Under a great reputation, there are no empty scholars.
"Killing is never the goal; it is merely a means to consolidate one's reputation."
When one mentions "assassins", one thinks of the "Zoldycks", and one thinks of the "World's Number One Assassin Family"... Through "reputation", they indirectly "collect faith"... Roy gradually realized that anyone who leaves a "reputation" in this world is imperceptibly nourished by "faith".
Just as Netero founded the "Shingen-Ryu"... the Spiders repeatedly committed major crimes to be classified as a Class A criminal organization... and perhaps even Ging's creation of Greed Island was not without thoughts in this direction.
"I understand." With his doubts cleared, the young man's brow smoothed, and he bowed.
Maha waved his hand...
Roy turned and retreated into the sunlight, leaving a long shadow in the mottled corridor.
Step... step...
The footsteps drifted further away...
Suddenly, a leisurely voice floated on the wind, catching up to the young man: "On page seventeen of the book, there is what you are looking for."
Roy's footsteps paused, then he stepped forward again, exited the main gate, and went straight toward the mountain forest.
Deep within Kukuroo Mountain, by a pool of water.
The young butler had been waiting with a sword in his arms for half a day.
At a certain moment, he pushed up the glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and respectfully said, "Young Master."
Roy walked closer, stepping on fallen leaves, and looked him up and down, staring deeply at him... for a moment, making Gotoh feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Amidst his fluster, he didn't know what the Young Master meant by staring at him like that...
'Did I do something recently... that made the Young Master unsatisfied?'
Gotoh's heart couldn't help but feel anxious...
Fortunately, before he could think too much, Roy withdrew his gaze. Seeing the water pool shimmering under the sunlight, he reached out and grasped, conjuring his Asauchi. He picked up a strand of pool water and began to demonstrate "Water Breathing".
"Watch closely."
Water light and sword light lit up deep in Kukuroo Mountain... Gotoh inhaled lightly, his eyes coated with a layer of "Nen", and he activated [Gyo] to concentrate on capturing Roy's movements. Soon...
From "Water Wheel" to "Twisting Whirlpool" to "Constant Flux"... and even Roy's self-created "Phantom Sword · Water Mirror Mirage" were demonstrated and broken down one by one...
Gotoh watched silently. At a certain moment, he drew his sword and danced along with Roy, just as he and Tanjiro had followed their father Tanjuro to learn the "Hinokami Kagura"... Master and servant practiced swordsmanship by the clear pool in the desolate mountain forest until the sun set in the west and night fell... only then did they stop.
[Hint: Having received his grace, one should repay it with one's life]
[Detected one "Believer". Host, please immediately arrange the "Ordination" ceremony to bring him under your command]
[Believer: Gotoh (Note: Overflowing Loyalty)]
[Constitution: 217]
[Manifested Aura Output: D+ (9754/10000)]
[Potential Aura Capacity: C— (1745/100000)]
"Whoosh..." The wind was torn apart. As Roy sheathed his sword, the wind bypassed the young man and blew elsewhere.
Gotoh also stopped the movements in his hands. placing his right hand over his chest and kneeling on one knee, he bowed solemnly and said, "Thank you, Young Master, for bestowing this technique."
Roy received the panel notification and looked at him in a daze. As his thoughts churned, he remembered... that day, the young butler told him that he wanted to be a meteor guarding him, the "Sun", even at the cost of setting a "Vow and Limitation". A warm current surged in his heart, and he instantly realized that Gotoh had actually been waiting for him all along!
He had long possessed all the conditions to become a devout believer... It was only when Roy learned about the path of "Believers" and "Power of Faith" through "Cognition" that the "Believer Panel" was automatically activated.
"Young Master... no need for you to find me, I will turn to ash myself." That night, the butler's gentle smile was still vivid in his mind... Roy came back to his senses, raised his hand, and placed the short sword on Gotoh's left and right shoulders respectively, tapping twice. He asked gently, "Gotoh, how about following me forever from now on?"
"I couldn't ask for more." The young butler raised his head. "Young Master jests. Unless you don't want me, I am determined to follow you."
[Hint: "Ordination" ceremony completed.]
[Believer "Gotoh" bound.]
[Faith Power: 1 point.]
It appeared... the column belonging to the Sandworm...
Roy's eyes flickered, and he patted Gotoh's shoulder lightly. "Rise."
"Yes."
The young butler rose with his sword, glanced at the sky, and followed Roy out of the mountain forest to prepare dinner.
"Breathing Styles don't necessarily require a sword. I asked you to use a sword just to familiarize yourself with the rhythm. Once you have fully mastered it, you must follow your own attacking habits. If you should use 'coins', then use 'coins'. Do not violate your own 'Nen Type'..."
