People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

They finally found a common topic, but as the conversation ended, the atmosphere fell silent again.

There was a sudden knock on the door of the izakaya. Tamayo got up from the tatami mat, opened the door, and found a cute little girl with short white hair and a string of hair accessories on her left side.

The little girl bowed politely to everyone: "I am Hinaka Ubuyashiki, the daughter of the current head of the Ubuyashiki family. I have been ordered by the head of the family, Naosai Ubuyashiki, to invite Mr. Yosuke to the Ubuyashiki clan's territory for a meeting."

The group followed Hinata through the bamboo forest to a desolate mountain, where a mansion stood deep within the mountain.

Upon entering the mansion, a vast estate, not a single person was in sight.

Tamayo was also entering the Ubuyashiki mansion for the first time, and couldn't help but exclaim, "The head of the Ubuyashiki family is really bold. The Demon Slayer Corps is killing demons everywhere, and Muzan Kibutsuji wants to wipe out the Ubuyashiki clan, yet the residence of the highest leader of the Demon Slayer Corps has no guards at all."

Hinaka explained to Tamayo, "Because Father said that every member of the Demon Slayer Corps is extremely precious. Keeping them here would be a waste. If Muzan finds this place, we, who have no power, will not be able to escape. It is better to preserve all our power to fight against Muzan."

Yosuke couldn't help but admire the magnanimity of the head of the Ubuyashiki family, whom he hadn't even met yet.

Chapter 13 Ubuyashiki Naosai and Hashira

When everyone arrived at the main house, Hinaka knocked on the door, and a voice that instantly put everyone at ease came from inside.

"Please come in."

Hinaka opened the door and saw a man dressed in a white kimono, with terrifying scars covering his face above his nose and no life in his eyes, sitting at the table.

"Welcome home, Mr. Yosuke."

The words "Welcome home" brought tears to Yosuke's eyes, who had been wandering alone for a long time. How long had it been since he had heard those words? A hundred years, or two hundred years?

Yosuke's voice trembled involuntarily: "You... still acknowledge that I am a member of the Ubuyashiki family? I am the demon who caused all of this!"

Naosai Ubuyashiki gave a warm and comforting smile: "But none of this is your fault, is it? It was Kibu Muzan who caused all of this. If it weren't for Yosuke's help, the casualties of the Demon Slayer Corps would have been even greater."

Yosuke, the Demon King, sensed that Naosai Ubuyashiki's aura was extremely weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment.

"Naozai, your body..."

Naosai Ubuyashiki gently stroked Hinaka's head: "I don't have much time left to live. God bless humanity. I saw hope in our ancestors Yoriichi and Yosuke. Now my wish is that in my generation, we can end all of this so that future generations can live in an era without demons."

Hinaka's eyes welled up with tears: "Father, it will happen, that day will definitely come!"

Yoriichi Tsugikuni also knelt devoutly before Naosai Ubuyashiki: "My lord, I will do everything in my power to slay all the demons!"

Naosai Ubuyashiki looked at Yosuke with lifeless eyes: "Ancestor Yosuke, I have informed all the Pillars through the Crow that a meeting will be held tomorrow regarding the encirclement and suppression of Kibuy Muzan!"

It was already very late at night, and Naosai Ubuyashiki's health couldn't keep him up all night, so after saying "sorry," he was led back to his bedroom to rest by Hinaka.

Yosuke stayed in a guest room at the Ubuyashiki residence.

As a demon who is active at night and sleeps during the day, Yosuke was not sleepy at all. He sat on the roof and stared blankly at the moon in the sky.

"Is something on your mind?" Tamayo's voice came from behind Yosuke.

Yosuke's voice was somewhat forlorn: "Tamayo, because of my birth and that of Kibuy Muzan, the bloodline of the Ubuyashiki family has been polluted and cursed, and almost no one can live past the age of 25."

25 years old... It's just a blink of an eye in my eyes, but for them, it's a lifetime... I really have a heavy sin to bear.

Tamayo sat down next to Yosuke and looked at the moon in the sky with him: "Didn't Mr. Naosai say that this is not your fault, Yosuke? Since you were born, you have never harmed a single human being. On the contrary, you have helped many humans."

Yosuke, you are different from Muzan Kibutsuji. He is inhuman, cruel and ruthless, and treats humans like livestock.

But Yosuke, you are different. You are gentle and kind, and you have goodwill towards all life. Your essence is still that of a human being.

Yosuke stretched out his right hand and covered the moon, as if he wanted to hold the moon in his palm:

“Every time I see life disappear around me, I wonder what the essence of life is. But after living for so long, I still haven’t found the answer. Endless life brings me no joy, but only endless confusion.”

