Demon Slayer: Dragon Hashira#20/22: Unconscious. Dream Realm, Hashira Meeting. Awakening, Kaidō's Self-Reflection. Peace and Tranquility

'Looks like I've got no choice. Time to use that technique!'

"Dragon Breathing, Tenth Form: Ultimate Art—Judgment Slash!"

(PS: Basically Devil May Cry Vergil's Judgement Cut End)

The system-granted Final Form—the strongest offensive technique in Dragon Breathing. Ten consecutive strikes, each one devastating. And as his strength grew, so would the power of each slash.

Kaidō locked onto Doma. He lowered his stance, raised his greatsword, and pointed the blade forward. His presence vanished—breath, aura, killing intent, all suppressed to nothing. Then he exploded forward at blinding speed!

"So fast!"

Doma couldn't track him. Kaidō's movements were too erratic, his position impossible to predict.

SCHLICK!

Doma's left arm flew off. Before he could react—

SCHLICK!

Both legs severed. He collapsed to his knees.

The third strike came for his neck—but after the grueling battle, Kaidō's stamina was nearly depleted. The blade only cut halfway through.

'Not enough! Just a little more—I have to decapitate him!'

As the fourth strike approached, pure survival instinct screamed through Doma's mind. Kaidō's trajectory was completely unpredictable—impossible to anticipate where the next attack would come from.

"Blood Demon Art: Rime—Water Lily Bodhisattva!"

Doma's ultimate technique. A colossal ice statue materialized—a seated Buddha with hands pressed together in prayer. A single sweep of its hand carried devastating force, and it continuously released wide-area poisoned ice fog.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The remaining strikes from Judgment Slash hammered into the ice Buddha, but only managed to create hairline fractures across its surface.

"Kugh—guh!" Completely exhausted, Kaidō coughed up more blood as the technique ended. Only his greatsword planted in the ground kept him upright.

"Oh my! I didn't expect you to be this impressive! But it's all pointless, you know? Look—all the damage you caused? Already healed! Now it's my turn to send you off, to grant you salvation! Blood Demon Art—"

"Phantom Eye!"

At the critical moment, Kaidō activated Phantom Eye. The mental assault hit Doma directly, stunning him for precious seconds.

'In my current state, Phantom Eye can only stun him for a few seconds. But that's all I need!'

"Dragon Breathing, Ninth Form: Cyclone Pierce!"

The high-speed drilling assault shattered through the ice Buddha and punched clean through Doma's body.

"Dragon Breathing, Third Form: Divine Dragon's Tail!"

The moment the pierce ended, Kaidō pivoted and unleashed a horizontal slash aimed at Doma's neck from behind.

"CUT THROUGH, DAMN IT!" He roared, veins bulging in his arms as he put every ounce of remaining strength into the swing.

SCHLICK!

Doma's head flew off—but Kaidō had reached his absolute limit. Using Phantom Eye followed by two more Forms back-to-back had pushed his body and mind past the breaking point.

"Oh my! You actually decapitated me! How impressive!"

'HUH??' Kaidō looked down at the severed head on the ground and understood immediately.

It wasn't Doma's real head—it was an ice puppet. Doma had created a perfect replica of himself early in the fight and switched places, probably when he'd summoned the ice Buddha.

"You're the second swordsman who's lasted this long against me. Truly worthy of being a Hashira. Now then—time for your salvation."

"Blood Demon Art: Withering Frozen Garden!"

Doma swung his iron fans in a nine-strike combo infused with frost, all aimed at Kaidō. Kaidō summoned his last scrap of strength, swinging his greatsword to block—but exhaustion made him too slow. He only managed to deflect part of the assault. The remaining strikes sent him flying backward into a dead tree.

His greatsword was knocked away, landing several meters distant. His fox mask shattered into pieces, revealing his blood-soaked face.

CRACK!

He heard—no, felt—something in his back break.

'Is this... it?'

"Guh!" More blood.

The sky began to lighten. Dawn was breaking.

