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...
Along the uphill path, Mika and Tanjiro walked side by side.
"How have you been lately?" Mika turned his head and asked Tanjiro curiously.
"Me?" Tanjiro paused for a moment, then said happily, "My strength has been growing rapidly lately. According to Rengoku-san, I'm almost reaching the minimum standard for a Hashira."
"The minimum standard for a Hashira? So quickly!" Mika exclaimed in surprise.
Based on Mika's understanding, there should have been a significant gap between Tanjiro and the Hashira. During Mika's recent examination, he discovered that Tanjiro wasn't actually suited for Water Breathing, but rather Sun Breathing. However, Sun Breathing had high physical requirements, and Tanjiro couldn't manipulate it well at that time, which was why his level remained as it was.
Could it be that his physical attributes had improved rapidly during this time? Mika pondered silently.
"Yes, Lady Gabriel said that my Falna basic attributes are approaching all S-rank," Tanjiro replied.
"All S-rank attributes! So fast!" Mika was shocked upon hearing Tanjiro's joyful voice.
It had only been three months since Tanjiro received his Falna, and in that time he had nearly reached all S-rank attributes. This was almost as fast as Bell Cranel, the protagonist of Danmachi world!
"Do you have any rare skills?" Mika asked.
"No, I don't!" Tanjiro replied, scratching his head in confusion.
"No rare skills? Then how is this possible?" Mika grew increasingly puzzled.
"It's because of the Demon Slayer Mark!" Gabriel's voice suddenly entered Mika's ears.
Looking at Gabriel who had suddenly appeared beside him, Mika was stunned for a moment before quickly asking, "You mean the Demon Slayer Mark can increase the rate of improvement in basic attributes?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Gabriel put her hands on her hips, rolled her eyes, and said seriously, "The Demon Slayer Mark, after all, is about breaking through the limits of one's body, exchanging life force for power."
"When Tanjiro is in the Mark state, he's essentially in a constant state of desperate battle, continuously pushing his body to its limits."
"Coincidentally, this state is exactly what the Falna needs, which is why his basic attributes are improving so quickly. After all, he's essentially been in the most intense battle every moment for three months now."
"In this situation, how could his basic attributes not improve rapidly?"
"According to my tests and analysis, Tanjiro will maintain this state until he reaches Level 4, when he gains a physique capable of supporting this power."
"Just like the Yoriichi Tsugikuni you mentioned."
"Doesn't that mean the Demon Slayer Mark is like a technique that can quickly boost one's strength to Level 4?" Mika's eyes lit up as he excitedly asked.
Seeing a method to rapidly increase his strength, Mika quickly became excited.
"BAKA!" Gabriel struck Mika's head hard.
Looking at Mika crouching on the ground holding his head, Gabriel waved at Tanjiro, who understandingly walked alone towards the Butterfly Estate.
Having just returned from completing a mission, he was very tired. If he hadn't met Mika and chatted for a while, he would have already returned to the Butterfly Estate for a good rest by now.
Seeing Tanjiro leave, Gabriel turned her head and loudly scolded Mika, "Have you forgotten what I told you?"
"Don't use the Demon Slayer Mark unless you're on the brink of life and death. How can your memory be so poor!"
Gabriel angrily looked at Mika with an expression that said 'why aren't you learning?'
"I haven't forgotten. Look, I've never used the Demon Slayer Mark," Mika responded pitifully.
Under Yahweh's training, the progress of Mika and his two companions in breathing techniques was rapidly improving.
But one day, Yahweh suddenly said to the three of them, "You will soon master the Demon Slayer Mark, the strongest state of the breathing technique. But remember, unless you're on the brink of life and death, you must never use the Demon Slayer Mark."
Mika and his companions naturally complied with Yahweh's words.
And Mika could understand Yahweh's meaning.
According to Mika's knowledge, among all the swordsmen who used the Demon Slayer Mark, except for Yoriichi Tsugikuni, none lived past 25 years old.
It was a life-consuming technique.
"You haven't forgotten yet you ask such a foolish question!" Gabriel said seriously, "According to my calculations, once the Demon Slayer Mark is activated, the marked swordsman's lifespan is reduced to only about four or five years."
