You didn't expect this, did you? I've time-traveled again!

A cup…

Two cups...

Suoh Takeshi was getting a little impatient.

Although whoever speaks first loses the initiative, Suoh Takeshi has always disliked the intricacies of large families, so he asked directly.

“Head of the Ubuyashiki family, continuing like this will only waste both of our time. How about we get straight to the point?”

"..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked slightly surprised, but still spoke up, "Suoh-kun, I have summoned you here today because I have a favor to ask of you."

"What's the matter?"

"After my death, Suoh-kun, please lead the Demon Slayer Corps to slay Muzan Kibutsuji! Let the blood curse of the Ubuyashiki clan end in our generation!"

Suoh Takeshi was shocked upon hearing this!

ah--?!

what's the situation?

what happened?

Why did he suddenly start making arrangements for his death?

"……Why?"

Suo Takeshi didn't think he had the domineering aura to make people bow down and submit the moment they met him; there must have been something that made Ubuyashiki Kagaya make up his mind!

“Suoh-kun, although I cannot see, I can foresee.”

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, contrary to his usual composure, became very excited.

"For the past week, I've been seeing this in my dreams every night:"

The Pillars cheered around you, and the Demon Slayer Corps was filled with laughter; nearby lay Muzan Kibutsuji's corpse, gradually turning to dust and dissipating into the distance under the blazing sun...

I think this must be because of Suoh-kun!

This wasn't Kagaya Ubuyashiki deceiving Takeshi Suo; he genuinely saw this scene in his dream.

He originally wanted to gradually build a closer relationship with Suoh Takeru, allowing the other Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps to spend more time with Suoh Takeru until things naturally progressed and Suoh Takeru joined the Demon Slayer Corps.

But just an hour earlier, his children ran to him and told him, 'Suoh Takeshi wants to leave; let him think of a way.'

He panicked for a moment.

For a thousand years since Yoriichi Tsugikuni, this generation of Demon Slayer Corps is the closest to Muzan Kibutsuji and the most likely to kill him.

If they can't end Muzan Kibutsuji in their generation, then it's very likely that no one will ever be able to punish him again.

The sudden appearance of Suoh Takeshi is the Demon Slayer Corps' greatest hope for eliminating evil spirits, and the person most likely to complete this mission!

This was Kagaya Ubuyashiki's judgment, and also his premonition.

Therefore, he must do everything possible to keep Suoh Takeshi in the Demon Slayer Corps!

but……

The boy in front of me didn't seem to want to stay with the Demon Slayer Corps.

Chapter 035 Refusal

Faced with the three people's expectant expressions, Suoh Takeshi did not immediately agree, but instead quietly activated his skill.

He had just heard a faint sound.

"Sense the enemy."

【Sense Enemy】 is an exploration skill that allows you to search for enemies through ordinary terrain, thus achieving the amazing ability to determine the enemy's location in advance.

It can be used to scout the terrain and detect enemies.

It is an extremely useful skill and a must-learn skill for the thief class.

"Just as I thought..."

The layout of the hall where Suoh Takeshi was located was monotonous, and it seemed that there was nothing to hide. However, in fact, there was a small, extremely secluded private space in the corner.

Hidden there are the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.

'No wonder...it seems there was an unnecessary misunderstanding.'

Suoh Takeshi thought to himself.

He must have been vague in his words, making the other pillars think he was leaving and worried that he wouldn't come back, so they asked Kagaya Ubuyashiki to plead with him to stay.

In fact, over the past week, Suoh Takeru could sense that everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps held a strange hope and expectation for him.

Suoh Takeshi could guess what their purpose was.

But to everyone's surprise, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was willing to pay such a high price, even sacrificing the entire Demon Slayer Corps, just to beg him to stay!

"I'm sorry, but I have to decline."

After a moment of contemplation, he said softly, "I do not have the ability to lead the Demon Slayer Corps, nor am I the most suitable person to lead it."

Suoh Takeshi was self-aware.

Leading the Demon Slayer Corps requires not only strength and strategy, but also prestige and popular support.

Prestige and popular support are precisely the most important factors!

Clearly, Suoh Takeru did not possess these two crucial qualities that would command his submission.

Without prestige and popular support, he alone, with his strength, could not lead the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Suoh-kun, everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps hopes you will become the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, and I hope so too..."

"No, there's no need to say anything more."

Before Kagaya Ubuyashiki could finish speaking, Takeshi Suo interrupted, "I am definitely not suitable to be the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. Moreover, there are more suitable candidates for the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps..."

After speaking, he looked at the young man sitting next to Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

——Ubuyashiki Toshiya.

Faced with Suoh Takeshi's direct and oppressive gaze, Ubuyashiki Toshiya showed no fear, facing the situation calmly without glancing to the side.

To have such composure at such a young age, he truly deserves to be the successor nurtured by a prominent family.

Suoh Takeshi nodded in satisfaction.

"Compared to me, Ritsuya is more qualified, isn't he?"

He is the son of Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the designated next head of the Demon Slayer Corps before Suoh Takeshi arrived.

He has magnanimity, prestige, and popular support, and his words are righteous and justified.

However, Suo Takeshi's sudden arrival led Ubuyashiki Kagaya to make a different decision.

Of course, to reassure the other Pillars and prevent them from having any wild thoughts, Suoh Takeshi also made his own promise: "Please rest assured, I will do my best to help the Demon Slayer Corps kill Muzan Kibutsuji."

An honest young man won't take advantage of someone and then leave them alone!

Having received such a huge benefit from the Demon Slayer Corps, Suoh Takeru would never simply walk away without doing so.

"Since Suoh-kun has said so..."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded slightly. "No... Takeshi, I believe you."

The change in address was an attempt to get closer to Suoh Takeshi.

In fact, he also agreed with Suoh Takeshi's suggestion, which was the best choice for everyone and the best result that both sides would be happy to see.

"Well then, I'll be going now, Master of the Ubuyashiki family...."

Suoh Takeshi bowed slightly, preparing to get up and leave.

"Wait a moment, Wu."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki gestured for Takeshi Suo to wait a moment before leaving, then said to his wife who was standing beside him:

"Bring the things here."

Ubuyashiki Amane got up and presented the items that were in the cabinet.

"This is……"

Suoh Takeshi's eyes brightened slightly.

The item placed before me is a Nichirin Blade!

"This is a Nichirin Blade."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki took the Nichirin Blade and then personally handed it to Takeshi Suoh, saying, "Since Takeshi has joined the Demon Slayer Corps, how can he not have a Nichirin Blade?"

The Nichirin Blade is the standard equipment of every Demon Slayer Corps member and their reliance for slaying evil demons.

Although the scarlet sand ore used to forge Nichirin Blades is difficult to mine and extremely rare, the wealthy Ubuyashiki still managed to provide each member of the Demon Slayer Corps with one.

"The Nichirin Blade in Suoh's hand was forged by the best swordsmith in the sword-forging village."

"The best swordsmith..."

Is this truly the best sword in the village?

A sword forged by the best blacksmith in the village is, of course, the best sword in the village.

That's a valid point of view.

But I'm afraid it might just snap.

Without much thought, Suoh Takeru eagerly drew his sword, simultaneously employing his breathing technique.

He wanted to see what color his knife would be.

However, Suoh Takeshi was stunned when his sword was stained with color.

black……

?