Chapter 397

"There are also certain rules for the frequency and rhythm of breathing. Although it's not as good as the pillars who use the full concentration of breathing techniques 24 hours a day, regulating your breathing well can indeed extend the time you can persist in training."

Column training·Daytime·First day

"Did the Demon Slayer Corps find such a large training ground?" Okita-san, who was among the members of the Demon Slayer Corps, turned her head and whispered to Okita-kun, "I always feel like we might not make it in the first round."

"After all, we are not good at physical training..." Okita-kun turned around and looked at Hasebe, who was wearing the uniform of the Demon Slayer Corps and pretending to be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. "However, since we are here, we can only think of ways to work hard to break through the training level - no matter what, we have to be worthy of the rank we have obtained."

"But the terrain here is really suitable for training." Yagen Toushirou walked behind the two of them, "Cross-country running, combat simulations... they really need a fairly large space. And, this is only the first day - although there are still injured team members who haven't joined, the first stage is a rigorous training for everyone at the same time. Without such a large space, it would be impossible to accommodate everyone."

"We should leave when the first group passes through." Kashuai Kiyomitsu and Yakiri Hasebe walked together, looking at the endless crowd in front of them. "After all, there are only eight people available. In order to ensure the coverage rate, we can only follow the pace of the top students to pass the project. From now on, the first round of the team will be handed over to you, Hasebe."

"You don't need to tell me." Yakiri Hasebe nodded and walked forward. "Let's finish today's training first."

Pillar Training - Daytime - Stage 2

"...Okay, the top students have all gone to the next level." Kashuu Kiyomitsu twirled the wooden sword in his hand, and while Tokito Muichiro was resting, he picked up a soldier who was lying on the ground, "Let's do some self-training - swinging the sword without calmness will only get us killed. Although there are times when we have to swing the sword..."

"But the brain is very important."

Pillar Training - Daytime - Stage 3

The top students who had always been at the forefront of all the team members might have said that the first two levels of training were easy, but they all failed in the third level of flexibility training.

"……it hurts."

The entire training hall was filled with the despair of the Demon Slayer Corps soldiers.

"Is this something a human can do?" Yagen Toushirou lay on the ground, tilted his head to look at the other team members who were being guided by Kanroji Mitsuri's hands, with a speechless look.

"You can do it, right? Although I think it might be a little difficult for you sometimes..." Ms. Okita, who was lying on the ground in the same position as Yagen Toushirou, blinked and looked at Ichimonji Norimune who tried hard for a long time but still couldn't lie down, "Isn't our eldest brother still stuck there?"

"That guy is simply because his body is stiff due to old age." Because Kashuu Kiyomitsu stayed in the second stage to guide the other team members, Yamato-mori Yasutsu took over the position of complaining about Ichimonji Norimune at this time, "Although I can't do it to the level of you two..."

"Come on, brother—" Ms. Okita sat up and gave a thumbs up to Yamatomori Yasunari and Okita-kun with a smile, "If it's you, there will be no problem."

"It's special attack." Yagen Toushirou, who also sat up, complained about Yamato-no-kami Yasunari who was completely fascinated by Miss Okita. He ignored the distorted expression of Okita-kun and turned his head to care about his companions who would stay in this stage to guide the soldiers in the future, "Have you thought of a good way to help them?"

"I can't think of it for now." Souzo Sawamonji smiled helplessly and replied to Yagen Toushirou, "It seems that we can only take it one step at a time here - but Miss Kanroji's clearance requirements should not be set particularly high. After all, flexibility... strictly speaking, it relies more on talent than any other training items."

"Maybe they discussed it with Miss Butterfly and customized it according to each person's physical condition." Yagen Toushirou touched his chin and made a guess, "After all, there is no unified standard for this kind of thing - even everyone's foundation may be different."

"Excuse me--" Kanroji Mitsuri squatted down beside Ms. Okita and joined the conversation with a smile. She lowered her voice to avoid being heard by other team members. "According to the current progress, a group of members will pass tomorrow--Mr. Purgatory will be in charge of the next level. Who are you going to let stay there?"

"Ah, it's me." Okita nodded and got up from the ground, answering Kanroji Mitsuri, "We originally planned to keep the five people who knew the breathing method in the last five levels, but in the end we decided everyone's position based on their affinity - after all, except for a few levels, there is no requirement for trainees to use breathing methods."

"But judging from their appearance, I'm afraid we'll have to wait a little longer..." Souzo Sawamonji withdrew his gaze from the twitching team members and turned to look at Kanroji Mitsuri, "Is there anything else, Miss Kanroji?"

