A monster

"He-Hello! I-I am the new Love Hashira, M-Mitsuri Kanroji! N-Nice to meet you! I-I am also your fan, Iinuma-san!" 

"Hello, nice to meet you too, Kanroji-san." 

Watching the cute pink-colored young woman before him, Isao extended his hand, and Kanjori quickly held his hands tightly, feeling how incredible her strength was. Even if her body was slender, she was packed with power. 

Still—

[You have acquired Mitsuri'Karoji's DNA.]

[Do you want to absorb it?]

That strength was going to be his. 

"But are you sure that you want to learn "Love Breathing" from me?" Kanroji asked nervously since she didn't think that her breathing style was powerful, as it was a branch breathing style from the "Flame Breathing." 

"Yes." Isao nodded. "Please teach me." 

'Please teach me... please teach me... please teach me...' 

Those words echoed in Kanroji's mind, and his sincere expression was imprinted before her eyes. 

"O-Okay! Leave it to me! I will teach you everything about "Love Breathing!" 

With such a sincere request, how could Kanroji refuse Isao? 

So Kanroji explained the "Love Breathing" to Isao and even demonstrated it. "It's like baam, boom, swish, then swap! It's like that! Do you understand?" 

"...." Everyone. 

However—

"It's like this, right?" Isao borrowed Kanroji's whip-like sword and then showed them the "Love Breathing" technique, showing them that he could learn this breathing style instantly. 

"A-Amazing..." Kanroji was dumbfounded and then clapped her hands, happy at Isao's mastery of her breathing style. 

Yet others felt numb by how strong Isao was. 

Monster. 

Yes, a monster. 

This was probably the most suitable word to describe Isao. 

If Tokito was a genius who could learn a breathing style in two months, then Isao was a monster who could learn all the breathing styles that he saw instantly. At that moment, he had mastered all the breathing styles except for "Water Breathing," "Thunder Breathing," "Moon Breathing," and "Sun Breathing." 

Except for "Water Breathing" and "Thunder Breathing," he didn't think that he could learn the "Moon Breathing" and the "Sun Breathing" as their records disappeared, so it was impossible to learn them. 

As for "Water Breathing" and "Thunder Breathing," the masters of the respective styles would come to teach him soon. 

"Tomioka, why don't you teach him?" Rengoku asked with doubt, but his face showed a bright smile as ever. 

Even Sanami and Iguro, who didn't like Isao the most, didn't hold back and taught this bastard everything, yet Tomioka did nothing, which caused everyone's dissatisfaction. 

Fortunately, Kagaya had called the master of the "Water Breathing," so they just kept quiet and didn't say anything since they were too lazy to talk with Tomioka, this unfriendly, selfish bastard. 

"Or you don't want to teach him?" Tokito asked calmly. 

When Tokito said this, everyone was looking at Tomioka, feeling that this guy was small-minded. Yes, Isao might have beaten up all of them, but even so, they were also a comrade who fought to erase the demon from this world. 

How could this guy be stingy and not teach Isao his breathing style? 

Giyu Tomika, the Water Hashira, only lowered his head, clenching his fists tightly. "...I am not suitable. I am weak. If I teach him, I am afraid that I will waste his time." He didn't think that he was talented even if he had become a Hashira, so he was afraid that he would destroy Isao's foundation due to his bad teaching. Moreover, instead of him, he felt that the master of the "Water Breathing," Sakonji Urokodaki, was about to come soon, and this person was more suitable to teach Isao. 

Isao didn't care about Tomioka's melancholy because he only needed Tomioka to give him an alibi. He had mastered their breathing styles through their DNA, not their teachings or demonstrations, but if he had someone to teach him, he would have an alibi as to why he could master all of those breathing styles, and because of that, he didn't care who could teach him.

"Amazing..." 

At the same time, no matter how many times they saw Isao, they were amazed and understood how he could stand above all of them. 

Not only was his physical ability stronger than theirs, but he was smarter and richer, and his skill on the breathing styles was much, much better, too! 

