Demon Slayer: The Second God Who Walks the Earth

"Hinokami Kagura: Illusionary Rainbow!"

A specialized evasive dance that utilizes high-speed twists and turns for high-speed movement.

This is... a residual image?

In Chiba Yo's eyes, several afterimages appeared around Tanjiro, but under the Transparent World, Chiba Yo could easily distinguish the difference between them and Tanjiro's real body, so they were of no use to him.

Even so, it's still surprising, as Chiba Yo has excellent dynamic vision and can easily track the movement of even a mosquito flying in the air.

Logically, he shouldn't be able to see the afterimages from this kind of move, but the Phantom Rainbow move is specifically designed for opponents with superior dynamic vision. The higher one's dynamic vision, the easier it is to capture the user's afterimages.

However, this move seemed to have taken a toll on Tanjiro, as fine beads of sweat had appeared on his face.

"Hinokami Kagura: Train!"

"Hinokami Kagura: Scorching Sun!"

"Hinokami Kagura - Yoka-tsu!"

"Hinokami Kagura - Hirin Kagerou!"

"Hinokami Kagura - The Setting Sun Turns Around!"

"Hinokami Kagura: Kaguya's Radiant Light!"

"Hinokami Kagura - Dragon Head Dance of the Solar Halo!"

"Hinokami Kagura: Flame Dance!"

After completing the entire Kagura dance, Tanjiro stood there breathing heavily, while Chiba Yo was still savoring the sword technique he had just performed.

In his opinion, this set of sword techniques was even more refined than the sword techniques he had developed himself, and these twelve moves were sufficient to handle almost any situation in battle.

Moreover, he discovered something else while observing: the twelve sword techniques seemed to be connected one after another. The first and last techniques were both arc-shaped slashes that cleaved forward, and the twelfth technique was a double strike of the first technique.

After performing the twelfth sword technique, it is easy to follow up with the first technique and start from the beginning.

"This is the Kagura dance that my father taught me. I'm still finding it a bit difficult to perform it completely. Did Yang notice anything just now?" Tanjiro paused for a moment, then walked towards Chiba Yang and asked him.

Chiba Yo stopped thinking after hearing Tanjiro's words, nodded and said to Tanjiro, "Yes, I just noticed something by observing your body when you used your techniques."

I initially thought that the Hinokami Kagura you mentioned was another name for Flame Breathing, and I guessed that perhaps an ancestor in your family joined the Demon Slayer Corps and passed down Flame Breathing.

Tanjiro shook his head immediately after hearing what Chiba Yo said and said to him, "Our family has been burning charcoal for a long time. The family genealogy records it very clearly. There is absolutely no way any of our ancestors could have ever joined the Demon Slayer Corps."

Upon hearing this, Chiba Yo said to Tanjiro, "I already denied that after watching your demonstration of the Kagura dance. The breathing technique you used is not the Flame Breathing."

I've also learned the Flame Breathing technique from my teacher, and it's quite different from the breathing method you just used.

On the contrary, your breathing technique is basically the same as the Sun Breathing I use.

Chiba Yo was puzzled by this situation. According to his teacher, his breathing technique was something he had never seen anyone use before, and it was said to be a new breathing technique. However, Tanjiro was now using the same breathing technique as him. Moreover, according to Shinobu Kocho's description at the time, Tanjiro's breathing technique and sword skills were passed down from generation to generation.

"Really! Where did Yang learn his breathing technique?" Tanjiro felt he was one step closer to the true identity of Hinokami Kagura and was overjoyed.

However, Chiba Yo's next words plunged him into confusion once again.

"I figured out my own breathing technique; I didn't learn it from anyone. I only learned that what I was using was called a breathing technique after I joined the Demon Slayer Corps. I named my breathing technique Sun Breathing..."

Chiba Yo answered Tanjiro's question, and as he spoke, he suddenly thought of something.

"The Breath of Beginning is also known as the Breath of the Sun..."

Recalling what the lord had said at the Pillar Meeting, Chiba Yo immediately said to Tanjiro, "That's right! I remember now. The lord told us before that the Breath of the Beginning is also called the Breath of the Sun, and your breathing technique and swordsmanship have been passed down through generations. Could it be that your Hinokami Kagura is related to the Breath of the Beginning that the lord mentioned?"

Then Chiba Yo realized something else.

"In that case, the breathing method I figured out myself is basically the same as the breathing method you passed down. Could it also be related to the primordial breathing?"

Chiba Yo thought about it more and more and it seemed very possible. Although this situation seemed too coincidental, it was not impossible.

