Chapter 200: Infinity Castle (Part 2)

"Impressive efficiency, truly worthy of the Ubuyashiki family." Despite it being late at night when the crow returned, the Demon Slayer Corps' hidden members quickly mobilized a large number of personnel to carry out the relocation work.

It was only at this moment that Daniel Davis realized that the villagers around the Butterfly Mansion and the Ubuyashiki estate were all hidden members. They would receive signals from these villages if demons suddenly attacked, giving the Butterfly Mansion and the Ubuyashiki family time to take refuge.

These surrounding villages were essentially the Ubuyashiki family's barriers.

"I'll stay here to observe the situation. Giyu will be outside to respond to my signal." After most people had left, Shinobu Kocho, Giyu Tomioka, Kyojuro Rengoku, and Daniel stayed in the Ubuyashiki estate, discussing how to deal with the upcoming events.

With a Demon Slayer turned demon, it was crucial to ensure the safety of the Butterfly Mansion and the Ubuyashiki family. Whether or not demons would attack, the Butterfly Mansion and the Ubuyashiki family had to be relocated.

However, the Hashira were unwilling to leave just like that. They decided to split into two groups: Daniel and Giyu stayed to gather intelligence, deciding whether to engage based on the situation.

Shinobu and Kyojuro escorted the Ubuyashiki family. Despite receiving the crow's message early and theoretically having enough time for a safe retreat, unexpected events could still occur. With the Hashira's protection, even if they couldn't defeat an Upper Rank demon, they could ensure the Ubuyashiki family and its heir could escape.

As for the others, they would be sacrificed if necessary.

Though cruel, this was the best option.

The Ubuyashiki family was quick to make decisions when needed, much like in the original story when Kagaya Ubuyashiki rigged his estate with explosives, severely injuring Muzan in the process. His wife and two daughters perished alongside him.

Kagaya had one son and four daughters, with his son being raised as a girl to avoid premature death due to the family's hereditary illness.

Despite the mysticism, this method worked. Just like how the Ubuyashiki family had to marry into the shrine maiden clan to ensure their children survived.

Given Kagaya's age and his five children, he likely married at fourteen.

Kagaya's daughters were all very cute. He was willing to die alongside them, but Daniel was not. Perhaps due to different mindsets, the idea of suicide or sacrificial death was normal to them.

Similar to the Roaring Hashira, who had contributed greatly to the Demon Slayer Corps but had to commit seppuku due to Kaigaku's transformation into a demon.

"Don't worry about me. With Thunder Breathing, I can escape quickly if anything happens." When Giyu expressed his intention to stay with him, Daniel shook his head.

Muzan and the Upper Rank demons weren't fools. They wouldn't send just one demon. Even two Upper Rank demons would require at least half of the Hashira to handle them, and those Hashira would need to have their Marks activated.

Currently, none of the Hashira had their Marks. Even if all of them fought together, they might not defeat Upper Rank One.

Without Tanjiro as the first to activate his Mark, the current Hashira couldn't achieve this feat.

Four hundred years ago, a group of Marked swordsmen emerged because of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. After his death, no other Marked swordsmen appeared for many years.

Shinobu and Kyojuro wanted to stay, but the Ubuyashiki family's safety took precedence. In the Demon Slayer Corps, the safety of the head was paramount.

Shinobu and Kyojuro soon pursued the Ubuyashiki family. Daniel remained in the estate, while Giyu hid at a distance.

"Four demons: Upper Rank One, Two, and Three, along with Kaigaku." Not long after the estate was emptied, the demons arrived. Despite Kaigaku's changed appearance, Daniel recognized him immediately.

"Kaigaku's power has increased since becoming a demon. He might barely qualify as an Upper Rank. It's a pity Muzan didn't show up."

"Upper Rank One, Yoriichi's brother, must know the Sun Breathing technique." Sun Breathing's training method was known to only two people now: Tanjiro and Upper Rank One, Kokushibo.

Sun Breathing was so overwhelming that even Kokushibo eventually had to modify it into Moon Breathing.

After studying numerous breathing techniques and observing the training of Demon Slayer members, Daniel speculated that Sun Breathing hadn't been passed down because no one could master it. Forcing the technique could cause physical damage, similar to how Genya Shinazugawa couldn't master any breathing technique.

Based on Yoriichi and Tanjiro's cases, Daniel guessed that one needed innate transparency to learn Sun Breathing.

Tanjiro was naturally transparent and could potentially activate his Mark without the age limit of twenty-five.

