Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

Chapter 173 Born in Purgatory, Ignited by the Original Aspiration

The 'Flame Pillar' is dead.

Rengoku Makijuro, a once passionate and cheerful man, was later defeated by his own incompetence. After his beloved wife, Rengoku Ruka, passed away from illness, he began to give up on himself, became addicted to alcohol, and even abandoned the person who was guiding Kyojuro and Senjuro.

A person who has long since abandoned his duties as the 'Flame Pillar'.

He died... on this night.

It started raining sometime later, the raindrops falling and diluting the blood flowing all over Rengoku Makijuro's body.

Akaza stood in the dilapidated courtyard, letting the rain wash over him, his golden eyes fixed on the lifeless corpse lying on the ground.

Some things are hard to understand.

She had clearly invited him herself.

He believed that becoming a ghost would allow him to live on, but even as he breathed his last, this dejected middle-aged man refused to become a ghost.

I find it very incomprehensible.

Mingming's heart was filled with despair for the future.

Despite believing that humans cannot defeat ghosts, he still adheres to the bottom line of being human.

She could have survived if she had just promised herself.

Even though he became a demon, he became stronger.

Humans are such weak creatures, yet they still persist.

"If becoming a demon means you won't age, die, or tire, and you can maintain your peak physical condition forever and become stronger, why do you still adhere to the bottom line of being a weak human?"

Akaza looked at the lifeless Rengoku Makijuro on the ground, then looked up at the gloomy rain: "Knowing that fighting me would mean death, he still persisted, and never even retreated."

For once, Akaza's eyes showed a hint of doubt: "Shouldn't you have already given up your duties as a 'Pillar'?"

"When I arrived, you were already so dejected that your fighting spirit was almost completely weakened! Why did you persist like this?"

"You've already given up on humans, these weak creatures, so why are you still unwilling to embrace the more powerful demons?"

Akaza looked up, somewhat bewildered. He had invited many humans, many of whom were initially unwilling, but when they were beaten to the point of death and nearly worn down by their own weak human bodies, they ultimately chose to become demons.

In fact, a large portion of the people he invited were quite happy to become ghosts.

The rain continued to fall. Akaza stood in the courtyard for a long time until a timid figure appeared in the distance. Despite being extremely afraid of himself, he was still unwilling to leave.

Akaza had no interest in dealing with these weak humans. With his feet on the rain-soaked ground, he vanished without a trace.

The 'hermits' who had been cautiously observing from afar rushed forward as Akaza left. They saw the corpse of the 'pillar', whose body was covered in wounds, and they also saw the broken Nichirin Blade.

One can almost imagine the intensity of the battle that ensued.

But in the end, instead of the expected 'Flame Pillar' slaying the evil demon, the 'Flame Pillar' was killed by the demon.

Each of the 'Hermits' had a look of grief in their eyes. They stood still and silently bowed to Rengoku Makijuro before stepping forward to help deal with the 'Flame Pillar's' remains.

A hermit brought over a coffin. Seeing the wounds on the Flame Pillar, they all burst into tears. Almost suppressing their grief, they tidied the Flame Pillar's remains, placed him in the coffin, and slowly covered him with a white cloth.

……

Upon receiving the news, Rengoku Senjuro rushed over and, upon seeing his father's body in the coffin, almost froze on the spot.

"The Flame Pillar died at the hands of Upper Moon Three. He never retreated a single step and fought until his last breath."

"His valiant figure, like that of a lion, is almost etched into the hearts of every one of us present. He is the pride of the Demon Slayer Corps. Please accept our condolences."

The Hermit bowed and told Senjuro, the son of the Flame Pillar, everything he had seen, recounting how Rengoku Makijuro fought bravely to the very end.

Rengoku Senjuro felt his mind go completely blank.

Heartache and pain welled up in my heart almost instantly.

Even more unbelievable.

Since his mother's death, his father has become self-destructive, frequently drinking heavily, and has long since abandoned his duties as the 'Flame Pillar'.

But today, he was suddenly told that his father had fought the demon to the very last moment, to the very last moment of his life, which made Senjuro almost unable to believe it.

It's unbelievable that my father, who has once again taken on the responsibilities of being the 'Flame Pillar,' has returned.

The father who was once passionate and cheerful has returned.

The father who had carefully taught him and his elder brother had returned.

but……

And it ended in this way again.

Senjurou could no longer bear it all, and tears instantly streamed down his face. His father had been drinking heavily just last night, so how could this have happened in the blink of an eye?

Almost unable to bear it any longer, Senjuro hugged the coffin and burst into tears.

……

The ravens flapped their wings and flew swiftly into the distance.

"Flame Pillar. Rengoku Makijuro, sacrificed."

The crows' calls echoed through the air.

Mitsuri Kanroji, who was having dinner at the Butterfly Mansion, covered her mouth in shock. At first glance, she almost thought it was the death of Kyojuro Rengoku and nearly collapsed. But soon she realized that it was Kyojuro's father. Even so, she was still heartbroken.

In Kanroji Mitsuri's heart, Rengoku Kyojuro was almost like a warm sun, an older brother she admired, and the only hope she had when she felt inferior. It's hard to imagine how heartbroken she must have been when she finally learned of her father's death.

'Serpent Pillar' Obanai Iguro, who was on his way to his next mission to hunt demons, stopped abruptly upon hearing Kasugai Crow's message: "I don't believe it."

At this moment, Obanai Iguro vaguely remembered the scene when he first met his senior, Rengoku. He was being chased by a half-human, half-snake female demon when Rengoku Shinjuro appeared and saved him. It was also Shinjuro who took him to find his cousin, the only survivor of his family. When his cousin verbally abused him, believing that his escape had killed his entire family, and beat him, it was Shinjuro who stopped her. Afterwards, under Shinjuro's guidance, he joined the Demon Slayer Corps.