"Hm? Oh, it's morning already! Well, I suppose I'll stop playing with you. You really were quite entertaining! I'll come save you properly next time!"

TWANG!

A biwa note rang out from behind Doma. A door materialized. Still smiling, Doma stepped through and vanished.

"Kugh, kugh... heh... heh heh... I'm such an idiot." Kaidō's laugh was bitter and self-deprecating.

He pulled an Enhanced Longevity Pill from his system inventory and swallowed it. The ice poison slowly dissipated from his system—but the physical injuries remained. The pill only neutralized negative status effects like poison or curses. It couldn't heal broken bones or torn flesh. For that, he'd need something like a Healing Pill.

After fighting Doma all night, his body was shredded. Too many wounds, too much damage. Overwhelming exhaustion crashed over him. He couldn't hold on any longer.

His back against the dead tree, Kaidō slowly slid down into a sitting position. His eyes drifted closed.

...

Obanai Iguro arrived at the battlefield and froze. The scene was carnage—shattered ice and blood everywhere.

He rushed to Kaidō's side, crouching down. The younger Hashira was covered in wounds, face painted with blood. Whatever battle had taken place here, it had been brutal.

'If I'd arrived sooner, he wouldn't have suffered this much.'

"Kaidō! Wake up! Are you okay?? Come on, wake up!" If not for the faint rise and fall of Kaidō's chest, Obanai would've assumed he was dead. After all, no Hashira had ever survived an encounter with an Upper Rank.

Hearing someone call his name, Kaidō's eyes cracked open. His voice came out hoarse and ragged. "Kugh, kugh... Obanai... kugh... sorry. I'm... too weak. Couldn't... hold him. Let him... escape."

"Stop talking! The Kakushi are on their way to treat you. Just rest!"

Kyojuro Rengoku arrived moments later, taking in the scene. "How is young Kaidō?"

"Severely injured. He needs immediate medical attention."

Soon the Kakushi arrived, performed emergency field treatment, placed Kaidō on a stretcher, and departed.

Obanai watched them go, voice quiet. "To think he fought an Upper Rank for an entire night. AN UPPER RANK. Not even we Hashira have encountered one before."

"Mm! Truly worthy of young Kaidō!" Rengoku's voice boomed with respect. "We should report this to the Master immediately. As for intelligence about the Upper Rank—we'll ask young Kaidō for details once he's recovered."

"Agreed."

...

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters

Kuroha was broadcasting the news across the compound.

"CAW CAW! Dragon Hashira Ryūjin Kaidō repelled Upper Rank demon! Severely injured! Severely injured! CAW!"

Hearing this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki felt shock followed immediately by concern. "How is that child? What's his current condition?"

"Severely injured. Transported to Butterfly Mansion for treatment and recovery. CAW." Kuroha reported.

"That poor child... to endure such a battle and survive—I'm so relieved. I hope my beloved child recovers swiftly." Kagaya's relief was palpable. He considered every member of the Corps his child. That one of his children had survived an Upper Rank encounter was miraculous.

"Amane, inform the other Hashira. Convene a Hashira meeting."

"Yes, dear."

...

"Where... am I? Why does this look so familiar?"

Kaidō woke to find himself staring at a familiar ceiling. He sat up—he was lying in a bed.

"Wait... this is my room. My old room. Why am I here? Was everything before just a dream?"

He looked around, completely confused.

"Honey! You're finally awake! You scared me so badly—you've been unconscious for over two weeks! I thought you'd never wake up again! Sob sob..."

A beautiful young woman appeared in the doorway. Seeing Kaidō awake, she rushed over and pulled his head against her chest. Soft warmth enveloped him.

"Reika! What are you doing here?? And what's going on? Why are you calling me 'honey'??" Kaidō was utterly bewildered.

The woman before him was his adopted sister—the one his parents had taken in.

"Honey, don't scare me! Have you forgotten? You were in a car accident and rushed to the hospital. The doctors said you suffered head trauma and fell into a coma—they didn't know when you'd wake up. And I'm calling you 'honey' because we've been married for over a year! Did you really forget everything?"