"Even with the boost from the Demon Slayer Mark, your progress would be rapid, but including the time consumed for leveling up, it would still take two years to grow to Level 4."
"At that point, your body would finally overcome the side effects brought by the Demon Slayer Mark, ending its continuous consumption, but by then you would have less than half of your life left."
"And this is only for those with extraordinary talent who can progress so smoothly. Those with slightly inferior talent might not be able to reach the final stage even until death."
"Conversely, for top talents like you, Airmid, and Mellie, this technique is actually the worst technique."
Mika understood Gabriel's meaning. For them, steady step-by-step progress was the right path. This kind of technique that sacrificed life for faster progress was merely a waste of life and potential for them.
"I understand. I won't think about the Demon Slayer Mark again," Mika said.
"That's good!" Seeing Mika's serious expression, Gabriel finally felt relieved.
For these prodigies, there was no technique they wouldn't dare to try.
The more talented they were, the less they knew fear.
Throughout history, countless talents have died due to their own 'confidence'.
Therefore, facing such matters, Gabriel naturally had to guard strictly against it happening.
"Alright, you should hurry along now. I was just passing by on my way to see Mellie, and you've delayed me quite a bit," Gabriel said.
With that, Gabriel quickly disappeared.
"She's always in such a rush!" Mika shook his head and continued walking towards the Butterfly Estate.
On the way, Mika once again recalled his conversation with Gabriel.
"Indeed, exchanging life for faster progress is really not worth it. Originally, my constant world-hopping already consumes my lifespan several times faster than others. If I waste more of my lifespan, I might die before finding a way to extend my life. That would be too much of a loss."
Shaking his head vigorously, Mika completely dismissed the information about the 'Demon Slayer Mark'.
"Time to head back!"
With Mika's swift pace, the Butterfly Estate soon appeared in his sight.
But before the Butterfly Estate, the sound of an argument caught his attention.
"Is that the Sound Hashira with Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke?"
"How did the four of them end up together? Could this be part of the plot!?"
Thinking about the plot, Mika's eyes quickly lit up.
Although the recent training had greatly increased Mika's strength, it had also been quite lonely.
Now that he had encountered something interesting, how could Mika not be intrigued?
With this thought, Mika quickly darted towards them.
---
"Listen up, I am God!" Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, proclaimed while striking a flamboyant pose to show off his appearance.
"And you lot are trash!"
Hearing Uzui's words, Tanjiro and his two companions instantly froze as if turned to stone.
"First, remember this well, carve it into your hearts," Uzui continued grandly, completely ignoring the trio's reaction. "When I tell you to act like dogs, you bark. When I tell you to be monkeys, you scratch your ears and pick at your hair."
"Always maintain a humble and respectful attitude, read my expressions carefully, and do your utmost to please me!"
"I'll say it again, I am God!"
As Uzui's words fell, the three facing him were filled with tranquility.
At this moment, Zenitsu Agatsuma, who seemed the most normal, was cursing inwardly.
"Damn, this guy's nuts!"
In contrast, Tanjiro, standing in the middle, after a moment's thought, suddenly began gesticulating wildly as he asked, "Specifically, what kind of god are you in charge of?"
"This one's not quite right either!" Zenitsu continued to grumble internally.
"Good question, you have potential!" Uzui praised with a satisfied expression. "Well asked, you have promise!"
Having said that, he immediately struck another flamboyant pose and said seriously, "I am the god in charge of flamboyance, the God of Festivals!"
"You mean stupidity, right? You're in charge of stupidity!"
"I'd bet my life on it!"
At this moment, Zenitsu, the god of sarcasm, continued his internal monologue.
Meanwhile, on the other side, there was an even more substantial statement.
"I am the King of the Mountains!"
"Pleased to meet you, God of Festivals!" Inosuke Hashibira said confidently and proudly, hands on his hips.
"..."
After a moment of silence, it was the Sound Hashira Uzui who first broke the silence between them.
"What are you saying? That's way too creepy!"
Hearing Uzui's response, Inosuke instantly flew into a rage.
