Tom's legs were spread apart, and his makeshift wingsuit made from torn clothes fluttered in the wind. Looking at the forked tree below, Tom could only spread his hands helplessly, accepting the situation. Out of nowhere, he pulled out a cigar, lit it, and took a deep breath while still in the air. Finally, he blew out a smoke ring with elegance and said, "It's over."
"Zzzzzzzzzz!" The sound of a chainsaw rang out, resonating through the courtyard.
Under the shocked and perplexed gazes of everyone, Tom, falling from the sky, used his iron crotch to split the century-old ornamental tree clean in half from top to bottom. After a few seconds, his feet finally touched the ground with a "snap." The upper part of the tree had been completely cleaved, leaving only the last meter of the trunk standing. It was inevitable that in the future, anyone who saw this tree would hear about the legendary moment when Tom split it with his iron crotch.
Raising his right leg, Tom casually stepped out from the middle of the tree. He looked at himself—head held high, legs below, and most of his body worn down during the fall. "Tom, are you alright?" Kanae asked, concerned, despite knowing Tom's immortality.
Tom shook his head before shaking his whole body vigorously, like a cat drying off after a bath. With a "pop," his body instantly reverted to its original form, from a near-deformed state. Though his battle with Sanemi had earned him recognition, Tom wasn't happy. He still thought of himself as human, yet due to the system, he had become Tom Cat in various absurd scenarios. Instead of delivering a graceful airstrike like a falcon, he'd performed a ridiculous scene straight from a cartoon. Tom could already foresee this moment becoming infamous in the Demon Slayer Corps.
Just as Tom's morale began to sink, he felt a soft, fragrant embrace. The depressed cat instantly perked up. "Jojo! I don't want to be human anymore!" Tom muttered, moving around awkwardly in Kanae's arms.
"What are you talking about?" Kanae asked with a gentle smile.
"Meow~" Tom responded softly, settling comfortably in her arms.
"Are you tired? How about I make you a steak rice bowl when we get back?" Kanae gently stroked Tom's back. He nodded, too comfortable to speak further, simply enjoying the moment. The scent of Kanae's perfume and the softness of her touch were so soothing that Tom felt a small part of him relish being a cat.
"Mr. Tom is so cute! Can I hold him?" asked Mitsuri Kanroji, who had been enviously watching from the side.
"You'll have to ask Tom," Kanae replied with a smile. This made Kanroji blush, her cheeks turning pink as she shyly looked at Tom.
"Can I... can I hold you?" Kanroji asked timidly.
Tom, with one eye half-open, gave Kanroji a quick glance. Standing 167 cm tall, only 17 years old, and notably well-developed, Kanroji's uniform was designed to expose a lot, especially around the chest area. Not one to refuse a beautiful girl's request, Tom nodded in agreement.
"Yay!" Kanroji cheered with excitement. She gently took Tom from Kanae's arms, petting the soft fur with sheer delight.
Tom, being the keen observer that he was, instantly noticed the cold stares from Sanemi and Iguro Obanai. Their jealousy was clear—Sanemi had a soft spot for Kanae, and Iguro harbored a secret crush on Mitsuri. Seeing Tom easily nestled in their arms stirred envy in both of them.
"Well, the duel is over," Ubuyashiki Yaoya interjected, redirecting everyone's attention. "I believe everyone now understands Mr. Tom's strength. Does anyone object to Tom becoming a new Pillar for the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"No objections! It's a joy to welcome such a powerful ally into our ranks!" Rengoku Kyojuro chimed in with his usual boisterous laugh.
The rest of the Pillars, having witnessed Tom's battle with Sanemi, nodded in agreement.
Smiling from his balcony, Ubuyashiki addressed Tom directly, "Mr. Tom, what title would you prefer as a Pillar?"
Understanding from his crow that Tom could speak, Ubuyashiki's question didn't surprise him. However, the other Pillars were taken aback when Tom spoke aloud.
"Just call me the Cat Pillar."
"A fitting name," Ubuyashiki said approvingly. "Now, let's shift to discussing Muzan Kibutsuji. Mr. Tom, could you share the information you have on him?"
Tom, though reluctant to engage in lengthy discussions, knew it was necessary. He summarized as concisely as possible, "When I fought Muzan Kibutsuji, he wasn't using his full strength. He only transformed his hands into thorn whips. His regeneration and physical resilience are beyond anything we've faced. As the Ghost King, he's far superior to any of the Twelve Kizuki."
The Pillars listened intently as Tom continued, "I've also fought Douma, and his strength alone eclipses anything you've encountered before. So, when confronting Muzan, we need to be better prepared. The Kamado family is key—Kamado Tanjiro, specifically. As a descendant of the Sun Breathing Style, he has a natural advantage against demons. We should also explore technological advancements to counter demons."
"Technology?" Ubuyashiki asked, intrigued.
"Ultraviolet light could be a weapon. Even if it doesn't destroy demons, it could weaken them. Plus, we can acquire heavy weapons that give ordinary swordsmen an edge," Tom explained. "We may lack these technologies in Japan, but we can look abroad—America, perhaps."
Tom's proposal stunned the Pillars, who had never even heard of such advancements. Yet, the confidence with which he spoke piqued everyone's interest, including Ubuyashiki Yaoya, who was visibly excited by the possibility of integrating technology into their fight.
"Could you elaborate further?" Ubuyashiki asked, eager to hear more.
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