Having just slain the demon, Shinazugawa Sanemi, the 'Wind Pillar,' looked up as he walked along the road. He watched as a Kasugai crow flapped its wings and flew overhead, emitting a mournful cry. Shinazugawa Sanemi did not speak and continued walking, but his hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade at his waist. At that moment, his entire body exuded a chilling aura of ferocity.

Muichiro strolled through the woods, looked up, and listened to the message carried by the ravens. A look of confusion crossed his eyes. Who was Makijuro? He couldn't remember him at all! He only felt a vague sadness in his heart.

'Stone Pillar'. Just as Gyomei Himejima smashed a demon's head with a single punch, he heard the news of Makijuro's death. His hands involuntarily clasped together, and tears streamed down his blind eyes. He had seen Makijuro as passionate as fire, and he had also seen Makijuro as so dejected and negative that he didn't even attend the 'Pillar Meeting'.

It was thought that Makijuro had given up his duties as a 'Pillar' because he was afraid of the power of the demons, and eventually became depressed and died of old age. However, it was unexpected that Makijuro-senpai would eventually fulfill his duties as a 'Pillar'.

'Sound Pillar' Uzui Tengen was in the house with his three wives, all smiles. Upon hearing the news, he lowered his head and fell silent.

As a ninja, he had assessed Makijuro's fighting strength in his mind. Although he was decadent and negative and drank heavily every day, he was still a 'Pillar'! But even so, he was still killed by a demon. This made Uzui Tengen understand the power of demons more deeply. The demons he had killed on his daily life were not the strongest demons. He had not yet faced those more powerful demons.

"Is it an Upper Moon demon?"

Uzui Tengen said in a low voice, remaining silent. So far, he had not yet killed a single Upper Moon demon.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who was coughing incessantly due to his illness, raised his head blankly upon hearing the message from the Kasugai crow. His usually calm face showed a rare hint of relaxation.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki had a deep memory of Rengoku Makijuro. When he first became the 'Master,' it was this passionate man who guided and illuminated him. Although in the end this fiery man became completely decadent and negative, and no longer upheld his duties as the 'Flame Pillar,' Kagaya Ubuyashiki never blamed him. He thought that Makijuro would stop hunting demons and eventually return to life as an ordinary person. Perhaps he would drown his sorrows in alcohol and become decadent, but it would still be better than walking the blood-stained path of demon hunting.

Unexpectedly, the next time I heard news about Makijuro, it was in this way.

Every day, news of swordsmen's deaths lingers in my ears. Another 'pillar' has died. Even the mighty 'pillar' cannot escape dying on the path of demon slayers.

"Born in purgatory, burning with the original aspiration."

………………

Tokyo

Kyojuro Rengoku, who was investigating the gun-wielding demon, looked up. His fiery eyes stared as the Kasugai Crow flapped its wings and flew away. He also heard the Kasugai Crow deliver the news of his father's death. His hand unconsciously covered his chest.

My heart was throbbing with pain, as if flames were burning inside me, causing excruciating agony.

"Sir...sir."

The swordsman beside him looked up, tears streaming down his face, and gazed at Rengoku Kyojuro with worry.

"I...I'm fine."

Kyojuro Rengoku raised his head high, only in this way could the tears welling up in his eyes not fall.

For so many years, he has been working hard, and with each step forward, he wondered, "Will my father be happy?" "Will my father approve of me?"

Even after he became the 'Flame Pillar', his father was not happy for him and didn't care that he became a 'Pillar'. Although he remained enthusiastic on the surface, he was actually always disappointed inside. However, he did not let his enthusiasm fade away and kept burning with passion. Even knowing that the journey would be lonely, he still tried his best to live on.

Kyojuro always believed that one day, his father would truly accept him.

but

It seems that day will never come again.

"Sir, why don't we take a break?"

A swordsman spoke with concern.

"No need, continue investigating the ghost's whereabouts."

Rengoku Kyojuro smiled at the people around him with his usual fiery smile: "Father, you have shown me the way. Born in purgatory, burning with the passion of my heart, I will not let you down."

"Let's continue investigating the ghost."

He laughed, a hearty laugh, but when he inadvertently lowered his head, he silently murmured 'Upper Moon Three' in his heart.

Chapter 174 Embarking on this Path

Walking at night was a very common thing for Su Mu and Kanao, but it was quite difficult for Shinazugawa Genya.

At first, Shinazugawa Genya was able to keep up with his willpower, but as time went on, his stamina gradually gave out.

As the Kasugai crow fluttered its wings, news of the death of 'Flame Pillar' Rengoku Makijuro also arrived.

This made Su Mu, who was walking on the road, stop in his tracks and stare blankly at the raven that had delivered the message and then disappeared into the distance.

In my memory, Rengoku Makijuro was always alive and well, and he was always in a state of self-destruction.

It wasn't until the death of his son, Kyojuro Rengoku, that Tanjiro conveyed Kyojuro's last words. Under Tanjiro's guidance, this man who had given up on himself was able to pull himself together again. After the death of "Master" Kagaya Ubuyashiki, he returned to the battlefield and, together with Tengen Uzui, who was about to retire, served as the bodyguards of the new "Master" of the Demon Slayer Corps.

This was originally the ending for Rengoku Makijuro.

Unexpectedly, he has now met with death, something that was not supposed to happen in the future.

With his arrival, everything is changing, and things that might have happened in the future may no longer happen.

This made Su Mu somewhat worried.

"Whoosh..."