If it weren't for Tanjiro desperately holding him back, he would surely have rushed at Uzui to fight.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"I never expected to witness such a hilarious scene here!"
Emerging from the bushes by the roadside, Mika walked out laughing and wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.
The conversation between the four had truly made him laugh to the point of tears.
"Mika, why are you here?" Tanjiro called out in surprise.
Wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes, Mika said with a smile still on his lips, "If I hadn't met Gabriel earlier, we would have definitely returned together. Now I'm just coming back a step behind you, is there a problem?"
"No, no, I just thought you and Lady Gabriel had something to do!" Tanjiro said sheepishly.
Turning around to face the calm-faced Sound Hashira Uzui, Mika asked with a light laugh, "May I ask where you're planning to go on your mission, Sound Hashira? How about taking me along?"
"I've been training every day recently and would like to find an opportunity to go out, look for some demons, and practice my skills. Now that I see your team is so lively, why don't we go together?"
After his previous observation, Mika was almost 100% certain that this was a scene from the plot.
After all, since returning from the Infinity Train, Tanjiro and his two companions hadn't been on a mission together.
Now, not only were the three of them gathered together, but a Sound Hashira had joined them as well.
This was definitely the prelude to a major event.
As for the opponent, it would likely be at least an Upper Moon demon.
Mika absolutely had to get involved in such a big event.
"Oh, Mika, you want to go too? That's perfect, let's go together!" After the previous series of events, the Demon Slayer Corps members, who had become outer members of the Yahweh Familia, had grown to respect Mika as the leader of the Yahweh Familia.
"Excellent!"
Mika and Uzui exchanged smiles, then took the lead in running ahead.
"Hurry up and follow!"
"Yes!"
Hearing the order, Tanjiro and the other two quickly followed.
The group of five rapidly headed towards their destination.
And their destination was a place full of desire - the Entertainment District!
...
"Wow, this really is magnificent!"
Sitting in the rickshaw, looking at the bustling street before him, Mika couldn't help but marvel.
He had never seen such a scene before!
Although Mika had seen even busier places, the situation where flesh trade businesses were clustered on the same street could probably only be seen in ancient feudal societies.
But after a moment of surprise, Mika's expression became composed again.
Although the upper floors of the buildings on both sides of the street were filled with all kinds of beautiful women, in Mika's eyes, none of them could compare even slightly to Airmid or Mellie.
Not to mention the truly goddess-like Yahweh.
After experiencing the divine beauty of many goddesses in Orario, Mika felt that no beauty could affect his mind to that extent anymore.
Of course, if he were to encounter a goddess with the authority of 'beauty' like Freya, that would be a different story.
Beauty goddesses were not to be trifled with!
"Listen up, you lot, don't cause any trouble for me."
"We're just here to scout this time, absolutely do not get off the rickshaw, understand?"
Hearing Uzui's voice from the front, Mika couldn't help but smile slightly.
Because as Uzui was emphasizing not to get off the rickshaw, Zenitsu and Inosuke had already jumped off.
And because he was worried about the two, Tanjiro also followed them and jumped off the rickshaw.
"These kids!"
Seeing Uzui's gritting teeth expression, Mika couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Indeed, choosing to come along was the right choice. They're just too entertaining when they're together!"
Watching Uzui chasing people all over the street, Mika also jumped off the rickshaw.
"Speaking of which, there are really a lot of people here! And it's so bright even at night."
"No wonder Tengen calls this place so magnificent!"
In this ancient feudal society, the gap between rich and poor was staggering.
Although electric lights had been installed in big cities in this era, the expensive electricity bills meant that candles were still the mainstream of this era.
Night was the time for people to rest.
Under normal circumstances in the city, except for a very few households working by candlelight, other families should all be in darkness.
But in this Entertainment District!
The entire street was lit up brightly, as if it were daytime.
Such a scene, apart from a few semi-modernized big cities like Tokyo, could probably only be seen here!
"No wonder Inosuke and Zenitsu are so panicked. For people of this era, seeing this situation for the first time is indeed shocking."
"Of course, it's also partly due to their personalities!"
Looking at the three who had already been caught by Uzui, Mika also walked over with a smile.
"This mission will surely be very interesting!"
...
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