Whatever the Young Master ordered, he would inevitably accomplish... Gotoh thought this way. When he appeared again... he was pushing a dining cart into Roy's bedroom.
It gets dark early in early spring.
By seven in the evening, one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.
At that time, the lamps in the room were already lit. The young man was sitting at the dining table, flipping through Records of the Western Continent... Seeing this, Gotoh didn't make a sound, fearing he would disturb Roy. He lightly placed the dinner in front of him.
Today's dinner was a beef burger paired with a seasonal vegetable salad, plus the milk essential for every meal... aiming for nutritional balance.
Without looking up, Roy grabbed the beef burger and took a bite. While eating, he spread the book on the dining table and turned to the page Maha had mentioned, reading carefully... A line of small text came into view...
On the Correlation between "Nen Abilities" and "Faith"
[I mentioned earlier that [Gods] feed on [Faith], because [Faith] makes Them exceptionally powerful.]
[According to the understanding of "Nen Abilities" by us outcasts, we usually go through the inherent process of [Ten], [Zetsu], [Ren], and [Hatsu] to develop the Nen belonging to our own bodies step by step. The concept always remains stuck on excavating our [Own Selves].]
[But [Gods] are different, or rather, [Gods] and the [Believers] who worship Them are different from us outcasts. They can use [Faith] to pry open [Natural Authority], thereby mobilizing the "Power of Nature" to aid them in battle.]
[On the eighth day of landing on the Dark Continent, I infiltrated the Principality of Samir, which worships [Storm]. I was fortunate enough to witness how the believers of [Storm] fight...]
[They are internally divided into different [Classes]. The [Classes] form a pyramid structure. By consuming... [Holy Water] made from magical beast materials compatible with nature mixed with faith, they pry open [Natural Authority] and gain the blessing of [Divine Power]. They are several times stronger than "Nen Users" of the same tier who have not consumed [Holy Water]...]
[Speaking of [Natural Authority]... for [Professionals] who have already consumed [Holy Water], they can usually apply [Natural Authority] to themselves in two ways...]
[One, directly mobilizing the [Power of Nature] to attack others. I once saw an "Emitter" belonging to [Storm] mobilize the [Wind] to help accelerate the firing of "Nen Bullets"...]
[Two, returning the [Power of Nature] to oneself. For example, the same "Emitter" can also swallow the [Wind] to briefly increase his "Aura Output", thereby increasing his "Nen Output"...]
[Because we have been isolated from the Dark Continent for too long, most passively follow the second method. That is... some famous Nen users, in the absence of sufficient information, passively swallowed "Reputation" or "Faith". This is the reason why their strength far exceeds others...]
"Chew... chew..." Roy ate the burger, entranced by what he read. Thinking of [Natural Authority], a phrase automatically popped up in his mind... Fighting against heaven is endless joy!
Using faith, and using "magical beasts most compatible with a certain part of nature's authority" as a medium to pry open "Natural Authority"... this might be the true face of [Gods]!
"Then... what did Great-Grandfather mean by specifically asking me to read this page?"
Roy looked to the end of the page...
[Therefore, after knowing all this, I suddenly realized that only a [God] can fight a [God]. Since He, [Storm], can become a [God] through faith, why can't I?]
[He pries Nature's authority, I pry His authority. We are both thieves, so why should he hunt me down?]
[I refuse to accept this!!!]
Okay... Roy instantly understood why he was being targeted by an [Unknown Existence]... Turns out Grandfather Zigg started a revolution in someone else's Divine Kingdom. Who could tolerate that?
A certain fruit farmer didn't lie to me; "Conjurers" are somewhat... mentally ill!
Reaching the bottom of the page, Roy almost choked on a mouthful of burger. He grabbed the milk, took a fierce gulp, exhaled lightly, and for a moment, didn't know what to say...
Gotoh handed over a napkin at the right moment. Roy took it, closed the book, wiped his mouth deliberately, leaned back in his chair, and looked trance-like at the night sky outside the window. He already understood... what Maha meant.
The old man was telling him the origin of the [Curse], and... how to fight against the [Curse]. That is...
To borrow Grandfather Zigg's words: [Only a [God] can fight a [God]].
"In the future, I will also develop believers, build my own Divine Kingdom, and establish a 'Monotheistic' country!"
Believe in what?
The young man raised his chin slightly, watching the bright moon hanging high. He just waited for the dark night to pass and the red sun to leap out. The corners of his mouth turned up; he had the answer...
"Creak~" After dinner, Gotoh pushed the dining cart out and closed the door for Roy.
