[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong-":3,"chapter-this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-27":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","This Pillar in Demon Slayer Is Extremely Strong but Overly Cautious",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2335953,4566,"Chapter 27: Zero","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>Pillar—Amber of the Amrita Temple. Sorry, some details weren’t drawn well; please forgive me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending a day traveling, Zero returned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and went directly to the Ubuyashiki residence to perform the final treatment for Ubuyashiki Kagaya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed to have anticipated Zero’s arrival today, and he and his wife, Ubuyashiki Tane, had already been waiting in the garden for some time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, welcome back! Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Demon Slayer Corps this past month—you’ve spared humanity from the torment of demons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Demons: We’re the ones being tormented!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too kind—it’s my duty as a Pillar! I’ll begin your final treatment now; I’m certain that after this, you’ll fully recover and no longer need to fear further complications.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero placed the [Recovery Chamber] inside the room, then waited at the door—Ubuyashiki Tane had already prepared everything needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few minutes, Ubuyashiki Tane came to the door and said: “Lord Zero, everything is ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the room, Zero looked at the data displayed on the [Recovery Chamber]’s screen, then inserted another hundred energy crystals and activated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Virus Clearance Mode Activated]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Treatment Duration: 8 Hours]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this was the third and final treatment, the duration had been significantly shortened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing this, Zero sat directly at the garden entrance, while Ubuyashiki Tane, as usual, stood beside the [Recovery Chamber], waiting for the treatment to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nothing else to do and unsure what to do next, Zero took out his notebook and pen and reorganized all the information he had deduced, including what Yusha had told him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he turned to the page labeled [Twelve Kizuki], he fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twelve Kizuki… hmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a while, he wrote [Jade (Yè) Pot] beneath [Upper Moon Five] and marked it with an X, indicating death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath [Upper Moon Two], he wrote [Dōma] and marked it with an O, indicating an encounter but not yet eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Lower Kizuki, he wrote [Sick Leaf] and [Zero’s Child] beneath [Lower Moon Three] and [Lower Moon Four], respectively, and marked both with Xs to indicate death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he saw [Upper Moon One], [Upper Moon Three], [Upper Moon Four], and [Upper Moon Six], he fell into thought again and marked them all with [?], indicating he had not encountered them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing [Upper Moon One], Zero pondered deeply and made a bold guess: the demon version of Kyojuro Rengoku was almost certainly [Upper Moon One]!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reasoning combined his earlier deductions with the fact that Muzan Kibutsuji had turned Kyojuro Rengoku into a demon during the Sengoku period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After centuries of evolution, coupled with Kyojuro Rengoku’s Breathing Style, combat techniques, Demon Mark, and the so-called Transparent World, his power must be the strongest among all Upper Kizuki.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, his body contained Muzan Kibutsuji’s blood at a concentration nearly infinite—imagine what level he might have reached!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were still only his guesses, but this was the only possibility closest to the truth, so he wrote [Kyojuro Rengoku] beneath [Upper Moon One].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what name Kyojuro Rengoku used as a demon, so he used his human name for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank goodness it was Kyojuro Rengoku who became a demon, not Kyojuro Enmu—if it had been him, not only would the Ubuyashiki clan and the Demon Slayer Corps be gone, but even humanity’s existence on this world would be in question!” Zero thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, he returned his notebook and pen to the [Nanospace], turned to Ubuyashiki Tane beside the [Recovery Chamber], and said: “Lady Tane, I’ll return to my residence for now. Please stay here and guard it—I’ll come back later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Lord Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the Ubuyashiki residence, Zero headed to his own home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Xiao Yue. I wonder how she’s doing? I bought some gifts—perfect chance to surprise her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for about ten minutes, he arrived at his residence and entered the house, where he saw Xiao Yue on a wooden platform in the side hall, feeding a goldfish a fish pellet larger than her own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little goldfish, I wonder when Master will return? Only you can keep me company. Stupid Master spends all day on missions and never comes to see me! Hmph~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yue muttered to herself, completely unaware that Zero was slowly approaching behind her, extending his arms, then suddenly lifting her up and cradling her in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yue was startled and instinctively struggled—until she heard that familiar voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yue, what are you saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you’re back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I’m back. And I brought you some gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Where? Where?” Hearing her Master had brought gifts, Xiao Yue’s large, sparkling eyes widened with eager anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero gently placed Xiao Yue on a cushion, then took a pile of items from his [Nanospace] and laid them before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were delicious pastries, clothes, ornaments, hairpins, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the mountain of gifts piled before her, Xiao Yue was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow~ so many gifts! Thank you, Master!” She floated up, kissed him on the cheek, then happily began unwrapping each present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I don’t think I can wear this dress yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re silly—don’t forget you have the [Growth Function]. When you grow, you’ll be able to wear it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh right, hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the afternoon, Zero left his residence and went to the Ubuyashiki residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the [Recovery Chamber]’s display read [Completed], he opened the lid, stepped out of the room, and waited at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Tane had already prepared clothing to change Ubuyashiki Kagaya into.