[Savior]
[Difficulty Level: Lv.6]
[Mission Brief: When happiness is destroyed, the scent of blood always lingers. Even if my body perishes, I will slay the evil demons!]
[Mission Information: Kill all Twelve Kizuki on your own, and finally end the Demon King! (10/13)]
[Mission Deadline: 8 natural days.]
[Mission Rewards: 10,000 Paradise Coins, 1 Small Soul Crystal.]
[Failure Penalty: Forced Execution!]
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Lin Jiu had eight days left to complete the mission. The battles didn't consume much time, at most just one night. Most of the time was spent traveling. Although there were steam trains in this era, they were few and not very fast.
In worlds with such historical settings, the main mission times are often longer, probably to allow for travel time.
"Go!"
Lin Jiu sent his Kasugai Crow back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. His next target was Daki in the Red-Light District, and he asked Kagaya Ubuyashiki to ask Tengen Uzui for information.
Tengen Uzui's wives had infiltrated the Red-Light District early on to gather information on the demons. When his three wives lost contact, it was after Tanjiro and the others had learned the Total Concentration and went to the Red-Light District with Tengen.
Lin Jiu didn't have time to wait for Tanjiro and the others to heal and train. At this moment, Tanjiro and his group were still lying in bed, not yet starting their recovery training.
This meant Tengen Uzui's three wives hadn't been discovered yet. So Lin Jiu specifically instructed Uzui to investigate the courtesan Warabihime at the Kyogoku House.
Lin Jiu set off for the Red Light District, and the crow's message reached the headquarters.
"Oyakata-sama!"
Tengen Uzui was summoned and greeted respectfully. All nine Hashira respected Kagaya Ubuyashiki deeply, each having their fate changed because of him.
"Do you remember that your wives infiltrated the Red Light District to assist in the investigation?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked gently.
"Yes."
"A message from Red indicates that the courtesan Warabihime at the Kyogoku House is likely the target. Please investigate and confirm if Warabihime is still in the Red-Light District and hasn't fled."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke with a pleasant tone.
"I didn't expect that serious-looking guy, Red, to know so much about the Red Light District!"
Tengen Uzui muttered with a faint smile.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "..."
"Red is already on his way. Go meet up with him."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki pretended not to hear, instructing Tengen Uzui.
"Yes, Oyakata-sama!"
Upon receiving the mission, Tengen Uzui contacted his wives to confirm the information and set off to meet Lin Jiu.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, blind and with the curse spreading to his cheeks, knelt alone in the house. His lips curled into a satisfied smile: "Muzan Kibutsuji, you must be panicking now! First, the successor of Sun Breathing, then a swordsman who continuously kills Upper Moons… Heaven is against you!"
As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps and the current head of the Ubuyashiki family, with nearly a thousand years of history, Kagaya Ubuyashiki knew well. Even though Yoriichi Tsugikuni died, Muzan Kibutsuji relentlessly purged anything related to him, but this didn't prevent Kagaya from understanding the history.
In a thousand years, the location of the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters had only been discovered once, when Kokushibo betrayed humanity and became a demon, killing the head of the family as proof of loyalty. Since then, the headquarters' location has become even more concealed.
Muzan Kibutsuji and Kokushibo started purging information about Sun Breathing after Yoriichi's death. By then, the headquarters had already moved and hidden. They couldn't erase the records of this history from the headquarters.
Thus, successive heads of the Demon Slayer Corps over these centuries were aware of this history. Learning from Tamayo that Nezuko was key to creating medicine to turn demons back into humans, and that Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura and Hanafuda earrings symbolized his identity as a Sun Breathing successor, Kagaya Ubuyashiki would protect the siblings even without Urokodaki's guarantee.
Before learning this history, Kagaya Ubuyashiki never expected Muzan Kibutsuji to fear a human to such an extent. Unfortunately, after so many years of searching, they hadn't found anyone like Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Even the strongest Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, was far from it.
Thinking about how such a person was driven away by the Demon Slayer Corps internally, Kagaya Ubuyashiki couldn't help but curse in his heart, considering his ancestors of that generation unwise.
Although a bit disrespectful to his ancestors, Kagaya Ubuyashiki was already restrained. If they had valued Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Muzan Kibutsuji would have died countless times by now. Instead, they blamed him for letting Muzan escape because one mistake was made.
Upon closer examination of the records, Kagaya Ubuyashiki realized that his ancestors of that generation were at the curse's limit, near death, and unable to command the Demon Slayer Corps' affairs.
It was only after the young master took over that Yoriichi Tsugikuni was freed from the harassment by Demon Slayer Corps members.