"Married? I... why can't I remember anything? Ngh—why does my head hurt so much??"

"Are you okay??" Reika gently stroked his head, her voice full of concern. "Don't push yourself. As long as we're together, that's all that matters. Even if you've forgotten everything, I'll always be by your side!"

"Kaidō! You're awake! Thank goodness, thank goodness!" Kaidō's mother heard the commotion and rushed upstairs. Seeing her son conscious, joy overwhelmed her. For the past two weeks, she'd been terrified he'd never open his eyes again. She embraced both her daughter and son tightly.

'If all of this is real, how wonderful would that be? If this is just a dream... I wish I never had to wake up. But...'

'But I still have things I need to finish. This is just a dream. How could anything in a dream be real? So that I can see you both again for real one day, I have to...'

Tears streamed down his face.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry, Reika. I made you worry."

Feeling the warmth of home again—but knowing it was only a dream.

"It's okay, sweetheart. As long as you're alright, nothing else matters." His mother's voice was thick with emotion.

"That's right, honey! Even if you lost your memory, I'll always stay with you—I'll always be by your side!" Reika sobbed.

'Even dreams must end. But this brief reunion, this fleeting moment together—I'm grateful for it. I believe the day will come when this becomes reality. Soon.'

These thoughts he kept locked inside. He wouldn't speak them aloud. This was a dream, yes—but he didn't want to shatter it. He just wanted to savor this precious, temporary reunion.

"System, are you there?"

[Ding! Host, I'm here.]

"Why is this dream happening? And how do I wake up?"

[This dream manifests from Host's subconscious—it is born from your deepest attachment.]

[Host can awaken by activating Phantom Eye. However... are you certain you wish to do so? Isn't this what you've always wanted to see?]

"Better a short pain than a long one. This brief separation is just preparation for a permanent reunion later."

[Understood. Once Host activates Phantom Eye, the system will automatically preserve this moment in time.]

"Thank you, System."

To avoid destroying this warm, peaceful moment, Kaidō thought silently: 'Phantom Eye.'

[Preserving... preservation in progress... preservation complete.]

...

<><><><><><><><>

Butterfly Mansion

Three months had passed in the blink of an eye.

"It's been three whole months! Why hasn't Dragon Hashira-sama woken up yet??" A girl with twin-tails spoke anxiously.

"Shinobu-nee said Dragon Hashira-sama's spine was seriously damaged in the fight. He won't wake up anytime soon."

"I heard Dragon Hashira-sama fought an Upper Rank demon all night! That's why he's hurt so badly!"

"Kiyo, Sumi, Naho—keep your voices down! Don't disturb the patients!" A girl with a side ponytail walked in from the hall.

"Aoi-nee!" the three chorused.

Aoi Kanzaki—medical staff at the Butterfly Mansion. A girl with a side ponytail and butterfly hair ornament who strictly managed unruly patients. Even Zenitsu, who normally fawned over every girl he met, was terrified of her. After Tanjiro and the others completed their recovery training, she'd confessed that she'd passed Final Selection but had been too afraid to go to the battlefield. When Tanjiro promised to carry her feelings with him into battle, she'd started paying special attention to him.

The three young girls were Kiyo Terauchi, Sumi Nakahara, and Naho Takada.

"Aoi-nee, when will Dragon Hashira-sama wake up?" Kiyo asked.

"I don't know either."

As Aoi turned to check on Kaidō, she noticed something—a crystalline tear sliding down his cheek. She rushed to his bedside. At that exact moment, his eyes opened.

"Kiyo, Sumi, Naho—go tell Insect Hashira-sama right now! Dragon Hashira-sama is awake!" Shinobu had given explicit instructions: the moment Kaidō woke up, notify her immediately. She had important questions.

"Yes!" the three responded in unison.

...

Three Months Ago

After Kaidō was transported to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment, Kagaya Ubuyashiki convened an emergency Hashira meeting.

