Ubuyashiki Kagaya clearly noticed Kanzaki Kumo approaching, but he didn't stop him.
After all, any child who had directly encountered a demon would eventually have to be taken away for protection. There was no real risk of information leaking out.
"Kumo-kun?"
Gyoumei also sensed the boy's approach.
He had a deep impression of this child. After all, it was Kanzaki Kumo who had told him how to kill the demon the night before—and had even helped him during the fight.
With his extraordinary hearing, Gyoumei could identify him just from the sound of his footsteps.
Kanzaki Kumo wasn't surprised by this at all.
Because Gyoumei's other senses were so highly developed, his daily life was barely affected by his blindness. In fact, some people had once suspected that he wasn't actually blind.
"If you're going to talk about the monster from last night," Kanzaki Kumo said calmly, "then I want to hear it too."
Both Gyoumei and Kagaya looked at him.
Kanzaki Kumo met their gazes without hesitation.
Looking at Kagaya was fine. In terms of age, Kagaya wasn't much older than him, and their heights weren't that different.
But standing near Gyoumei was another story.
The nearly two-meter-tall monk forced Kanzaki Kumo to crane his neck upward just to look at him.
Kanzaki Kumo thought to himself:
Who would believe that someone this ridiculously tall—someone who can beat a demon so badly the demon thinks it's seeing a ghost—has actually been underfed his entire life?
"If you wish to listen, little friend, then of course that's no problem," Kagaya said with a gentle smile.
"Since you've already encountered such a monster, learning more about them will only help you protect yourself."
As he spoke, Kagaya reached out to pat Kanzaki Kumo's head.
Kanzaki Kumo calmly took half a step backward.
The hand missed.
Kagaya: …
Kanzaki Kumo: …
Kagaya slowly withdrew his hand.
Having already become the head of the Ubuyashiki family and leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, he naturally wouldn't be embarrassed by such a trivial moment.
So he turned around as if nothing had happened and continued walking while Gyoumei led the way.
It's fine, Kagaya told himself internally.
No one saw it.
Although Kagaya's expression remained perfectly composed, Kanzaki Kumo still noticed the almost imperceptible stiffness in his movements.
After all, Kagaya was still only a boy in his early teens.
In Kanzaki Kumo's previous world, someone that age would probably still be in middle school.
However, after only a few steps, Kagaya had already regained his composure. The slight awkwardness in his movements completely disappeared.
Kanzaki Kumo's gaze flickered slightly.
At the same time, Kagaya also formed an evaluation of him.
Excellent observational ability.
And extremely mature for his age.
Kagaya knew perfectly well that there had been a brief flaw in his composure just now.
But even his wife, Amane, likely wouldn't have noticed something so subtle immediately.
Yet Kanzaki Kumo had seen it at a glance.
That brief flicker in the boy's eyes when Kagaya corrected his posture confirmed it.
---
Soon, the three of them entered the temple's only quiet room.
A low table sat in the center.
Gyoumei and Kanzaki Kumo sat on one side.
Kagaya sat opposite them.
After briefly introducing themselves, Kagaya first asked them to describe the events of the previous night in detail.
When he learned that Kanzaki Kumo had also played an important role during the battle, Kagaya began paying even closer attention to the boy.
Only then did Kagaya begin his explanation.
"Regarding demons," he said calmly, "I do indeed know a bit more than most people."
"All demons that exist today originate from a single being."
"The Demon King—Kibutsuji Muzan."
"He was born more than a thousand years ago and is the progenitor of all demons."
"Several centuries after Muzan's appearance, an organization dedicated to fighting demons was established."
"That organization is the Demon Slayer Corps."
"For generations, it has gathered people willing to fight against demons."
"Over time, we discovered methods to kill demons without relying solely on sunlight."
"Some particularly gifted individuals also developed Breathing Techniques—methods that greatly enhance the human body's strength, speed, and endurance."
"These techniques allow humans to fight demons on equal footing."
Kagaya placed a hand lightly on the table.
"My name is Ubuyashiki Kagaya."
"I am the current head of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"I came here today to invite Himejima-san to join us."
"With your extraordinary combat ability, you could make a tremendous contribution to humanity's fight against demons."