"Let's go! Let's go ask our lord about the Breath of Beginning now." Chiba Yo said, grabbing Tanjiro's hand and heading towards the lord's residence.

Tanjiro listened to Chiba Yo ramble on and on, but before he could understand what was going on, Chiba Yo pulled him away.

At this moment, Chiba Yo was caught up in the thrill of uncovering the truth and couldn't stop.

The two soon arrived at the mansion where their lord was, but they did not see their lord.

"I'm sorry, my father and mother went to the Demon Slayer Corps cemetery to pay respects to the deceased members. They shouldn't be back until this afternoon."

Hina walked out the door and politely addressed Chiba Yo.

"It's alright, we can come back later then," Chiba Yang quickly waved his hand and said.

"Does the lord often visit the cemetery?" Chiba Yo asked curiously after hearing Hina's words.

He remembered that the last time he came to talk to his lord about the Crimson Blade, he had just returned from the Demon Slayer Corps' cemetery.

“Yes, my father goes to the cemetery to sweep the graves every day. He says he doesn’t want the children who died in the battle against evil spirits to be too lonely, and he wants to talk to them more.”

She also said she wanted to visit them more often while she could still walk, otherwise she wouldn't be able to be with them anymore when she was bedridden. "Hina nodded in response to Chiba Yo's words.

Chapter 44 The Angry Swordsmith

After hearing Hina's words, Chiba Yo felt a lump in his throat and couldn't speak for a long time.

He now fully understood why all the pillars held their lord in such high esteem. As a leader, if he could go to such lengths for his subordinates, how could any subordinate not respect him?

Furthermore, he did not regard the members of the Demon Slayer Corps as subordinates; he always called them "kids," treating all the members of the Demon Slayer Corps as his own children.

Offer guidance when they are distressed, lend a helping hand when they suffer, grieve for their passing, and rejoice in their strength.

However, that's not all. What Chiba Yo doesn't know is that Kagaya remembers the names and life stories of every member who has died since he took office, and he genuinely loves every swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps.

"I hope my lord takes good care of himself." After a long silence, Chiba Yang finally uttered only this sentence.

Hinai smiled after hearing Chiba Yo's words, bowed slightly, and said to him, "Thank you."

The two left their lord's residence in silence. Tanjiro had just been deeply shocked, and his impression of his lord had become even more profound and vivid.

Walking slowly down the road, Chiba Yang momentarily forgot some of the things he wanted to say to Tanjiro after watching him use Hinokami Kagura.

Just then, a crow flew over their heads.

"Wow! Wow! The swordsmith who forged the swords for Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira has arrived! Tanjiro and Inosuke's swords are finished!"

The crows circled in the air, cawing loudly, breaking the somber atmosphere.

"Inosuke and I have finally finished forging our Nichirin Blades! Mr. Hidetsuka has arrived too! I'll go tell Inosuke and then go greet Mr. Hidetsuka in a bit."

Upon hearing the news from the crow, Tanjiro's mood immediately improved. He happily exclaimed and then ran towards his and Zenitsu's residence.

...The swordsmiths who forge Nichirin Blades must value the swords they forge very much. Tanjiro broke a Nichirin Blade, so that swordsmith must not be in a good mood. Why does Tanjiro look so happy?

Chiba Yo was somewhat puzzled by Tanjiro's reaction.

Watching Tanjiro's disappearing figure, Chiba Yo suddenly remembered that he still had some thoughts about Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura that he hadn't told him.

Well, he'll be going to meet the swordsmith who's forging his sword soon anyway, so I'll just wait for him at the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion.

Thinking this, Chiba Yo took a step towards the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion.

It's been quite a while since I've heard from Mr. Tetsumayama. I wonder how he's doing now...

A few minutes later, Chiba Yo arrived at the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion. Tanjiro and the others had not yet arrived, and two people wearing fire man masks were slowly walking towards them from a distance.

Those two must be the swordsmiths who forged the Nichirin Blades for Tanjiro and Inosuke. Let's ask them about Mr. Tessumaruyama's recent situation later.

Chiba Yo thought to himself.

Then a commotion arose.

"hurry up!"

Tanjiro's voice.

Inosuke's voice.

The two of them skipped and hopped happily over.

"You're here too, Yang."

Tanjiro was surprised to see Chiba Yo, and then he noticed the two swordsmiths in the distance.

"There are still some things I didn't finish telling you..."

Chiba Yang spoke to Tanjiro, but Tanjiro was too excited to notice what Chiba Yang was saying.

"It's Mr. Hidetoshika!" Tanjiro exclaimed in surprise.

