After seeing off the Rock Pillar, Lucas turned his gaze to the remaining two: the Flame Pillar and the Sound Pillar.
As for the Wind Pillar, who still stood nearby and showed no signs of leaving, Lucas chose to ignore him altogether.
He didn't know why Sanemi Shinazugawa was still lingering. They had just fought, so their relationship wasn't exactly friendly—but it wasn't irreparably hostile either. Still, it was awkward enough for Lucas to pretend not to notice him.
Just as he was considering whether to approach the Flame Pillar or the Sound Pillar first, a large, calloused hand extended toward him.
"Lucas, can I be your friend?"
Lucas blinked. The clear, firm voice belonged to none other than Kyojuro Rengoku. His jaw nearly dropped.
[Ding]
[Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku has sent a friend request. Do you accept?]
Looking at the system prompt that only he could see, Lucas was momentarily speechless. Did the system really have to ask?
[Yes]
[Ding]
[Successfully added Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku as a friend!]
[Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku's friendship intimacy with the host is "Initial Acquaintance." A random reward will now be granted.]
[Acquired Skill: Flame Breathing Secret Art: Ninth Form – Rengoku!]
[Do you wish to fuse the skill "Flame Breathing: Ninth Form – Rengoku" now?]
[No]
Lucas shook Rengoku's hand, his pupils trembling with excitement.
He had just gained the Flame Pillar's most powerful move—Rengoku, the pinnacle of Flame Breathing. That reward alone made everything worth it.
Still slightly stunned, Lucas couldn't help but ask, "Why? Why me?"
He genuinely didn't believe he had done enough to earn Rengoku's respect, let alone his friendship.
Rengoku's response was simple, sincere, and characteristic of his fiery personality. "There is no 'why.' You are a trustworthy companion. I'm happy to be your friend!"
He released Lucas's hand and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
Why had Rengoku chosen to befriend him?
Maybe it was because Lucas had prioritized the safety of the box on his back, even while fighting Sanemi—sacrificing his own body to protect it.
Maybe it was because Lucas protected someone weaker than himself, even if that someone was a demon.
Or maybe it was the way he constantly reassured Tanjiro, giving him the strength to move forward.
Rengoku didn't know the exact reason. But he remembered his mother's words well: The strong have a duty to protect the weak. And Lucas had done exactly that.
"I have a mission assigned by the Master. See you again soon," Rengoku said with his usual enthusiasm as he turned and walked into the night.
Lucas stared at his retreating figure, still feeling the warmth on his shoulder. He sighed softly.
Truly Kyojuro Rengoku. That damn charisma...
Just for today alone, Lucas silently swore that he would ensure Rengoku would not die on the Infinity Train. No matter what, he would change that fate.
Suppressing the emotions rising in his chest, Lucas turned to his final target: the Sound Pillar, Tengen Uzui.
Truthfully, after receiving Rengoku's most powerful breathing form, Lucas's desire to befriend Uzui had dropped considerably.
No matter what skill the Sound Pillar could offer, could it possibly top Rengoku?
Without much expectation, Lucas approached with a calm and composed stride.
Tengen Uzui stood still, watching Lucas approach. His eyes held a strange anticipation—as if he was the one waiting to be asked.
Seeing this, Lucas raised an eyebrow. Did he really have a chance?
Out of curiosity more than desire, Lucas decided to test the waters.
"Sound Pillar, would you be willing to be my friend?"
Tengen Uzui didn't answer immediately. Instead, he adjusted his pose dramatically—running his hands through his thick sideburns and posing with one hand behind his head.
Lucas instantly sensed trouble. His eyelid twitched. A bad premonition settled in his gut.
"It seems my flamboyant aura has finally attracted you! I never doubted my own charm," Uzui declared, smug and flamboyant. "Now then—where are you going? You're not going to be friends???"
Lucas had already turned and walked away without a word.
Uzui stood frozen, stunned. He hadn't even finished his dramatic monologue. What just happened?
Not everyone was qualified to be friends with someone as fabulous and handsome as him. If Lucas had begged him, he might have graciously agreed.
Lucas turned his head and rolled his eyes so hard they could've cracked marble.
Befriend this narcissist? Was he desperate? No thanks.
He had been genuinely joyful after befriending the Flame Pillar—gaining Rengoku's approval and power. But that joy had now been extinguished by Uzui's cringe-inducing performance.
Maybe if he had more patience, and listened through the Sound Pillar's full act, he might've had a chance to gain his friendship and the accompanying reward.
But sorry. He didn't have that kind of patience.
Exhaling a deep breath, Lucas turned his back to Uzui and began walking toward the Butterfly Mansion.
He'd accomplished his mission at the Pillar Meeting. It was time to return and fuse his newly acquired skills.
But just as he took two steps—
He stopped.
Not because of pain. Not because of hesitation.
Because someone was blocking his path.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
Sanemi Shinazugawa. Again?
He tried sidestepping, but Sanemi moved to block him again. Lucas frowned. He didn't have the stamina to activate Transparent World again, so he'd rather avoid another clash.
Still, Sanemi clearly had no intention of letting him pass.
"What do you want? A fight?" Lucas asked flatly, his tone calm but cold.
He didn't want trouble, but that didn't mean he was afraid of it.
If Sanemi wanted another round, he was ready to fight—even if the odds were grim.
Sanemi looked at him for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why didn't you ask me?"
"...What?"
Lucas was stunned.
Ask him what? Was he talking about being friends?
Just a few hours ago, they were beating each other bloody. Their wounds hadn't even healed yet. And now he was... sulking because Lucas didn't ask him to be friends?
Had Sanemi suffered a personality shift in the last few hours?
Or was this that cliché trope... "no fight, no friendship"?
Recalling the character summary of Sanemi Shinazugawa: fierce on the outside, soft on the inside—Lucas began to wonder if he'd misunderstood him.
Maybe he wasn't here to fight. Maybe... he genuinely wanted to be friends?
Feeling slightly guilty, Lucas cautiously asked, "Are you... willing to be my friend?"
Sanemi answered without hesitation.
"No."
Lucas's jaw dropped. His expression turned stiff.
What?!
"Then why the hell did you ask?" Lucas practically shouted.
He felt like someone had smacked him in the face with a clown nose. He was the joke here.
Taking a deep breath to suppress the growing urge to draw his blade, Lucas grit his teeth.
If he could beat Sanemi, he would've carved a lesson into him right then and there.
Playing with people's emotions like that? Unforgivable.
He glared at Sanemi with seething frustration and stormed away.
He had wasted far too much time already—first on a narcissist, now on a lunatic.
"One's full of himself, the other's full of nonsense."
Behind him, Sanemi watched Lucas's furious retreat, the corners of his mouth curling upward as if he had just discovered something amusing.
"Ask me again," he said casually. "This time, I'll say yes."
Lucas paused.
Then walked even faster, refusing to turn back.
Ask again?
Was this a joke? Was he really being made to play the fool?
So much for the "gentle heart" nonsense. Sanemi Shinazugawa was just chaotic, plain and simple.
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