and dishes.

But upon entering the room and catching the scent of the liquor, he grew curious—the aroma was sharp, yet richly fragrant. He looked at the table: he’d never seen liquor like this before.

“Sir, what kind of liquor is this?” the tavern owner asked curiously.

“This is my own liquor. What? You want some? I’ll give you a few bottles.”

After all, he still had some left in his [Nanospace], though he didn’t understand why he’d stored so much of it there.

He handed the two remaining bottles on the table to the tavern owner.

“This is too much honor. How about this—I’ll treat you both today. Consider it my thanks.”

“Then thank you very much.”

The tavern owner carefully stored the liquor, then turned to his staff and said, “Prepare a few more dishes for this room.”

“Then, gentlemen, I’ll leave you to your drink.”

After the tavern owner left, Rengoku Sakonji drank and ate snacks while chatting with Zero.

Perhaps because of the white liquor, as the conversation went on, Rengoku Sakonji began to cry, recounting his past.

…

(Note: In the original work, Kanao Tsuyuri became a Pillar one year after Kanae Kocho’s death. At that time, Shinobu Kocho was 12, Tanjiro was 13 and training for two years in the Misty Mountains, becoming a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman at 15, while Shinobu was 14. I’m still unclear on some details—if anything is wrong, please let me know, and I’ll try to revise it.)