Who were the Pillars who rushed to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters upon receiving the summons? They were:
The Flame Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku; the Sound Pillar, Tengen Uzui; and the Mist Pillar, Muichiro Tokito.
These three, alongside the Insect Pillar Shinobu Kocho, the newly appointed Love Pillar Mitsuri Kanroji, and the Heaven Pillar Horitake, made a formidable group of six—more than enough to face the coming battle.
Perplexed by the state of the headquarters, the three arriving Pillars hurried to the Ubuyashiki estate. Guided by Goto, they entered the house, sipping tea as they awaited Yōya and Horitake. Shinobu, who had arrived earlier, was already there.
The four Pillars sat in a row, waiting quietly, though their minds buzzed with questions.
Unable to hold back, the newcomers turned to Shinobu. Tengen spoke first. "Hey, Shinobu, what's going on? Why the urgent summons? And what's with the headquarters? It looks like they're moving house!"
Shinobu smiled her usual gentle smile. "I'm not entirely sure, but it seems Lord Ubuyashiki and Horitake-san reached some kind of agreement."
Tengen scratched his head. "An agreement to relocate the headquarters?"
Kyojuro's voice, as always, brimmed with fervor. "Shinobu, did something happen last night?"
"Last night?" Shinobu replied. "I heard some demons were spying on the headquarters, but Horitake-san took care of them."
Her words stunned the group. Kyojuro's enthusiasm faltered, Tengen's face paled, and even Muichiro, usually lost in his own world, snapped to attention.
"Demons spying on the headquarters last night?!" they exclaimed. This was no small matter.
Tengen's brow glistened with sweat. "Does that mean… the headquarters has been exposed?"
Kyojuro's usual zeal dimmed, replaced by concern. "No wonder they're moving the headquarters. It makes sense now."
Muichiro, expressionless as ever, finally spoke. "Relocating the headquarters is a major hassle. Maybe they need us to escort the move."
The others nodded, agreeing it was a likely explanation.
Kyojuro turned to Shinobu again. "Shinobu, the Butterfly Mansion is our last line of medical defense—crucial to the Corps. How's its relocation going?"
Shinobu's smile widened. "Lord Ubuyashiki places great importance on the Butterfly Mansion. Last night, we prepared overnight, and we're part of today's first wave of transfers. Kanao, Sumire, Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho, along with our critical supplies, are already on their way. Aoi and I stayed behind to see if there's anything else we can help with."
Kyojuro nodded approvingly. "Well prepared, as expected."
After a brief wait of four or five minutes, Yōya appeared, accompanied by Horitake, Mitsuri, and Kiriya at his side. The four Pillars rose swiftly, exchanging respectful greetings.
Once formalities were complete, everyone took their seats. Horitake gave Mitsuri a subtle glance, signaling her to join the other Pillars. Though a bit shy, Mitsuri confidently took her place beside Shinobu.
Shinobu shot Mitsuri a knowing look. Muichiro paid it no mind. Kyojuro, familiar with Mitsuri, grinned as he pieced together her new role, clearly delighted. Only Tengen, puzzled, spoke up. "Who's this young lady? Why's she sitting with us?"
Yōya stepped in to clarify. "This is Miss Mitsuri Kanroji. Her strength is exceptional, and she was promoted to Love Pillar just yesterday. We haven't had time to announce it to the entire Corps."
"I see!" Tengen nodded, understanding dawning.
"Not only that," Shinobu added with a sly smile, "Miss Kanroji and Horitake-san have a rather special relationship."
"Oh, really?!" Tengen's eyes lit up, his flamboyant energy surging. He flashed Horitake a thumbs-up. "Impressive! Worthy of the Heaven Pillar!"
Shinobu's smile stiffened slightly. She'd almost forgotten—Tengen, with his three wives, was cut from the same cloth as Horitake.
Kyojuro's expression grew conflicted. Mitsuri had once been his Tsuguko, and he hadn't known about her and Horitake. He felt a twinge of offense—or maybe not. His emotions were a tangled mess.
The room's seating arrangement spoke volumes about their hierarchy. On one side, on the tatami mats, sat Mitsuri Kanroji, Shinobu Kocho, Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, and Muichiro Tokito—the five Pillars in a neat row. Opposite them sat three: Yōya in the center, Kiriya to his left, and Horitake to his right, their positions hinting at their authority and subtle status.
Yōya addressed the Pillars. "First, I have good news. Yesterday, Horitake helped lift the curse afflicting me. From now on, I'm free of its torment, and my health will gradually recover!"
"Really?!" Aside from Mitsuri, who already knew, the four Pillars erupted in joy. This was monumental news—truly fantastic!
Yōya's charisma had earned him the unwavering loyalty of the Corps, especially the Pillars, who revered him deeply. His worsening health and the deepening curse had long weighed on their hearts, a constant fear that they might lose their beloved leader. Now, with the curse gone, their relief was palpable.
Even the usually stoic Muichiro broke into a rare, heartfelt smile. "Lord Ubuyashiki's curse lifted—what could be better?"
Kyojuro and Tengen offered enthusiastic congratulations. "Wonderful! Now Lord Ubuyashiki's health will surely recover!" Kyojuro boomed.
"Once you're fully healed, my lord, you'll be absolutely dazzling!" Tengen added.
Shinobu's smile was especially warm. "Horitake-san, you've finally done something truly worthwhile."
Horitake's face darkened. Shinobu-nee, you really don't miss a chance to take a jab at me, do you?
Yōya waved for silence, his expression turning grave. "The next news, however, is bad—terribly bad. This headquarters has been exposed."
The five Pillars straightened, their faces serious, hanging on Yōya's every word, ready to act on his orders.
Yōya then briefly recounted the events of the previous night, the current situation, and Horitake's vision of the future.
------------------------------
If you like this story and want to read more, I've pre-posted 30–40 chapters on Patreon:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Your support means a lot to me.