After bidding farewell to Himejima Gyomei and the "flamboyant" Uzui Tengen, the Kakushi member led Shinichi to the innermost part of the Ubuyashiki estate.
Before the exquisite wooden house lay a small open space paved with white pebbles.
Smoothly rounded ornamental stones bordered a modest-sized pond, into which clear mountain spring water continuously flowed from the surrounding peaks.
Inside the pond, a small group of plump, round goldfish swam carefree and content.
Beyond the courtyard walls, wisteria flowers bloomed in abundance, their fragrance drifting through the air.
The scenery wasn't particularly extravagant, but it evoked a rare sense of peace and comfort.
"Arf! Arf!"
Marui-ni wriggled out of Shinichi arms and trotted to the edge of the pond, his little eyes gleaming excitedly at the school of goldfish—promptly scattering them in fright.
"Marui-ni! Stop messing around! Come back!" Shinichi quickly turned to scold the pup.
Just then, a gentle voice called from behind him.
"Shinichi?"
"Huh?"
Hearing his name, Shinichi instinctively froze before turning around.
Beneath the wooden eaves stood a slender young man, offering him a warm smile.
The man, who appeared to be around Shinichi age, wore a simple black robe tied with a plain yellow sash, layered with a white haori adorned with purple flame-like patterns.
His delicate, handsome features were slightly pale, but his light purple eyes shone brightly.
The moment the Kakushi member beside Shinichi saw the young man, he immediately dropped to one knee in reverence.
"Oyakata-sama!"
"Oyakata-sama?" Shinichi stared in surprise at the man before him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Shinichi-kun. I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps." The black-haired youth bowed slightly in greeting.
Indeed, standing before Shinichi was none other than the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps—Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
"You're the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps? But you're so young?"
Without thinking, Shinichi blurted out his disbelief.
In his imagination, someone capable of commanding an organization that had fought against curses and vicious Demons for centuries should at least be a wise elder in his sixties or seventies—or at the very least, a formidable leader in his thirties or forties.
But this young man, who looked no older than himself—what was this about?
Shinichi tone was abrupt. Before Kagaya could respond, the Kakushi member guiding him flared up.
"Hey!! You! How dare you speak to Oyakata-sama like that?! You disrespectful brat!"
Just moments ago, he had respectfully addressed Shinichi as "Moriki-san" yet now he was calling him a brat.
Regardless, this young leader certainly commanded deep respect, Shinichi mused.
"Now, now, Goto-san. You've done well. Please allow me to speak with Shinichi alone." Kagaya voice remained gentle.
At his leader command, the Kakushi member named Goto shot Shinichi a displeased glare.
Unfazed, Shinichi watched as the man stormed off in a huff, leaving the estate.
Soon, only Shinichi and Kagaya remained in the open space, facing each other—well, along with a certain excitable little Shiba Inu still darting around the pond.
"I said it's fine, but can someone as young as you really manage the Demon Slayer Corps as its leader?" Shinichi crossed his arms, his tone laced with skepticism.
Hearing Shinichi words, Ubuyashiki Kagaya didn't take offense.
Instead, he smiled gently, stepped out from under the eaves and sat down on the wooden steps, patting the space beside him to invite Shinichi to join.
Shinichi had no reservations about this seemingly frail leader and casually walked over to sit down next to Ubuyashiki Kagaya with a plop.
"Compared to you, Shinichi, I may indeed seem young. But in our Ubuyashiki family, this isn't uncommon. In fact, I became the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps when I was four years old" Ubuyashiki Kagaya said slowly.
"How old? Four?! Were there no adults left in your family?" Shinichi was utterly shocked.
A four-year-old becoming the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was practically unbelievable.
In most families, a four-year-old who didn't wet the bed was already considered mature, let alone leading an organization of thousands.
"My family was indeed gone. My father took his own life at nineteen, overwhelmed by grief over the sacrifices of our swordsmen. At that time, I was four—the last male heir of the Ubuyashiki family. So, I took on my father duty and became the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps." As he recounted this past, a trace of heaviness crept into Ubuyashiki Kagaya voice.
Shinichi froze.
He had just unwittingly poked at a painful scar.
Damn it! He really was the worst!
A wave of guilt surged in his chest.
Noticing Shinichi discomfort, Ubuyashiki Kagaya added.
"Don't misunderstand, Shinichi. I'm not saying this to complain—just answering your question. In fact, I've heard about your story from Elder Moriki, If we're talking about age, aren't you even younger than me? Yet what you've accomplished is remarkable—slaying countless Demons and even helping us eliminate Lower Moon Four. Truly remarkable."
After a moment of silence, Shinichi murmured "It's nothing, really. At first, I was just seeking revenge for myself. It was all selfish."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled gently, his eyes crinkling.
"Everyone has their own selfish motives—without exception. Even I have my own selfish desire to destroy Kibutsuji Muzan, the progenitor of Demons and lift my family curse. No one is born selfless.
Many swordsmen who join the Demon Slayer Corps share the same deep hatred for Demons as you do, Shinichi. In a way, they too fight for revenge—their own selfish reasons. But that isn't a bad thing, is it? We don't need to be too hard on ourselves. Doing our best is enough."
Shinichi was momentarily speechless.
To think he'd been comforted by this "little leader" who was around his own age—it was almost embarrassing.
"By the way, what did you mean earlier by 'curse'?" Shinichi asked, puzzled.
Back at the Moriki estate, the Old Man hadn't gone into detail about the Demon Slayer Corps.
As for the Ubuyashiki family, its ruling clan, Shinichi had only heard bits and pieces.
"This? That's a very old story." Ubuyashiki Kagaya maintained his gentle smile, his pale purple eyes gazing into the distance as if his thoughts had drifted back a thousand years.
A soft breeze blew past, stirring the young man black hair and faintly revealing a small patch of purple, festering skin beneath his forehead where the strands parted.
------------------------------
Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator