Chapter 115: Recommendation

Roa still refused, but Kyojuro held onto his shoulder and said, "Handsome young man, think about it again. How about this? Come with me to meet the Master first? Join us, get a Nichirin Sword, and it'll make killing demons much easier."

Roa fell into thought. Kyojuro had a point. Moreover, the timeline was a bit early, and Roa wasn't sure where the Upper Moons were. After some consideration, he reluctantly nodded and said, "I can join you, but I'll need your recommendation."

Newly joined swordsmen wouldn't receive much attention from the Demon Slayer Corps unless they had a Hashira's recommendation.

Kyojuro nodded without hesitation and agreed immediately.

"A recommendation? No problem. I'll check the mountain later. If you really did kill Lower Moon Three, I'm sure that achievement alone will ensure you don't start as a low-ranking swordsman. That would be a waste of talent. So, handsome young man, are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

Roa felt a headache coming on. He smiled at Kyojuro and said, "Young swordsman, with all due respect, your strength might not be enough to be my teacher."

Kyojuro was momentarily stunned, but he didn't take offense. He continued loudly, "Handsome young man, I don't agree with that. You may have the strength to kill Lower Moon Three, and your future achievements will undoubtedly surpass mine. But right now, I believe I'm more than capable of being your teacher."

He straightened his back, exuding confidence. After all, even the Flame Hashira had his own pride.

Roa didn't say anything. The only way to settle this was through a fight.

After some thought, since he was planning to join the Demon Slayer Corps to get a weapon, there was no need to continue down the mountain. He said to Kyojuro, "I'll take you to where the demon was. It's already turned to ashes, but you might be able to find some clues."

Far away, in a dimly lit room within a traditional Japanese mansion, a tall, pale-skinned man with black hair and an imposing presence slammed a book onto the table in anger.

He roared, "Lower Moon Three couldn't even handle an ordinary human who doesn't know Breathing Techniques and doesn't have a Nichirin Sword? Are the Lower Moons this useless now?"

This man was Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of demons and the strongest demon. He could enhance demons by giving them his blood, and the strength of a demon depended on the amount of blood he bestowed. He could kill any demon with a single thought, and he held absolute control over all demons.

He sifted through Lower Moon Three's memories and muttered in surprise, "Such a fast Sword. But even so, a Lower Moon couldn't handle this? It seems it's time to purge the Lower Moons."

With that, Muzan fell into deep thought.

Meeting the Master wasn't something that could be done on a whim. Kyojuro had to relay the information to a Kasugai Crow, and then, based on the crow's response, it would be decided whether Roa could meet the Master.

Kasugai Crows were specially trained by the Demon Slayer Corps. They could speak and had a clear sense of self. The Demon Slayer Corps used these crows to communicate, relay information, and assign tasks, creating a highly efficient and intelligent network.

Every Demon Slayer Corps member received a Kasugai Crow upon joining. The headquarters used these crows to assign missions to members across the country, sending them to hunt demons.

At the same time, the crows would gather various pieces of information and send them back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, allowing the Master to stay informed about the latest events without leaving his home.

After Kyojuro finished investigating the mountain, he was even more impressed with Roa. Since it was almost noon, Kyojuro suggested they have a meal together.

Roa grinned. Since Kyojuro had offered, he didn't hesitate to accept the invitation.

Kyojuro was slightly surprised. He had expected the young man to decline, but as he pondered where to eat, Roa suddenly said, "Mr. Rengoku, are you looking for a Tsuguko?"

Kyojuro scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. "Yes, the number of Demon Slayer Corps members has been dwindling, and there are only so many people who can fight demons. I've been hoping to find someone to inherit my legacy."

Roa said, "Well, I know someone. She has great talent and a unique physique. I wonder if she could be of help to you."

Roa was referring to Kanroji Mitsuri. If Kyojuro took a liking to her, he could take her on as a disciple.

Kanroji Mitsuri's talent was undeniable. With her eight times the normal human muscle density, she could become a formidable swordsman with some training.

So, Roa led Kyojuro back to the small restaurant. The two of them moved quickly, reaching the shop in just three hours.

During the three-hour journey, Roa continuously asked Kyojuro about the intricacies of Breathing Techniques and soon mastered Flame Breathing.

However, although he had mastered it, Roa found that Flame Breathing didn't suit him well—it only matched him about 50%. The strange energy he had been trying to harness was now under his control, and every breath he took felt warm and powerful.

Roa also realized that Breathing Techniques provided a surprisingly significant boost to his abilities.

He had initially thought that the Demon Slayer world, being a relatively low-level setting, wouldn't offer much in terms of improvement.

