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"..."
After Obanai finished speaking, silence fell over the hall.
Mitsuri stared unblinkingly at the man standing before her.
He wasn't tall, even a bit shorter than her. His face, now free of bandages, did appear somewhat frightening.
But...
But at this moment, she was completely shaken by the complex emotions contained in this man's eyes.
There was such obvious treasuring, such painful self-abasement, and such resolute finality.
These complicated emotions were like a vortex, throwing her own thoughts into disarray, rendering her momentarily speechless.
"So you care about such trivial matters, Obanai!"
On the other side, Kyōjurō, who was Mitsuri's master, stood up.
"Having fought life and death battles together as Pillars for so long, I never knew you harbored such thoughts! It's utterly lacking in manliness!!"
He declared exceptionally loudly: "The you we know is the Serpent Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, our comrade in arms against demons, a powerful and earnest swordsman! What does any of that have to do with your face or your origins?! You need to look more at the comrades around you and understand our feelings a bit, Obanai!"
"So lame, Obanai!" Sanemi also spoke up. "After all this time, you still haven't moved on from the past? What kind of nonsense is that?!"
"The usually sharp-tongued and merciless Serpent Pillar-sama is actually this weak?!" Tengen's sarcastic voice followed.
"Pitiful, so pitiful, Obanai." Gyōmei instantly burst into tears. "All life is suffering. Your training is still insufficient. Namu Amida Butsu."
Kanae sighed and said, "Although I understand that Obanai might have said this because he cares too much about Mitsuri, you need to see Mitsuri's feelings clearly too. You two should have a proper talk."
At this point, Kagaya also stood up and walked to Obanai's side.
"Obanai, your birth was never your own choice. Since joining the Demon Slayer Corps, you have actively worked on the front lines of demon slaying, saving many lives. You are a Pillar looked up to and respected by the members. You are the Serpent Pillar of our Demon Slayer Corps, a trusted comrade to everyone. I hope you remember that in your heart. Similarly, I hope you do not punish yourself for the mistakes of others."
Having spoken these heartfelt words, he proactively walked towards the outside.
"Let's go. Let Obanai and Mitsuri talk alone. They must clarify their feelings for each other."
"Let's go."
"Right!"
"Perfect timing, it's dawn. Let's see if anyone is preparing food!"
Seeing that Kagaya had spoken, the others also followed suit and filed out of the hall.
As the few of them stepped onto the corridor, the members in the courtyard, who had been exceptionally boisterous, instantly quieted down.
"What is it, everyone?" Kagaya smiled as he looked at the crowded members in the courtyard. "Today is indeed a day worth celebrating. Please don't mind us, celebrate to your heart's content!"
"YES!!!"
"THANK YOU, OYAKATA-SAMA!!!"
Immediately, the members became cheerful again.
Swordsmen, Kakushi members, and Butterfly Mansion medical staff mingled together, once again beginning to talk and laugh loudly and freely. Even the swordsmiths from the Swordsmith Village had, at some point, come over.
Under the eaves of the corridor, Kanae suggested: "Oyakata-sama, how about we hold a feast today to celebrate the victory?"
"That's a wonderful idea," Kagaya said, looking up at the distant rising sun. "Let everyone enjoy themselves properly."
"I'll make the arrangements! We'll probably need to purchase a lot of ingredients!" Kanae happily took charge.
"I'll help too!" Ms. Amane also followed her.
The others all looked up at the sky in unison, feeling the warm touch of the morning sun on their faces.
Just then, an illusory gate, invisible to ordinary people, opened in mid-air. Takanotsume and Nasubi came bouncing out.
"Mr. Uchiha, we've come to pick you up!" The two waved at Kaito.
Kaito nodded silently in response.
"It's finally over," Kagaya, standing beside Kaito, suddenly laughed. "To be honest, I'm a bit embarrassed. It's only now that I'm starting to feel a sense of reality about it all."
"Yes, last night's experiences were far too fantastical," Tengen also said in a dreamlike tone.
"When you think about it, we didn't actually contribute much effort, did we!" Sanemi's tone was slightly complex, seeming somewhat discontented, yet also somewhat thankful.
Incidentally, everyone's gaze turned towards Kaito, who stood bathed in the sunlight.
"What is it?" Kaito remained unmoved, smiling faintly.
"No matter how I think about it, I have always been grateful for your appearance, Mr. Uchiha," Kagaya said with some emotion. "Without your arrival, it's hard to imagine what devastating price everyone would have paid to kill Kibutsuji Muzan."
"Why dwell on such thoughts?" Kaito shook his head. "The reality now is that I appeared here. Everyone has had a relatively good outcome. It's a happy ending for all. You just need to be happy."
"Indeed, you are right," Kagaya looked into Kaito's eyes. "But, I think the time for our parting is approaching, isn't it?"
"Truly worthy of Mr. Ubuyashiki. Such precise intuition is a kind of unique ability in itself," Kaito praised.
Then, before others could speak, he continued: "Where there is affinity, people gather; when affinity ends, they part. That is the nature of meetings between people. But I am very glad to have met you all. I too have gained many precious things from this journey."
"Mr. Uchiha!"
Just then, Mitsuri and Obanai walked out hand in hand.
"Are you really leaving already?" Mitsuri's smile was radiant. "We were really hoping to invite you to our wedding!"
"I do not originally belong to this world. Now that my task here is complete, there is no need for me to stay longer," Kaito said, his body gradually becoming transparent.
"I wish you happiness. And the same for everyone else. Things will definitely get better and better."
"Mr. Uchiha."
Kagaya bowed deeply once more, finally saying one last time:
"Thank you so very much!"
"Goodbye."
Kaito's final words faded away along with his body, vanishing into the sunlight.
Only fluttering scraps of paper drifted down.
In that moment, everyone present bowed deeply alongside Kagaya.
Kaito hadn't actually left yet; he had merely shed his physical vessel and returned to his soul state.
He glanced at Gyōmei but said nothing.
Those children who had been following Gyōmei had already been taken away incidentally by the hell guards Hoozuki brought yesterday.
Perhaps, over a long stretch of time, he would learn to view things from a new perspective.
Perhaps, after his death, he would learn the truth in the underworld.
Who knew?
That was his own story to live.
If the person themselves didn't ask for it, Kaito wouldn't intervene without authorization.
Kaito smiled at Takanotsume and Nasubi, who had come to pick him up, then turned his head for one last look at the people still bowing. Together with the two little imps, he stepped through the Gate of the Underworld.