Ubuyashiki Kagaya held himself very low this time...
He is the core of the Demon Slayer Corps, the pillar deep within the hearts of all Ghost Hunters, including the Hashira.
In the original work, it was his death that led to the battle at the Infinity Castle, and it was his death that inspired all the Hashira, as well as Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Izushiro, to vow to fight Kibutsuji Muzan to the death.
With his bow, all the Hashira, including Gyomei Himejima and Shinazugawa Sanemi, fell silent....
Gyomei Himejima silently fiddled with his Nen Beads, and not far from him, at the corner of the wooden veranda, Tomioka Giyu, wearing a haori of red, yellow, and green, as the senior to Roy among the Nine Hashira, and the only one with a significant bond with him, quietly watched everything. For a moment, he too couldn't help but sigh.
He remembered that night on Sagiri yama, with his master Urokodaki Sakonji, his senior Sabito, his junior Makomo, and all the other disciples, they were all worried because of Eiichiro Oda's nature. It was certain at the time... that with Eiichiro's character, he would never bow to his Lord, but none of them would have thought that one day...things would be reversed, and it would be his Lord... the current Patriarch of the Ubuyashiki Clan, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps that has fought Evil Ghosts for nearly a thousand years, kneeling to solemnly bow to a boy...
Tomioka Giyu couldn't help but wonder if his master were here, would he take off that Celestial Dog Mask and reveal a stunned face beneath?
"That's right, the mask has already been cut by Eiichiro...."
Thoughts surged, bringing a breeze that brushed against the face...
Roy wore a white robe, a coarse linen shirt, with a ichimatsu patterned haori of green and black checkered style draped over his shoulders, just as when he left home, and on his feet were the sandals Kie Kamado had sewn stitch by stitch,
With a supporting hand, followed by a swift movement, he directly held onto Ubuyashiki Kagaya's arm, preventing him from truly bowing.
"Patriarch Kagaya, we are merely in a collaborative relationship, no need for such grand rites."
"It was cooperative before, now," Ubuyashiki Kagaya looked at the boy with burning eyes and smiled: "I believe Lord Eiichiro is more suited to lead the Demon Slayer Corps than I am."
"Cough cough cough..." Perhaps due to the vigorous action of bowing, or maybe the emotional fluctuations were too great, Ubuyashiki Kagaya could not stop coughing after saying just two sentences.
Tamayo promptly took out a handkerchief and handed it over. Ubuyashiki Kagaya took it and wiped his mouth, faintly seeing a stain of blood...
Roy discreetly circulated a layer of Nen, flowing through Ubuyashiki Kagaya's limbs and bones, his brow furrowing. He had anticipated Ubuyashiki Kagaya's poor health, but not this poor... his organs were weak, his blood and essence were depleted, his heart was like an old engine battered by years, unable to start no matter how much fuel was added, even....
He's unlikely to survive more than two years, assuming he doesn't self-detonate like in the original work.
"Sou sou..." Nen flowed like trickling streams into Ubuyashiki Kagaya's body.
This long-ailing leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was taken aback, feeling an unexpected warmth within helping him fight against the cold... Ubuyashiki Kagaya's nearly blind eyes trembled for the first time, smiling at Roy, saying: "At last, I've personally experienced the wondrousness of Lord Eiichiro."
"Is this warm current 'Divine Power'?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya savored that power, warm as spring, unlike the erosion of the [Curse], aged and frail, saying with not a little envy: "Let it be known to Lord Eiichiro, I'm not stepping down from leadership on a whim."
"Moreover, with your methods, you may have noticed that I don't have much time left."
Roy guided the Nen through Ubuyashiki Kagaya's veins and meridians, continuing deeper towards his heart, softly saying: "Just call me Eiichiro."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded; with Roy's Nen aid, he seemed to have more strength to speak, those milky eyes, glancing around, sweeping over Gyomei Himejima, Shinazugawa Sanemi, Tengen Uzui... and Tomioka Giyu and the other Nine Hashira, then spoke again: "To be honest with Lord Eiichiro, actually... I've longed to die... so I won't have to be tortured by the curse any longer..."
"But, dying is easy, living a wretched life is hard... I'm not afraid to die, but I can't bear my children and grandchildren continuing to be cursed, not living past 30 years, clearly having a good life ahead, to see a broader world, even if like an ordinary person to die of old age, at least... in my eyes, that's happiness...."
"Yet, because of Kibutsuji Muzan, because of him, my whole clan suffered, I can't bear it, I must kill him!"
"And you..." Ubuyashiki Kagaya tightly grasped Roy's hand, sincerely saying: "You are my hope, you are the hope of thousands in this world who, like me, have had their families destroyed by Kibutsuji Muzan!"
"My Lord..." Gyomei Himejima clasped his hands, tears unknowingly streaming down his face. He had lost the children he protected since childhood.
"My Lord..." Shinazugawa Sanemi bowed his head profoundly, his eyes fierce. He had lost his parents,
"My Lord..." Kochou Shinobu's beautiful eyes rippled with waves, tears faintly visible. She had lost her sister.
Then it was Tengen Uzui, Tokitou Muichirou, Izuki Kobane, Mitsuri Kanroji... Tomioka Giyu, he had lost his sister, lost Sabito, Makomo and all his fellow disciples...
Because of Ubuyashiki Kagaya's words, scars were unveiled... A sorrowful atmosphere spread... Apart from the Nine Hashira, all the present members of the "In" organization, and other departments of the Demon Slayer Corps, every single one harbored a deep-seated blood hatred against ghosts, against Muzan!