Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18
"Aori" was a rather unfamiliar name to others. Apart from Yoshiyuki Tomioka and Sabito, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was probably the only person present who had ever seen Aori before.
The events that occurred at the Fujikashi Mountain Trial were too bizarre. A girl with no ability to protect herself appeared out of thin air at the dangerous trial site and dramatically lost all her memories.
It sounds like something out of the ordinary, making one wonder if there's some hidden conspiracy.
The Demon Slayer Corps has always operated in extreme secrecy, and most ordinary people may never have heard of the name in their entire lives.
For an ordinary person to appear at Fujisaki Mountain at this time is not an easy thing, or to put it more bluntly, it is basically impossible.
Therefore, it is necessary to find out the whole story.
Furthermore, Sabito's performance in that episode was exceptional; he eliminated almost all the demons on the mountain, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki privately received them at the same time.
The Demon Slayer Corps doctor carefully examined Ori's body and confirmed that her amnesia was not caused by a head injury, but her confusion was not feigned.
The petite girl hugged herself tightly, feeling insecure. Her face was pale, like a little kitten trying desperately to curl up into a ball. Even the slightest movement could startle her.
Even when she was frightened, she didn't bare her teeth at people, and still tried her best to cooperate with all the arrangements that were completely unfamiliar to her.
Just as she initially gave off a completely harmless impression, the girl was genuinely obedient from the inside out. When asked to bow her head during a physical examination, she did so without any resistance.
She didn't say much, just stared at others with longing eyes. The team doctor hadn't encountered such an obedient patient in a long time. She was so well-behaved that he couldn't help but secretly slip her a few candies as a reward.
After confirming that Azhi was truly harmless, the matter concerning her should have ended there.
Later, Aori applied to infiltrate the brothel. Ubuyashiki Kagaya, as the person behind the infiltrators, made some agreements with the proprietress because of some complicated relationships between his predecessors.
Strictly speaking, this was just a minor incident in daily life, but the protagonist of the incident unexpectedly stirred up a huge storm today.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes were not yet affected by the disease at that time, so he had actually seen Aori's face.
After so many years, most people who have experienced such a brief encounter would be lucky to even vaguely remember the name, let alone recall the face.
However, his excellent memory allowed him to immediately match Aori's face with his own. Even with some age differences, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was able to describe some subtle facial features and match them with the person in the painting.
—The characteristics match perfectly!
While it's not impossible for two completely unrelated people in the world to look alike, it's a low-probability event.
Therefore, rather than the two being completely unrelated, it is more likely that Aori is a descendant of the person in the painting, which is the good news that Kagaya Ubuyashiki wants to hear the most right now.
It was only because of his illness that Kagaya Ubuyashiki was currently blind, which is why he didn't immediately notice the coincidence upon seeing the painting.
Cleverly, it seemed as if an invisible hand was clearing away the fog, making things clearer and clearer.
"Oh, it's this young lady."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sighed, tilting his head slightly, his empty eyes seemingly holding many profound meanings.
In fact, he could hardly contain his excitement. His usual composure was broken, and after taking a deep breath, his fingers holding the scroll trembled uncontrollably.
This extremely rare scene left the three pillars present completely bewildered. They did not understand why their lord was so excited, nor did they know what such a thing represented.
"My lord?"
After calming himself down a bit, Kagaya Ubuyashiki knew that everyone else present was puzzled, but he didn't explain it to them—it was time to reveal the mystery of this meeting.
The scroll was fully unfurled, and the artist's signature at the end caught everyone's attention, breaking their composure and causing some to gasp in surprise upon first glance.
"—Yoichi Tsugikuni!!!"
Obanai Iguro was incredulous, and unconsciously leaned forward to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
It was clearly written on it that it was indeed Yoriichi Tsugikuni. This legendary figure, deeply engraved in the hearts of countless demon hunters, had reappeared before the world in this way.
—Kuni, Eri, Ichi! Giyu Tomioka and Sabito's pupils also contracted sharply. Such an unexpected and violent impact left their minds blank for a rare moment, unable to think for the time being.
—This is Yoriichi Tsugikuni!
These four words themselves carry immeasurable weight; even a demon hunter who doesn't know his story should be able to remain calm upon seeing this name.
A ripple of emotion stirred within their calm eyes as more and more questions welled up in their hearts. They could hardly conceal their shock, yet they waited patiently for answers.
The young lord's fingertips lightly traced the edge of the painting as he continued unhurriedly, "According to that collector, this painting contains a secret to eliminate demons. If it's related to this person, I don't believe this secret is baseless."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni himself is a legendary figure who can turn the impossible into the possible. Under his radiance, the secrets that were originally hidden in this painting, whether true or false, become intriguing.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's faint smile gradually faded, replaced by an increasingly clear and dignified expression.
“My children, I think you now know why I have summoned you here.”
“Giyuu, Sabito, I need you to bring Miss Aori back as soon as possible.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki said seriously, his lifeless eyes fixed precisely on the two of them. “She is very likely a descendant of the person in the painting, and perhaps all the secrets can be found from her.”
Even if she has no memory of the past, even if the hope is slim, she still has to try.
In an instant, the room became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the open scroll, burning with intense focus.
—The secret to destroying evil spirits!
How could this not excite all the members of the Demon Slayer Corps? How could it not thrill those who have risked their lives to hunt demons for generations?
Kagaya Ubuyashiki gazed blankly at the sky. He should have been unable to see anything, yet he felt as if he were touching the ethereal future. He had a strange premonition: "No matter what the outcome, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will not give up."
A gentle yet firm voice filled the room; on the contrary, the strong emotions conveyed in each word revealed his determination to anyone.
To search for clues to an unknown painting in the vast world, or to find the descendants of someone whose lineage may have been lost long ago, is simply a pipe dream.
However, a turning point occurred, and an extremely fortunate event occurred during this meeting.
Several years ago, a mysterious girl suddenly appeared on Fujikasake Mountain. Before that, it seemed to be just an unknown coincidence, but now it seems to be more like a generous gift from the gods.
The opportunity to unlock the secret has arrived; the answer is hidden within easy reach.
The swordsmen, with daggers at their waists, sat upright. They spoke concisely, yet their expressions were terrifyingly focused. Their short, sharp words echoed in the empty Japanese-style room.
"Yes, sir!"
A note from the author:
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[doge][doge][doge]
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