Chapter 381

"Come to think of it, I wanted to ask you this before." Shinobu Kocho tilted her head towards Ms. Okita, "The 'Unknown Swordsman' that the Kamado family mentioned who confronted the demons for a whole night and successfully rescued them - could that be you?"

"…Is there any problem?" Ichimonji Norimune, who had been silent until then, asked Shinobu Kocho on behalf of Okita-kun and Okita-san.

"Is there something wrong with the ghost that night?" Ms. Okita blinked and looked at Osawa Yashiki, who was surrounded by the pillars at the other end of the hand-to-hand combat field. "But we didn't see the face of that ghost... That ghost was too timid. If I hadn't been quick with my sword, I might not have been able to cut it that night."

"What is your impression of that ghost?" Uzumaki Yoya asked them.

"I feel like he should be very powerful..." Okita paused and complained to everyone present, "But he is really timid - just like Sakura said, if it weren't for her fast sword, we probably wouldn't have been able to attack this ghost that night. And, for some reason, this ghost was clearly ready to escape at any time, but he waited until the sun rose before escaping."

"I find it curious that the ghost kept staring at us until the sun rose in order to find an opportunity." Ms. Okita concluded, "It seems that there is something special about that family. If we leave it alone, it will probably come back soon... So before we meet up with Lord Haruaki, we sent them to the house with a wisteria pattern on the door."

"Although I don't know what's so special about the Kamado family, I think I can confirm the identity of that ghost. It seems that we need to pay more attention to and protect the Kamado family in the future." Umayashiki Takashi answered Ms. Okita gently, "If I'm not mistaken, the ghost you encountered is the ghost king Muzan Kibutsuji Mukuro."

"Ghost King? Is that the kind of guy who is the Ghost King?"

To the surprise of the Demon Slayer Corps, none of the collaborators on the opposite side showed any fear. Instead, they showed expressions of disgust, as if they had encountered a pile of dog shit or vomit on the road.

"Shuten and Ibaraki will cry, right? Being on the level of a 'King of Demons' with a guy like that."

"I agree. The existence of this guy makes the title of 'Ghost King' seem a lot less valuable."

"If it's just this level of strength, I think Shin should be able to solve the problem alone."

"If I leave it to them alone, I always feel like they'll fail at the critical moment... How strange, since it has nothing to do with the gem magician in El-Melloi's classroom."

“It’s a color matching issue.”

"Abe Haruaki!!!"

"Ahem." Abe Haruaki cleared his throat, ignored the protests of the two Odas, stood up and walked in front of the Demon Slayer Corps, and extended his hand to Ubuyashiki Yoya, "Then, the goal of our cooperation is very clear now - the ultimate goal of cooperation is to destroy the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji Muzan. During the cooperation process, we will assist the Demon Slayer Corps in destroying evil demons and protecting the people; and the Demon Slayer Corps will also provide us with the Sun Blade, breathing techniques, and the opportunity to study demons."

"That's all I can think of for now - what do you think, Mr. Umayashiki?"

"No problem." Umayashiki Takashi nodded, confirming what Abe Haruaki said, "Also, I want to confirm one thing - Lord Haruaki, why did you appear in this world again?"

"… to clean up the mess for a guy who always has a lot of weird ideas." The person who answered this question was Ms. Okita. "Originally, the things made by Nobuyuki were a strong pollution, but we didn't expect them to merge with the ghosts. Because the situation has become impossible for us to solve alone, we asked Lord Qingming to come and discuss cooperation with you."

"Can we know what that thing is?" Shinobu Kocho asked Miss Okita with a smile.

"Ah, yes, although the new variants have the characteristics of demons mixed in, the original variants without demon elements can still be used!" Ms. Okita clapped her hands and enthusiastically proposed to Abe Haruaki, "Seimei-sama! Can the Shinsengumi be used as logistics for the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"The Shinsengumi?"

"Well, considering the unique record of the Meiji Restoration..." Abe Haruaki stroked his chin and fell into deep thought, "The Shinsengumi is indeed much more efficient in logistics than humans - but considering safety, it is better to let the Demon Slayer Corps' logistics be handled by their own people..."

"By the way, I won't count on those two. Have you guys who use knives decided what breathing method you want to learn?"

"Are we going to separate now?" asked Oda Nobunaga, who was excluded from the trainees by Abe Haruaki.

"Of course, troubles like this should be solved as soon as possible, right?" Abe Haruaki crossed his arms and turned to look at Oda Nobunaga. "I don't care where you two go from now on, but Okita and the others are Sabers. Wouldn't it be better to take advantage of now to decide where you will go from now on?"

"But the Demon Slayer Corps hasn't introduced their breathing techniques yet, right, Lord Haruaki?" Okita-kun leaned against the wall and helplessly pointed out the part that Abe Haruaki had missed. "Our current understanding of the breathing techniques is only represented by these nine people, right?"