"Can't believe that kid ran into an Upper Rank. Lucky bastard. If it had been me, I would've killed it." Sanemi's confidence was absolute.

"Coming from someone he beat in a sparring match, your confidence is almost inspiring. He repelled an Upper Rank at the cost of severe injuries—your strength must be truly enviable."

For once, Giyu spoke more than two sentences.

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY??" Sanemi roared.

"Nothing."

"Namu Amida Butsu. Please, everyone, calm down. Let's wait until the Master arrives."

As the eldest Hashira, Gyomei's word carried weight. Everyone quieted down.

"Good evening, my beloved children."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki arrived and took his seat on a cushion before the assembled Hashira.

The moment they saw him, shock rippled through the group—not for any trivial reason, but because the curse marks on his face had visibly receded. Traces remained, but minimal.

More importantly, he radiated vitality. While shocking, the emotion they felt most was joy. Their Master would no longer suffer under the curse's torment.

"Master, the curse on your body..." Shinobu couldn't help but ask what everyone was thinking.

Kagaya smiled gently. "There's no need for surprise. This is all thanks to Kaidō. He gave me a pill passed down through his family. While it cannot eliminate the curse entirely, it has significantly delayed its progression. I can feel the change in my body. Now I can continue serving the Demon Slayer Corps for much longer. If not for me, he could have kept that pill for himself. Perhaps then he wouldn't have been so severely injured fighting the Upper Rank."

Gyomei pressed his palms together, tears streaming. "Ah, we are grateful for Kaidō's contributions to the Corps. May he recover swiftly so we can fight alongside him once more. Namu Amida Butsu."

"Mm! Young Kaidō will definitely recover! I'm quite fond of him!" Rengoku's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, remembering their sparring match.

"Today's meeting concerns the Upper Rank demons. Obanai, please explain the situation you encountered."

All eyes turned to the Snake Hashira.

"Very well. I'll describe what I found when I arrived."

"That night, I was on a mission when I heard the crow's call for reinforcements. I immediately headed to support Kaidō, but I was still too late. After traveling for hours, dawn had already broken. The battlefield was covered in shattered ice and blood. I could sense demonic energy from the ice fragments—incredibly powerful. Based on the evidence left behind, the battle that night was absolutely brutal."

Hearing the word "ice," Shinobu tensed. Ice techniques—the same as what her sister had faced. The demon that killed Kanae had also used ice-based Blood Demon Arts. If that was the case, then the Upper Rank Kaidō encountered must be the same one. Her fists clenched unconsciously.

"I searched the area and found Kaidō beneath a dead tree. His face was covered in blood, severely wounded, barely clinging to life. He blamed himself for failing to kill the Upper Rank. Kyojuro and the Kakushi arrived shortly after. The Kakushi provided emergency treatment, which saved his life. Otherwise, he might already be..." Obanai didn't finish. Everyone understood what he meant.

He added one final observation. "You all know Kaidō's strength. Yet even at the cost of severe injuries, he only managed to repel the Upper Rank. That should tell you how powerful these demons truly are."

The meeting continued through the night. Beyond discussing Upper Ranks, they strategized about how to respond to encounters and coordinate reinforcements.

...

"Insect Hashira-sama! Dragon Hashira-sama is awake! Aoi-nee told us to inform you!" The three girls found Shinobu and delivered the news.

"Understood. I'll head there immediately." She rushed toward the infirmary.

Shinobu had two reasons for wanting to be notified the instant Kaidō woke.

First, she needed intelligence about the demon he'd fought. Second, she wanted information about that pill. If she could research its properties, it might be crucial for the Corps' eventual confrontation with Muzan Kibutsuji.

Arriving at the room, she found Kaidō sitting upright in bed. "You're awake. How do you feel?" But he didn't respond—only sat there with tears streaming down his face.

"What's wrong? Are you upset about the Upper Rank? You don't need to blame yourself. Even if other Hashira had encountered an Upper Rank, they might not have been able to kill it either. The Master said once you wake up, you should rest properly. Mitsuri is temporarily covering your patrol zone."

