"Then please wait for a moment," Kate said. After some time, she handed the Kakushi three papers.
"I would like a haori because it gets too cold, and here it is," Kate said, pointing to the haori design.
"Wow, you draw really well, Miss Kate," the Kakushi said, examining the papers. "Hmm, your sleeves are longer than your arms. Let's start with the color first. You wanted a pure white haori with a crimson-colored spider lily design?"
"Yes, and about the longer sleeves with its design, I can make them shorter if you follow the design as it is," Kate replied.
"Then please wait for it," the Kakushi said.
"Thank you very much," Kate said gratefully.
"And the uniform is just like Miss Tsuyuri's, the only difference is this one can cover your knees," the Kakushi explained.
"Yes, and because the haori is long, it will be perfect," Kate said.
"Indeed, we can make this with no problem. What about the third paper?" the Kakushi asked.
"Oh, it's about my sword. Please give it to the swordsmith. Master has already allowed it," Kate said.
"Then please leave it to me," the Kakushi said. "I shall take my leave now."
"Take care and thank you," Kate replied.
Meanwhile, Aoi stared at Kate after everything. "Master recruited this person personally. I wonder why. There's also the part about Master assigning two Hashira to train her," Aoi thought to herself.
"Is there a problem with my face, Miss Aoi?" Kate asked.
"N-No, I was just wondering about something," Aoi replied.
"Is it about Master's actions regarding me?" Kate asked, surprising Aoi. "I know what you're thinking, and my answer is, I don't know either."
"What do you mean?" Aoi asked.
"Well, first of all, I'm a beggar, and Master waited the whole day outside the abandoned house I was staying in. I didn't even know Master was there. Master only talked to me at night," Kate explained until they heard a voice at the entrance.
"I'm home!"
The two of them immediately greeted the person who had just arrived.
"Welcome back, Shinobu-san," Aoi said, bowing. Kate saw Aoi bow and immediately bowed as well.
"I saw your design just a moment ago, and it's quite beautiful," Shinobu said.
"Thank you, Miss Shinobu," Kate replied.
"Right, I added a little to your design. Please look forward to it," Shinobu said as she walked past the two. "Let's talk in the kitchen," Shinobu said, and the two followed her.
In the kitchen, Aoi brought many foods to the table while Shinobu stared at Kate.
"First of all, welcome, Kate-san. Please make yourself at home," Shinobu broke the silence.
"Thank you," Kate replied.
"Second of all, Master has notified us Hashira about your arrival," Shinobu said, surprising Aoi.
"Now I'm really getting curious about what Master's doing," Kate thought to herself. "May I know why?" she asked.
"You'll know, but it's about what Master dreamed about. The Demon Slayer Corps has been able to exist until now because one of Master's abilities is like foresight, or an ability to see the future. So, I guess you'll have a huge role in the future," Shinobu explained. "So you better work hard as to not disappoint Master."
"I will," Kate said, determination in her eyes.
"I see. let's eat," Shinobu said as she started to eat. After eating, Shinobu gave Kate a book.
"Study this, and tomorrow we'll start our training," Shinobu said.
"Yes, thank you," Kate replied.
"Then please have a good night's rest," Shinobu said as she stood up and left the room. Kate read the title of the book.
"Total Concentration Breathing. I see," Kate said as she started to study it.
At midnight, Kate finished reading the book. "This technique is really good, but I don't need to bring it back with me once I finish the main quest of this world. Even if I can't use my real strength here, my body is still at the peak of the Separation and Reunion Realm, after all," Kate thought to herself. She closed her eyes and tried Total Concentration Breathing. "With my body's innate strength, this Total Concentration Breathing is easy," Kate thought as the magical panel appeared, notifying her of her mastery. "Nice, mastered it in no time," she thought. "Next is the Divinity Element," she focused on studying her Divinity Element.
In the morning, Shinobu entered the kitchen and saw Kate sitting in the same spot as last night, already using the Total Concentration Breathing technique, which surprised her. "Looks like Master is right. This girl is deserving of her special position," Shinobu thought. Suddenly, Kate started to cough blood and glowed golden. Shinobu rushed to her, but Kate stopped her.
"Kate-san, are you okay?" Shinobu shouted.
"Y-yes, I'm okay," Kate replied. "Finally, I gained a Divinity-related skill!" she thought to herself.
After a long time, Kate opened her eyes and saw Shinobu staring at her. "Are you okay?" Shinobu asked.
"Yes, I'm all right. It's just my body purifying itself," Kate said.
"What's going on with your body, Kate-san?" Shinobu asked.
Kate investigated her body and saw that it was leaking yellow or golden particles. "When I studied the Total Concentration Technique last night, the book you gave me suddenly glowed, and the light entered my body. Then a surge of information entered my head," Kate explained.
"May I know what it is?" Shinobu asked.
"First, I gained a strange energy called Divinity Element. Then, as I studied throughout the night, I learned a new technique called Divine Protection," Kate said as she formed a magical barrier on her palm.
"So this is the power Master talked about," Shinobu said. "May I touch it?"
"Yes," Kate replied.
Shinobu touched the small diamond-shaped barrier. "Wow," she said. "Then please don't show it to anyone. I should report it to Master. Please head to the backyard; we'll start our training," Shinobu added as she left.
"Now that's done, let's go to the backyard," Kate said to herself as she went out.
At the backyard, Kate admired the simplicity of the surroundings. "Wow, this is quite simple. I like it," she thought to herself as she walked towards a tree and sat in its shade. "Since the information is directly transferred to my head, I don't need to read and memorize the technique. The only thing I need to do is understand it," she reflected.
Kate closed her eyes and began practicing the Sword Cultivation. After some time, she heard a voice. "Kate-san, are you understanding something again?" Shinobu asked.
