Demon Slayer: The Second God Who Walks the Earth

Chapter 161 The Eve of Parting

With the Lord's illness gone, the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters was once again filled with a joyful atmosphere, even more so than before. Everyone held a banquet to celebrate this day before their parting, and even Giyu attended the banquet at the Lord's command.

The gathering of the Pillars was similar to the dinner after Chiba Yo's first Pillars Meeting. Kyojuro kept chanting "Five ants, five ants," Sanemi silently placed a plate of hagi mochi in front of him and ate it quietly, Uzui Tengen only ate the most fancy-looking food, the Mist Pillar would stop after a couple of bites to think about whether he had eaten anything, Himejima Gyomei would cry even while eating, and Mitsuri was still eating very happily. However, this time Obanai was the first to grab the seat next to Mitsuri, while the seat on the other side of Mitsuri was taken by Kocho Shinobu.

Moreover, Tanjiro and the others also participated in the dinner party. After hearing what Chiba Yo said yesterday, Zenitsu kept putting food on Tanjiro and Nezuko's plates.

Everyone looked cheerful, but they all understood that after today, it might be a final farewell. The Demon Slayer Corps was the bond that brought them together from all corners of the world, and now that the Demon Slayer Corps had disbanded, it would be difficult for some of them to meet again.

After the banquet, everyone stayed together and played until dusk before going back to rest.

After Chiba Yo returned to his residence, Obanai approached him.

"Mr. Iguro, is there something you need from me?"

Chiba Yo looked at Obanai in front of him and asked him a question.

"It's nothing. We'll be parting ways tomorrow anyway, I'm just saying goodbye in advance."

"That's what Banai replied."

The words his lord had spoken to him earlier had touched him deeply. He had a strong liking for Mitsuri and wanted to put aside his inferiority complex about his own bloodline before parting ways and express his feelings to her.

But when he thought about his face under the bandages, he ultimately couldn't take that step.

He was feeling down because he was going to have to part ways with Mitsuri tomorrow, so he decided to go out for a walk to clear his head. But he ended up in Chiba Yo's place. Thinking about some of Chiba Yo's previous actions, Obanai guessed that he must have figured out his feelings for Mitsuri, so he wanted to ask him for his opinion.

Upon hearing this, Chiba invited Obanai into the house, and the two sat down.

"Time flies so fast. It's been almost a year since we last had a meal together. I can't believe we're about to part ways in the blink of an eye."

Chiba Yo said with some emotion, then suddenly remembered something and asked Obanai, "By the way, Mr. Iguro, you should have already expressed your feelings to Kanroji-senpai, right? After all, we'll be parting ways tomorrow, and if you don't say it now, you won't have another chance."

From the first time she attended the Pillar Meeting, Chiba Yo noticed that Obanai seemed to like Mitsuri, and Obanai's subsequent actions only confirmed this.

Obanai remained silent for a while after hearing this.

Chiba Yo, who was initially quite reassured about this, fell silent upon seeing his expression. He felt somewhat puzzled, as he didn't think Obanai was such a shy person.

"I have not……"

Obanai answered, but she didn't seem to be in a good mood.

Before Chiba Yo could ask why, Obanai tore off the bandages wrapped around her face, revealing a wound running from the corner of her mouth to her ear.

Seeing the wound, Chiba Yo seemed to understand why Obanai hadn't confessed her feelings to Mitsuri.

Just as he was about to comfort Obanai, the other person spoke up.

"I am a descendant of a shameless family that murders others for personal gain..."

They used the stolen money to build houses, live in luxury, and engage in unnecessary extravagance... A shameless, greedy, and insatiable people...

It is said that it was a family that had always only given birth to girls, and had not welcomed a boy for 370 years.

I have been locked in a cell since the moment I was born.

My mother, aunts, and sisters all had voices that were more sweet and their expressions that were more nauseating than the last. Every day, they brought all sorts of lavish meals to my cell.

The cell didn't even have a window, and the greasy smell throughout the room made me lose my appetite; I just felt nauseous.

At night, I can hear the sound of some huge animal crawling around on the floor, and I can even feel a sticky gaze in the dark.

I was so scared that I was covered in cold sweat, and I didn't dare to close my eyes until the sight disappeared...

I wasn't dragged out of the cell until the day I turned twelve.

They were then led to a luxurious and brightly lit room, where a female ghost, whose lower body resembled a giant snake, sat on a pedestal like a deity.

