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"Kaidō, my child—would you be willing to tell everyone about the mark on your forehead?"
"??"
The Hashira's curiosity was immediately piqued. They'd all assumed Kaidō's dragon-shaped marking was just a tattoo, like Tengen's face paint. But hearing the Master bring it up suggested something far more significant.
Their eyes turned toward Kaidō in unison.
Kaidō wasn't particularly surprised that Kagaya knew—after Shinobu had examined him, she'd reported the unusual mark to the Master. She'd sensed something different about it, something that wasn't quite a tattoo, though she couldn't articulate exactly what.
Kagaya had then asked his wife, Amane Ubuyashiki, to investigate. After a night of research, she'd uncovered records from the Sengoku period describing swordsmen who'd manifested similar marks. Unlocking these marks dramatically amplified the bearer's abilities.
Furthermore, when one person awakened a mark, others nearby would resonate and unlock their own. However, the records contained no information about how to trigger the marks—only one chilling detail: every marked swordsman died before reaching age twenty-five.
Understanding how Kagaya had discovered the mark's existence eased Kaidō's confusion. But it was immediately replaced by hesitation.
He'd hoped to keep this secret indefinitely. His plan had been simple: unlock his own mark, help eliminate all the Upper Ranks and Muzan, then disappear before anyone figured it out.
Then again, maybe this was inevitable. In the original timeline, Tanjiro had been the first to manifest a mark, and after investigation, everyone eventually learned how to trigger them anyway.
Kagaya seemed to sense Kaidō's internal conflict. "If you'd prefer not to share, that's perfectly acceptable. It's your right to keep this private. Whatever you decide, I'll respect your choice."
Kaidō took a breath. "Master, if this information can help everyone, I'll gladly share it. I'm happy to assist however I can. But..." His expression grew serious. "You're aware of the consequences of unlocking the mark, aren't you?"
His own mark was system-granted and carried no penalty. But everyone else? They'd be trading years of life for power.
"Yes. According to the records, every swordsman who unlocked a mark died before reaching twenty-five."
Kagaya's words sent shockwaves through the assembled Hashira. They looked at Kaidō with a complex mixture of sympathy, sorrow, and hope—hope that he might reveal the secret despite his shortened lifespan.
If unlocking marks increased combat strength enough to kill Upper Ranks, most of them would gladly accept a shorter life.
"What's with those looks? Who cares if I live past twenty-five or not? As long as we can kill that bastard Muzan Kibutsuji, it's worth it." Kaidō's voice carried absolute conviction.
"Exactly! If it means destroying Muzan, becoming a short-lived ghost is a small price!" Sanemi's agreement was immediate and fierce.
"Namu Amida Butsu. Indeed—if we can eliminate Muzan, I would have no regrets, even in death." Tears streamed down Gyomei's face as he spoke.
"Alright then. I'll explain how to unlock the mark. Whether you choose to pursue it is up to each of you individually."
Kaidō paused, organizing his thoughts.
"The conditions are extremely harsh. Your body temperature must reach thirty-nine degrees Celsius or higher, and your heart rate must exceed two hundred beats per minute."
"Can humans even survive those conditions?" Shinobu's medical knowledge made her skeptical.
"For ordinary people? Absolutely not. Just hitting thirty-nine degrees would render most people immobile, never mind maintaining a heart rate over two hundred. But for those who've mastered Breathing Styles, it's different. Under these extreme conditions, you can unlock your body's latent potential. The Breathing technique amplifies that potential and manifests as the mark."
"That's it? Doesn't sound too complicated!" Sanemi's confidence was immediate.
"Your simple-minded optimism is almost enviable," Giyu said flatly.
"What did you just say??"
"Nothing."
Kagaya raised a hand for silence, then turned back to Kaidō. "Child, thank you for sharing this knowledge. Your contribution to the Demon Slayer Corps cannot be overstated."
"You're too kind, Master. This is the least I can do. I'm glad I could help."