---
Kanzaki Kumo watched the passionate speech with a blank expression.
It started out fine…
So why did it suddenly turn into a motivational speech?
Having struggled in society for several years in his previous life, Kanzaki Kumo was extremely familiar with this kind of rhetoric.
Grand ideals.
Inspiring missions.
A noble future.
Even if Kagaya sincerely believed every word he said, Kanzaki Kumo was largely immune to this type of persuasion.
But Gyoumei was a different story.
As a monk, he strongly believed in the Buddhist principles he practiced.
Otherwise, he would never have devoted himself so wholeheartedly to caring for the temple's children—or risked his life fighting a demon for them.
"Ahem."
Kanzaki Kumo coughed lightly.
Both Kagaya and Gyoumei turned toward him.
"I acknowledge that the Demon Slayer Corps' ideals of protecting humanity and eliminating demons are admirable," Kanzaki Kumo said.
"And the fact that your organization has quietly protected ordinary people for centuries is worthy of respect."
"But…"
He leaned slightly forward.
"Why don't we talk about something more practical?"
"For example—"
"What are the requirements to learn Breathing Techniques and become an official swordsman?"
"What kind of salary and benefits does the Corps offer?"
"Is there a rank system?"
"Performance evaluations?"
Both Kagaya and Gyoumei froze for a moment.
Kagaya silently updated his mental evaluation.
Not somewhat precocious.
Extremely precocious.
"That is no problem at all," Kagaya said.
"As long as you are willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps, you will be assigned to a Cultivator who can teach you Breathing Techniques."
"Cultivators are retired Demon Slayers who train new recruits. Many of them were once Hashira—the strongest warriors in the Corps."
"As for becoming an official swordsman, you must first pass a trial…"
Normally, this information would only be explained later by the recruits' trainers.
However, both of the people sitting in front of Kagaya were clearly exceptional talents.
And Kagaya himself was still a young teenager.
Usually, as the head of the Ubuyashiki family, he had to maintain a calm and dignified demeanor.
But now that he had an excuse to explain things in detail, he spoke enthusiastically.
His explanation matched almost perfectly with the information in Kanzaki Kumo's memories—though Kagaya provided far more detail about ranks and promotions.
However, one part immediately caught Kanzaki Kumo's attention.
"The Final Selection exam…" he said slowly.
"Doesn't that system have a serious flaw?"
Kagaya looked surprised.
Kanzaki Kumo continued calmly.
"A group of trainees enters Fujikasane Mountain, where demons have been placed in advance."
"They must survive for seven days."
"But what if a particularly talented trainee kills most of the demons alone?"
"Then everyone else could pass the exam without ever actually defeating a demon."
"Some of them might be completely incapable of fighting demons."
"Wouldn't those people be better suited for logistics work instead?"
He paused before continuing.
"And the demons on the mountain are constantly replenished after being killed."
"What if a demon with exceptional intelligence manages to avoid the inspections of high-ranking slayers and hides on the mountain for years?"
"Even if it only eats two or three people each exam…"
"Eventually it will become far too powerful for rookies to handle."
"At that point, the exam would just be feeding trainees to that demon."
Kagaya fell silent.
Kanzaki Kumo had originally planned to raise another issue.
Talented recruits shouldn't necessarily start from the lowest rank.
But he quickly changed his mind.
If he joined the Demon Slayer Corps and was immediately promoted because of talent…
That would mean stronger enemies and far more missions.
Absolutely not.
He had just escaped the corporate grind of his previous life.
There was no way he was volunteering for another one.
---
As for why Kanzaki Kumo had already decided to join the Demon Slayer Corps—
There were several reasons.
First, learning a Breathing Technique would give him the power to survive in this dangerous world.
Second, joining the organization would make it easier to prevent certain tragedies he remembered.
And third…
Kagaya simply paid too well.
Even the lowest-rank Demon Slayers received salaries considered generous for the era.
And Hashira?
Their compensation could be summed up in two words:
Whatever they needed.
Kanzaki Kumo thought to himself:
Ubuyashiki-san has truly moved me with his sincerity.
After hearing Kanzaki Kumo's critique of the Final Selection exam, Kagaya fell into deep thought.