It was three days later that Shinobu Kocho confirmed Taka's physical condition was well enough for him to leave the Butterfly Mansion.
However, Taka did not leave alone.
Having just recovered, Taka intended to go pay his respects to Kyojuro.
Although he said it was out of concern for Kyojuro's health, Shinobu knew that he was definitely planning to learn Flame Breathing.
She was worried about Taka's reckless nature. Coincidentally, she also needed to check on Kyojuro's injuries.
So she travelled with Taka to Utsunomiya City.
This was an ancient city, prosperous as a castle town since the Edo era, once known as Little Edo.
The Rengoku Clan, as a samurai family serving the Ubuyashiki Family since the Sengoku period, had always lived in the suburbs of Utsunomiya City, guarding their ancestral lands passed down through generations.
Times had changed. Now, apart from other branch family members not skilled in swordsmanship, only three males of the Rengoku Family remained.
Kyojuro, his younger brother Senjuro, and his father Shinjuro.
On the way, Shinobu explained the situation of the Rengoku Family to Taka, especially mentioning the former Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro:
"Shinjuro-san gave up hunting demons due to the grief of losing his wife, which left the position of Flame Hashira vacant for a time." She added. "Now he spends his days drinking heavily, not even caring for his own family...."
"He stopped being a Hashira just because he lost his will?" Taka frowned.
Shinobu shook her head. "Family matters are only known to the family. We're not in a position to ask too much about the specifics."
As she spoke, she seriously cautioned Taka: "Apparently, even Rengoku-san became the Flame Hashira on his own using the Flame Breathing training manual. So, Taka, unless necessary, it's best not to speak with Shinjuro-san, so as not to provoke him."
Originally, when Taka heard that the head of the Rengoku Family was a former Flame Hashira, he had wanted to specially seek his advice. He hadn't expected it to be like this.
A former Hashira is a very special and respected status.
Normally, Hashira-level swordsmen would continue fighting in their posts until they died or retired due to severe injury or old age, unable to fulfill their duties.
Tetsushin had lost his position as Wind Hashira because his arm was severed, becoming an instructor.
These veterans with rich combat experience were the core strength for training rank-and-file Demon Slayer Corps' members. Without them, the Demon Slayer Corps would have no way to replenish its fresh blood.
As far as Taka knew, besides Tetsushin, the former Water Hashira and former Rumble Hashira had also become instructors, but they had few disciples and lived in semi-seclusion.
But this Shinjuro, still in the prime of his life, had given up the responsibility of hunting demons. He didn't even train others!
But just as Shinobu said, this was a private matter of the Rengoku Family, and Taka didn't want to investigate it either.
Taka crossed his arms, leaning against a corner of the carriage, quietly admiring the maple leaves dyed red along the roadside.
Two days later, they arrived in Utsunomiya, but encountered unexpected trouble.
Utsunomiya City was much as Taka had imagined, still retaining its old style… low, traditional wooden townhouses, black tiles and white walls with remnants of Edo-era style, occasionally some brick-and-stone Western-style buildings and telephone poles, creating a landscape of old and new intertwined.
"Taka, do you know why Zenitsu's teacher, Kuwajima Jigoro, is called the [Rumble Hashira] and not the [Thunder Hashira]?" Shinobu lightly jumped down from the carriage and stretched her slender waist. "Apparently, it's because when users of Thunder Breathing draw their blades, there's a thunderous sound, hence the title Rumble Hashira."
"Also..." she pointed at a telephone pole with a slightly mischievous look. "Some say it's because [Thunder Pillar] would refer to this thing, so they don't use that title." (T/N: Hashira means pillar.)
Taka asked seriously: "And in the past? Was the Rumble Hashira of the Sengoku period also called that for the same reason?"
"....That was just a joke, Taka."
"I see. Ha, ha."
He gave two earnest laughs, then noticed something not right about the atmosphere on the street.
The sun hadn't even set yet, but there were already few pedestrians on the street, and many shops had closed early.
Looking into the distance, at the central square where several intersections converged at the end of the street, people were setting up some temporary sheds.
In front of the sheds stood many soldiers in khaki uniforms, erecting white cloth banners with still-wet ink.
[14th Regiment! Loyal and Brave, Answer the Call!]
[One Hundred Million Hearts as One! Rise of the Empire!]
Several sinister-looking officers with military swords at their waists stood under the banners, directing these soldiers. At the wooden tables in front of the sheds, a sparse line of young men stood.
Most of them were dressed in worn-out clothes, their faces fanatical, registering for something.
"Quick, let's go. Don't linger."
Seeing the large ink characters on the banners, Shinobu Kocho frowned slightly and immediately tried to pull Taka away, but it was too late.
"Hey! Hey! You there, man!"
After several calls with no response, a stocky officer with a toothbrush mustache, wearing the rank of major, approached menacingly with two soldiers.
His eyes swept over Taka like searchlights… young, strong, sharp-eyed, a perfect target.
"With a build like yours, you're good material! The Empire needs young men like you right now! Come register! Enlist immediately!"
"Not interested. I refuse."
Taka's answer was without hesitation, causing the muscle on the lieutenant's face to twitch violently.
He seemed not to have expected such a blunt defiance in public, and his face instantly flushed red.
The major roared: "Bastard! Don't be ungrateful! As a subject of the Empire, how can you shrink back!"
With his roar, the several soldiers beside him clattered as they pulled back their rifle bolts, their muzzles subtly rising.
The atmosphere on the street suddenly became tense.
Taka had already placed his hand on the tightly wrapped oilcloth bundle. If the situation turned bad, he would immediately draw his blade and subdue these military ruffians.
"Please wait a moment, sir." Shinobu's voice sounded, smiling as she stepped between them, interrupting the killing intent churning within Taka.
"A woman? Who are you? Dare to obstruct military affairs?" The major impatiently tried to push Shinobu aside, but found her slender wrist unusually strong, unmovable.
Shinobu didn't answer him directly. Instead, she took a small wooden box from her pocket.
Opening it, inside were neatly placed several documents and a delicate small seal.
She took out one of the documents, stamped with a cabinet seal, and gracefully handed a business card inscribed with [Ubuyashiki Corporation - Director: Kocho Shinobu] to the officer.
"Excuse me." She nodded slightly, her voice clear, her manner composed. "This young man is a security consultant for our corporation, an employee affiliated with the Ubuyashiki Family."
'The Ubuyashiki Family?' The major felt the name was somewhat familiar.
He opened the documents and examined them carefully. His expression changed repeatedly, and he finally remembered.
The Ubuyashiki Family was a noble family with a long history. Legend had it they possessed some kind of ability to see through opportunities, with terrifyingly accurate investment instincts. Their business interests spanned multiple fields like finance, trade, and real estate, accumulating astonishing wealth.
Within the noble families, there were different factions.
The current Prime Minister, Takashi Hara, was an anti-war faction supported by a noble family's elder, Duke Saionji Kinmochi, and they were at odds with the Army.
The major remembered that the Ubuyashiki Family was also one of those cowardly families standing with that old dog Saionji, quite detestable!
The major folded the documents with some displeasure, but before he could speak, Shinobu continued: "We are here in Utsunomiya on the orders of the family head to handle important business. Regarding this young man's military service issue, the Ubuyashiki Family will provide a reasonable explanation to the relevant authorities."
In her formal smile was a rare firmness:
"Your current actions, I'm afraid, might cause unnecessary misunderstandings and even affect our good relationship with the Ubuyashiki Family. What do you think?"