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The couple were used to this—though back then, when Ubuyashiki Kagaya was weaker, it was always Ubuyashiki Tane…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Sorry, went off-topic???)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Zero, please follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the room, Zero retrieved the [Recovery Chamber] into his [Nanospace] and looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya—he was fully recovered, radiating vitality, his complexion rosy and healthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the curse, Ubuyashiki Kagaya looked genuinely handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their children had also arrived, sitting in a row of five behind the couple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re fully healed now, so no more worries about the curse. Also… cough… moderate yourself…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero felt slightly embarrassed saying this—it was their private matter—but every time he saw Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s five children, he thought: How on earth did they manage five at once?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t understand how the Ubuyashikis conceived quintuplets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he admired Tanjiro’s father even more—weak and frail, yet still managed to father six children with his wife…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya didn’t understand what Zero meant, but Ubuyashiki Tane blushed slightly upon hearing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his wife, he instantly understood—and as head of the Demon Slayer Corps, he quickly regained his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya: “Apologies for the embarrassment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero: “I should be the one apologizing—I was too blunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya: “Actually, it’s fine. I wish I could speak as freely as you do, without being bound by rigid etiquette.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero: “At least the Demon Slayer Corps children deeply respect you. Not just them—I admire you too. You remember every swordsman’s name, their past, and treat them like your own children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ubuyashiki Kagaya: “As long as I live, I’ll continue doing whatever I can for my swordsmen children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because of his free-flowing chat with Zero, Ubuyashiki Kagaya relaxed his formalities, laughing and chatting openly with Zero—talking about the Demon Slayer Corps’ history, then shifting to family anecdotes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero happily joined them, while Ubuyashiki Tane sat quietly listening—she had never seen her husband this way before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the curse had long suppressed him, and now, with its removal, years of pent-up emotion finally found release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their five children sat behind them, eyes wide, smiling constantly—like five aliens staring at you with unblinking curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t matter—Zero thought these five little ones were thousands of times cuter than any alien in the stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the Ubuyashiki residence, Zero returned to his home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Yue, I’m back. Xiao Yue? Not here… probably went to Butterfly House to play with Kanao… Fine, I’ll just take a bath!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the bathroom, he placed his clothes aside, wearing only a white loincloth, picked up a towel, and opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was met with another scene of divine radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Butterfly Kanao had somehow appeared in his bathroom, bathing with Xiao Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanao sat on a small stool, scrubbing her body with a towel—she froze the moment the door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zero at the doorway, her face instantly flushed crimson, steam rising from her head…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… hallucination! Must be a hallucination…” Zero muttered—but two streams of blood gushed from his nostrils, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed straight to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Kanao forgot her modesty, rushed forward, checked him, and sighed in relief—he had merely fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But remembering what she’d just seen, she felt overwhelming shame…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head vigorously, took the towel Xiao Yue handed her, wrapped herself up, then lifted Zero…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yue stared at her unconscious Master, then wore a knowing, mischievous smile: “Hehe, when I return to the Starry Sky, I’ll tell Luo Li about this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero woke up lying in bed, remembered last night’s events, and jolted upright in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down—his clothes were still on—and finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Must’ve been a dream… if it was real, that’d be terrifying… Kanao really is just a child…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head, banishing the strange image, picked up a glass of water someone had left on the table, and drank it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he drank, he heard a sound and turned—Kanao was asleep beside his bed, curled at its foot. He hadn’t noticed her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s Kanao… fine…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept drinking calmly… calm… hell no!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puff!!!” Zero spat out the water he’d just swallowed the moment he realized what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?! Why is Kanae here?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused, Zero’s mind briefly froze; by the time he recovered, Kanae had already woken up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haaah~” Kanae stretched and yawned as she woke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Zero, you’re awake? How do you feel? Nothing serious, I hope?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Kanae stood and stepped toward Zero to check on him, he immediately raised his hand to block her, squeezing his brow with his mechanical left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he asked: “Kanae, did you do anything to me last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanae: “???