"Caw~" The Golden Crow spread its wings. After Roy recovered some Nen, it followed suit and enjoyed a "Beef Burger". Stick out its round little belly, it flapped its wings and plopped onto the soft large bed, clutching its stomach and panting...
Everything was reminding Roy that it was time to sleep...
"Dong~" The wooden grandfather clock in the corner struck the hour...
Roy rubbed the center of his brows, remembering that Giyu Tomioka had sent a crow to call him for a meeting. He took a simple shower, climbed into bed, and fell asleep immediately... planning to rest in the Cognitive World first to restore his energy and spirit before going.
Soon, the young man entered dreamland.
Just like in the past, he passed through the colorful dream passage and arrived at the familiar Sea of Cognition. stripping off his shirt, shoes, and socks, he swam vigorously in the Sea of Cognition for an hour, adjusting his energy and spirit to their peak, before dressing, reaching out, and pushing open the door to "Demon Slayer".
The familiar sensation of falling struck...
[Hint: "Life Energy" +2+3+2+2...]
Roy returned to Demon Slayer. Unhurried, he followed the crow, disposing of a few evil demons along the way, and arrived at a valley hidden by wisteria flowers.
The valley wasn't large; in fact, it could be called very small... unknown to the public... In the original work, its specific name wasn't even mentioned. As he got closer... following the crow flapping its wings to enter, a figure appeared on a thick wisteria tree at the entrance.
He half-covered his face, wore the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, had a black hood over his head, and a black and white mask on his face. He squatted on the tree, seemingly having waited for a long time... seeing a young man approaching from the distance. The boy had a short sword hanging at his waist, wore white clothes, had fiery red hair swaying in the wind, and wore earrings depicting the sun, moon, and mountains, walking slowly.
The figure immediately took out a scroll from his chest, opened it, compared the appearance, flipped down from the tree, and took a few quick steps to greet him.
"Demon Slayer Corps [Kakushi], by the order of Oyakata-sama, I welcome Lord Kamado Eiichiro!"
"Kakushi"... presumably the logistics department in the Demon Slayer Corps specifically responsible for cleaning up the aftermath...
"Mn." Roy smiled and nodded at him. "Let's go."
A swamp appeared beneath his feet, and he sank into the ground. When he reappeared, he was already amidst the wisteria flowers...
"This..." Murakami Kenya opened his mouth, stunned in place for a long time, before shouting in panic, "Lord Eiichiro, slow down... let me lead the way, you won't find Oyakata-sama's mansion!"
However, the young man turned seven times and wound eight times. Every time he reappeared, he was always standing at the correct fork in the road... He seemed even more familiar with the route than this "officer" specifically responsible for the Ubuyashiki family's external communications... it was truly like seeing a ghost!
[En]: Can capture the enemy's position through "aura"... A [Hashira] is like an [Evil Demon]; the stronger the strength, the thicker the "aura" emitted...
In the time it takes for a few breaths, the swamp emerged outside a secluded courtyard...
The young man appeared, followed by Murakami Kenya, who was panting and chasing relentlessly. Roy looked ahead... Above the courtyard, dozens of auras of different colors floated grandly...
There was the quiet "White"... the lively "Pink"... the scheming "Black"... the irritable "Red"... the innocent "Gray"... the gentle "Green". Diverse and varied, as exciting as could be, yet...
Except for the two people related to the Master, they were all uniformly mixed with a bit of "doubting" "Blue"...
Obviously, regarding Ubuyashiki Kagaya convening the "Hashira Meeting" and making an exception to invite a "Non-Hashira" to come... they had both doubts and curiosity...
"Huff... huff..." Murakami Kenya finally caught up and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Lord Kamado Eiichiro has arrived!"
"Creak~" The double wooden doors opened... dozens of gazes were instantly cast over...
The young man had a faint smile on his lips. He took a step forward, the swamp appearing beneath his feet. When he reappeared, holding his short sword, he had already arrived in the courtyard. Looking around... he saw the other "Hashira" besides Giyu Tomioka and Gyomei Himejima...
Flame Hashira · Kyojuro Rengoku... Sound Hashira · Tengen Uzui... Mist Hashira · Muichiro Tokito... Love Hashira · Mitsuri Kanroji... Serpent Hashira · Obanai Iguro... Wind Hashira · Sanemi Shinazugawa, and... Insect Hashira · Shinobu Kocho...
"He's so handsome!" A pair of bright green eyes reflected the image of Roy popping up abruptly from the ground, and the Love Hashira blurted out.
Immediately, Roy felt a wave of hostility lock onto him... coming from Obanai Iguro, who was perched on a pine tree in the courtyard!