I immediately realized that the one secretly observing me at night... must be this monster...

Later, I also understood that for the past three hundred years, our clan has been living off the money stolen by this snake demon after killing others. In return, they would offer their own children as living sacrifices to this female demon who loves to eat babies.

Because I am a rare boy in the tribe, and I also have eyes that are different from ordinary people, this female ghost is very interested in me and plans to raise me to adulthood before killing me and eating me.

After deciding to let me live a little longer, the female ghost said she wanted me to look like her, so she ordered her people to cut open my mouth with a knife...

And after it was all over, he took the glass filled with my blood and drank it all in one gulp...

Thrown back into the cell, my mind was filled with thoughts of escape and survival... so I started using a stolen hairpin to pry open the wooden gate...

From that day on, the fear of 'Will I be discovered?' tormented me constantly...

The only creature I can trust is the little snake that got lost and crawled into the cell.

Through my daily efforts, I finally escaped from the prison.

When the snake demon caught up with me, I thought I was going to die.

However, the Flame Pillar arrived in time to save me.

Flame Pillar took me to find my cousin, the only survivor of the entire clan. However, she spoke harshly to me, blaming the deaths of more than fifty members of the clan on my failure to properly serve as a living sacrifice and instead choosing to run away...

My cousin's accusations against me were completely unreasonable, but even so, they still deeply hurt me.

I wasn't entirely unaware of what would happen to my people after I ran away... but I wanted to survive, so I ran away anyway...

As a descendant of a scumbag clan... I am scumbag too..."

Obanai looked up at Chiba Yo after saying this, and gave a wry smile.

"Chiba, do you think someone like me deserves to stand beside Kanroji...?"

After hearing Obanai's story, Chiba Yo understood the origin of the wound on his mouth and the words his lord had instructed him. He had originally thought that the other party was just ashamed because of the wound and dared not express his feelings to Mitsuri, but now it seemed that things were much more complicated than that.

However, Chiba Yo disagreed with some of Obanai's remarks.

“Mr. Iguro, I think what the lord said to you at the time was very correct, and your final escape was not a problem at all.”

You can think about it from a different perspective. Your escape did result in more than fifty members of your clan being eaten by the snake demon, but didn't they deserve to die?

They collude with evil spirits to harm humanity; their hearts are even more wicked than those of demons. You yourself said they are a sinful race. Having them killed by the snake demons is clearly doing humanity a favor, isn't it?

Those who colluded with that serpent demon ultimately died at its hands; this was their best end.

Your actions indirectly saved those humans who were about to be harmed by this race.

There is no need to feel pain and confusion because you have the blood of this race. Just as the lord said, you are also a victim. There is no need to take the blame for what they did, and there is no need to let it affect your life.

"Moreover, you have slain so many demons, protected countless humans, and even helped destroy Muzan. Even if you were truly implicated in some sins because of that family, you have already atoned for them."

Chiba Yo felt great sympathy for Obanai's experience and also expressed his views to her.

After listening to Chiba Yo's words, Obanai felt enlightened. He had always had zero tolerance for those who colluded with evil spirits and believed that they should all be eliminated along with the evil spirits. However, he had fallen into confusion because he had caused the death of such a person. Today, Chiba Yo's words made him turn around in an instant and he felt much lighter. However, he still had another concern in his heart.

"But the way I look now is so out of place with Ganlu Temple..."

Obanai spoke up, recalling the bright and beautiful smiling face of Kanroji in her mind. Thinking of the scars on her own face, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Chiba Yo was really surprised that Obanai would hesitate like this; he had originally thought that this guy would be very decisive in everything he did.

Chiba Yo said to Obanai with a hint of helplessness, "Then let me ask you a few questions. First of all, do you want Kanroji-senpai to die alone? As far as I know, she joined the Demon Slayer Corps to find a partner."

Mitsuri joined the Demon Slayer Corps because Chiba Yo heard it from Kyojuro, and he was shocked for a while after learning about it.

"Of course not, I want her to be happy forever," Obanai replied immediately.

"Then let me ask you again, can you tolerate Ganroji-senpai being married by another man?" Chiba Yo continued to ask.

"Who! Who wants to marry Ganlu Temple?"

Upon hearing Chiba Yo's words, Obanai suddenly stood up, his entire body radiating anger. His hand was even on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade. If Chiba Yo were to utter a name at that moment, he would probably confront the person and start a fight immediately.