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I mean—did you do anything to me last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanae: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no no, I mean—did you do anything to me last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanae: “Um…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait… let me just calm down first…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero had originally wanted to ask whether he had done anything to Kanae last night, but the more he spoke, the more tangled his words became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced himself to calm down again and reorganized his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kanae… you didn’t do anything to me last night, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere grew awkward again because of Zero’s misstatement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there were a crack in the ground right now, Zero would have jumped into it without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Zero, you meant to say you didn’t do anything strange to me last night, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes yes yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… did you want something to have happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I saw you staring at me naked! I remember this is the second time, hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um…” Zero suddenly remembered—he had seen Kanae naked once before, but that time her life had been in danger, and it had been unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, though, it had been an accident…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, Kanae. To make up for it, I’ll grant you any two requests!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Zero, you said that, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanae clearly enjoyed seeing Zero flustered; she couldn’t resist reaching out again to pinch his cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, you look so cute like this, hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pinched his face, deliberately or not, turning his face bright red—he didn’t dare move at all…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I know you didn’t mean it. Actually, it’s my fault too—I came to visit Xiao Yue last night and took a bath, didn’t expect you’d come back then. Sorry, Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you just promised me two conditions—do they still count?” Kanae asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course they do!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. But I haven’t decided what they are yet—I’ll keep them for now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s settled, Zero!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. But can you do me one favor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you stop holding my face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Kanae notice she had once again cupped Zero’s cheeks with both hands—just like last time—and even pushed him against the wall, as if she’d just “wall-pressed” him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? My apologies, hehe~” Kanae stuck out her tongue playfully and tapped her own head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This little girl… really knows how to tease… Sigh… I wonder if this is good or bad…” Zero thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flowed like water, years slipped by like a shuttle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including the time before, Zero had now been with the Demon Slayer Corps for nearly a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During this period, after eliminating all the demons in his assigned region who avoided duty and showed no remorse, he grew bored and ventured into neighboring regions under other Pillars’ jurisdiction to clear out demons there too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time other Pillars arrived on the scene, they saw only Insect Hashira members cleaning up—no trace of demons remained, not even their ashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made them suspect the Hashira crows had lied—until they later realized Zero was behind it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuyui Shinobu’s eyes were bloodshot, his temper exploding: “Zero, you bastard! Even demons in my territory?! If you’ve got guts, go kill Muzan himself!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his outburst, he fell into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand what hatred Zero bore toward demons that drove him to wipe out those in other Pillars’ regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had all the demons in his own region been wiped out already?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Fuyui Shinobu knew Zero had no hatred for demons—that he killed them merely to pass the time—what would he think then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch. Zero, I won’t let you beat me! I’m the Wind Pillar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up his Nichirin Blade and followed Zero’s example, hunting demons in other Pillars’ territories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal was simple: if Zero could do it, so could Fuyui Shinobu—and better!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You damn demon vermin! Wait for me! Hehehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While hunting demons in Ikkyu Koyanagi’s region to pass the time, Zero suddenly felt a chill and sneezed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Achoo! Strange… why did I sneeze?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dismissed it and continued hunting demons to kill time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Where are the demons?” Kanami Mitsuji stared at her region, baffled by the absence of demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had received a crow message reporting multiple demon attacks in her area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when she arrived, only Insect Hashira members were cleaning up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after checking with her own crow did she learn what had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Zero-sensei eliminated the demons for me! Why did he do that? Could it be… Zero-sensei…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kanami Mitsuji immediately imagined romantic scenes, her cheeks flushed, sweat beading on her brow; she covered her face and blushed: “Zero-sensei, you can’t! I’m still a child! No no no… hehe~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zero knew what Kanami Mitsuji was imagining, he’d regret ever coming to her region to kill demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls lost in romance were the most terrifying—they could invent wild fantasies full of dreamlike scenes and stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Insect Hashira members watching her mutter to herself with her hands over her face were utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong with the Love Pillar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No idea. Maybe she’s hungry? I heard the Love Pillar eats a lot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, enough! Just finish cleaning up—this isn’t our business to speculate about!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",2600,"2026-06-20T21:22:22.338Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","99a53ed44209b47ed4586cece3ad373820a90876128ae3a330f21332ca1410af","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-28","this-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--chapter-26",128,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-pillar-in-demon-slayer-is-extremely-strong--cover.jpg"]