boyutpedia Page 15
Page 15
He then smoothed his long hair that was sticking up in the air, a wicked smile spreading across his lips, making him appear much more sinister.
"I'm surprisingly sensitive about this. I don't want to lie to you, so I'll just tell you the truth."
"I am actually a rather wicked person. Most of my actions are driven by interest. Killing demons is not out of justice or hatred, but simply out of interest."
"In fact, I have no hatred for ghosts. My parents are not good to me, and our relationship is even worse than that of the neighbors. So I have no feelings for them at all."
At this point, Xia Yan recalled his childhood experiences of being beaten and scolded, and curled his lip in disdain.
"Because I find saving people boring, even though I knew the person in the room was still alive and I could have saved him if I went in, I didn't do it."
"Because I find killing ghosts fun, while killing people is boring, I chose to kill ghosts rather than people. To me, there is no essential difference between humans and ghosts."
"That's all."
Upon hearing Xia Yan's words, Kuwajima Jigoro was completely stunned.
Having lived for so many years, this was the first time he had ever met someone as amusing as Xia Yan.
Perhaps a hundred years from now, people who enjoy themselves will be everywhere, but in this era, there are really not many people who think like him. After all, for ordinary people in this era, just surviving is already difficult enough, let alone having time to look for fun.
After a long pause, he sighed as if he had come to a realization.
"Alright, just be careful. I trust you won't do anything to hurt me."
Chapter Thirty: Who gets selected through proper channels if they can pull strings?
"I have already written to Lord Momoyama to explain your situation. He is very concerned about you and has decided to meet with you personally, this super genius. You should leave Momoyama tomorrow and report to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters."
Despite being taken aback by Natsuhiko's declaration of being a fun-loving person, Kuwashima Jigoro still chose to believe Natsuhiko.
Since Xia Yan said that he was the closest person to him in the world, he probably wouldn't do anything to hurt him.
After all, most people wouldn't find pleasure in making those close to them sad.
"Going directly to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters? Does that mean I don't need to participate in the 'Final Selection'?" Xia Yan winked at Kuwashima Jigoro. "Grandpa, is it really okay to blatantly use connections like this? Won't people gossip about me later?"
"You brat..."
Kuwashima Jigoro glanced at his genius disciple with a speechless look.
His lips were practically smirking, but he put on a serious face, a classic case of getting the benefit and then acting innocent.
The so-called "Final Selection" refers to the rigorous test that Demon Slayer Corps trainees must undergo after obtaining the approval of their trainers. They must live for seven days and seven nights in Fujikasane Mountain, which is controlled by the Demon Slayer Corps and imprisons many demons, and successfully emerge from there to complete the selection.
In fact, this system has always had significant flaws.
There were no examiners or supervisors during the entire assessment process; they only looked at the final result and didn't ask about the process. This meant that the Demon Slayer Corps had no idea what had actually happened on Fujishiki Mountain.
This easily leads to the death of powerful and talented people, while the weak and lucky ones survive.
Take the current Water Pillar, for example. In the exam of Giyu Tomioka's year, Sabito, the strongest and most talented, saved everyone, but he was killed by the Hand Demon after exhausting his strength.
Therefore, in order to reduce this loss of talent, the Demon Slayer Corps' solution is to have trainers directly recommend those swordsmen who are truly talented and exempt them from the examination.
They can even meet the Demon Slayer Corps' lord directly.
However, most of the Demon Slayer Corps trainers are inflexible and unwilling to use this right.
"What are you sending me to Fujikasane Mountain for? To wipe out all the demons?! Those demons were hard to capture; to ensure the survival rate of our team, they're all the weakest kind. Just report to headquarters obediently and don't do anything unnecessary!!!"
Seeing Kuwajima Jigoro's angry and glaring expression, Natsuhiko shrugged helplessly.
Being too outstanding is also a sin.
……
The next morning, despite being quite annoyed by Xia Yan the day before, Kuwajima Jigoro still got up early and made breakfast for Xia Yan himself.
He then took out the gift he had prepared for Xia Yan half a month ago.
A navy blue silk haori with cloud and wind patterns looks expensive.
"Alright, you brat, hurry up and go, don't keep the lord waiting!"
Xia Yan bent down slightly so that Kuwajima Jigoro could personally help him adjust his haori.
"Goodbye, Grandpa, I'll come back to visit you often when I have time."
"What a joke! You brat, you should be spending more of your time and energy slaying evil spirits. I'm not old enough to need your care yet!!!"
Kuwajima Jigoro, who had just straightened Natsuhiko's clothes, became furious again upon hearing his words, his beard bristling and eyes wide with anger.
As a veteran member of the Demon Slayer Corps, slaying demons was his primary duty, and everything else was considered a distraction.
Moreover, Xia Yan openly admitted to skipping work.
Thinking of this, he was immediately enraged. Taking advantage of Xia Yan bending over and letting him straighten his clothes, when Xia Yan was off guard, he smacked Xia Yan on the head.
"Go and kill the ghosts, you brat!"
"Too slow, old man!"
With his Byakugan, Xia Yan naturally wouldn't be hit by such an obvious sneak attack.