"Nobody! I was just imagining a scenario and asking if you could tolerate it!"

But now the answer seems quite obvious…

Chiba Yo said, rubbing his forehead with a hint of helplessness.

"Oh, so it's fake."

Only then did Banai's anger subside and she sat down again.

"Since you neither want Senior Ganlu Temple to live out her days alone nor can you bear the thought of someone else marrying Senior Ganlu Temple, then there is only one path left to take, isn't there? So what is there for you to hesitate about?"

Chiba Yo then spoke to Obanai.

After listening to Chiba Yo's words, Obanai thought about it and realized that it was indeed true. He sat there in silence for a while, then stood up and bowed to Chiba Yo.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Chiba."

Obanai thanked Chiba Yang and then walked out resolutely.

Good luck, Mr. Iguro

Chiba Yo watched Obanai's departing figure and silently wished him well.

As night fell, the stars shone brightly in the sky, and the moon was also very bright. Under the night sky, two figures stood amidst the starlight and moonlight.

"...Your almost boundless cheerfulness and kindness have given me salvation in an invisible way..."

"Miss Kanroji, will you marry me?"

Obanai revealed her true face to Mitsuri and poured out all her feelings to her.

Upon hearing his words, Miri covered her mouth in disbelief, tears of excitement streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Because of her enormous appetite and unusual hair color, she had been rejected countless times on blind dates. She never imagined that someone would be willing to marry her after getting to know the real her, especially someone she really liked. Everything now felt like a dream.

"Yes! I do!"

With tears still in her eyes, Mitsuri smiled and nodded to Obanai.

Under the moonlight, two figures embraced...

Chapter 162 A World Without Ghosts (The End)

The Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Master's family, Tanjiro, and others gathered at the headquarters entrance; it was time to part ways.

What are everyone planning to do next?

Chiba Yang felt a little lost and reluctant, and asked the others.

Obanai held Mitsuri's hand, her eyes full of tenderness, and replied to Chiba Yo, "I plan to go back to Mitsuri's hometown with her to open a snack shop. If we can get her family's approval, we should get married soon."

When Obanai started calling Mitsuri by her name, he was filled with happiness and was also very grateful to Chiba Yo for his guidance yesterday.

Mitsuri, who was standing next to him, blushed even more after hearing his words and lowered her head, not daring to speak.

A snack shop... that would really suit Kanroji-senpai, but with her around, would Iguro-san be able to make enough snacks to sell...?

Chiba Yo was slightly worried after hearing Obanai's answer, but he didn't say anything. He smiled and congratulated the two of them, saying, "Then congratulations to Kanroji-senpai and Iguro-san."

Then he turned to Kyojuro and asked, "What about the teacher?"

"I don't have any ideas yet! But now that I have some free time, I can give Senjuro a good lesson!" Kyojuro said after thinking for a moment. What he was most looking forward to was telling Makijuro the news of the Demon Slayer Corps' victory and seeing if it could cheer him up.

Among the others, Tengen said he wanted to find a quiet place with his three wives to live a normal life. Muichiro planned to go to the place where he was before he joined the Demon Slayer Corps to find his memories, as his master had told him. Sanemi and Genya wanted to go back to their hometown to live an ordinary life, while Gyomei planned to meet Sayo.

Chiba Yo was somewhat surprised by Giyuu and Shinobu's ideas.

"I want to be a teacher."

Yi Yong spoke with a blank expression.

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this. Teachers are a profession that is easy to like but also easy to dislike, and they require a high level of communication skills, which is completely different from the taciturn Yi Yong.

"Um... Mr. Tomioka, may I ask why you want to become a teacher?"

Chiba Yo asked Yoshiyuki.

He can already imagine some of the scenes of Yi Yong becoming a teacher.

There's no particular reason.

Yi Yong said calmly.

The reason he had this idea was because he had seen a teacher surrounded by a group of children before, and he felt a little envious, so he came up with this idea.

After hearing Giyu's answer, Chiba Yo didn't ask any further questions.

Then Shinobu Kocho smiled and said, "I'll go with Mr. Tomioka."

Chiba Yo was startled again by Shinobu Kocho's words. Gyomei beside him nodded as if he had already seen it coming, while Kanao seemed to have expected it as well, and was not surprised, though her expression was somewhat reluctant.