Yet, this also made Kagaya frustrated. It wasn't that he was jealous. Instead, he was frustrated that he didn't have a record of "Sun Breathing" and "Moon Breathing." 

Well, Kagaya didn't care much about the "Moon Breathing," but he cared much about the "Sun Breathing" since it was the origin of breathing and the beginning of all the breathing styles. 

While the others couldn't learn the "Sun Breathing" then created their own styles, Kagaya believed that Isao could master this breathing style. By then, Isao could have defeated Muzan! 

Unfortunately, they didn't have it, which made Kagaya so frustrated. 

'If only... if only... if only...' 

Somehow, Kagaya wanted to curse Yoriichi Tsugikuni and his ancestors for not leaving a record for the "Sun Breathing." In the end, Isao's time was limited. When Isao reached 25, he would die. 

While Kagaya felt that he might die before Isao, it would be great if Muzan could disappear before Isao passed away, so his children and future descendants didn't have to be burdened by this heavy task to lead everyone to hunt down a demon. 

At the same time, he hoped for the master of the "Water Breathing" and the "Thunder Breathing" to come as soon as possible. 

As for the thought that Isao would die at 25? 

Well, Kagaya had seen so many people pass away, so he was quite relaxed even if Isao would die at 25. Moreover, eventually, everyone would die, and he too would die soon, so why think so much? 

Instead, Kagaya had to do his best to provide everything so Isao could defeat Muzan as soon as possible. 

"Isao-sama, it's your drink." 

"It's your towel!" 

"Ah, do you need me to give you a massage?" 

After Isao mastered the "Love Breathing," Hinatsuru, he went to the room to rest, and Makio, and Suma quickly came to him, ready to serve him, but Shinobu pushed them all away. 

"Get away from him!" 

Shinobu pushed all three widows away, and she could tell that their eyes were filled with lust toward her brother-in-law. If she didn't watch them out, then she was afraid that they might attack him, and he would happily accept. Yet even if they did that, she somehow didn't have the power to criticize him, especially when she knew that he didn't have a long life. 

'25...' 

While Shinobu tried to be strong, her eyes were moist with tears when she thought that he would die at that time. She didn't think he was lying, especially when he had a lot of money and must have spent a lot of time asking about his body's condition. Moreover, with his talent, she didn't think that it was weird of him to have knowledge of the human body and medicine. Even without a doctor, he should be able to judge his body. 

"Don't cry so suddenly like that." 

Isao was speechless when Shinobu suddenly cried after she shooed away the three widows of Tengen, but then again, it was also understandable, especially when she knew that he was about to die at 25. 

Yet, that was the past. 

However, it was impossible for him to tell about his current situation since how could he explain that he wouldn't die, as he had gained the DNA of a demon and all of its capabilities? 

Silence is golden. 

Isao wouldn't tell anyone about it and just waited until he was 25. Then, he explained that his body was powerful enough to hold on and that he could live on. Moreover, this situation where everyone wished to help him with all of their might no matter what the expenses and powers were impossible to ignore as it was so delicious. 

Ah, it might seem like he was a bad guy for using their kindness for his own benefit, but that wasn't the case since everything was to defeat the Demon King, Muzan. 

In other words, still like before, Isao was a good guy! 

They might have misunderstood him as a selfish, evil, and greedy bastard, but now, they understood how kind he was. 

Isao was glad. 

At the same time, while Shinobu wanted to say many things to him, she couldn't, especially with how difficult his situation was. She looked at him again and cried again, but fortunately, his arms were wide and warm, so he could comfort her when she cried. 

Still, his situation also strengthened Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma's feelings. Isao's time was limited, and it was impossible for them to have any regrets! 

In other words, everything was good for Isao. 

Yup. 

A good person will always be rewarded, Isao thought. 

Still, when Isao wanted to comfort Shinobu, a commotion happened in the yard.

"No! I don't have a face-to-face Kagaya-sama! Let me die! Let me use this life of mine to apologize!" 

"......" 

What the fuck was happening?