"Oh! Good afternoon, everyone!"
Seeing everyone look at him, Takumi didn't show the slightest nervousness, still observing Kagaya Ubuyashiki with a smile.
"Is this Kagaya Ubuyashiki? He's really been tormented by the curse beyond recognition!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, in front of Takumi, had neat, medium-length black hair. His face, wrapped in bandages, was severely disfigured, and he was blind.
But even so, a smile still lingered on his lips, with not a trace of pain on his face.
"What a resilient leader. No wonder the Demon Slayer Corps members respect him so much. His charisma is truly off the charts!"
"Hehe, Mr. Takumi, it's my first time visiting, and I'm being rude. Unfortunately, I am blind and cannot see your true face. Please, have a seat!"
Hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, a servant nearby brought a cushion and placed it in front of Takumi, then bowed slightly and withdrew.
Takumi unceremoniously sat cross-legged on the cushion.
"My dear husband, Mr. Takumi has taken his seat!"
Amane Ubuyashiki, with her white hair and delicate features, whispered a reminder into her husband's ear.
"Hehe, in that case, let's get straight to the point, Mr. Takumi, what do you think?"
"Alright, the guest follows the host's lead. Let's start right away."
Takumi replied directly to Kagaya Ubuyashiki's inquiry.
"I read Kanae's letter. She said you could help the Demon Slayer Corps kill Kibutsuji Muzan. Is that true?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki went straight to the main topic, asking the question he most wanted to know right from the start.
"Yes, it's true. Kibutsuji Muzan is nothing to me. No matter how deeply he hides, I can find him and kill him!"
"But I want to know what I can get for helping you eliminate Kibutsuji Muzan?"
Takumi wasn't a selfless good Samaritan. He could agree to Kanae Kocho's request and meet with Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
But helping for no reason would make him seem cheap. Besides, he was still thinking of taking the entire Demon Slayer Corps with him.
"Then, Mr. Takumi, what do you want? As long as Kibutsuji Muzan can be killed, I'll give you my life if you ask for it!"
Listening to Takumi's words, Kagaya Ubuyashiki replied with a determined expression.
"Master!" * 9
Upon hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's reply, the Hashira present all gasped.
"Master! If it requires your life, then I would rather go and fight Muzan myself!"
Rengoku Kyoujurou, the Flame Hashira, shouted anxiously.
"Yes, Master, such a victory would not be flamboyant at all!"
Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, quickly followed.
The other Hashira present also expressed that they would rather fight Muzan themselves than have Kagaya Ubuyashiki exchange his life for Muzan's death.
"Uh... I don't want your life. I want the Demon Slayer Corps, including all members, yourself included!"
"What, you bastard!"
The hot-headed Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, couldn't help but stand up and move to attack Takumi, who was speaking so presumptuously.
Seeing this, Takumi's eyes narrowed slightly, and a terrifying pressure instantly swept through the entire room.
Except for the Ubuyashiki couple and Kanae Kocho, whom Takumi intentionally spared, everyone else was pressed down by the pressure, unable to move.
Their kneeling posture also turned into prostrating on the ground.
"What! I can't breathe!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa, pressed to the ground, spoke with difficulty.
"So heavy, damn it, I can't move at all!"
Tomioka Giyuu, the Water Hashira, was also pressed down, unable to move.
"Mr. Takumi, please calm down first!"
Seeing this, Kanae Kocho quickly spoke up to plead.
"Are you all taking yourselves too seriously, and me not seriously enough! I'm speaking with your Master, is it your turn to interrupt?!"
Takumi meant, your boss hasn't even spoken yet, and you, a bunch of subordinates, are already shouting to kill and fight.
If he didn't teach them a lesson, they wouldn't know how many eyes the Horse King has.
In fact, Takumi himself hadn't realized that his actions were becoming increasingly overbearing. This might be the inevitable shift in mentality after gaining power.
"Mr. Takumi, please calm your anger first. I apologize to you on their behalf!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, supported by his wife, stood up and bowed deeply to Takumi.
Seeing this, Takumi withdrew his pressure. He still had a trace of respect for someone who could view his own life and death so lightly.
The air in the room instantly lightened, and everyone gasped for breath.
"I'll give Master Kagaya some face! You're not well, so please sit down quickly!"
"Thank you for your understanding!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, relieved to be forgiven, slowly sat back down with his wife's support and said:
"Mr. Takumi, do you mean you want to gain the loyalty of the entire Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Yes, you can understand it that way."
"If Kibutsuji Muzan is eliminated, there will be no more demons in the world, and the Demon Slayer Corps will have no reason to exist. What use would you have for the loyalty of the Demon Slayer Corps then?"
"Actually, it's like this..."
Takumi explained the situation of the Slime World and why he needed the Demon Slayer Corps in a way they could understand.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki, having understood Takumi's meaning, spoke:
"So, you mean you plan to establish a country in that world, but you currently lack talent, which is why you need our Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Exactly. Moreover, if you go to that world, you can live a new kind of life. In that world, there are countless guys like Muzan!"
"And I can also cure your body, which has been ravaged by the curse. What do you think?"
Hearing Takumi's words, Kagaya Ubuyashiki pondered for a moment, then asked the Hashira below:
"How do you all feel? If you don't want to go, I won't force anyone!"
"Master, your decision is my decision!"
"Your subordinates swear to follow Master to the death!"
Hearing their Master's question, the Hashira present all expressed their willingness to follow Kagaya Ubuyashiki to the Slime World.
Takumi, having understood the implication in Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, asked:
"So, it seems you've made up your mind?"
"Yes, I've decided. Perhaps going to a new world is also a brand new beginning!"
Hearing this, Takumi stood up, walked to Kagaya Ubuyashiki, extended his right hand, and said with a smile:
"Then, please take care of me from now on, Master Kagaya!"
Feeling the right hand in front of him, Kagaya Ubuyashiki also stood up with his wife's support, extended his right hand, and gently grasped Takumi's right hand, saying warmly:
"Please take care of me, Mr. Takumi!"
Seeing this, the Hashira all rose, then knelt on one knee, lowered their heads, and shouted:
"Please take care of us from now on, Lord Takumi!" * 9
"Hahahaha! Everyone, stand up. I don't have so many rules; there's no need to constantly kneel and bow!"
How to put it, Takumi could crush his enemies without a second thought.
But towards his own people, he was actually quite approachable, even a bit chuunibyou in personality, a typical otaku personality.
Takumi responded gently to the Hashira who were bowing and pledging loyalty.
Just now, Takumi's actions had made these Hashira think he was a very serious person.
Now, discovering that Takumi's personality was so approachable, everyone couldn't help but smile. Among them, Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, sincerely apologized to Takumi:
"I am deeply sorry, Lord Takumi. I was rude just now. Please forgive my disrespect!"
Looking at Sanemi Shinazugawa in a dogeza pose in front of him, Takumi squatted down and gently patted his shoulder, saying:
"Hey, I've already forgotten about what happened just now! Alright, I forgive you, stand up!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Hearing Takumi's words, everyone present burst into laughter.
After a while, the scene gradually returned to calm. After everyone sat back in their positions, Takumi slowly spoke:
"Then, let's discuss how to take down Kibutsuji Muzan!"
Hearing this, everyone present sat up straight, looking at Takumi with serious expressions...