"Sir."
Half an hour later, Oboro stepped out of the sedan chair and returned to the mansion. The two maids, who had been waiting patiently, greeted him with respectful bows. One of them quickly moved forward to assist him.
"Lord Hayado has arrived," the maid informed him softly.
"Good."
Daisuke Hayado was a high-ranking official at the Bugyosho and a loyal subordinate of Oboro. It was worth noting that during this era, most positions within the shogunate bureaucracy remained hereditary. This meant that as long as the elders in a family held high positions, their descendants had an excellent chance of succession even if they were incompetent. This practice revealed the profound corruption and chaos festering within the shogunate.
Oboro's predecessor had been weak and sickly since childhood, and there was something peculiar about his appointment as a samurai If not for his ancestors' influence, he wouldn't have attained such status, especially at such a young age.
"Sir"
With the maid's assistance, Oboro walked along the cleared path and entered the courtyard. In the main hall, two warriors knelt in formal posture. The officials of the Bugyosho dressed differently from ordinary samurai. When they heard footsteps, they turned to see Oboro, immediately bowing deeply as they addressed him with utmost respect.
"Any news?" Oboro removed his haori and sat cross-legged beside the fire. The maid promptly handed him a cup of warm tea.
"Sir, we've examined the records from the Youguo region over recent years and confirmed several bizarre death cases, but all have been officially closed," Hayado Daisuke, the middle-aged man kneeling on the left, reported cautiously. "Additionally, considerable time has passed since then, and now.."
Before he could finish, Oboro raised his hand to silence him.
"That's not what I meant I asked you to find information on the Kamado clan."
"We found them, sir. They are indeed living on Mount Kumotori, making their living by selling charcoal. The current head of the family is Kamado Tanjuro. He's married and has a son" Hayado Daisuke reported without hesitation.
"Hmm." Oboro nodded thoughtfully.
It seemed the Kamado clan had been hiding in the mountains, never relocating. After Yoriichi's death, Muzan had slaughtered all the swordsmen and sought to eradicate the Sun Breathing technique. Yet he never anticipated that Sun Breathing would continue through a civilian bloodline. According to conventional wisdom, those who inherited the will of Sun Breathing would eventually walk the path of demon slaying becoming members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Muzan could never have imagined that the inheritance of Sun Breathing still existed.
The Kamado clan had concealed themselves from the world, perhaps to avoid Muzan's watchful "eyes."
There was a reason why Muzan had been able to locate Mount Kumotori later and massacre Kamado Tanjuro's family. With the Kamado clan in the vicinity, all demons that might have haunted the area around Mount Kumotoriri were eliminated. No matter how discreet they tried to be, they would inevitably attract attention over time.
"Additionally, I've discovered some information through data exchanges with the shogunate," Hayado continued. "In certain remote locations or at specific times in the past, there existed what was called a 'Kamado Shrine.' Some people believed in it, and it had connections to fire. As for its origins those are no longer traceable. However, this shrine seems unrelated to the Kamado clan. Rather, it appears to have been established by ancestors from a certain era as a whimsical effort to exorcise evil spirits, prevent disasters, and ensure peace. Unfortunately, this shrine no longer exists, and very few people are aware of it"
"Did it suddenly disappear at some point during the past few centuries?" Oboro asked while sipping his tea.
"Yes." Hayado looked up, meeting his gaze.
After conversing for a while longer, Daisuke rose and departed with his companion. After leaving Oboro's residence, his subordinate turned to gaze at the magnificent villa and inquired, "Master Hayado who exactly is this person? Why have we never seen him at the magistrate's office? And"
"Hush." Hayado placed his finger against his lips, signaling for quieter speech.
"A branch of the shogunate," he answered softly after glancing around to ensure privacy.
Upon hearing this, the subordinate's expression shifted noticeably.
By the fireside, Oboro rubbed his fingers thoughtfully, his eyes calm and contemplative.
As expected, the shogunate had always known about creatures like demons. However, compared to an enormous organization like the shogunate, the number of demons and the damage they could inflict seemed insignificant.
Politicians and bureaucrats concerned themselves with the broader affairs of the realm. They didn't take such seemingly trivial matters seriously at all.
Furthermore, the Ubuyashiki clan had operated for generations, with their background and connections allowing them to reach into government circles. Otherwise, the Demon Slayer Corps wouldn't possess such extensive power their ability to detect demons' hiding places and monitor supernatural occurrences.
"Well" Oboro sighed deeply.
Unlike Hunter x Hunter, where Nen users, criminal organizations, and various factions could profoundly impact the entire world, such influence was impossible in the world of Demon Slayer.
To be blunt, whether it was Muzan's demons or the powers of the Demon Slayer Corps gathered by the Ubuyashiki clan, they were merely pawns within this world's greater environment. No matter what chaos they created, their impact remained limited accessories belonging to the world's background.
The world of Hunter x Hunter was shaped by these forces and characters. Humans had retreated to the lake island where civilization continued spontaneously eventually developing everything they now possessed.
But this world had not evolved from demons and swordsmen. Therefore, no matter what trouble one caused, the world's fundamental order could not be overturned.
"Prepare for our journey to Mount Kumotori," Oboro commanded.
"Yes, sir." The woman serving him startled slightly but quickly composed herself and agreed.
Oboro's current physical condition couldn't withstand the stress of extended travel. Yet he was determined to meet Tanjuro Kamado, and experience Sun Breathing this primal breathing technique.
When it came to breathing techniques, Oboro knew too much. He was an expert in breath manipulation.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni represented the pinnacle of combat prowess in this world. With just a glimpse at the inherited power left by this legendary figure, Oboro could characterize the entire power system of the Demon Slayer world. In other words, given the power hierarchy of this world, this was the maximum achievable limit.
Although Yoriichi stood at the peak of combat ability, his strength might not have reached this world's absolute limit
The snow hadn't stopped that afternoon. Several sedan bearers hoisted the transport and set off again, making their way toward Mount Kumotori. The maid locked the door and walked alongside the bearers.
In this era, most dignitaries relied on human power for travel. One of the maids clutched an imperial coin, and paper talismans with white signatures hanging from them, generally used both for divine offerings and for warding off evil spirits.
She swung it while walking, symbolizing a wish for a "safe journey." This practice revealed how rumors and legends about demons had always existed among common people. Carrying imperial coins provided psychological comfort, a hope to avoid encountering supernatural entities.
Mount Kumotori lay far from the Youguo region, and resources were scarce in this era. The journey would take at least half a month on foot. Along the way, they alternated between walking and resting, stopping briefly in each town before continuing onward.
Through this journey, Oboro gained appreciation for this world's cultural atmosphere. During this period, official negligence had led to widespread suffering and chaos. The upper classes lived in decadence while commoners starved, struggling merely to survive.
It created a perfect breeding ground for demons. No wonder Doma's Eternal Paradise had persisted for so long.
Hachijo Island, birthplace of Snake Pillar Obanai, served as another example. The Iguro family, to which he belonged, worshipped demons as masters because this world provided demons with ample space to exist and thrive.