Haruto took down the cloth bag hanging on Sora's leg, took out a well-wrapped potion bottle, and after thinking for a moment, put it in the storage cabinet on the wall.
He then took out a sleek, black Browning pistol from the drawer, wiping the dust from its surface with a velvet cloth. The new-era weapon gleamed with a chilling light.
Haruto had acquired the gun through a familiar Kakushi; a Browning and a more powerful double-barreled shotgun. They were originally meant for Genya, who had been interested in such things since he was a child, even aiming a brass slingshot at him the first time they met.
But Genya found the Browning too small and less powerful than the double-barreled shotgun. During experiments, he discovered that after consuming the flesh and blood of a demon, he could imbue the fired bullets with Blood Demon Art, making him even more attached to the double-barreled shotgun. Gradually, the more expensive Browning gathered dust in the drawer.
It wasn't until his last visit to the Swordsmith Village to see the chief that Hotaru Haganezuka introduced him to an master blacksmith outside the village. After Haruto ordered a batch of bullets that could be filled with Wisteria poison from this master, the gun finally found its best purpose in his heart.
Holding a nichirin blade in one hand and the Browning in the other, Haruto felt as if he stood between two historical ruts, experiencing a subtle sense of temporal dislocation.
After a moment of hesitation, he wrapped the gun in velvet cloth and tucked it, along with three rows of bullets, into the bottom of his backpack.
Pushing open the door, two young men waiting at the entrance turned around, facing the sunlight.
Sabito and Giyuu were going to the headquarters with Haruto today to attend their first Pillar Meeting.
Giyuu, for once, had changed into a new haori. He had added Urokodaki-sensei's water element to his old robe: one half with a vibrant blue water pattern, and the other half a dark red representing his past obsession. Under Makomo's insistence, he had also tied his messy black hair into a ponytail. Now, aside from his unapproachable, tense face, he looked like a handsome young man from every angle.
Sabito's haori had also been modified; one half was his original yellow, orange, and green tortoise-shell pattern haori, while the other half was a vibrant blue water pattern haori, just like Giyuu's.
It was Giyuu's request for them to share one haori, a clumsy way for him to express that he and Sabito combined were the complete Water Pillar.
"Won't Makomo be angry?" Haruto licked the corner of his mouth, not quite daring to say that the two haoris looked like matching couple's outfits.
Also attending the Pillar Meeting for the first time was Sanemi Shinazugawa. He stood under a tree in the headquarters' courtyard, his expression still fierce and indifferent, his Demon Slayer Corps uniform open to reveal his muscular physique and a chest crisscrossed with scars.
When Haruto walked in, he turned his head to glance at his side, didn't see the rooster-head, gave Haruto a slight nod, then silently turned his face away again.
It wasn't until Kanae entered that he turned his face back again, revealing a stiff smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Haruto" Kanae's voice carried a rare summer freshness: "Good morning, Mr. Shinazugawa, Mr. Tomioka, and Mr. Urokodaki It seems I arrived a bit late~"
"Yo, Kanae, can I come to the Butterfly Mansion for dinner today? I don't mean to treat you like a cook, but your pan-fried fish over rice is truly delicious~"
"Of course, Mr. Haruto. Isn't it a coincidence, Shinobu just bought some fresh fish from the market this morning. We were just wondering whether to make fish soup or pan-fried fish."
"Ah, fish soup is good too. Fry it until crispy, crush it into fine pieces, add a little milk, and simmer it in water until it turns milky white, then strain out the dregs. Use it to cook daikon radish, add soft tofu and shiitake mushrooms..."
"You could make a pot of fish soup and still have some left over for pan-frying, that wouldn't be bad either~"
The two were deeply engrossed in their discussion, chatting from lunch all the way to tomorrow's dinner.
Sanemi Shinazugawa's face grew darker and darker, Sabito was laughing, and Giyuu was spacing out.
"Oh, right, if I don't eat much for lunch today, could Sabito and Giyuu come along too?" Haruto rubbed his chin, his gaze subtly drifting towards Sanemi: "Would Sanemi like to come?"
"I don't..." Sanemi, startled, looked at Kanae. Just as he was about to refuse, Haruto cut him off: "Shinobu mentioned that there's a shop near the Butterfly Mansion market that makes delicious ohagi."
Kanae + Ohagi > Tsundere's bad temper. Sanemi swallowed his refusal and nodded obediently: "Then I'll trouble Flower Pillar-sama."
When Gyomei Himejima, rubbing his prayer beads, and Uzui Tengen, adorned with jewels and carrying two short swords, walked in, the courtyard became even livelier.
"It's been so long since I've seen such a vibrant Pillar Meeting," presumably recalling the tragic past where it was just him and Haruto, Gyomei shed tears again: "The number of Demon Slayer Corps' Pillar-level Swordsmen is increasing. This is wonderful..."
Uzui Tengen unexpectedly took a great liking to Sabito: "What magnificent hair color! To have pink hair is truly one of life's great fortunes! His silver eyes are also magnificent, and his colorful haori, handsome appearance—in short, he is absolutely flamboyant!"
"As for this fellow..." He scrutinized Giyuu: "His expression is too gloomy. It's hard for someone like that to find a suitable partner! If my judgment is correct, you're still single, aren't you!"
Giyuu: ⊙_⊙ Very accurate guess, but I don't want to reply.
Soon after, Hinaki and Nichika pulled open the sliding door, announcing the Master's arrival. The chatter in the courtyard ceased, and everyone waited in silence for the Master's appearance.
Only Sanemi Shinazugawa remained, his emotions unstable, his eyes burning red from the suppressed rage in his heart.
Thanks to Mr. Haruto's frantic journey and Miss Kochou's medical skills, Masachika, who had been deemed on the verge of death, had survived.
However, multiple internal organ injuries meant that even after recovering, he could no longer remain in the Demon Slayer Corps' Swordsman ranks. He could only choose to be reassigned to the logistical support unit, becoming a Kakushi.
Masachika, such a skilled Swordsman, had thus left the Swordsman ranks, no longer able to fight alongside him with a nichirin blade.
Rage burned in Sanemi's chest, especially when even a powerful Swordsman like Mr. Haruto knelt on one knee before the frail Master standing high on the steps. Sanemi Shinazugawa, clenching his fists tightly, raised his head and stared fixedly at Kagaya Ubuyashiki, whose face was half-covered in scars, his back ramrod straight.
The greetings to the Master, which had been rising and falling in the courtyard, gradually faded, and everyone's gaze fell upon Sanemi, who refused to kneel.
Cold sweat appeared on Sanemi's forehead; the gazes of those veteran Pillar-level Swordsmen made his teeth chatter slightly.
Damn it... Is this the pressure of a Pillar-level Swordsman?! So... powerful!
Even though Mr. Himejima's vision was poor, he could still accurately locate him, and his compassionate face held pity for him.
The Sound Pillar, who had been proudly telling adult jokes, reined in his smile, his sharp gaze shooting like lightning from among his jewels.
Kanae... Miss Kanae was no longer smiling either. She covered her mouth with her hand, a hint of confusion in her gentle eyes.
Only Mr. Haruto... He was watching him with great interest, seemingly anticipating something... Haruto's heart was now filled with both surprise and delight.
Yo!
Someone finally defied Kagaya to his face!