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After Kagaya's inquiry, the Pillars began discussing their future paths.
Gyōmei was the first to state his decision: to return to the temple and become a true monk.
Those who knew him well were not surprised by this decision.
The others also began sharing their own plans one by one.
Kanae decided to pursue studies with her younger sister, Shinobu, with the goal of becoming licensed doctors.
Her words gave everyone pause.
It was true; Demon Slayer Corps members were generally quite young, many were still children, and illiteracy was common within the ranks. Everyone really should go to school!
"I've decided to stay and assist Oyakata-sama," Shinazugawa Sanemi said somewhat awkwardly. "But I also have a younger brother. I've decided to send him to school as well."
"That's wonderful! In that case, my younger brother Senjūrō should also go to school!" Kyōjurō voiced his hearty agreement. "As for me, I want to return home and open a kendō dojo, and look after my old man at the same time!"
Tengen stated directly: "As a shinobi, as long as Oyakata-sama continues to employ me, I will continue to serve the Ubuyashiki family."
"I want to provide for my master Urokodaki in his old age," Giyū decided to return to Mt. Sagiri to be with his teacher.
Just then, two old men walked in from outside.
The former Water Pillar and cultivator, Urokodaki Sakonji, with his red tengu mask, directly refused Giyū: "That's unnecessary. I am not so old that I need your care yet! It's better for young people to venture out into the world more. I think you should continue staying here to assist Oyakata-sama!"
Having said that, he and the former Sound Pillar next to him, Jigoro Kuwajima, bowed together to Kagaya.
"Oyakata-sama."
"Mr. Urokodaki, Mr. Kuwajima, you've come." Kagaya promptly stood up. "Please, have a seat."
"Yes. This old man and Sakonji received the message from the Kasugai Crow and came directly with everyone," said Kuwajima, a short old man leaning on a cane, with one leg being a wooden prosthetic.
He walked to the side and sat down, beginning to speak: "Everything was quiet on our end tonight; no demons came to attack. This old man and Sakonji were fortunate enough to complete the task entrusted to us by Oyakata-sama."
"It's good that everyone is safe. You have worked hard," Kagaya said. "Just now, everyone was discussing their future paths. The Ubuyashiki family will provide job positions for everyone, so no one needs to worry about their livelihood afterward. Additionally, I have decided to sponsor those children who are still young, or members who wish to further their studies, to attend school."
Everyone continued their lively discussion.
Kaito, sitting to the side, however, began to sink into his own thoughts.
Unseen by others, the moment Muzan died, Kaito had witnessed Hakuten leading countless hell guards from the underworld into the present world, launching a large-scale capture of the demons' souls.
Among them, Muzan's soul was personally subdued by Hakuten.
And the moment Muzan saw Hakuten... Kaito still found it somewhat comical thinking about it now.
The Demon King who had cast a thousand-year shadow over this country, meeting a true god of the underworld.
The result was an unquestionable, brutal beating.
Only the bloodstained spiked club in Hakuten's hand silently foretold the beginning of Muzan's miserable existence.
And Kibutsuji Muzan, a man with an extremely strong will to survive, seeing that he couldn't resist the god's violent force, became "obedient" without a shred of dignity.
This momentarily shocked the jaws off Nakime and Gyokko, who were also present.
"Enjoy this moment of ease while you can. What awaits you afterward is an indefinite period of punishment," Hakuten had said at the time, his face sporting a sadistic smile as he pinned Muzan underfoot, tapping Muzan's head with his blood-dripping club, dark aura emanating from his entire body.
"Don't worry about life being monotonous. I'll make sure you experience every single punishment Hell has to offer. I hope after you've experienced them, you can offer me some constructive feedback."
The three demons' faces had contorted in terror.
And it was at that very moment that Kaito received the greatest harvest since coming to this world.
Inexpressible in words, perhaps it was what the Great King Enma had called the "World's Bestowal."
In that instant, he felt his soul immersed in warm, soothing water, an extreme comfort filling every corner of his entire soul.
Whispers of gratitude, conveyed by countless different voices, echoed in his ears.
In a flash, he understood—it was the collective consciousness of countless humans praying for a world free of evil demons, the lingering attachments of countless Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen of the past, it was the World itself.
Simultaneously, he clearly felt his spiritual power continuously increasing.
It was growth hundreds, thousands of times more efficient than any cultivation.
Back when he had "split" off an incarnation to occupy the status of Enma, although the vast majority of the King's soul growth relied on that high-stakes sacrifice and the opportunity presented by the reopening of Hell, it didn't mean Kaito himself had escaped completely unscathed.
After all, the status of the Great King Enma was different from other incarnations.
Other incarnations, like the simplest paper clone, although they involved splitting off some mental energy, did not constitute true soul-splitting.
But to occupy the status of the Great King Enma and become a true deity, Kaito had to invest a significant stake.
Back then, he had to split off a portion of his own soul origin to pass over.
It wasn't much, but it had still caused him some damage.
Afterward, although he desperately cultivated and even received the "Taizan Fukun Festival" text from Seimei, and although he made some patchy progress, he could never truly consider the problem solved.
During that period, he felt his spiritual power growth rate had noticeably slowed during cultivation.
It might have seemed easy when he repaired Orochimaru's soul, but that was entirely different.
Orochimaru had mangled his own soul through reckless experiments; Kaito didn't fully repair his soul back then. He had only reattached the soul of his lost hands.
Later, Orochimaru's transformation into a youkai meant he essentially discarded those soul fragments he had previously hidden in the Cursed Seals, allowing his soul to become whole again.
Only then did his spiritual power regain the potential for progress.
But for Kaito to restore his own soul to perfect, flawless condition, there weren't many good methods; he could only rely on long periods of time to slowly recuperate.
The reality was that time was precisely what he lacked. With the Ōtsutsuki clan potentially attacking at any moment, he could not accept his growth rate slowing down.
This was also why, when Hakuten invited him, he immediately agreed upon hearing the Great King Enma mention the so-called "World's Bestowal."
Fortunately, the result did not disappoint him.
The process of killing Kibutsuji Muzan had been relatively easy for him; he hadn't even exerted much effort, yet he received the very thing he wanted most.
Now, not only was Kaito's soul whole and seamless once more, it had even progressed far beyond his initial expectations.
This fact suddenly made Kaito feel that such endeavors could be undertaken more frequently.
Later, he should have the Great King Enma proactively contact other Hells through the Sanzu River. Perhaps other worlds had similar "business opportunities," who knows?
While the members of the Demon Slayer Corps were contemplating their own futures, Kaito was also fantasizing about a bright future of his own.
*****
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