"Then today's meeting is concluded. I hope we can all gather like this again soon."
...
"Whoa. So this is the estate the Master prepared for me? Pretty impressive!"
After the meeting, Kagaya had arranged accommodations for Kaidō. Every Hashira received their own estate and a designated patrol region. Looking at his new home, Kaidō couldn't help but appreciate the gesture.
The Master really does look after everyone. Even something as simple as housing shows how much he cares about his people.
The estate featured a courtyard with decorative rock formations and a small pond. The house itself had two floors—the first containing a spacious living room and kitchen fully equipped with furniture, the second holding a master bedroom, guest room, and study.
Standing at the master bedroom window, Kaidō could see the Butterfly Mansion in the distance and a mountain stream beyond.
"CAW CAW! Southeast! Southeast! Suspected demon activity! Dragon Hashira Ryūjin Kaidō, investigate! Investigate!" Kuroha swooped down and landed on Kaidō's shoulder, delivering the mission briefing.
[Ding! New Quest Available.]
[Quest 1: Investigate the Cause of Missing Persons.]
[Rewards: Hyper-Awareness, Random Interdimensional Energy 1-5%]
[Quest 2: Eliminate Lower Rank Three—Wakuraba.]
[Rewards: Dragon Breathing Final Form, Enhanced Longevity Pills x12, Random Interdimensional Energy 5-15%]
[Hyper-Awareness: Allows you to sense all movement within your vicinity, enabling faster reaction times in combat.]
[Dragon Breathing, Tenth Form: Ultimate Art—Judgment Slash: Lock onto your target and unleash ten consecutive strikes at lightning speed with unpredictable trajectories. Power scales with user strength.]
[Enhanced Longevity Pills: System-modified pills that extend lifespan, eliminate negative side effects, and significantly reduce even curses.]
"A quest already? So there's a Lower Rank in my patrol zone?"
Kaidō didn't know much about the Lower Ranks. Aside from Enmu, most of them had been immediately executed by Muzan shortly after their introduction in the story. Information about their Blood Demon Arts was virtually nonexistent.
"Got it. I'm on my way."
His patrol zone, his responsibility. Time to investigate.
He grabbed his fox mask, strapped on his greatsword, and departed immediately.
...
Arriving at the town, Kaidō found a small tea shop to gather information. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, he stored his greatsword in his system inventory—walking around with a sword that size strapped to his back was a bit too conspicuous.
He found a seat and called out, "Boss, pot of tea please."
"Coming right up, miss!"
A vein popped on Kaidō's forehead. "Boss. I'm a guy."
"My apologies! I'm so sorry!" The owner bowed repeatedly.
...
A few moments later, the owner returned with tea and sweets. "Here's your tea, sir! The sweets are complimentary—my apology for the earlier mistake. You look unfamiliar though—first time in Higashino Town?"
The owner studied Kaidō's unusual outfit, clearly assuming he was some wealthy young master.
"Yeah, first time. I'm a traveling novelist—I collect strange and unusual stories for my writing. You wouldn't happen to know any interesting local tales? I'm looking for inspiration."
"A novelist! That explains the unique fashion sense—never seen anything quite like it!"
The owner leaned in conspiratorially. "Now that you mention it, there is something strange happening lately. People have been disappearing from town without a trace. The only clues left behind are piles of withered leaves and bloodstains."
He glanced around nervously before continuing. "It only happens at night. Everyone locks their doors and windows once the sun goes down—nobody dares go out after dark. Creepy, right? And listen—"
He moved even closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Some folks are saying it's demons. That the missing people were eaten by demons. So, uh, maybe don't go wandering around after sunset, if you know what's good for you."
"That is pretty interesting! Perfect material. Anyway, I've been traveling all day—I should find an inn and rest up. Here's for the tea and sweets. They were excellent, by the way." Kaidō paid and stood to leave.
"Come back anytime!"
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