"Finally, there's that Mr. Kamado Tanjuro. Over the past year, I've occasionally had some correspondence with him.
I feel that he can be won over to our Demon Slayer Corps' side. After some time, Shinjuro, go visit him on my behalf..."
"Why does it always feel like you're arranging your final affairs, Mitsuba..."
Looking at Mitsuba before him who kept talking, Shinjuro couldn't help but complain.
Her sudden instructions made him feel inexplicably uneasy.
To this, Mitsuba merely replied casually with a smile:
"What kind of joke are you making, Shinjuro? I've just been a bit busy recently, so I thought I'd distribute these matters and let others share the burden for me.
What, could it be that our Flame Hashira is already eager to kick me down and monopolize the title of strongest Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Mitsuba, don't joke with me..."
"Clang!"
Just as the two were chatting, outside in the headquarters, the bell indicating an emergency suddenly resounded through the night sky!
"Young Master! Something terrible has happened!"
Immediately after, several Kasugai crows flapped their wings and flew desperately toward them from the distance, screaming:
"Headquarters under attack! Headquarters under attack! Upper Rank One and Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki have appeared simultaneously!"
"What?!"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya and Shinjuro shot to their feet upon hearing this, while beside them, Mitsuba seemed to have anticipated this, the corners of her mouth slightly rising.
[That fellow Doma has finally come.]
"..."
Rewinding to slightly earlier, in the mountain forest not far from this Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, Doma, as Upper Rank Two, was instructing Lower Rank One Ubume on how to change her appearance.
"Hair a bit longer, then eyes a bit bigger, remember to also make the pupils into mandala flower shapes.
Yes, exactly~ When the Holy Maiden uses her Blood Demon Art, her pupils look just like this..."
"Clothes can be whatever, after all, the Holy Maiden isn't particular about this aspect, any style works.
The key is to highlight that casual, carefree temperament, understand?"
"Then there's expression and movement, come, learn from me..."
"Yes~ shoulders relaxed, waist not tense, exactly like this~
Casual, relaxed is good~ the Holy Maiden isn't someone who puts on airs, understand?"
"Mm, this should be about enough."
Rubbing his chin, looking at Ubume before him who, in terms of external appearance, he had trained to be almost indistinguishable from Mitsuba, the great director Doma nodded in satisfaction.
Handing over the prepared mandala flower to Ubume, he pointed toward the distant Demon Slayer Corps headquarters and strode forward with large steps:
"Excellent! Next comes the formal performance on stage. Remember, even when killing people later, you mustn't be too hasty.
The Holy Maiden is someone who likes to chat with people while fighting. Even if you can fight, you must chat a bit more too, understand?"
"Yes, Lord Doma."
"You should call me Knight Doma now, 'Holy Maiden'—you mustn't slip up, alright?"
That's right, these two demons before him had come to attack the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters under Mitsuba's orders.
Among them, Doma played Doma, while Ubume and the mandala flower played Mitsuba.
Their mission was, after entering the headquarters, to slightly delay for a short while before killing everyone they could see within this headquarters.
Why deliberately delay for a short while?
Ah, this was time Mitsuba had specifically reserved for herself, considering that she might need to spend some effort persuading Shinjuro to flee alone with Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Yes, the role of "Child of Destiny Tsugikuni Mitsuba" ends tonight.
Over the past year, from system reforms to organizing Breathing Styles, she had already contributed too much to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Although it had only been a short year, throughout this process, the character "Tsugikuni Mitsuba" had accumulated extremely high prestige and popularity within the Demon Slayer Corps.
Now, it was time for this character to fulfill its final purpose.
Tonight, she would use her death to add one final ideological imprint to the Demon Slayer Corps... especially to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the future Master of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Shinjuro, quickly take the Young Master and leave."
In the room, after receiving the Kasugai crows' report, Mitsuba stood up without hesitation.
Instantly switching to a composed and calm expression, she picked up the Nichirin blade placed nearby and immediately issued orders to the still-stunned Shinjuro beside her.
"Mitsuba, what about you?"
Shinjuro almost subconsciously asked this question.
"I'll go hold off those two demons. Take advantage of now and quickly take the Young Master and leave."
"No!"
The moment Mitsuba finished speaking, Shinjuro and Ubuyashiki Kagaya rejected her in unison.
"Miss Mitsuba! You can't stay here!"
The young Master hurriedly ran forward, tightly grabbing the corner of Mitsuba's clothes, his expression urgent.
He knew Mitsuba was strong, stronger than any Demon Slayer currently in the Demon Slayer Corps!
But what she was facing were the two strongest Upper Rank demons of the Twelve Kizuki!
Such monsters that had already survived for hundreds of years were simply not something a single Demon Slayer could handle.
Miss Mitsuba couldn't stay here, she would die, she would definitely die...
No, the Demon Slayer Corps couldn't lose her now, they absolutely mustn't let her die here...
"Mitsuba, I'll stay here to hold them off, you take the Young Master and leave."
Beside them, after only extremely brief hesitation, Shinjuro also made his decision.
Those of the Rengoku clan never feared sacrifice, much less feared sacrificing themselves to protect others.
He stepped forward to block Mitsuba who was about to go out, looked at her, and said seriously:
"To the Demon Slayer Corps, I'm not as important as you. If someone must sacrifice themselves, it should be me."
"Mr. Shinjuro?!"
"Someone who hasn't even entered the Transparent World shouldn't speak such overconfident foolishness."
Shaking off his hand, Mitsuba said without courtesy:
"If Upper Rank demons were really so easy to hold off, we wouldn't have failed to subjugate a single Upper Rank demon for the past two hundred years.
Shinjuro, in this entire camp now, only I am qualified to hold off those two demons and buy time for you to escape, do you understand?
Now, immediately take the Young Master and leave. He is the future Master of the Demon Slayer Corps; the future of the Demon Slayer Corps must be entrusted to his hands.
If he dies here, that would truly be the dereliction of duty for us both!"
"But..."
"Miss Mitsuba, I..."
"Stop dawdling!"
"Hurry and go! They're almost here! Caw! They're almost here!"
The room fell silent for a moment. In the distance, the sounds of swordsmen fighting in the headquarters drew increasingly closer, and one by one, Kasugai crows flapped their wings, circling outside the house, issuing urgent calls from their mouths.
"Kagaya."
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Mitsuba slowly crouched down.
She looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya before her, whose face was already covered in tears, and merely smiled as she raised her hand to gently pat his head.
"Now, I shall teach you one final truth."
"Miss Mitsuba..."
"Remember, as a leader, no matter when, you must never let emotions cloud your judgment.
You should always remain rational, remembering the value of every chess piece in your hands.
Even subordinates with whom you share the deepest bonds, when the time comes for sacrifice, you must let them go without hesitation.
You must never make wrong judgments because of your personal feelings, understand?"
"Miss Mitsuba, I, I..."
Looking at Ubuyashiki Kagaya who was already sobbing uncontrollably, Mitsuba merely raised her hand and gently embraced him, whispering in his ear:
"Live well, then, lead the Demon Slayer Corps that we've reformed together and continue moving forward.
The future... is entrusted to you. Your teacher will be waiting... for you to avenge me."
____________________
This story has ended in chapter 315, you can read on patreon.com/dzeref887 for faster access or wait until August to read on WebNovel until the story ends.