The longer I live, the more I wonder what I am—human or demon? Everyone says the problem isn't with me, but only I know that's just an excuse. It all started with the birth of me and Muzan, and I'm merely atoning for my sins. That's the truth, isn't it?

Looking at the bewildered Yosuke, Tamayo suddenly felt a pang of pain in her heart. She was not Yosuke and could never truly understand the feelings he was experiencing at that moment.

Tamayo gently placed Yosuke's head on her knees and covered his eyes with her hands: "Yosuke, you're tired. Take a rest, get some sleep, and when you wake up, it will be a brand new day."

Yosuke felt his eyelids grow heavy, and for the first time in hundreds of years, he felt sleepy and drifted off to sleep.

Tamayo looked at Yosuke's exhausted appearance with heartache and murmured, "As long as we kill Muzan Kibutsuji, everything will change. I will also work hard to research a drug that can turn demons into humans. On that day, we will live an ordinary life together like humans."

The second night fell once again.

Yosuke opened his eyes and found himself on the bed in the guest room, while Tamayo was sitting in the chair next to him, flipping through a medical book.

"Huh? How did I fall asleep?" Yosuke was puzzled. He had never slept since becoming a demon, so how did he end up sleeping this time?

Tamayo smiled slightly: "Even a demon needs a rest now and then. It's not good to be constantly on edge, is it?"

As they were talking, Hinaka's voice came from outside the door.

"Lord Yosuke, Miss Tamayo, all the Pillars have arrived at the Ubuyashiki residence. Father requests that you both come over to discuss important matters."

Under the cover of night, Yosuke and Tamayo, led by Hinaka, headed to the main house.

When they entered the main house, there were six other people kneeling besides Ubuyashiki Naosai.

Naosai Ubuyashiki explained, "Yoichi is probably already very familiar to our ancestor Yosuke, so I won't go into too much detail. Let me introduce you to the other five Pillars instead."

Through Naosai Ubuyashiki's introduction, Yosuke learned the identities of the five people.

They are Raikage Sakatani, who has golden hair, wears an orange trench coat over a gray mesh bodysuit, and is a practitioner of Thunder Breathing.

With long, yellow hair edged in red, thick, black eyebrows, and piercing eyes, he is Rengoku Shinzuka Sho, a member of the Demon Hunter Clan who wields the Flame Breathing technique.

The only woman among the five, with black hair, wearing a kimono, and a gentle smile on her face, is Eriko Tokimoto, who has mastered the Water Breathing technique.

He looked fierce, his face covered in knife wounds, and he was glaring menacingly at Yosuke, Kento Kamijiro, who was mastering the Breath of Wind.

The last one, a man with a burly build, whose strong muscles could not be hidden even in loose clothing, exuded a great sense of security. He was Daigo Shima, who had mastered the Breath of Rock.

Adding Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who has mastered the initial breathing technique, these six are currently the strongest fighting force in the Demon Slayer Corps, known as the Pillars.

Yosuke looked at the six people and wondered to himself, "Are there any Snake Breathing or Love Breathing techniques yet?"

However, after carefully considering the timeline, Yosuke felt that it was normal for it not to exist now.

Based on Yoriichi Tsugikuni's original breathing technique, the Sun Breathing, the only breathing techniques that have evolved are the five basic breathing techniques: Water, Fire, Rock, Wind, and Thunder.

Like the future Flower Breathing, it is a branch of Water Breathing.

Love Breathing is a branch of Flame Breathing.

Current breathing techniques are all branches based on sun breathing; no further branches have been researched yet.

Chapter 14 Meeting

On the pillar of wind, Kento, his whole body filled with murderous intent, glared at Yosuke at the doorway. "My lord, demons cannot be trusted! Let alone the Demon King!"

Before anyone could react, Kento Kazamaru drew his Nichirin Blade and swung it at Yosuke.

Yosuke was speechless. "I can't beat Yoriichi Tsugikuni, but I can't beat you?"

Just as Yosuke was about to teach Kaze Pillar a lesson, the sound of weapons clashing echoed throughout the house.

It was the Flame Pillar, Rengoku Shinzuka Sho, who blocked the Nichirin Blade of the Wind Pillar, Uechi Kento.

"Kendou, do not behave rudely in front of our lord!"

"Sho Kokorozuka, don't stop me!" Kento Ueji, the Wind Pillar, deflected Kokorozuka Sho's Nichirin Blade and tried to launch an attack on Yosuke.