"Well... isn't it rest time in the afternoon?" Mitsuri Kanroji shyly turned her face away and told everyone her invitation, "I would like to treat everyone to afternoon tea! Although the original intention of arranging a rest time in the afternoon is to ensure our energy for training at night, we may not have such an opportunity to get along well with you in the future..."

"Do we need to call the two people from the first two levels over?" Yagen Toushirou smiled gently. "It shouldn't be a big problem if they work one day - it's really rare to be able to spend time together like this."

"That's not necessary." Kanroji Mitsuri smiled and shook her head at Yagen Toushirou. "The more team members they can guide through training, the more combat power we can use - we can't waste everyone's time. But I will make some snacks that can be preserved for a longer time. Can you help me bring them to them? Ah, since I'm going to send them to them, I might as well make one for everyone!"

"That time will be very tense." Ms. Okita looked at Mitsuri Kanroji, smiled and said goodbye to her, "We will continue to study your training program here for a while - we need to summarize a method that is more suitable for them in order to effectively help you. You can go first, we will take good care of them."

"Ms. Okita is still as reassuring as ever!" Kanroji Mitsuri ran out of the training room with a smile, and turned back at the door to remind everyone, "Then I'll leave first! Everyone - train hard!"

Pillar training·Night·After the end

"Come to think of it, the control room should have already completed the formation for the duel." Ms. Okita sat on the threshold of the headquarters gate, looking at Oda Nobunaga standing on the eaves, "Nobunaga didn't participate in the Pillar training, so he should know what the situation is, right?"

The pillars who were trying to catch their breath were also attracted by Ms. Okita's words and cast their eyes over at the same time.

"It's the round table." Oda Nobunaga answered Miss Okita and jumped down from the eaves. "The black gun has also been sent over."

"Then... we're just short of ammunition." Okita-kun raised his head and gazed at the distant sky. "I'm curious about what the life distance bullet 'Dead Counter' will do to Muzan Muzan."

"That depends on the scale of existence measured by the Aplish Measure - the number of Aphrodite is only 3800." Ms. Okita stood up and patted her clothes, reminding everyone, "We should prepare to go back - we still have to train those ordinary team members during the day."

"...Yeah, it's time to go back." Yagen Toushirou smiled and walked to the side of Shinobu Kocho. "After training till now, I can still find a lot of talented people among them."

"Has anyone passed the eighth level, Mr. Beimingshima?" Because the content he was in charge of was so basic, almost all the team members passed the level under the guidance of Hasebe, Uzui Tengen turned his head and asked Beimingshima Gyūmei, "The guy here who was in charge of one-on-one guidance of the team members was gentle and strict and led everyone to pass the level!"

"Ah, this evaluation really fits Hasebe's image." Yagen Toushirou smiled and followed Uzui Tengen's words to look in the direction of the two people in charge of the eighth level. "Although Mr. Tomioka was dragged here for night training, I really don't know how he is doing during the day... If no one has passed the eighth level yet, maybe we can find time to give Mr. Tomioka extra training during the day..."

"I think he should learn some first aid and nursing skills first." Shinobu Kocho crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head to reject Yagen Toushirou's proposal.

"Unfortunately, no one has passed the test yet." Ichimonji Norimune smiled and answered everyone, holding his folding fan. "Well, I will gently tell them what to do."

"How can you be gentle, you evil old man!?!" Kiyomitsu, a victim of the former Ichimonji Norimitsu in California, protested angrily.

"We're going back." Tokito Muichiro tugged on Kashuu Kiyomitsu's sleeve and explained the situation on his side to everyone, "If it's just that, going to the battlefield is just suicide. However, although the team members who were coached by Kashuu haven't made any drastic changes, they will learn to use their brains - probably from no chance of survival to at least a 10% chance of survival."

"I never thought that I could bring about such changes in them?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu blushed in embarrassment after receiving the compliment, and turned his head away from the smiling gazes cast at him by Okita-kun and Okita-san.

"By the way." Iguro Obanai turned around and asked Oda Nobunaga who was still standing there, "After Kamado Tanjiro passes the final selection, in addition to the Pillar training, will you prepare a separate special training for him?"

"Of course." Oda Nobunaga answered him, turning his back to everyone and jumping back into the courtyard of the headquarters, "Because he is the only one here who can pull the trigger of the Black Gun. In order to use the Black Gun perfectly, it is necessary for him to cultivate tacit understanding with the gunner "Mashu" and the group of people at the round table."

"After all, our final battle is taking place in the demon's base camp."