Shinobu assumed he was suffering from guilt over failing to decapitate the demon.

"My child, you're awake."

"Master."

Everyone in the room started to kneel at the sight of Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his wife Amane, but he gestured for them to remain standing. He approached Kaidō's bedside.

"Child, if something is troubling you, you can tell me. If it will ease your burden, I'm willing to listen."

That voice—still capable of putting anyone at ease.

Kaidō slowly lifted his head to meet Kagaya's gaze. He smiled. "I dreamed about my family. It was so warm. I want to see them again."

'So he's homesick... I understand that feeling. I miss my sister too. He's been alone for so long—living like that must be exhausting.' Shinobu's thoughts softened.

Kagaya didn't say much. He simply reached out and gently stroked Kaidō's head.

"If you wish, the Demon Slayer Corps is also your home. Everyone here is your family. Every member of the Corps is like my child—I want them all to live. I can be replaced, but these children cannot. You, too, are irreplaceable."

"Thank you, Master." Tears rolled down his face as he smiled. Images of his mother and Reika flashed through his mind. Today, his smile was genuine.

...

Butterfly Mansion—Night

[Ding! Hidden Quest Complete: Challenge Any Upper Rank Demon 1/1]

[Rewards: System Lifestyle Shop Unlocked, Hundred Flowers Wine x1, Breathing Affinity Pills x2, Interdimensional Energy +5%]

[Current Interdimensional Energy: 55%]

'Huh? A hidden quest?' Just as he was about to rest, the system notification chimed.

[Hidden quests trigger randomly. Anything related to demon slaying may activate one.]

"I see. Let's check out this Lifestyle Shop."

Opening the shop, Kaidō found it stocked with everyday items—bedding, furniture, kitchenware, all in traditional style. Actually pretty useful—his estate could definitely use some furnishings. Better yet, everything was purchased with regular currency. Between his Hashira salary and system rewards, he had plenty of cash.

'Wait, what's this?'

In the upper-left corner was a box labeled "Random Draw."

"System, what's the Random Draw?"

[The Random Draw provides combat-related items—cold weapons, medicinal pills, and similar goods. Occasionally, items from other worlds may appear, such as firearms. Can be used once per month.]

"Interesting. Let's try it."

[Drawing... Draw complete.]

[Item Obtained: Healing Pills x2]

[Healing Pills: Rapidly restore physical injuries. Severe wounds require longer recovery time—up to ten days. Minor injuries heal within one day.]

"Perfect. This is exactly what I need."

[Hundred Flowers Wine: Exquisite liquor brewed from a hundred varieties of famous flowers. A heavenly vintage with an unforgettable aftertaste.]

[Breathing Affinity Pills: Enhance affinity with Breathing Styles. Even those unable to use Breathing techniques can do so after consumption.]

'Breathing Affinity Pills—those could be useful. They'd strengthen my connection to Dragon Breathing, making my techniques more refined. They might also improve my Water Breathing affinity and eliminate the rejection. That's another combat advantage right there.'

His earlier melancholy began to fade.

'I don't drink, so I'll save the Hundred Flowers Wine. Might come in handy later.' The thought of alcohol brought back an unfortunate memory—getting drunk in his past life and waking up in women's clothing courtesy of Reika. He still had no idea how she'd managed it. Walking outside that day had nearly been the most humiliating moment of his entire existence.

'Ugh, don't think about it. Still makes me cringe. Focus on healing first.'

He pulled out a Healing Pill and swallowed it. Immediately, gentle medicinal energy spread through his limbs.

'Should be healed in a few days. Then I can start rehabilitation training. Doma... one day, I'm going to tear you apart piece by piece.'

At that moment, Aoi entered to check on his condition. She found him sitting on the bed, seemingly lost in thought, and assumed he was thinking about his family again.

"Are you... still thinking about your family?"

"I'm fine now. Sorry for making everyone worry so late at night." He smiled with a hint of apology.

