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

"...Yes, that's right."

Kanroji Mitsuri patted her cheeks. "Alright! I'll do my best too!"

"..."

The others didn't speak, but their hands unconsciously gripped the Nichirin Blade at their waists.

Suoh Takeshi held up his teacup, looking at the eager expressions on everyone's faces, and thought he should pour some cold water on them to cool them down and prevent them from being too impulsive.

"The Upper Moon demons are indeed very powerful. We are still very weak. It is too early to think that we can compete with the Upper Moon demons or even Muzan Kibutsuji."

“Suoh-kun…”

Shinobu Kocho almost couldn't maintain her fake, polite smile because Suoh Takeshi's words were too demoralizing for everyone.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with what I said. Failing to recognize one's own strength will only lead to a pointless death."

"I'm talking about you, Ren!"

Suoh Takeshi looked at Shinobu Kocho with a solemn expression and warned her, "You must never go to see Doma alone. From now on, your life no longer belongs solely to yourself."

"..."

Shinobu Kocho was conflicted, but finally gave in, "Yes, yes, I understand, I understand..."

For the sake of the Demon Slayer Corps, she was willing to temporarily set aside her own hatred.

"Well then, I have a suggestion."

Suoh Takeshi clapped his hands to attract the attention of the pillars, saying, "Next, we need to avoid battle."

"Avoid war?"

"That's right, avoid war."

This is a crucial period, a time when the Demon Slayer Corps is diligently building up its strength.

Therefore, when evil spirits appear, members of the Demon Slayer Corps are sent to deal with them, and the Pillars are not allowed to go out.

Even if it's absolutely necessary for Pillars to carry out a mission, there should be three Pillars accompanying them.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "If you encounter an Upper Moon demon during a mission, you absolutely must not fight it! If you do, turn around and run, run as far away as possible..."

"Ah, are you kidding me?!"

The hot-tempered Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately exploded, "Are you looking down on us, the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, to turn and run away at the sight of a demon?!"

The Demon Slayer Corps exists to eliminate evil spirits.

However, if Suoh Takeru tells them to turn around and run away whenever they see a demon, what is the point of the Demon Slayer Corps?

This is an unacceptable disgrace for the Demon Slayer Corps and the Pillars!

"Listen carefully to what I'm saying: 'When you encounter an Upper Moon demon, turn around and run.'"

"Isn't that the same thing!"

"So, are you confident that you can defeat an Upper Moon demon on your own?"

"I!……"

Sanemi Shinazugawa was unwilling to give up and wanted to argue further, but Gyomei Himejima suddenly spoke up:

"Sanemi, follow orders! With our current strength, killing the Upper Moon demons will inevitably result in losses!"

What Kyōmei Himejima said was an undeniable fact.

Given the Demon Slayer Corps' current strength, a direct confrontation with the Twelve Demon Moons would result in a swap, with each side trading 2 for 1 or 3 for 1!

Such a swap would be counterproductive, offering no benefit to the Demon Slayer Corps and potentially impacting their final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji.

"That's it, keep striving to improve your strength, Shinazugawa Sanemi!"

Suoh Takeshi came to Shinazugawa Sanemi's side and said, "You are all just like Shinobu!"

From this moment forward, your lives no longer belong solely to yourselves!

Strive to improve your strength and make your greatest contribution to defeating Muzan Kibutsuji!

P.S.: Please recommend and add to your favorites!

Chapter 037 Time Limit: One Year

Avoiding battle is indeed a blow to morale.

However, it cannot be denied that this is currently the best and most advantageous option for the Demon Slayer Corps.

If we can't beat them, we can't just trade them for someone else.

Suoh Takeshi was very greedy.

He wanted everyone to survive; he wanted a perfect ending!

Children make choices, adults want it all!

Therefore, Suoh Takeshi instructed all the pillars to accumulate strength, and to run away when they encountered an evil spirit they couldn't defeat.

Running away is not shameful; it is an important tactic on the battlefield.

but……

Simply avoiding war is not an option either.

It can easily wear down their morale, make them doubt themselves, and they may be afraid to fight even before they encounter an Upper Moon demon in the future.

Therefore, everyone set a time.

One year.

With a one-year deadline, we will launch a full-scale attack on Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Demon Moons exactly one year later!

This time was also the final time set by Takeshi Suo based on Kagaya Ubuyashiki's physical condition.

Even with the help of [purification] and [healing], Kagaya Ubuyashiki's lifespan is only about a year.

His health was critically ill, and he was on the verge of collapse.

This is a race against time.

Using Kagaya Ubuyashiki's lifespan as the dividing line, let's see whether the Demon Slayer Corps kills Muzan Kibutsuji first, or whether Muzan Kibutsuji successfully annihilates the entire Demon Slayer Corps.

All the pillars were eager to try their skills.

"Alright! Since everyone wants to improve their strength as soon as possible, then—dismissed!"

Suoh Takeshi clapped his hands, shooing away the group of pillars who wanted to leave but were reluctant to part.

"Oh! I'll do my best! I'll learn the Sun Breathing Technique as soon as possible, and then eliminate all the evil spirits!" Kyojuro Rengoku was full of enthusiasm and left first.

He's always been so passionate.

If the strongest member, Gyomei Himejima, is the pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, then the energetic Kyojuro Rengoku is its leader.

With exceptional leadership and judgment, he is always able to get people moving first.

really.

As he left, the other pillars said goodbye and then departed one by one.

In the end, only Shinobu Kocho remained.

Suoh Takeshi looked at her and asked, "Did you stay to see me off?"

"Well, after all, I promised to see Suoh off last night, so I can't just leave him alone," Shinobu said with a smile.

"Besides, they eliminate evil spirits using poison, and there's no room for improvement in that..."

"Don't underestimate yourselves! Medical staff are extremely important logistical support, and they are also related to whether we can defeat Muzan Kibutsuji."

Suoh Takeshi put down his teacup. "You are important. Endure."

He looked directly at her.

"..."

Shinobu Kocho was defeated in a brief eye contact. "I'm really happy that Suoh-kun thinks that way, as the owner of the Butterfly Mansion."

"If that's really what you think, then don't give up your life so easily. Doma is not someone you can fight right now."

Suoh Takeru repeatedly reminded her, fearing that she might recklessly seek revenge against Doma.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know. I will definitely not go back to fight with Doma, please rest assured, Suoh-kun."

Butterfly's face, which was trying to suppress a smile, bulged with veins. "Really, Suoh-kun is like an old woman. Just how little do you trust Suoh-kun?"

to be frank.

Even if it was for her own good, after hearing so many nagging repetitions and being told repeatedly, Suoh Takeru was not annoyed at all, but she was.

"Old woman...?! This has nothing to do with whether I trust you or not, it's just..."

"only…?"

"No, it's nothing."

Suoh swallowed back what he was about to say, and then spoke very solemnly to Shinobu Kocho:

"Shinobu, if any of the Pillars are killed in battle while I'm gone, be sure to bring their bodies back. Don't let them be devoured by demons!"

Shinobu looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Well, if it's possible."

Even the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps have been devoured by demons quite a few times. She herself had long been prepared to be devoured.

"Also, the bodies you bring back must be kept as intact as possible. They must not be burned or buried. Freeze them with ice and make sure they don't decompose. Then wait for me to come back!"

"……Why?"

Suoh Takeshi smiled mysteriously, "I'll give you and the Twelve Demon Moons a surprise."

Surprised?

It was probably a fright.

Suoh Takeshi thought to himself: "The fact that the dead can be resurrected seems to violate all moral principles!"