When Shinobu Kocho left, she took Hanako Kamado with her.
That was Hanako's own decision. She had heard that the Butterfly Estate Shinobu oversaw was the Corps' logistics arm, so she wanted to study medicine under Shinobu.
Hanako, like her brother and sister, was a strong child. But as the Kamados' fourth child, she was simply too young to learn swordsmanship or take part in combat.
Even so, Hanako wanted to help her siblings in some way. Following Tanjiro would only slow him down, and the Butterfly Estate was the place she felt suited her best.
The notion felt a bit like putting up collateral, which made Tanjiro hesitate, but in the end he respected his sister's choice.
After their farewells, the two parties went their separate ways, and Charles led Tanjiro to continue their journey.
Thus, the four arrived at Mount Sagiri.
Along the way, Tanjiro diligently completed all of Charles's training, and in return he could now sustain Sun Breathing in combat for three minutes.
Don't scoff at three minutes: against demons like the one they had faced before, three minutes was enough for Tanjiro to kill them several times over.
However, he still hadn't managed to enter Total Concentration. Breathing Styles are, after all, a complete system of training, and they require guidance from an expert.
So they quickened their pace and finally reached Mount Sagiri. At the foot of the mountain, Charles saw the old man wearing a tengu mask.
The former Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki, current mentor to the Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, and in the original story Tanjiro's teacher.
"I've already received the Master's letter and have been awaiting you for some time. Please, come with me."
From Urokodaki's demeanor, they could already guess what the Corps' answer would be, so they followed without hesitation.
They arrived at Urokodaki's home and sat on opposite sides in the small house.
Urokodaki placed his hands on the floor, then bowed to Charles.
"You have generously given us intelligence on Muzan Kibutsuji. I, and everyone in the Corps, are sincerely grateful.
The Master wished to come thank you in person, but could not due to his health. Please forgive us."
Charles said, "Please rise. Slaying Muzan is my goal as well."
Urokodaki lifted his head. "Then allow me to convey the Master's words.
Miss Nezuko Kamado has no reason to be executed, and the Corps will never harm the innocent. You may rest assured on that point.
As for slaying the Demon King, if there is any assistance we can provide, please ask."
Charles had long anticipated this outcome, so he spoke plainly. "Then I won't be polite about it. I need materials to forge a Nichirin blade. Of course I won't take them for free; here is some intelligence on the Upper Ranks.
Shamefully, I only have a specific location for the lowest-ranked of the Lower Ranks, Daki and Gyutaro. The Upper Ranks' movements are erratic; the only one with a lead is Upper Rank Two, Doma.
However, there are Blood Demon Art details for all of them, which should help you."
As he spoke, Charles took out a small notebook, set it on the tatami, and slid it to Urokodaki.
Calm is the chief virtue of a Water Breathing swordsman, but the former Water Hashira who had brought that style to its peak found himself uncharacteristically excited.
His fingers trembled as he picked up the notebook like it was a priceless treasure.
After only two pages, Urokodaki was shocked by the level of detail.
To find the Blue Spider Lily and eliminate the Corps that had long plagued him, Muzan Kibutsuji created a cadre of stronger demons.
They are called the Twelve Kizuki, six Upper Ranks and six Lower Ranks.
Over centuries of fighting demons, the Corps had slain many among the Twelve Kizuki—but they were all Lower Ranks.
Killing a Lower Rank is one of the prerequisites for becoming a Hashira.
But to this day, not one Upper Rank had been slain by the Corps, and intelligence on them amounted to little more than the characters for "Upper Rank" in their pupils.
That's because no swordsman who encountered an Upper Rank ever survived. The Upper Ranks meant mystery and might—and this notebook stripped away a layer of that mystery.
In fighting demons, what vexes swordsmen most are their near-limitless stamina and regeneration, and their bizarre Blood Demon Arts.
Armed with knowledge of the Upper Ranks' Arts, countering them becomes far more manageable.
Urokodaki put the notebook away with great care. He wouldn't dare send something so critical by kasugai crow alone.
Though in centuries the crows had never once failed in their duty as messengers, something this important could brook no error.
He had already decided to make a dozen copies and deliver them to the Master personally.
After putting the notebook away, Urokodaki said, "The Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore you requested will be delivered within days. Please remain here and wait two days."
Charles continued, "Then I'll trouble you with that.
To be frank, there's one more reason I came to visit, Mr. Urokodaki. I have many questions about training in the Breathing Styles and hope for your guidance."
Urokodaki said, "If my modest experience can help, all the better. Let's go somewhere with room to move."
He picked up a wooden sword leaning in the corner and led the group to the clearing outside.
Tanjiro and Stella stood off to the side to give the two plenty of space.
Charles took the wooden sword Urokodaki handed over and gave it a couple of practice swings to get a feel for the weapon.
Urokodaki's expression turned solemn beneath the mask.
He had already received Giyu Tomioka's letter and had been curious about the man whose strength far surpassed Giyu's.
From the way Charles swung, he could tell the man was no ordinary fighter.
"Then, pardon my offense."
After familiarizing himself with the weapon, Charles took his stance and struck first.
What Charles was best at was body arts paired with magic, and he had also trained in long-bladed techniques.
But mastery in one path leads to many; with Charles's command of his body, he had long since reached the realm where he could take to any martial art with ease.
Moreover, Charles had uncovered the relationship between Breathing and swordplay.
It wasn't that Breathing arose to enhance sword techniques; rather, the sword techniques had formed to harmonize with Breathing.
So after refining his Breathing, Charles didn't devise new sword forms; he simply let his body move to the rhythm of his Breathing—and the techniques emerged naturally.
Air—or rather, a tongue of flame—was drawn into his body from the corner of his mouth, and then his wooden blade roared like a beast as a layer of flame danced along its surface.
Urokodaki's pupils tightened. He suddenly regretted choosing combat as the way to size up the man.
Only now did he realize Giyu hadn't exaggerated. But pitting an old man like him against an opponent of this caliber was asking a lot.
Even so, Urokodaki was a battle-hardened swordsman; his body responded on its own, drawing and bracing to catch Charles's strike.
"Water Breathing: Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool!"
Urokodaki twisted his body to shed the force on Charles's blade. Using that momentum, he gathered a whirling wave to slash toward Charles.
Charles rolled his wrist and redirected the wooden blade with an upward cut.
The wave slammed into a rising wall of flame and vanished without so much as a hiss. Urokodaki thought he saw scale-like patterns ripple across the fire wall.
The wooden blades clashed several more times, flame and water crossing.
Using the force from Charles's blade, Urokodaki stepped back and subtly worked his aching wrist.
Truth be told, his old bones were about to fall apart. Even the defense-oriented Water Breathing couldn't endure this kind of bombardment for long.
What intrigued Urokodaki even more was Charles's Breathing. Though it resembled the Rengoku family's Flame Breathing, it was entirely different.
Beyond sheer power, Charles's Breathing felt unusually fierce… and imposing.
In fact, Charles's Breathing wasn't Flame Breathing at all, nor was it the same as the template it referenced, Sun Breathing. It was now a Breathing Style unique to Charles alone.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter on Saturday.
Every 5 reviews = 1 extra chapter on Saturday.