With a single flash, he slipped out of Kuwashima Jigoro's attack range and ran off into the distance.
"Old man, I will become the strongest Pillar and personally twist off Muzan's head! You should retire sooner rather than later—!!!"
"This brat..."
Watching Xia Yan run off into the distance, the usually sentimental Kuwajima Jigoro's eyes welled up with tears.
Although they only spent a month together, during that month he wholeheartedly and diligently took care of and helped Xia Yan, following the methods of a successor.
It's like giving a gift with all your heart, but the recipient might only understand 70-80%, or even just 10-20%.
The emotional investment of the giver is always far greater than that of the receiver.
He already considers Xia Yan as family.
"What a joke! Even if you become a Pillar, you'll only be the Storm Pillar! How can I retire before I've fully passed on the 'Breath of Thunder' and nurtured a new Thunder Pillar!"
"How can I retire without hearing the news of Muzan's death with my own ears, and without witnessing the extinction of demons from this world..."
Chapter Thirty-One: The Beautiful Mrs. Ubuyashiki
"Hmm, so this is the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps. To be able to build such a large courtyard deep in the mountains, it seems that the Ubuyashiki family's wealth is not to be underestimated."
Looking at the luxurious courtyard that covered a considerable area, Xia Yan clicked his tongue in admiration.
The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters is hidden among the mountains near Kyoto, not far from Momoyama.
Even without going all out, Xia Yan found it in just three hours, knowing the exact location.
If he wanted, he could reach the destination in less than an hour if he went at full speed.
In fact, the places where trainers are located are all around the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, and most of the trainers are former high-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps, and many are even retired Pillars.
This was done just in case, so that these trainers who still maintained a certain level of combat capability could come and provide support.
"Lord Narukami Tsuki, the lord has been waiting for a long time. Please allow me to show you the way."
Upon hearing his voice, a person dressed entirely in black, with everything except his eyes covered, walked over.
The "Hidden" is responsible for the cleanup work after the Demon Slayer Corps' battles, as well as providing support in other areas.
Actually, four hundred years ago, the Demon Slayer Corps did not have a department called "Kakuna".
However, four hundred years ago, Kokushibo, who had just become a demon, cut off the head of the Demon Slayer Corps leader's father in order to show his loyalty. Since then, the leader's location has become increasingly secretive.
The "Hidden" department was established after that incident.
Natsuhiko followed this member of "Yakuza" through the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters complex, while also constantly observing the luxurious courtyard.
The more I looked at it, the more satisfied I became, and I decided to get myself a set according to this specification in the future.
Perhaps worried that the lord might catch a cold, the member of the "Hidden" leading the way walked very fast, almost running.
Not long after, Natsuhiko met the legendary lord, Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Despite commanding a violent organization like the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, is not a strong person. On the contrary, due to his illness, in terms of combat power, he is probably no match for even a modern college student, let alone a goose.
Because the Demon King Muzan was born into the Ubuyashiki clan, their bloodline was cursed, and children born under normal circumstances would die young.
He could only barely survive by mating with a woman from the priestly family.
Even so, they were still frail and sickly, and no one ever lived past thirty.
This is a cursed family that has been able to continue its lineage for over a thousand years, marrying women from the Shinto priest family in every generation, and leading the Demon Slayer Corps. The current head, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, is the 97th head, which is truly remarkable.
"I'm sorry, due to health reasons, I'm unable to greet you at the door. Welcome, Natsuhiko Kaminaru."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's voice was very gentle.
Due to his illness, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face has developed ulcers starting from his left forehead, which are almost spreading to his left eye.
Judging from its appearance alone, it is even more terrifying than many evil spirits.
However, he exuded an incredibly peaceful aura, possessing an indescribable infectious charm; his entire being radiated a calming presence. Although he was a man, he gave off a very comfortable feeling.
"Ah, don't worry about it. I'm not the kind of person who cares about formalities. Rather, I feel more relaxed when everyone is more casual!"
Xia Yan waved his hand dismissively, his eyes sweeping over the group without restraint.
That's right, it wasn't just Kagaya Ubuyashiki waiting there; there were four other people present.
There was one man and three women, three of whom wore long knives at their waists.
The man had long, yellow and red hair that looked like burning flames, sword-like eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and bright, piercing eyes. He was wearing the uniform of a Demon Slayer Corps member.
It looks like an owl with its head on fire.
It was Kyojuro Rengoku, who had not yet become the Flame Pillar.
Standing at the very front was a beautiful woman who exuded gentleness from the inside out. She had a cascade of jet-black hair, deep yet soft pale purple eyes, and two butterfly-shaped hairpins symmetrically adorning her hair.
The girl standing next to her had a similarly beautiful face, and her deep purple eyes looked at Xia Yan with a hint of curiosity.
The ends of her hair were a light purple, tied up at the back of her head and secured with a purple butterfly hair accessory.
It's just a bit of a shame about his height; it seems unlikely he'll grow much taller in the future.
The current Flower Pillar, Kanae Kocho, and her younger sister, the future Insect Pillar, Shinobu Kocho.