"Good morning, everyone. The weather today is truly wonderful."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's voice was extremely gentle, as if it possessed a strange kind of magic that instantly calmed the courtyard, which had been filled with tension and killing intent.
This unique voice could easily soothe the irritability and anger in an ordinary person's heart.
However, Rin, standing in the center of the courtyard, merely raised an eyebrow.
His mental strength had long since reached a terrifying level. This degree of vocal soothing was nothing more than a light breeze to him.
His pitch-black eyes calmly observed the blind man before him, whose face was mostly covered by a terrifying purplish-red curse mark.
"Master!"
The Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had been stomped into internal injuries, was currently kneeling on one knee. Enduring the sharp pain in his chest, he reported through gritted teeth, "This bastard brat named Rin not only shows no respect for you, but even spoke arrogantly at the sacred Hashira Meeting. Please allow me to draw my blade and slay this ignorant fool right here!"
"Sanemi, do not be rude."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya shook his head with a smile, his unfocused gray-white eyes accurately facing Rin's position. "Rin-san is not only a distinguished guest of our Demon Slayer Corps, but also the benefactor who saved the lives of countless children."
"Benefactor? Just him?" Sanemi suddenly looked up, his face full of resentment and bewilderment.
Not just Sanemi, but Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, and the others also showed expressions of extreme confusion.
Supported by his two daughters, Ubuyashiki Kagaya slowly sat down in front of the corridor. His voice remained gentle, yet firm. "I have heard all the reports from the Final Selection at Fujikasane Mountain. Rin-san, relying solely on his own strength, without using any known Breathing Styles and without even drawing his Nichirin Blade, slaughtered all the demons kept on Fujikasane Mountain in just a single day."
"Among them was even a Morph Demon that had survived for over forty years, grown dozens of arms, and eaten thirteen of Lord Urokodaki Sakonji's personal disciples."
Boom!
These seemingly casual words from Ubuyashiki Kagaya were like a heavy bomb exploding in the ears of the Hashira.
"Without drawing a Nichirin Blade? He killed every demon on the entire mountain?!" Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui widened his red-painted eyes, his face full of disbelief. "How is that possible? Without a Nichirin Blade, those demons' self-healing abilities shouldn't be suppressed at all. This isn't flamboyant at all!"
"Umu! This is simply unheard of! What astonishing strength, to slay a Morph Demon without the help of a Nichirin Blade!" Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku's eyes widened, and his voice rang out like a great bell in praise.
Standing beneath a tree branch, Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro's pupils constricted as he stared intently at Rin's calm face.
No wonder Sanemi's extremely sharp kick earlier had been caught so effortlessly by this man with one hand.
To slaughter an entire mountain in a single day was definitely not a fluke. He possessed the overwhelming combat power of a monster.
While everyone was still in shock, Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka suddenly stood up and strode in front of Rin.
Under everyone's stunned gazes, this Water Hashira, who was usually as cold as ice and seemed indifferent to everything, bent his knees with great solemnity and bowed deeply to Rin.
"The Master is right."
Giyu Tomioka's voice carried a faint tremor that was difficult for ordinary people to notice. "That Hand Demon that survived for over forty years was the one who killed my senior, Sabito, during the Final Selection back then. My life was originally bought by Sabito. I thought I would never be able to personally avenge him in this lifetime..."
Giyu Tomioka looked up, his deep blue eyes flashing with an unprecedented determination as he stared at Rin.
"Mr. Rin, you killed it. I, Giyu Tomioka, will never forget this kindness. From now on, if anyone wants to harm you, they must first step over my dead body."
These words plunged the entire courtyard into a deathly silence.
All the Hashira were stunned.
No one expected such an inside story behind Sabito's death, and even less expected the proud Water Hashira to make such a solemn gesture to a newcomer in public, even at the risk of opposing the other Hashira.
"Hey, hey... Tomioka, you bastard, did you go crazy and draw your sword earlier because of this?" Sanemi gritted his teeth. Although he still felt displeased with Rin, his hostility had diminished by half after learning that Rin had avenged the Water Breathing lineage.
Seeing this scene, Rin rubbed his brow somewhat helplessly.
"I was just clearing the map to earn some... cough, to kill some time. There's no need to make it so tragic."
Rin gave a casual excuse, then turned his gaze toward Ubuyashiki Kagaya sitting on the corridor. "Let's stop the small talk here. Sir, you called me here specifically, surely not just to praise me in public? If you have any conditions, state them directly. I'm someone who hates trouble the most."
This casual, even somewhat condescending attitude toward the Master made the corners of several protective Hashira's eyes twitch. However, after witnessing Rin's strength and background, no one dared to rashly rush forward to strike this time.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya did not mind Rin's rudeness and instead smiled gently.
"Rin-san is a straightforward person. With your strength, you are fully qualified to immediately become the tenth Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. But I heard from Shinobu that you do not seem to like being bound by rules."
"That's right," Rin said bluntly. "Making me patrol a jurisdiction on schedule, write mission reports longer than foot bindings, and follow orders? Sorry, I don't have time for that."
"In that case, I propose granting Rin-san the position of 'Special Executive Officer'."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya revealed his carefully considered offer.
"You will not be responsible for any specific jurisdiction, will not be bound by any corps rules, and will not even need to follow my orders. You may act freely. But in exchange, when encountering the Twelve Kizuki or discovering traces of Kibutsuji Muzan, I hope you will lend us your strength. At the same time, you may unconditionally call upon all the logistical resources of the Demon Slayer Corps at any time, including the Butterfly Mansion and the Swordsmith Village."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the Hashira were shocked.
This was not simply recruiting a member. It was clearly granting Rin a "supreme authority" privilege that stood even above a Hashira and completely beyond control.
"The Master is generous."
A satisfied smile curled at the corner of Rin's mouth, and he agreed without hesitation. "Deal. This is a pretty good bargain."
He could freely use the Demon Slayer Corps' intelligence network and logistics, did not have to clock in for work, and would even have people ready to assist when encountering "Dimension Point" gift bags like the Twelve Kizuki. Only a fool would refuse such a good deal.
[Ding! Detected that the host has significantly changed the hierarchy of the Demon Slayer Corps established for thousands of years, obtaining transcendent privileges!]
[Greatly shocked the Hashira and the Master, helping the Water Hashira resolve his inner knot!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining Dimension Points: 2500 points!]
The pleasant system notification in his mind made Rin's mood even better.
"Since the business is finished, cough cough..." Ubuyashiki Kagaya suddenly coughed violently, a trace of black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Master!" The Hashira turned pale with alarm.
"I'm fine..." Ubuyashiki Kagaya waved his hand and slowly stood up with the help of his two daughters. "Let's end today's meeting here. Rin-san, I hope your existence can become the blade that cuts through this thousand-year-old tragedy. Please excuse me."
With Ubuyashiki Kagaya's departure, the solemn atmosphere in the courtyard that had been forcibly maintained because of the Master instantly vanished like melting snow.
In its place was a thick, volatile battle intent, like a powder keg ready to explode.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Just as Ubuyashiki Kagaya left, three figures blocked Rin's path in perfect synchronisation.