If it were Yoriichi Tsugikuni, or even Red from today's Demon Slayer Corps, they would have either questioned if you had killed an Upper Moon or beaten those who spoke rudely.
Outsiders might think that even if Yoriichi Tsugikuni were heavily utilized, it would still be useless if Muzan Kibutsuji hid. Kagaya Ubuyashiki knows very well that although Onmyoji has disappeared, some legacies of the Onmyoji Bureau's Divination Department are still hidden. This doesn't even count the Ubuyashiki family's influence and their inherent ability to foresee the future.
Finding a demon is ridiculously easy. If Kagaya Ubuyashiki wanted, he could determine Muzan Kibutsuji's general location at any time. However, he understands that the current Demon Slayer Corps cannot kill him, so he has kept this information concealed.
If he had someone like Yoriichi Tsugikuni under him, Muzan Kibutsuji would be exposed in no time.
In the original story, this generation's nine Hashira are considered the strongest in hundreds of years. With Tanjiro's progress, Tamayo's research breakthroughs, and his condition nearing death, it was the right time to act. Kagaya Ubuyashiki could easily design a trap to lure Muzan Kibutsuji, paving the way for the Demon Slayer Corps' victory and setting up a legacy for his descendants.
Now, in this generation, there's a high probability of killing Muzan Kibutsuji, so there's no way he'd miss this opportunity. He has suffered enough and doesn't want his descendants to suffer the same.
....
"Your flamboyant hunts of the Upper Moons are truly satisfying!"
Tengen Uzui, while on a mission, didn't have to worry about being dragged into sparring by Lin Jiu. Seeing Lin Jiu, he was in a good mood.
"Any news?"
Lin Jiu felt good seeing Tengen Uzui himself, preventing any unexpected incidents.
"Hinatsuru has already sent a letter. The courtesan Warabihime at the Kyogoku House is indeed a demon and hasn't shown signs of fleeing." Tengen Uzui reported.
Lin Jiu smiled slightly. It seemed Daki had been abandoned by Muzan Kibutsuji to test his strength. Doma and Akaza didn't think they would die, so no information was sent back. Meanwhile, Hantengu and Gyokko together didn't last as long as Akaza.
Muzan Kibutsuji was likely observed in the dark this time. Given his cautious nature, he might assign others, and there might even be contractors from the demon faction.
Standing beside him, Tengen Uzui silently stepped back two steps. Seeing Lin Jiu's smile, he felt a chill. The last time he saw this smile, the victim was a demon brutally attacked by the nine Hashira.
"As long as it's not me suffering!" Tengen Uzui thought nonchalantly.
"Notify your wife to retreat to avoid accidental injuries during the fight." Lin Jiu instructed Tengen Uzui.
Tengen Uzui called out his trained ninja beast, the Muscular Rat, to deliver the message. Then he said, "Then we can proceed with our flamboyant hunt."
"Wait."
Lin Jiu replied with just one word.
Tengen Uzui looked up at the evening glow and nodded, "I see, we wait until the sun sets."
Lin Jiu cast a questioning look at Tengen Uzui. These guys were so used to night missions that they had developed a habitual way of thinking.
"Is there a problem?"
Tengen Uzui, being a Hashira, instantly sensed something in Lin Jiu's gaze and asked, puzzled.
"We know where she lives. Of course, we should wait until tomorrow when the sun is at its peak to blow off her roof."
Lin Jiu said. He wouldn't play fair with his enemies and had learned not to from Nezuko.
"..."
Tengen Uzui found this reasoning impeccable. They were so used to fighting at a disadvantage at night that they had forgotten this.
Previously, the demons they dealt with were always hiding, and they could only determine a general location. This demon's identity, location, and residence were all confirmed, so it was easier to attack during the day.
"Wouldn't the commotion be too big?"
Tengen Uzui knew that the Demon Slayer Corps was an unofficial, illegal armed organization. Killing in broad daylight might not be good for their image.
"Is this issue more important than killing a demon? Especially an Upper Moon demon."
Lin Jiu's words left Tengen Uzui without further questions.
What Lin Jiu didn't say was that they were underestimating the Ubuyashiki family. They could easily smooth over the impact with money.
Lin Jiu and Tengen Uzui temporarily stayed in a house on the outskirts of the Red-Light District, provided by Tengen Uzui's wife. After they arrived, Tengen Uzui's three wives also joined them.
"These are my wives: Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma! Aren't they as magnificent as I am?"
Tengen Uzui introduced his wives to Lin Jiu. Noticing Lin Jiu's intention to draw his sword, he quickly restrained his proud expression.