"It's... it's okay! I just... I-I-I just came to check on you! You seem much better, so I... I have other things to do! G-good night!" She covered her flushed face and bolted from the room.

'That girl is something else.' Kaidō chuckled helplessly. The little interruption had chased away his drowsiness, so he got up and headed to the courtyard for some fresh air.

Outside in the hallway, Aoi couldn't stop replaying Kaidō's smile in her mind. Her face burned.

'What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like this? People in the Corps say Dragon Hashira-sama is incredibly kind—that he speaks gently to everyone regardless of who they are, never acting superior despite being a Hashira.'

She recalled the rumors about the prodigy who'd become a Hashira in less than a month, just like Muichiro Tokito, but who treated lower-ranked members with warmth and respect. Remembering his smile made her heart race.

"Aoi-nee!" the three girls called from behind her.

"Ah—ah! Wh-what is it?" She jumped, startled.

"Are you okay, Aoi-nee?"

"Yeah, your face is really red! Are you sick?"

"We called you like five times and you didn't answer!"

"D-did you? Sorry, I was just thinking about something. You three should get to bed. I need to check on the other patients!" She hurried off without looking back.

"Aoi-nee is acting weird."

"Mm-hmm."

"Let's go check on Dragon Hashira-sama. Aoi-nee just came from his room."

"Mm-hmm." The other two nodded.

...

<><><><><><><><>

Butterfly Mansion Courtyard

Kaidō stood in the courtyard, staring up at the night sky, lost in thought.

'I got cocky. Having the system, having strength—I let it go to my head. Thought I was hot shit, ready to take on Upper Ranks. What a joke. Heh... I was naive. Arrogant. Became a Hashira and suddenly thought I could look down on Upper Ranks? Look how that turned out. I got too comfortable, too lazy. Started believing the system made me invincible. Pathetic.'

The fight with Upper Rank Two had been a brutal wake-up call. The power gap was enormous. He'd been delusional thinking that beating three Hashira in sparring meant he could challenge Upper Ranks. Even the weakest Upper Rank—Lower Six—required at least two Hashira working together to kill. The top three Upper Ranks? In a completely different league.

'Whatever. At least now I know what I need to do.'

'Been a while since I played the flute. Wonder if I'm rusty after being reincarnated.'

In his previous life, Kaidō had loved playing the flute. Whenever he was troubled, the music would calm his mind and center his thoughts.

He opened the System Lifestyle Shop, browsing for musical instruments.

"Wait, what's this?"

[White Flute: Carved from premium white gem. Smooth texture, pure white color.]

"Perfect. I'll take it." He spent 3,000 yen and willed the flute into existence. It materialized in his hands.

Raising it to his lips, he began to play.

A hauntingly beautiful melody drifted across the Demon Slayer Corps compound.

The three girls had noticed Kaidō missing from his room and assumed he'd wandered off again. Following the sound, they found him in the courtyard. Instead of interrupting, they quietly sat on the wooden platform and listened. Inside the infirmary, patients who'd been restless gradually calmed down.

Shinobu Kocho, kneeling before her sister Kanae's memorial, heard the melody. Her turbulent heart grew still—but tears streamed down her face. "Sister... I miss you so much."

Tengen Uzui, soaking in a hot spring with his three wives, paused. "Truly flamboyant, as expected!" He closed his eyes and listened.

Ubuyashiki Estate

"Missing his family, I suppose." Kagaya smiled gently, then turned to his wife and daughters. "I hope this moment of peace and tranquility can last forever. That no one else will have to leave us."

"It will," Amane Ubuyashiki assured him.

Hand in hand with his wife and daughters, Kagaya sat and listened to the flute's song.

Rengoku Estate

Shinjuro Rengoku, the former Flame Hashira, heard the melody and felt his heart grow strangely calm. But it only made him miss his late wife more. Ever since she'd passed, he'd spiraled into alcoholism, drowning his sorrows in sake. Even when his eldest son Kyojuro became a Hashira, Shinjuro had remained indifferent.

