Stepping out of the Ubuyashiki estate, Ryosuke looked up at the sky.
He was still too soft-hearted… Kagaya's appearance just now was like a porcelain doll that could shatter at a touch.
Beneath that composure and gentleness, which transcended his age, was visible exhaustion and resistance against a messed-up fate.
It was laughable, really.
Ryosuke had never believed in gods or spirits, neither in his previous life nor this one.
Yet, when the Ubuyashiki Family produced a monster like Muzan, they were punished by the gods, with no family member living past 30.
But Muzan had roamed free for centuries without a single problem.
What a messed-up god! What a ridiculous god!
"If I have to be a workhorse, then so be it."
Ryosuke shrugged in resignation, quickening his pace: "It's not like I haven't worked overtime in my previous life."
He knew that the tasks Kagaya assigned weren't exclusive to him.
But indeed, he was the most effective and efficient person to handle them.
He shared a friendship, almost like a mentor-mentee relationship, with Shinjuro, owed the Butterfly Sisters a life-saving debt, and was intimately familiar with Mount Sagiri.
"Take people's salary, share people's worries."
Ryosuke muttered, trying to convince himself with worldly reasons.
The Ubuyashiki Family had deep foundations, and the treatment for a Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira was naturally top-tier; money and resources were never lacking.
But this wasn't the main reason.
The main reason was… that kid Kagaya was just too good!
He wasn't like some bosses who openly pressured you, made grand promises, or talked about ideals.
He just sat there quietly, silently displaying his vulnerability and hopes, using almost pure trust and entrustment to make you willingly work tirelessly for him.
"Sigh… I wonder who taught him this art of managing people at such a young age!"
Ryosuke was baffled: "His family doesn't have elders who taught him long-term!"
Though he grumbled in his heart, his steps didn't falter.
As the sun set, Ryosuke arrived at the gates of the Rengoku Family estate.
Unlike its usual vibrant atmosphere, the Rengoku Family was now enveloped in deathly silence.
The white streamers hanging at the gate fluttered in the wind, telling the whole story.
Ryosuke stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Not long after, the door opened from the inside.
Kyoujurou, seeing Ryosuke at the door, was visibly startled, then spoke.
"Mr. Ryosuke! Why have you come? I heard you ascended to Pillar of Sound after slaying the lower rank four, and I had intended to visit with my father to congratulate you, but something has happened at home…"
Ryosuke looked at him, his heart aching slightly at Kyoujurou's attempt to remain composed, and reached out to ruffle his messy hair.
"It's alright, my matter isn't urgent."
Ryosuke paused, lowering his voice: "Is Mr. Rengoku doing well?"
Kyoujurou lowered his head, not answering directly, and slightly turned to the side.
"Mr. Ryosuke, please come in first."
Guided by Kyoujurou, Ryosuke first went to the mourning hall.
He lit an incense stick for the deceased Lady Ruka, silently offering a few words of solace.
Then, led by Kyoujurou, he proceeded deeper into the estate.
At the end of a long corridor, a dejected figure sat there, several empty sake bottles scattered at his feet, and a strong smell of alcohol wafted over.
Rengoku Shinjuro at this moment was disheveled, his clothes messy, exuding a heavy scent of alcohol and a sense of dead-hearted despair, completely unlike the bold, sun-like Flame Hashira he once was.
Hearing footsteps, Shinjuro didn't even lift his eyelids, merely letting out a vague sneer.
"Kyoujurou? Don't mind me."
"Someone else came? Heh… The new Pillar of Sound, huh…"
"Useless, all useless… Just like me, all worthless people…"
Ryosuke's heart sank.
He had completely given in to despair!
He motioned for Kyoujurou to wait, then walked forward and sat down beside Shinjuro without a word.
Shinjuro glanced at Ryosuke, an undisguised look of disgust and irritation on his face.
"What? Mr. Pillar of Sound… Are you also here to preach those grand principles to me? Saying nonsense like 'cheer up, for the future, for your beliefs'? Save it! Get out!"
Ryosuke ignored his harsh words, reached for a sake bottle, and took a deep swig.
"No."
Ryosuke put down the sake bottle, his gaze calm as he looked at Shinjuro, "I'm not here to preach to you."
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Shinjuro's hazy, drunken eyes.
"I'm here to drink with you."
Ryosuke paused, his tone suddenly turning cold: "And… to knock some sense into you!"
Before his words finished, Ryosuke's fist slammed hard into Shinjuro's face!
"Mr. Ryosuke! You…"
Kyoujurou gasped in surprise, instinctively wanting to step forward.
Shinjuro's head snapped to the side from the sudden punch, his drunkenness dissipating somewhat.
After a brief moment of shock came boundless rage!
"You brat! You're asking for death!!!"
Shinjuro, like an enraged lion, lunged at Ryosuke!
The two Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps wrestled together like street thugs!
Though Shinjuro was drunk, his foundation as the Flame Hashira remained, and in his fury, his strength was astonishing.
Moreover, being drunk, he felt no pain, and his punches and kicks were wild and fierce, like a mad dog.
Ryosuke could have easily dodged and used techniques to subdue him, but he chose to engage Shinjuro in close-quarters combat!
A true man's 1v1 battle!
For a time, the scene was chaotic.
Fists met flesh, muffled thuds echoing continuously.
Before long, both men were bruised.
Hearing the commotion, young Senjuro ran out in a panic.
He saw his father and Ryosuke wrestling and his small face turned pale with fright, crying out.
"Father! Mr. Ryosuke! Please don't fight!"
Kyoujurou was also extremely anxious, wanting to step forward and separate the two.
"Don't interfere!"
Ryosuke landed another punch on Shinjuro, yelling at the two brothers: "If you don't want to get hurt, get out of the way! This is a matter between men!"
These words seemed to provoke Shinjuro, who attacked even more fiercely.
Ryosuke was equally merciless, pummeling him relentlessly.
Kyoujurou gritted his teeth, seeing the two men fighting with bloodshot eyes, and retreated a few steps, shielding his younger brother.
Finally,
This cathartic brawl ended with both men exhausted.
They lay on the ground, breathing heavily, blood at the corners of their mouths, looking utterly disheveled.
Shinjuro looked at Ryosuke, letting out a series of unclear sneers.
"Heh… heheh… You brat… you brat… you're something else…"
Ryosuke spat out a mouthful of blood, and coldly retorted.
"Don't think you're the only one suffering! Don't think you're the only one who knows how pathetic human limits are! How messed up fate is!"
"This world is never lacking in suffering and true geniuses! That kid Kagaya bears far more weight than you do!"
Shinjuro's sneering stopped abruptly, and he looked at Ryosuke in disbelief.
This brat actually dared to call the Master by his given name?!
And with that tone?
Are you out of your mind and asking for trouble?!