"Kento, I'm sorry to have disturbed you. Ubuyashiki Yosuke is the ancestor of our Ubuyashiki clan, and someone I acknowledge..." Although the voice was weak, a gentle voice that soothed the heart came from Ubuyashiki Naosai.

Kento Ueharu immediately sheathed his Nichirin Blade, knelt on the ground, and listened quietly and obediently to Naosai Ubuyashiki's speech.

"I hope everyone can acknowledge Yosuke Ubuyashiki. Although he is the Demon King, he has never caused any harm to humans. On the contrary, in the era before Breathing Techniques existed, it was Yosuke who slew demons all over the world, giving the Demon Slayer Corps a respite in an era full of demons."

With his hands clasped together and a resolute expression, Daigo Iwahashima retorted to the respected Naosai Ubuyashiki, "But even if it's my lord's request, I can't accept his identity as a demon!"

"I also object. It's already hard to accept the identity of a demon, let alone a demon king!" Raikage Sakagaya also objected to Ubuyashiki Naosai's request.

"Although I sincerely respect my lord, I simply cannot understand this idea, and I strongly oppose it!" Flame Pillar Rengoku Shinzuka Sho also expressed his opposition.

"I will comply with any request from my lord..." Only the Water Pillar Eriko chose to support Ubuyashiki Naosai.

Meanwhile, Yoriichi Tsugikuni remained silent on the side.

Finally, Kento Ue, the Wind Pillar who harbored hostility towards Yosuke, pressed his head to the ground and pleaded with Naosai Ubuyashiki: "The Demon Slayer Corps is about annihilating demons! I hope you will immediately agree to the strangulation of the evil demons!"

Naosai Ubuyashiki patiently waited for the five Pillars to express their thoughts, and finally calmly said:

"I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings. I will vouch for Yosuke Ubuyashiki. If Yosuke Ubuyashiki causes any harm to humanity, then I, who went my own way, will commit seppuku to atone for my sins."

"My lord!" Upon hearing that Ubuyashiki Naosai was going to commit seppuku as an apology, all the Pillars present cried out in alarm.

"I have confidence in Ancestor Yang Jie. With your overwhelming strength, along with Ancestor Yang Jie, who is also a Demon King, we will definitely be able to kill Kibu Muzan this time. I firmly believe that day is not far away."

“I… understand…” When Kazehachi Kento heard Ubuyashiki Naosai use his own life as collateral, he chose to compromise.

The other pillars also fell silent. Although Ubuyashiki Naosai had no power and could fall at any moment, it did not diminish their respect for him.

With bloodshot eyes, Kento Kazama warned Yosuke, his anger barely contained: "I'll be watching you. If you do anything out of line, I'll kill you before things get out of control!"

Yosuke rolled his eyes, ignoring Kento Kazamaru. When one person is prejudiced against another, any explanation is just sophistry to them.

"Alright, let's officially begin the meeting regarding the encirclement and suppression of Kibuyaku Muzan. The person here who knows Kibuyaku Muzan best is our ancestor Yosuke, so let's have him give his explanation first," announced Ubuyashiki Naosai.

Yosuke coughed lightly and said calmly, "I had a direct confrontation with Kibuy Muzan a while ago."

Yosuke's words shocked everyone present.

Even Tamayo was incredibly surprised, because when Yosuke arrived, he hadn't told her anything yet: "What? You had a direct confrontation with Kibu Muzan?!"

Yosuke nodded and continued, "Because Kibuy Muzan needed something, he sent out a large number of demons to search for it. Because of my interference, I killed demons in various places, which slowed down the search. So Kibuy Muzan came to me."

"What is that?" the Pillars asked in confusion.

Naosai Ubuyashiki's face turned extremely pale, and he said with difficulty, "If nothing unexpected happens, Kibuy Muzan is looking for that blue spider lily, right?"

Yosuke nodded, confirming Ubuyashiki Naosai's guess.

Everyone was puzzled, but Ubuyashiki Naosai explained: "According to the family's notes, after becoming a demon, there is a fatal weakness, which is sunlight. It is precisely because of this that the Nichirin Blade, which possesses the power of the sun, can slay demons."

However, the blue spider lily can help a demon overcome this weakness, allowing it to become a perfect, flawless ultimate being.

Everyone's faces turned ashen. If Muzan Kibutsuji obtained the Blue Spider Lily, the Demon Slayer Corps' only advantage would be gone.

Even Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who had always been calm and collected, frowned. His Sun Breathing imitated the power of the sun, so it had a natural advantage against demons. But if Muzan Kibutsuji overcame the sunlight, would his Sun Breathing still be effective?

By then, the entire human world will become a paradise for ghosts.