"Ruka... am I doing the right thing?" He took another long drink.

That night, the entire Demon Slayer Corps experienced a rare moment of peace.

...

Three Days Later

Kaidō had fully absorbed the Healing Pill's effects and recovered completely. But Aoi Kanzaki and the three girls insisted on one final checkup. Outnumbered, he relented.

"You're completely healed. No issues at all!" Aoi confirmed after the examination.

"Finally! Time to get back to training. I've been unconscious for three months and recovering for several more days. Any longer and I'll turn into deadweight."

'If I don't complete my quests, I'll never get home.' That thought remained unspoken.

"Do you need help with your training?"

"Nah, I'll handle it myself. You're already busy taking care of all these patients. Don't want to add to your workload."

"Alright. Just let us know if you need anything."

"Will do. Thanks, Aoi." He smiled warmly.

"N-no need to thank me! It's... it's my job!" Seeing his smile brought back memories from a few nights ago. Her face flushed bright red.

"Ah! Aoi-nee is blushing again!" the three girls chorused.

"I am not!" Aoi protested.

"CAW CAW! Master, I'm back!" Kuroha swooped through the window and landed on the sill.

"Kuroha! Long time no see, buddy." Kaidō scooped up the crow and gave him some well-deserved head scratches. He'd missed this.

"By the way, where's my greatsword?"

"While you were recovering, the Kakushi brought it to your estate," Aoi replied.

"Makes sense. Alright then, I'm heading out. I'll drop by again when I get the chance!"

"Goodbye, Dragon Hashira-sama! Play the flute for us next time!" the three girls called out.

"Sure."

"Oh, Insect Hashira-sama wanted me to tell you—once you're better, she needs to speak with you. She said it's important."

"Got it. Thanks. See you later!"

...

Kaidō pushed open the door to Shinobu's workspace. The room was packed with bottles, jars, vials, and test tubes lining every shelf. The air was thick with the sweet scent of wisteria.

"Shinobu-nee, you wanted to see me?"

"Oh my, you're here, little Kaidō! Come, sit!" Shinobu stopped working on her latest poison concoction and gestured to the chair beside her.

"I'm not little! I'm perfectly normal-sized!" Kaidō protested.

"But you look pretty small!" Shinobu leaned closer, her face mere centimeters from his.

Kaidō's face turned crimson. Steam practically rose from his head like a boiling kettle.

Satisfied with her teasing, Shinobu pulled back with a giggle. "Alright, alright. Let's talk business. I actually have two things I want to ask you..."

"You want to know about the Upper Rank I fought and about the pill I gave the Master, right?"

"How did you know?"

"I've heard your sister was killed by an Upper Rank who uses ice-based Blood Demon Arts. You're desperate for intel on that demon so you can get revenge. As for the pill—you want to analyze its components. If you can replicate it, it could be invaluable for the Corps when we eventually face Muzan. Am I right, Shinobu-nee?"

"Yes. I will kill that demon with my own hands. For my sister."

"Shinobu-nee... do you trust me?"

"Why do you ask?"

"If you trust me, then please—stay alive. Stop ingesting wisteria poison. You want to witness your enemy's death personally, don't you?"

Shinobu studied his eyes for a long moment. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, she chose to believe him. Though just to be safe, she'd keep her backup plan in motion.

"Alright. I trust you."

Kaidō smiled. He knew Shinobu would probably continue ingesting the poison anyway, but at least this was a start.

"Here—a Longevity Pill. Study it. Hope it helps." He pretended to fish it from his pocket while actually pulling it from his system inventory. He'd given one to Kagaya, used one after the Doma fight. Ten remained. He'd planned to save them for the Infinity Castle battle to counteract the Demon Slayer Mark's side effects for the other Hashira. But one now, nine later—still plenty.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

...

Back at His Estate

Kaidō browsed the System Lifestyle Shop for training equipment.

"Dumbbells—useful. Bought."

