章 26: Chapter 26; Ubuyashiki
**Chapter 26: Ubuyashiki**
Kintaro walked along a winding mountain path, guided by the twin girls. One had short black hair, the other short white hair. They wore matching kimonos, each distinguished by a different color, marking their individuality despite their identical features. The path was a spectacle of nature's beauty, with white gravel underfoot and lush green grass on either side. The road was serene, near the mountain's summit, where the air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine.
Birds flitted among the branches, their songs adding a melodic backdrop to the otherwise quiet journey. Gentle deer grazed nearby, occasionally glancing up at the trio but showing no signs of fear. It was as if this part of the world knew only peace, untouched by the predators that lurked elsewhere.
The sky was a soft shade of blue, gradually brightening with the early morning light. The sun, still low on the horizon, cast long shadows and bathed everything in a golden hue. The tranquility of the scene was punctuated only by the sound of footsteps crunching on the gravel.
Kintaro, blindfolded, walked behind the twins, his mind racing with thoughts. *We've been walking for two whole days now. How can these two young girls endure such a journey on foot? It doesn't make sense. Whoever put them up to this task, I must have words with them. This isn't right. I'm hungry and thirsty; they must be feeling the same. Yet they don't complain, don't say a word, just keep walking in silence.*
After another hour and a half of silent walking, Kintaro felt the ground level out beneath him. They had reached the summit, and the ascent was over. As they walked on flat terrain for a few more minutes, he heard a welcoming voice.
"Irashaimase," someone greeted.
Kintaro couldn't see who it was, but the voice was friendly. They were members of the Kocho family, responsible for cleaning and performing various other tasks. Kintaro followed the sound of footsteps into a large building.
"You can remove your blindfold now," one of the girls said.
Kintaro untied the knot and blinked as his eyes adjusted to the light. Before him was a large wooden mansion, surrounded by trees with a stream running through the grounds. The white gravel paths and neatly maintained garden gave the place a serene beauty.
As his eyes adjusted, he saw a man sitting on the edge of the wooden platform, gazing up at the sky. His hair was black, and his face bore scars that seemed to be the result of illness. Beside him sat a beautiful woman with black hair tied in a ponytail and striking black eyes.
Kintaro felt a strange sense of calm looking at them. The twins continued towards the man, saying, "Welcome to Ubuyashiki's mansion."
Kintaro stood in place, pondering, *Ubuyashiki? Who is Ubuyashiki? That man looks ill, but who could he be?*
As he stood there, the twins sat down beside their father, saying, "Father, we've brought him."
Ubuyashiki turned his head towards Kintaro, his blind eyes seeming to look right through him. "Something extraordinary must have happened in the exam for you to be here. Where are you, my son?"
Kintaro was taken aback upon realizing that Ubuyashiki was blind. He quickly stepped forward, saying, "I am here, sir."
Kintaro was surprised by his own response, feeling an inexplicable connection to Ubuyashiki, as if he had known him for a long time.
"You are Kintaro Ozan, correct? Tokito Muichiro has told me about you. He told me everything. Honestly, I did not expect Muichiro to take on a student in his life, but here you are, after just a few short months," Ubuyashiki said.
Kintaro, realizing who he was speaking to, instinctively knelt and said, "I am not at that level yet. Though he trained me for three weeks, I couldn't defeat him."
Ubuyashiki smiled gently. "It is impossible to surpass him in just three weeks of training, but you were able to stand your ground against him, weren't you? Kintaro, you are truly remarkable. How many demons did you slay during the exam, and what was your objective?"
Kintaro answered calmly, "The objective of the exam was to survive for seven days in the mountain, facing demons and evading them. But that wasn't why I joined the corps. Demons are vile creatures, eating human flesh and drinking their blood, devoid of emotions or feelings. They must be eradicated entirely. So, I decided to kill every demon in that mountain that night. And that's what I did. Although there were others who killed some demons as well, I wasn't the only one."
Ubuyashiki smiled, while his wife, Amane, looked on in shock. It was unprecedented for someone to aim to end the exam in one night, which usually lasted seven days.
Ubuyashiki extended his hand towards Kintaro, saying, "Would you allow me to place my hand on your head for a moment?"
Kintaro, unsure of Ubuyashiki's intentions, complied. Ubuyashiki gently patted Kintaro's head and said, "Kintaro, you are truly a gifted and kind child. From this moment on, you are a Hashira. I can sense it; I feel safe with you here, the same sense of security I feel with the other Hashira."
Both Amane and the girls were surprised by Ubuyashiki's decision, but they knew his intuition was always correct. They accepted Kintaro as a new Hashira.
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