Chapter Forty: The Special Training Summons

Yaozai Ubuyashiki sensed no trace of deceit in Chu Fan’s voice or aura. That was to be expected; if Chu Fan were aligned with the demons, he would have had countless opportunities to kill him and dismantle the Demon Slayer Corps.

“I already had a plan for this, but since I could never find a surefire chance, I never put it into action,” Yaozai said. “Now, knowing that you, Mr. Phantom Feather, possess such formidable strength and share my intentions, I am truly delighted. Still, I must ask you to wait a little longer. Unless my life truly reaches its final moments—unless I am about to die—the children, the Nine Pillars, would never permit me to carry out this plan. Even you, Mr. Phantom Feather, surely cannot ignore the help those children provide.”

With that, Yaozai made his decision and spoke slowly. “The right to decide whether to enact this plan rests with you. I certainly do not mind. Even if you agree, I must still ask you to wait a while longer. The other Pillars need time to grow. I need you to arrange a special training for the entire Demon Slayer Corps, and to let Shinobu Kocho meet Tamayo.”

Chu Fan replied, “Very well, then I will have them conduct a true special training for the Demon Slayer Corps. If needed, and when the time is right, I will become the bait and inform you.”

Yaozai was shocked to hear that Chu Fan even knew about Tamayo. Phantom Feather seemed like an enigmatic figure, but the resolve to slay demons emanating from him was undeniable. Yaozai did not know Phantom Feather’s past, nor understood why he harbored such determination to eradicate demons. Yet as long as Phantom Feather possessed that will to slay demons, they stood on the same side.

“Very well, I will take my leave now. Let us hope that in this era, we can bring an end to the demons once and for all,” Chu Fan said, rising to his feet and departing.

“This is a bold gamble, but one I must take,” Yaozai whispered softly after Chu Fan left.

※※※※※※

Meanwhile, on the other side, within the Infinity Castle—

Due to the deaths of Doma, the Second Upper Moon, and Daki and Gyutaro, the Sixth Upper Moon, Muzan Kibutsuji was compelled to convene a second Infinity Castle meeting almost immediately.

“From this moment, all of you are to remain on standby in the Infinity Castle. Cease searching for the Blue Spider Lily. Nakime, devote all your efforts to locating the residences of each Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, as well as that of Yaozai Ubuyashiki. Once you find any trace, I will go with you to bring them into the Infinity Castle and eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps completely. After that, we will have plenty of time to search for the Blue Spider Lily.”

Muzan, his face dark with fury, delivered his orders.

Despite the loss of two Upper Moons, Muzan still did not believe humanity would produce another monster like Yoriichi Tsugikuni. The reason for the Upper Moons’ deaths, Muzan realized, was that for many years he had allowed them to act independently. They ended up fighting alone; if two Upper Moons had acted together, such tragedies would never have occurred.

“Yes!” The five remaining Upper Moons, including Nakime who had just been promoted, responded in unison.

The repeated loss of his most satisfactory subordinates made Muzan realize he had to eliminate the Demon Slayer Corps once and for all. He was sick of those filthy rats. Only by eradicating them could he finally rest easy and focus on finding the Blue Spider Lily. Otherwise, the constant stream of bad news disgusted him.

※※※※※※

Chu Fan returned home. His preparations were complete; now, all he could do was wait.

He wished to avoid the deaths of any Pillars, but the master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Yaozai Ubuyashiki, was beyond saving. Because Muzan Kibutsuji became the Demon King, the men of the Ubuyashiki family had been cursed since birth. For a thousand years, no male in the Ubuyashiki clan had lived beyond twenty-five.

Yaozai was now twenty-three, and his vitality was not at the normal range of eighty to ninety-five percent, but barely in the teens. In the Paradise of the Chosen, fighting training dolls, if one's vitality dropped below twenty, they would be forcibly returned to their room by the system. That meant when vitality fell to twenty percent, one stood at the brink of life and death; without immediate treatment, death was inevitable.

Perhaps, in the future, after traversing many worlds and growing stronger, Chu Fan might be able to obtain more items from the Paradise of the Chosen, and might forcibly save Yaozai. But for now, he had no such means.

It was precisely because the Ubuyashiki family wished to break the curse that, for a thousand years, they had tried everything to kill Muzan Kibutsuji.

Chu Fan thus witnessed the resolve Yaozai possessed as the head of the Demon Slayer Corps.

After Chu Fan returned, Tanjiro Kamado wanted to celebrate for Mr. Phantom Feather. Yet a sudden emergency order arrived: the master of the Demon Slayer Corps required all members to participate in special training led by the Nine Pillars.

Tanjiro had no choice but to abandon his plans for celebration.

“Hahaha! The Pillars themselves will train us—what a stroke of luck!” Inosuke Hashibira exclaimed, hands on his hips, brimming with excitement.

“If the other Pillars can teach me, I’ll do my utmost to grow stronger,” Tanjiro replied, equally delighted.

“Tanjiro, I remember you saying that besides Miss Butterfly, there’s another very beautiful lady among the Nine Pillars?” Zenitsu Agatsuma, unconcerned and unafraid, was focused on something peculiar.

“Love Pillar Mitsuri Kanroji—not only is she beautiful, but the scent she gives off tells me she’s a very good person. She even spoke up for me,” Tanjiro replied, nodding.

“Your head may be a bit slow, but your taste isn’t bad,” Zenitsu said. “I wonder what kind of person she’ll be.”

Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke had yet to realize the gravity of the situation.

“Do your best, all of you. You three have graduated directly from my tutelage. Everything I could teach, I’ve already taught you,” Shinobu Kocho said with a smile, not intending to dampen their spirits.

Her personal training had left Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke constantly complaining, their motivation occasionally vanishing. The training methods of the other Pillars would only be tougher and more brutal. But Shinobu knew that even if one of them lost heart, their camaraderie would reignite their determination.

And so, with high spirits, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke set off.