"Leg weights—perfect for speed training. Bought."

"Sandbags—can use them for wrist strength or weighted running. Bought."

"Might as well grab some snacks too. I'll give them to Aoi and the girls later as thanks for taking care of me."

"System, can you ship these the normal way instead of materializing them out of thin air? That would look weird."

[Affirmative.]

...

"Kaidō-sama, several packages arrived for you."

"Thanks for bringing them."

"Not at all—it's our duty!"

'That was fast. Classic system efficiency.'

[Ding! New Quest Available.]

[Quest: Intensive Training]

[Complete daily: 3,000-meter weighted run, 1,000 push-ups, 1,000 sword swings. Duration: Three months.]

[Rewards: Sonic Speed Pill x1, Agility Pill x1, Enhanced Tiger-Dragon Pill x1, Random Interdimensional Energy 5-10%]

[Sonic Speed Pill: Permanently increases movement speed.]

[Agility Pill: Permanently increases reflexes and dexterity.]

[Enhanced Tiger-Dragon Pill: System-modified version. Strengthens body, increases muscle density and physical toughness, tempers flesh and bone.]

"Perfect timing. Training plus rewards—can't beat that."

He strapped on the weighted vest, secured the leg weights, and began running laps around Corps Headquarters.

...

Three Months Later

[Ding! Quest Complete.]

[Rewards: Sonic Speed Pill x1, Agility Pill x1, Enhanced Tiger-Dragon Pill x1, Interdimensional Energy +5%]

[Current Interdimensional Energy: 60%]

'More than halfway there. Almost home.' The milestone filled him with genuine happiness. Then he examined the quest rewards and items he'd drawn randomly over the past three months.

[Berserk Pill: Grants berserk state for three hours. Strength increases threefold. After effect ends, user enters weakened state.]

[Sticky Bombs: Extremely adhesive with high explosive power.]

[Time Hourglass (Single Use): Rewinds target's time flow to their state ten minutes prior.]

'Berserk Pill—great boost but harsh side effects. Emergency use only. Sticky Bombs... am I supposed to stick these to Muzan's ass and blow him up? Whatever, might come in handy eventually. Time Hourglass—limited to ten minutes, but used right, it could turn the tide in critical moments.'

Overall, pretty satisfied with his haul.

He swallowed the Enhanced Tiger-Dragon Pill. Immediately, it felt like his entire body was being roasted over lava while his blood boiled. Simultaneously, it was as if someone was repeatedly breaking and resetting every bone in his body.

"Ngh! This sucks! Should've taken the other pills first!"

The agony lasted ten minutes. But when it ended, Kaidō could feel the fundamental transformation his body had undergone.

"Now this is what I'm talking about! Heh... Doma, just you wait. One day I'm settling that score!"

He downed the Sonic Speed Pill and Agility Pill as well.

...

After finishing his training regimen, Kaidō returned to his patrol zone. He also started clearing demons from Obanai's territory—which wasn't that far from his own.

Obanai was bewildered. 'You cleared out all the demons in my zone. What am I supposed to do now?'

Kaidō's response was simple: "Mitsuri's been swamped. Don't you want to lighten her load?"

Obanai felt like something was off about that logic, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. He decided to let it go and head back to Headquarters instead.

Then Kaidō's next comment made him reconsider.

"My patrol zone's been such a pain lately. Just when I clear out a bunch of demons, more show up. Wonder if anyone wants to trade zones? I heard Mitsuri's territory is closest to mine..." Kaidō said this casually, as if talking to himself.

"I'll trade with you! If you're finding it troublesome, I'll handle it. I love hunting demons anyway!" Obanai's answer came immediately. Inside, he was ecstatic. 'Closest to Mitsuri's zone? After patrol, I can visit her!'

"Deal! Head over whenever. Your zone is mine now. No backing out!"

"I won't. And you better not either."

Obanai started to leave, then paused and looked back. "Thanks."

Kaidō grinned. "If you really wanna thank me, treat me to kelp strips!"

"Done."