Chapter 830: Shinobu's Surprise
Chapter 830: Shinobu's Surprise
Kanae Ubuyashiki was a resolute and benevolent master of the Demon Slayer Corps.
With absolute composure, he dispatched the corps on their missions, even those that were sure to end in death, watching as his comrades faced their demise. Yet, at the same time, he loved each and every member of the corps as if they were his family.
It was for this reason that, despite never having personally fought a demon himself, the weight of anguish he bore in his heart every day and night far surpassed that of any Demon Slayer.
The Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps knew this, and they held him in the highest regard.
Kanae Ubuyashiki was also a devout believer in the gods. He firmly believed that one day, the nightmare brought about by Kibutsuji Muzan would come to an end, and he strived to ensure that it would happen within his lifetime.
Although it was unclear what powers the god Kaenye held, he had once given the Butterfly Sisters a chance, which showed that he was a benevolent deity. Kanae would not resent the gods for their inaction, like the Wind Hashira. He understood that the fate of mankind lay in its own hands, and relying on others or the gods was a sign of weakness.
Humans may be weak, but they possess conviction.
"It seems that you are aware of everything that transpires in this world. Please forgive my boldness, but may I inquire if you have come here bearing any divine message?"
Kanae bowed before Kaenye, maintaining a respectful posture.
Kaenye looked at him.
Among the Demon Slayers, Kanae Ubuyashiki might have been the weakest in terms of power, his combat prowess not even surpassing that of an average corps member. Yet, he was one of the few whom Kaenye admired.
Take Butterfly for instance. She endured the pain of losing her parents and then her older sister—losing all her family, bearing two or threefold the grief.
The other Pillars here had endured similar fates.
But Kanae Ubuyashiki was kind and compassionate. He viewed every corps member as family, and so the death of each Demon Slayer felt like the loss of a loved one to him. The weight he carried in his heart far exceeded that of any corps member, yet he always managed to remain gentle and kind to the world.
This resilience was something Kaenye admired. If he were to seal away his powers and memories and take Kanae's place, he might be able to endure that pain, but he would likely succumb to darkness soon after.
"You have done well until now."
"Keep up the good work."
"On the day your life reaches its end, I will bestow upon you a gift."
Kaenye slowly spoke to Kanae Ubuyashiki.
His words caused all the Pillars in the room to look at Kanae, but not a single person was surprised or doubtful. If admiration for Kanae was what they felt, then it was reverence for Kaenye.
Then,
Kaenye turned his head towards the outside of the Butterfly Mansion and said, "I have not come here with any divine message. I merely came to visit my disciple and give her something."
"Disciple?"
Even after receiving praise and the promise of a gift from the god Kaenye, Kanae Ubuyashiki remained composed and respectful. Hearing Kaenye's words, he couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.
Did this god, Kaenye, also have disciples?
Immediately.
The image of many individuals flashed through Kanae's mind, and in an instant, he fixed upon a particular figure, a realization dawning on him.
It was a young girl with a Nichirin Blade on her back, dressed in the uniform of the Demon Slayers. Compared to when she had left the valley, she now seemed much more mature. Her experiences with the Demon Slayer Corps over the past two years had added a depth of gravity to her eyes.
However, all traces of this newfound maturity suddenly vanished when she beheld the scene within the mansion, the people kneeling on the ground, and the figure standing there—one that she could never forget in her lifetime.
"Master?!"
Makomo was stunned, then overcome with joy.
All the weight of Shinobu's death was instantly lifted from her shoulders, replaced by sheer elation, causing her to momentarily forget the strange circumstances in the room. She ran over to Feng Ye, a bright smile on her face.
Here was the revered Sword Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, a slayer who had defeated countless demons over the past two years, yet in this moment, she seemed to shed all her accomplishments and revert to being an ordinary, cheerful girl.
"Master, where have you been all these years?"
Makomo stood before Feng Ye, looking at his familiar face, her emotions overwhelming her to the point that her voice turned hoarse.
Over the years, she had returned to the valley more than once, but had never again seen Feng Ye. She had tried to search for him, but to no avail, and had even sadly wondered if her lack of progress had disappointed him, causing him to no longer want to see her.
Feng Ye reached out and gently patted Makomo on the head, saying, "I've been watching over you all this time. You've learned quite a bit during these years, but the swordsmanship I taught you has remained stagnant for a long while."
"I... I've let Master down..."
Makomo lowered her head, a blush of shame spreading across her face.
In truth, her strength had improved over the years. She had learned the breathing techniques and mastered the Total Concentration: Constant, reaching a level comparable to a squad leader in terms of breath control alone. Combined with her swordsmanship, she was now the strongest Pillar in the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, she had never felt proud of this progress, for she had witnessed Feng Ye casually lift his hand and split a canyon in two. She knew that her advancements were insignificant in comparison, especially considering her lack of improvement in swordsmanship.
Now, with Feng Ye's direct comment, she felt deeply ashamed.
If only she could break through in her swordsmanship, even if she couldn't reach Feng Ye's level, she would likely be able to crush the Upper Rank demons and defeat Kibutsuji Muzan. Then, they wouldn't still be fighting every day like they were now.
Along with Makomo, the Wind Pillar and a few other Pillars kneeling on the ground also felt ashamed.
Previously, they had thought of Feng Ye as an inactive deity and thus hadn't held much respect for him. But now, they realized that he had, in fact, bestowed many gifts upon them. Makomo's arrival was clearly one such gift to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Without the swordsmanship Makomo had brought, the Demon Slayer Corps would have undoubtedly suffered far heavier casualties, and their strength would not have increased to the point where each of them could rival an Upper Rank demon.
As for Feng Ye not personally destroying Kibutsuji Muzan...
If they had to rely on a deity to do that, then what was the difference between them and those who needed to be fed during meals? It would also be a desecration of all those who had died fighting the demons.
(End of Chapter)
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