"I'd love to fight," Daniel thought, but ultimately refrained since Muzan hadn't appeared.

"Three Upper Ranks and Kaigaku. We need all nine Hashira to deal with them," Daniel reported to Giyu after retreating.

Hearing this, Giyu also abandoned any intention to fight. However, they didn't leave immediately, waiting instead for dawn. If the demons didn't retreat before sunrise, they could launch a surprise attack. For demons, sunlight was fatal.

In history, many demons had died from sudden exposure to sunlight, the most foolish way for a demon to die.

"Where do you think they're hiding?" Douma laughed, seeing the empty estate, and questioned Kaigaku.

"I don't know. Only the head of the Demon Slayer Corps knows that information. Even the Hashira aren't informed beforehand."

The Demon Slayer Corps had excellent confidentiality measures. Even hidden members only knew part of the truth, similar to Nick Fury's compartmentalized management of S.H.I.E.L.D.

One had to piece together everyone's knowledge to get the full picture. Even if a hidden member was captured and tortured, they could only provide partial information.

When Tanjiro traveled to the Swordsmith Village, he was carried by several hidden members who didn't know each other.

Compartmentalized management wasn't entirely flawed. Fury's downfall was due to the strategic scientific reserves being infiltrated by too many Hydra members.

Hydra's growth wasn't Fury's fault, nor Carter's. It was the fault of the American high command, who saw only the benefits, not the drawbacks.

They retreated just before dawn, as the first ray of sunlight touched the ground. Daniel and Giyu emerged from hiding.

"Room." Daniel immediately expanded the Op-Op Fruit's spatial field to survey the surroundings.

"They left something behind, hoping to track us to the headquarters. Lucky for them, I won't expose it." Sensing activity in the corner, Daniel didn't reveal it.

"We should go too." Daniel glanced at the corner before leaving with Giyu.

"We need all nine Hashira to fight them," Kagaya said after hearing the report in the new headquarters. 

"Rest now. Don't call the others back yet." After issuing several orders, Kagaya dismissed everyone but Daniel and his wife, Amane.

"Can you handle Muzan?" Kagaya asked directly.

"If he appears before me, I won't let him escape," Daniel confidently replied.

"Are you sure?" Kagaya asked again.

"How about I show you?" Daniel stood up, drew his Nichirin sword, and demonstrated. The blade turned red with flames, slicing through a large rock, leaving charred marks at the cuts.

Amane described the scene to Kagaya, who was blind.

"In that case, let's lure Muzan here." Kagaya, reassured by Daniel's strength, decided to draw Muzan out.

The Demon Slayer Corps had always hunted demons, but the Ubuyashiki family had always been the hunted.

Kagaya was willing to do whatever it took to eliminate Muzan in his generation, sparing his children from further suffering.

Amane fully supported him, earning Daniel's admiration for her resolve.

True to their word, Kagaya and Amane began preparations, first sending their son and daughters away. Even if the plan failed, their son would succeed Kagaya as the head, continuing the fight against Muzan.

"Shinobu seemed upset about Douma," Daniel noted after Giyu's report.

"Killing Douma should ease her mind. With Muzan being drawn out, it's time to act on Nezuko."

Daniel was surprised by Kagaya's quick decision to entrust him with fighting Muzan, admiring his courage.

In the original story, Kagaya made his decision because all the Hashira had activated their Marks and Lady Tamayo's research supported it.

"Sorry, Tanjiro. It seems you won't get a chance to fight." Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were training hard, but they might not be needed.

"Tanjiro will be very happy," Daniel thought, imagining Tanjiro's joy when Nezuko, turned demon, would awaken human again.

---

Meanwhile, Muzan conducted chemical experiments in Infinity Castle, listening to the reports of Upper Rank Four and Upper Rank Five.

"So, you still haven't found the Blue Spider Lily?" Muzan's face darkened as he set down his test tube.

For over a thousand years, Muzan had sought a cure for his inability to withstand sunlight. This limitation infuriated him.

He had no success until the rise of modern science. Muzan, deeply invested in scientific research, discovered a clue: the Blue Spider Lily.

This was the medicine the doctor had sought before Muzan killed him.

Muzan turned to biochemical

 research, assuming the identity of a boy with a sunlight allergy, enlisting scientists to study related medicines.

Muzan was the first to embrace technology, even owning a car.

"Forget it. We'll continue searching after we annihilate the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, it's time to meet the current head of the Ubuyashiki family."

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