Kate immediately opened her eyes and looked at Shinobu. "No, I'm just resting. I didn't get to rest last night and the night before that, so," Kate explained.
"I see. Then let's make this short. Since you've already mastered the Total Concentration Breathing technique, we shall move on to the constant version of it," Shinobu said as she sat in front of Kate and began teaching her.
After a while, Shinobu concluded, "And that's all."
"So, I need my body to remember it," Kate said.
"Yes," Shinobu replied. "We don't have to practice tomorrow because I have a mission. You can ask Aoi or the three children for the gourd," Shinobu said before she left.
"Thank you, Miss Shinobu," Kate said.
After Shinobu left, Aoi approached Kate. "Kate-san, the room we prepared for you is finished. You can rest there," Aoi said.
"Then please take me there," Kate replied as she stood up.
"Please follow me," Aoi said, and the two of them walked away. As they departed, someone watched Kate from a distance.
In Kate's room, Kate thanked Aoi, "Thank you, Miss Aoi."
"You're welcome, Kate-san. Then please rest now," Aoi said as she closed the door and left.
"My body is still the body of a cultivator. Even if my realm is low, I'm still a cultivator, and sleeping is not that needed," Kate thought to herself. "I better practice the Sword Cultivation," she said, putting both hands in front of her.
The next day, Aoi knocked on the door. "Kate-san, this is Aoi. It's already lunchtime. You should eat something," Aoi said from the other side.
"Thank you, Miss Aoi, but I'm quite busy, so please," Kate replied.
"Then please eat as soon as possible, or should I bring food here?" Aoi offered.
"Thanks, but no," Kate said.
"Then please eat as soon as you finish," Aoi said.
"Creating a Sword Spirit requires so much time, but I just need a little more," Kate thought to herself as she returned to practicing the Sword Cultivation.
At night, the door to Kate's room suddenly swung open. "Are you the Saint?" a voice demanded.
"I'm not, so please go. I'm quite busy," Kate replied, not paying any attention.
"Inosuke!" Aoi shouted from the hallway. "You're definitely the rumored Saintess!" Inosuke insisted as Aoi dragged him out of the room.
"I'm sorry to bother you," Aoi said, bowing before leaving and closing the door.
"So, the trio is already here. The next thing I should investigate is what arc of the story I'm in," Kate thought to herself as she returned to cultivating her Sword Spirit.
The next day, in Shinobu's office, Aoi reported, "And that concludes my report, Shinobu-san."
"Not eating and resting is indeed a problem. I shall ask her then. She's working hard, and that's good, but if she overworks herself and something bad happens, it will be an issue," Shinobu said. "Don't worry, I'll talk to her."
"Then I should prepare lunch," Aoi said.
"Thank you," Shinobu replied as Aoi left. "What are you doing, Kate?" Shinobu thought to herself.
In her room, Kate opened her eyes. "I still have practice with Miss Shinobu today. I should go out," she thought as she stared at the small red blob between her palms. "Even with a double progress buff, this cultivation technique still requires a lot of time," she mused as she stood up.
As Kate reached the door, she suddenly realized something. "Wait, Saintess?" she thought. "I'm a Saintess," she said aloud, holding the door open.
"Yes, it looks like you just realized it now, even though you heard it last night. You really are focused on the Divinity Element. We're grateful that you're working hard, but please take care of your body too," Shinobu said, standing in front of Kate.
"I- I'm sorry. It's just that having Divinity helps me a lot. I'm not getting tired or hungry," Kate explained.
"I see. Then, do you want to eat?" Shinobu asked.
"I'm not feeling it, so I guess I'll pass," Kate replied.
"Then please head to the backyard and wait for me there," Shinobu said.
"Then I should go now, Miss Shinobu," Kate said as she walked away.
"You're practicing the Constant Version now?" Shinobu asked.
"Yes, is there a problem?" Kate replied.
"No, it's alright," Shinobu said as she walked away.
"I incorporated the Total Concentration Constant while I was practicing the Sword Cultivation, and it's really hard. Focusing on two things at once is so difficult, but I managed it somehow and have already mastered the Constant Version, so it's all good," Kate thought to herself as she headed toward the backyard and saw the trio practicing. "There they are," Kate thought.
Kate walked to the tree, sat down, and closed her eyes. She put her right hand forward, held it with her left, and began forming a barrier. "I want a weapon made out of Divinity. With the knowledge of Sword Cultivation, I can form one. I just need to practice it," she thought.
"What is she doing, Tanjiro?" Zenitsu asked.
"I believe she's practicing some divine technique, so we better not get too loud," Tanjiro replied.
"SINCE SHE'S GETTING STRONGER, THEN I WON'T LET HER BEAT ME!" Inosuke shouted.
"SHUT UP, INOSUKE!" Zenitsu shouted back.
"The three of them are too loud," Kate thought to herself, but after some time, Shinobu arrived and made the trio sit and watch.
"Kate, for our practice today, we'll work on the Flower Breathing Technique," Shinobu said.
"I'll be in your care," Kate replied.
"Then I'll teach you the moves of the Flower Breathing Technique, so focus, okay?" Shinobu said, starting to show Kate the techniques.
At sunset, Shinobu said, "Yes, that's it. It looks like by tomorrow, you will be able to master the moveset. Once you do that, I'll teach you how to use them perfectly."
"Yes, please. Thank you, Miss Shinobu," Kate said, bowing toward Shinobu.
"She learns really fast, huh?" Zenitsu commented.
"She's the Saintess, after all," Tanjiro replied.
"FIGHT ME!" Inosuke said, facing Kate.
"Not now, Inosuke," Kate said, smiling slightly.