Chapter 22 Waves Flowing in the Dark
Wisteria Mountain Forest, mist permeated the air.
Tanjiro and others stood shirtless under a waterfall, letting the rushing water from above furiously crash down, impacting every inch of their skin.
The early spring stream was bone-chillingly cold. Even though the Demon Slayer Corps members were already skilled in using Breathing Techniques to temper their bodies, only a handful could fully endure this waterfall trial.
"Chant! Chant!"
Tanjiro's consciousness was sinking, yet he muttered to himself, trying to rouse his spirit.
But as he chanted, he suddenly realized that the familiar "PIG ASSAULT!" roar of his companion was missing from his ears. He stiffly turned his head to look.
He saw Inosuke, wearing his wild boar mask, had already fainted, but his body still stood stubbornly in the water, swaying precariously.
Tanjiro: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"Inosuke!?"
"Yabai! Inosuke, pull yourself together! Hey!"
Tanjiro frantically dragged Inosuke ashore and, after much effort, managed to revive him.
After the waterfall trial, there were still more hardships waiting for them, like carrying logs and pushing boulders.
However, at this moment, the Demon Slayer Corps members were already at their limit and could only rest for a while.
They gathered together to prepare lunch, hoping to regain some strength.
In front of the bonfire, Inosuke was tearing into a salt-grilled fish, his gaze occasionally darting towards the deeper parts of the wisteria forest.
"I don't know what kind of training those guys are doing. I need to catch up quickly and become stronger than all of them!"
Tanjiro, while carefully flipping the grilled fish, gently reminded him.
"Inosuke, you should show basic politeness to the Hashira-level swordsmen."
"Hmph! Of course I know that!"
Inosuke casually tossed aside the gnawed branch, a fishbone dangling from the corner of his mouth, his expression unexpectedly serious.
"Those guys are all stronger than me, especially the Commander. Earlier at the Butterfly Mansion, just getting close to him made my whole body tingle as if being pricked by needles."
Tanjiro nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I also once smelled an extremely dangerous aura from Arthur."
"But that aura disappeared during the last mission, it's really strange…"
"What's so strange about that?!"
In the corner, Zenitsu silently gnawed on his grilled fish, tears welling up in his eyes, as he retorted sharply.
"You two! You never heard how terrifying that monster's heartbeat was!"
"That heartbeat was both terrifying and oppressive, just recalling it sends shivers down my spine!"
Tanjiro and Inosuke exchanged glances, both tilting their heads.
They thought this guy probably had his old problem again and wanted to back out.
…
Meanwhile, at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Arthur, having finished his training, came to visit Kagaya Ubuyashiki, but unexpectedly found a rare guest in the mansion.
The visitor had a large, low bun, a pale complexion with only a hint of crimson on her lips, and wore a dark purple kimono with a subtle pattern, exuding a serene aura.
Arthur's tone was slightly surprised: "This is unexpected. Miss Tamayo actually agreed to set foot in the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters."
Tamayo gently shook her head: "Mr. Arthur, please don't tease. Now is a critical moment to deal with Muzan Kibutsuji, and I would not miss such a good opportunity for anything."
Arthur chuckled softly: "Miss Tamayo, you misunderstand. I have no intention of teasing. On the contrary, I admire your courage."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki raised his hand, gesturing for Arthur to sit, and gently took over the conversation.
"How is the special training progressing? Have Sanemi and the others caused you any trouble?"
Arthur casually sat cross-legged and spread his palms.
"Hmm—how should I put it, it's fifty-fifty."
"Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps is incredibly talented. Previously, they just hadn't found the right method, but once they had a clear direction, their progress was remarkable."
Arthur believed his words were already diplomatic enough, but Kagaya Ubuyashiki was so perceptive that he instantly understood the unspoken meaning.
Low emotional intelligence: A bunch of weaklings.
High emotional intelligence: There's a lot of room for improvement.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's brows furrowed with worry: "Two weeks have passed, and no Hashira has been able to activate the Transparent World yet…"
He understood the feelings of everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps and their determination to slay demons.
But if it were truly possible, he did not want to see his children lose their precious lives.
"No, one person succeeded."
Arthur picked up a pastry and threw it into his mouth, then was gently patted by Fufu's paw, so he could only smile helplessly and take another piece to offer her.
"Gyomei Himejima is indeed the eldest Hashira. His blindness instead made his mind more focused, and he understood the Transparent World in just two weeks."
Hearing that Gyomei Himejima had succeeded, a trace of recollection flashed across Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face.
"It's Gyomei…"
"The remaining children, I'll have to trouble you to put in more effort."
Arthur waved his hand casually and turned to look at Tamayo, who was waiting quietly at the side.
"Did you bring the previous experiment report?"
"No, I arranged for Yushiro to bring the experimental equipment and set it up first. Shall we go now?"
As she spoke, Tamayo's eyes sparkled with excitement, her expression unable to hide her eagerness.
Arthur frowned: "I understand your eagerness to deal with Muzan Kibutsuji, but haste makes waste. Don't get flustered."
"It's noon right now, and there are wisteria flowers everywhere here. Do you want me to hold an umbrella and carry you to the laboratory?"
Tamayo: (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
"Cough! Excuse me, I was too hasty."
…
As night fell, a day of rigorous training concluded.
The Demon Slayer Corps members, in groups of three to five, set off on their way back, discussing what they had learned that day.
A short-haired, thick-browed young man with a magatama pendant around his neck, however, separated from the crowd and ventured alone into the distant shadows.
"Hey, Kaigaku! The dormitory is this way!"
"Don't mind him! He's a swordsman of the same rank as us, but he always has a sour face. What's he so proud of?!"
"That's not nice to say, he's a comrade from the same period after all."
"You treat him as a comrade, but does he treat you as one?"
"Let's go, let's go, back to rest, I'm almost dead from exhaustion today!"
The few Demon Slayer Corps members laughed as they walked away, and as night deepened, Kaigaku's figure completely merged into the dark depths of the wisteria forest.
At the same time, Arthur and Tamayo were also moving swiftly through the mountain forest, as fast as phantoms.
This was normal, after all, even the seemingly fragile Tamayo was a demon, and Arthur could even be called non-human.
Not long after, the two arrived at the foot of the mountain. Arthur's eyebrows raised, and he suddenly stopped.
Tamayo, preoccupied with the research in the laboratory, had no time to react and was about to bump into Arthur's back, but he pulled her back with one hand, embracing her.
Before Tamayo could react, Arthur quickly raised a hand to cover her mouth, signaling for silence, while nudging his chin towards two blurry figures in the distance.
"I've led the way as promised. Now it's time for you to fulfill your promise, isn't it?"
"Of course. That lord likes people who know what's good for them. Drink it."
Tamayo followed the sound and saw the figure in the distance consuming demon blood, and veins bulged on her forehead.
"The location of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters has been exposed! Mr. Arthur, we…"
Tamayo turned back anxiously, but was horrified to find that Arthur beside her had vanished without a trace!