บท 36: The Moon Hashira

Looking at the hand that was stretched out towards her, Kiyomi had a grin on her face.

Standing up as a sign of respect, Kiyomi took Ubuyashiki's outstretched hand and gave him a few shakes.

"I accept."

But before Ubuyashiki can be happy that another powerful ally would be joining, Kiyomi poured a small bowl of cold water over his head.

"However, I would not be able to kill demons like the rest of my... colleagues because of my demon identity."

Nodding helplessly, Ubuyashiki knows that it would be troublesome if Muzan got the news that one of his demons has defected towards his side.

Keeping this spy by Muzan's side would be much more beneficial than using Kiyomi directly as a Hashira.

But even if Kiyomi would not be able to slay demons due to her special identity, Ubuyashiki knew that her strength was perhaps even stronger than the current rock pillar, who had almost reached the limit of the human body.

As he was about to inform Kiyomi of his decision, Kiyomi released a shocking piece of news.

"...But don't worry, I have information like where Muzan's stronghold and what his weakness is. In case you're thinking of using me as a spy, sorry, I already know everything about Muzan."

Ubuyashiki quickly lost his composure and excitedly asked:

"Is that true?! Then, where-"

Kiyomi held up her index finger over her dainty lips.

"Shhh~ Sorry, but I cannot tell you until it is time."

Ubuyashiki looked into Kiyomi's clear eyes.

"...."

Knowing the resolute look that he had seen on the many demon slayers he had met, Ubuyashiki knew that he would not be able to convince Kiyomi to tell him about Muzan before she tells him voluntarily.

Sighing at the thought of being able to end the curse that Muzan had brought upon his family, Ubuyashiki saw the light of hope of ending this curse within his generation.

"Well then. If that's the case."

Ubuyashiki asked Kanae:

"Kanae? Would you kindly lead Kiyomi to the mansion that was built across from the butterfly residence? That will be her new home from now."

Kanae, startled that Ubuyashiki suddenly called her, stuttered:

"Eh? Oh! Of course! Come on Kiyomi, I'll take you to your new residence!"

Standing up, Kanae took Kiyomi's hand and dragged her away.

Before Kiyomi had left the range of Ubuyashiki's hearing, she didn't forget to remind Ubuyashiki:

"Right, one more thing. if you are afraid that Muzan would be able to get information about the headquarters from me, I'm very happy to inform you that he would not be able to do that."

"How is Muzan not able to get information from me? Because I have already broken the blood curse he set on me around a few years ago. So unless I tell him by meeting him face to face or telling another demon, he will never know the information in my mind."

"Also, can you get someone to bring me around twenty batches of iron, Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand Scarlet Crimson Ore, and bring around thirty logs please! Thanks!"

Just as he heard Kiyomi's voice, Ubuyashiki had already sat down and was holding a cup of tea in his hand.

His face stiffened and he nearly spilled the tea he held in his hands.

"What does this girl need so many materials for? And... Muzan can get information from demons that he had set a blood curse on? Or do all demons have this curse?"

Feeling a little uneasy, Ubuyashki planned to strengthen patrol and defenses around the headquarters.

Meanwhile, after Kanae had left the sight of Ubuyashiki, she breathed a small sigh of relief and completely relaxed, turning back into her usual sunny self.

"... Follow me Kiyomi! I'll take you to your new residence! It's right across from mine, so you can come over at any time you want!"

To Kiyomi, this sounded silly. After all, Kanae's residence is also the Butterfly Estate, or Butterfly Manor, which is also where the wounded are treated.

So how could she possibly come and go at any time she wants? Unless she isn't bothering the patients, otherwise, the doctors and nurses would definitely chase her out.

Voicing out her doubt, Kiyomi asked:

"Isn't your residence also a hospital? How could I possibly come over at any time? Wouldn't I be disturbing you guys?"

Kanae replied: "Oh! It's not a big problem! As long as you don't visit us during one of our operations, it'll be fine. Even if you do, we have people to tell you when you would be able to visit."

"Anyway, what breathing do you use, Kiyomi? Maybe you can accept a few Tsuguko since you cannot directly go on missions to slay Demons?"

Giving some suggestions, Kanae was already starting to think about what Kiyomi could bring to the demon slayer corps.

Giving Kanae a funny look, Kiyomi replied:

"That's not going to be possible, Kanae. I use the breath of the moon, which is one of the original breathing techniques. I can, however, help you out with rehabilitation training if you want."

Having heard a new term that she had never encountered, Kanae became confused.

"Breath of the moon? Original breathing technique? So will people call you the Moon Hashira in the future?"

Giving Kanae a clearing idea of what an original breathing technique is, Kiyomi explained it simply:

"An original breathing technique is the first-ever breathing technique that gave birth to all the other breathing techniques."

Understanding the term, Kanae supplemented the missing parts with her imagination:

"Oh! ...So does this mean that every breathing technique that the demon slayers use originated from the breath of the moon?"

"Uhm.... not exactly. The current breathing techniques that you guys use originated from the breath of the Sun. The breath of the moon has no branch breathing techniques."

Muttering the last part of her sentence, Kiyomi said:

"Well, unless you count that auxiliary breathing technique I created to be part of the breath of the moon."

As Kanae was about to continue firing questions at Kiyomi, they arrived at the manor that Ubuyashiki was talking about.

"Here we are! That entire estate is yours now Kiyomi! There won't be anyone there, but it is cleaned every week, so it's definitely clean. Come over if you need me okay? I'll also visit sometimes when I'm free!"

Kanae waved goodbye as she walked into the butterfly estate.

Kiyomi also waved goodbye.

"..."

As Kanae left her vision, Kiyomi turned to look at the manor that was now her residence.

"...What should I call the manor? Can't say moon manor every time I refer to it can I? That would just be embarrassing..."

Walking in, Kiyomi first inspected the entirety of the manor before creating a plan.

A plan to renovate the entire place that is.

Even though the manor was completely cleaned and had everything she would need to live, she still decided to renovate it.

Smiling evilly, Kiyomi spoke to herself:

"Hehe... let's get started after the materials arrive. After all, I'll be living here for another few years. It'll be nice to have a personal training ground, an onsen, and the decoration really just isn't up to par."

It seems like Kiyomi also has a lot of shopping to do.