Chapter Nineteen: The Pillar Assembly (Please Recommend)

The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, was quite curious about Chufan, but since he spent all his time cultivating and never came by to chat, there was little she could learn about him. Still, upon hearing the tale of his origins, Shinobu raised her head in astonishment.

“So, Mr. Phantom Feather, you are a visitor from a foreign land?”

“What a splendid background,” remarked Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, equally surprised. He eyed Chufan’s utterly distinct attire, stroked his chin, and spoke up.

“To think a friend from afar has come to assist us—I am truly delighted.”

The man with flowing golden-red hair and a handsome visage, Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, crossed his arms over his chest, looked at Chufan, and declared in a loud voice, “Such a dashing appearance.”

Beside him, Mitsuri Kanroji—the Love Hashira, with her long cherry-blossom hair and petite figure, graced with an impressive figure—gazed at Chufan and silently thought, “What an elegant style.”

Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, merely studied Chufan carefully and refrained from commenting on the earlier commotion.

Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, stared off into the sky, lost in his own thoughts.

“You’ve summoned me, I presume, to ask about the house that was burned down last night?” Chufan, seeing Kagaya Ubuyashiki appear, got straight to the point.

“That’s correct. Might you tell us the reason?” Kagaya, supported by his beautiful silver-haired wife, took a seat and nodded slightly.

“I don’t know exactly how many members that family had,” Chufan replied candidly, “but in the living room alone, I saw four pools of blood and several scattered pieces of torn clothing. There were also the bodies of two women, which seemed to have been dragged deliberately into a deeper room, subjected to unspeakable acts, their corpses left behind.”

“Let alone the carnage in the living room—no ordinary person should ever see such a scene. For the sake of preserving the last dignity of those two women, after killing the demon, I cremated the family’s remains on the spot.”

He did not hold anything back.

“I see. You have my gratitude, Mr. Phantom Feather,” Kagaya nodded slightly, understanding Chufan’s motives. There were no witnesses, but the impression Chufan gave was of a man with an unyielding character—one who would never stoop to lies.

Though Chufan had spoken briefly, his words sufficed for all the Hashira present to grasp the horror of what had occurred.

“Demons must be eradicated completely,” Shinobu’s face became grave.

“How tragic. May their souls find shelter under Buddha’s mercy. Amitabha,” murmured Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, stringing his prayer beads as tears welled in his eyes once more.

“We must redouble our efforts to wipe out demons!” Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, clenched her fists earnestly at the imagined scene.

Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, snorted at Chufan’s words but did not act out again.

Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira, glanced at Chufan without further provocation or challenge. He had sensed earlier that Phantom Feather had held back—otherwise, his own organs might have been shattered.

“If this is all you wished to ask, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, you needn’t have summoned me so formally,” Chufan said, unconcerned with their attitudes.

“There is more. The reason for this Hashira meeting is that, in recent days, demon activity has increased inexplicably. The number of missing Demon Slayer Corps members has surged.”

As Kagaya explained, a look of sorrow crossed his face, though he also admired Chufan’s keen insight.

“If there are missions, assign them to me. I’m always on standby and ready to set out,” Chufan responded without hesitation.

He knew the underlying cause: the Destined Ones had begun to take the form of demons. Some of these, he was certain, possessed knowledge of this world, making them even more unscrupulous in their actions. Yet, he could not reveal this yet, lest suspicion fall upon him for consorting with demons. That would have to wait until he had slain more demons and time had passed.

“Hmm. Though your personality may be a bit rough, you were willing to preserve those women’s dignity and you accept missions without hesitation. It seems you are a good man after all. You have my approval,” declared Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, nodding at Chufan.

For all in the Demon Slayer Corps, slaying demons was the ultimate goal. Though he knew little of Chufan, as long as Chufan contributed to the cause, he was a good man in Rengoku’s eyes.

“Give me any mission—I’ll show you my flamboyant skills in eradicating demons!” Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, made his stance clear, knowing busy days lay ahead but making no complaint.

“Though running all over is tiring, I don’t have much leisure time anyway,” said Muichiro Tokito, the youngest Mist Hashira, his attention drawn back by the master’s words.

“At night, I’ll be on standby, ready to bring medical personnel for rescue,” said Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, equally earnest.

The rest of the Hashira also affirmed their readiness to set out on missions at any time.

“Very well. Thank you all for your dedication,” Kagaya said, a faint smile appearing on his lips. “There is one more matter. Since everyone is here today, let us hold the Pillar Ascension Ceremony. Although Mr. Phantom Feather does not possess a Nichirin blade, I believe all of you have witnessed his strength. Mr. Phantom Feather, do you have a preference for your title?”

With that, Kagaya turned to Chufan. The other Hashira, having seen his strength firsthand, had little to add. Even Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro held their tongues, as Kagaya had already made his position clear.

“I can slay demons without relying on a Nichirin blade. If I must choose a title, then call me the Flame Hashira,” Chufan replied offhandedly.

“The Flame Hashira, then. From this day forth, you shall be known as Phantom Feather, the Flame Hashira,” Kagaya nodded, having already learned something of Chufan’s abilities.

“If there is nothing else, I’ll return to my training. Unless it is urgent, do not summon me. For missions, simply have the crow call me,” Chufan said, and in a flash, he was gone, his crow flying after him.

“Master, will you just let him be so arrogant?” Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, asked, seeking an explanation as Chufan departed.

“In your earlier exchange, you must have sensed he was holding back. Besides, he is a guest from afar, helping us out of goodwill. We should not demand too much; it is only a title, nothing more,” Kagaya replied gently.

Sanemi thought back to how Phantom Feather had struck his throat and sent him flying, yet had not followed up with a fatal blow. He understood, and bowed his head, saying nothing more.