"Then let me introduce it!" After getting the permission from Ubuyashiki Yoshiya, the pillar who looked like a golden-red owl loudly and enthusiastically introduced the classification of breathing methods used by the Demon Slayer Corps to everyone, "The first breathing method was the Sun Breathing created by the Demon Slayer Corps soldier, Gokoku Eiichirō during the Warring States Period! Just as the name of this breathing method suggests, it contains power like the sun!"

"Although there are no swordsmen using the Sun Breathing in the Demon Slayer Corps now, all the breathing methods used by the Demon Slayer Corps are derived from the Sun Breathing!"

"So that's how it is. I know why your breathing frequencies are essentially the same—" Yaken Toushirou looked at the pillars opposite him, his purple eyes flashing with an amazing light, "Because no matter how it changes, the most fundamental origin of the breathing method you have mastered is the Sun Breathing!"

"Yes! In fact, there are no swordsmen who use Sun Breathing in the Demon Slayer Corps, and the breathing techniques we use are all based on Sun Breathing because no one can withstand the power of the sun. Therefore, the creator of Sun Breathing, Gokoku Enichi, instructed the other members of the Demon Slayer Corps to develop the five basic schools of breathing techniques used by the Demon Slayer Corps today!"

"The five major schools are Water Breathing, Thunder Breathing, Fire Breathing, Rock Breathing, and Wind Breathing."

"But only four of you are using the basic style, right?" Yagen Toshiro, who had sparred with the Eight Pillars, pointed out, "Mr. Tomioka is using Water Breathing, Mr. Sadness Island is using Rock Breathing, Mr. Fuzugawa, who has sparred with Okita-kun and Ms. Okita, is using Wind Breathing... and finally, Mr. Purgatory is using Flame Breathing."

"You old man, which one would you choose?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who was standing at the back, asked Ichimonji Norimune.

"Isn't the introduction not over yet?" Ichimonji Norimune smiled and fanned himself, "It's not too late to choose after all the introductions are finished, right?"

"Let me make it clear in advance that although I will not follow Ms. Okita, I definitely don't want to stay with you." Kashuu Kiyomitsu replied to Ichimonji Norimune fiercely.

"It's difficult to learn the breathing method." Tomioka Giyuu interrupted Rengoku Kyojuro's introduction dryly, "You two are not suitable."

"...What kind of people are suitable for practicing these breathing methods?" Abe Haruaki blinked and asked Rengoku Kyojuro, "Although other derived breathing methods may have different conditions, since they are derived from the five major breathing methods, as long as they meet the requirements of the 'origin', other derived breathing methods should be able to be practiced."

"The Breathing of Fire is suitable for people who are enthusiastic and cheerful, and whose hearts are as blazing as fire!" Rengoku Kyojuro answered Abe Haruaki loudly, fully demonstrating the enthusiasm and cheerfulness of a swordsman who uses the Breathing of Fire. "To practice the Breathing of Water, one needs to have a clear mind, be calm and steady, and be calm and still..."

"I'll go learn water breathing." Ms. Okita smiled and decided where she would go next. "This description sounds very suitable for Mr. Okita, 'we', doesn't it?"

A hint of disapproval was revealed on Tomioka Giyu's expressionless face.

"What a pity! I thought Ms. Okita would choose me." Shinobu Kocho held her face and sighed, then flew back to her companions like a colorful butterfly.

"Although I don't think Ms. Okita has anything to do with the characteristics required for water breathing..." Abe Haruaki blinked, approved of Ms. Okita's statement, turned his head and asked Okita-kun, "But if it's 'Okita Souji', then it does fit - do you want to learn water breathing with her?"

"I'm going to wait and see." Okita-kun replied to Abe Haruaki with a smile, "I don't think it would be a good thing to be associated with blue or green again."

"...I'll just leave it at that." Abe Haruaki sighed helplessly and motioned for Rengoku Kyojuro to continue explaining the requirements of different breathing methods for practice.

"Thunder Breathing is a breathing method that can only be practiced by people who are full of passion and as fast as lightning. Moreover, because Thunder Breathing has the fastest speed and the strongest explosive power among all breathing methods, it also requires a very high physical quality from the practitioner..."

"Thunder Breathing and related derivative breathing methods can be completely ruled out." Abe Haruaki complained, "There is no member in our formation this time who meets the requirement of strong physical fitness."

"The Breath of Wind is a person who is full of hatred and has a temperament as turbulent as the wind..."

"That can be ruled out, there are no hateful people in this team... No, there aren't any hateful people on our side, right?"

"A bit chaotic and mediocre?"

"It should be considered neutral and moderate."

"Then I think Rock Breathing may not be suitable for you..." Rengoku Kyojuro paused, but still introduced the requirements of Rock Breathing to the few people responsibly, "This breathing method can only be practiced by those who are hardworking and resolute, and whose will is as strong as a rock. The way of fighting is to wield heavy weapons, and each blow is extremely heavy..."

"...Please introduce us to the derivative schools of Water Breathing and Fire Breathing." Abe Haruaki pinched his brows and sighed, "If it really doesn't work, I will try to force them to develop their own breathing method."

"If you want to get to that point, forget it!!!"