Then, waving at the swordsmith wearing a straw hat in the distance, he shouted, "Hey—hey—Mr. Haganezuka! Long time no see!"

The swordsmith wearing a straw hat seemed to notice Tanjiro as well, then handed what he was holding to another swordsmith next to him, and quickly ran over.

...What he's holding...is a knife, isn't it...?

Chiba Yang stopped talking for the time being after Tanjiro interrupted him. He turned his head and saw the swordsmith wearing a straw hat running towards them quickly, holding a sword in both hands, with the veins on his arms bulging, looking extremely angry.

"Are you doing well..."

Tanjiro was too far away to see what Hidezuka was doing before he could finish his sentence and saw Hidezuka rushing towards him with both swords in his hands.

Tanjiro's smile froze.

With an angry shout, Haganezuka rushed in front of Tanjiro and thrust his sword forward, but Tanjiro quickly dodged.

"Mr. Steel... Mr. Steel Matsuka..."

Tanjiro turned around, trembling, to look at the Iron Mound, still feeling a lingering fear.

Chiba Yo thought that a swordsmith wouldn't be able to hurt Tanjiro, so he didn't move and just stood aside to watch the show.

"How dare you break my sword... How dare you... How dare you!" Haganezuka shouted angrily at Tanjiro, his anger seemingly burning like fire.

The knife maker was indeed in a bad mood, or rather, in a terrible mood.

Chiba Yo looked at Tanjiro with some sympathy.

Tanjiro then realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly explained to Hidezuka, "But really... I almost died too, and the opponent was extremely strong..."

Tanjiro was so nervous and anxious that he could hardly speak properly.

After hearing his words, Steel Tsukasa did not forgive him easily. He came up to him and quickly poked his face hard, angrily saying, "No, what does that have to do with it! It's your fault! It's all your fault! It's because you're too weak that the sword broke! Otherwise, how could mine have broken!"

The steel mound stabbed faster and harder, leaving Tanjiro utterly powerless to resist and only able to pitifully try to explain himself.

"but……"

Before he could utter a word in his defense, Haganezuka raised his sword again, tears streaming from the eyes of the fire-man mask covering his face. Trembling, he said to Tanjiro with genuine emotion, "I'm going to kill you!!!"

After finishing his speech, Steel Tomb began to demonstrate his determination by wielding his sword and rapidly slashing at Tanjiro, who was forced to flee.

The two engaged in a chase at the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion.

Shinobu Kocho, who appeared out of nowhere, smiled curiously and asked, "Is this some new training?"

Kanzaki Aoi, standing to the side, said with a hint of helplessness, "I don't think so."

The chase between Steel Tomb and Tanjiro lasted for nearly an hour before it ended. During this time, Chiba Yo recalled the sword techniques that Tanjiro had demonstrated earlier and felt that he had grasped the key points of these moves. However, he was sure that the sword techniques he created himself would be more skillful and effective in a short period of time.

Later, he might try to combine his own sword techniques with these twelve sword styles, but of course, he will first seek Tanjiro's consent.

After their chase ended, the two entered the Butterfly Mansion together. Chiba Yo didn't follow any further and took out his Nichirin Blade to practice swinging it in the courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion while waiting for Tanjiro and the others to finish their conversation.

Chapter 45 Iron Pill Mountain Rainbow

Not long after, Chiba saw Inosuke come out with two Nichirin Blades and sit on the steps. The commotion inside seemed to have subsided, so he went inside.

At this moment, Haganezuka was lying on the floor, propping his head up with his hand and staring at Tanjiro with great dissatisfaction. Tanjiro was too afraid to turn around and look at him.

"Ah, my name is Tetsuya Mori. I am responsible for forging swords for Lord Inosuke. It would be great if I could lend a helping hand in the battle."

After speaking, Tetsuya Mori looked at Inosuke sitting on the steps, whose twin swords were changing color.

Chiba Yo walked in and sat down to one side, then asked the two swordsmiths, "Mr. Tetsuya Mori, Mr. Tektsuzuka, do you know how Mr. Tetsumaruyama is doing these days? He is the swordsmith who forged my sword."

After hearing Chiba Yo's words, Tetsuya Mori and Tektsuka Takarazuka exchanged a puzzled look.

"Iron Ball Mountain?"

Then, as if he had just realized something, Tetsuya Mori said to Chiba Yo with a sudden realization, "Oh, you mean Rainbow? She's still the same as ever, obsessed with forging swords using ancient methods, hoping to create weapons as excellent as those from the Warring States period."

She seemed quite happy when she returned to the village not long ago; I wonder what happened.