But this assumption was wrong. Roa could now feel his energy flowing more smoothly and swiftly.

With every breath, a surge of power spread through his body, enhancing his physical strength.

Although the improvement wasn't exponential, Breathing Techniques had their own unique insights.

"So this is Breathing Techniques? It feels quite mystical," Roa thought.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Roa figured that since he had only spoken to Kanroji Mitsuri the previous day, she wouldn't have left home to join the Demon Slayer Corps so quickly.

After all, as the eldest daughter in her family, Kanroji Mitsuri had responsibilities at home. Although her family was well-off and her parents cared for her, joining the Demon Slayer Corps would require a discussion with her parents.

And such a discussion would likely not go well.

In the original story, Kanroji Mitsuri had probably snuck out of her home to join the Demon Slayer Corps.

Roa had come here to see if he could catch her.

If Kanroji Mitsuri was still around, she would likely be at the restaurant.

After all, she loved sakura mochi, and this was the only place nearby that sold it.

The middle-aged man was delighted to see customers entering and called out a welcome, but when he saw Roa, he was slightly surprised. "You're back?"

It wasn't surprising that the middle-aged man would say this. Kanroji Mitsuri's personality was similar to Kyojuro's—straightforward and often speaking without thinking.

After Roa left, the middle-aged man had only needed to ask a few questions to get the gist of what had happened.

He had assumed that Roa wouldn't return to the restaurant, and he had felt a bit disappointed. After all, such a handsome young man would have been a sight to behold in the shop.

After hearing Kanroji Mitsuri's explanation, the middle-aged man had shaken his head.

This silly girl had no chance. Kanroji Mitsuri's confession hadn't been subtle, and anyone with a bit of emotional intelligence would have understood her feelings.

Was Roa's emotional intelligence low? A young man as handsome as him probably had many girls around him. Someone else had likely beaten Kanroji Mitsuri to it.

But seeing her excited expression, the middle-aged man had swallowed his words. He decided not to crush her hopes.

Just when he thought the matter was over, Roa had returned.

And this time, he had brought a swordsman with a katana at his waist.

Roa smiled at the middle-aged man. "Hey, uncle, we meet again."

The middle-aged man gave Roa a strange look, coughed lightly, and said, "Yes, we meet again."

Roa smiled. "Sit down, Mr. Rengoku. The food here is quite good. I really like it."

Kyojuro nodded and said, "Then let me try it. I'm looking forward to it!"

Kyojuro's loud voice startled the middle-aged man.

It wasn't that Kyojuro was being rude—he just had a naturally loud voice, which could be a bit disruptive in the small restaurant.

The middle-aged man cautiously said to Kyojuro, "Um, could you speak a bit softer?"

Kyojuro awkwardly scratched his head and said, still loudly, "Sorry, uncle. I'm used to speaking this way."

The middle-aged man sighed and didn't say anything more, asking what they wanted to order.

Roa thought for a moment and said, "The usual for me. As for Mr. Rengoku, what would you like?"

Kyojuro thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have beef hot pot?"

The middle-aged man broke into a sweat and said awkwardly, "This… isn't a hot pot restaurant."

Kyojuro looked disappointed and said casually, "Then I'll have the same as the handsome young man!"

The middle-aged man nodded and went to instruct his son-in-law to prepare the food.

Since it was noon, the restaurant gradually filled up. The shop's reputation was clearly good, and it was soon packed.

Roa curiously asked about the Demon Slayer Corps, and Kyojuro patiently answered his questions.

Soon, the middle-aged man brought out the noodles. Roa glanced around and noticed that many of the customers were subtly watching him, especially the girls, whose eyes sparkled as if they were ready to approach him at any moment.

Kyojuro also noticed the attention and patted Roa's shoulder, still trying to lower his voice but failing. "You're quite popular, aren't you?"

The female customers blushed and quickly looked away.

Roa shrugged and started eating his noodles.

Kyojuro also took a bite and his eyes lit up. "Wow, this is unexpectedly good!"

The middle-aged man smiled proudly and said, "It's a family recipe, passed down for generations."

Kyojuro gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive!"

The middle-aged man's smile widened. He thought this loud guy wasn't so bad after all, aside from his eccentricities.

Roa slurped his noodles like soup and finished the large bowl in no time. Kyojuro did the same, even faster. They both put down their bowls at the same time, with Kyojuro exclaiming, "Delicious!" after every bite.

Despite his constant exclamations, Kyojuro still managed to finish before Roa.

Roa was slightly speechless. They both turned to the middle-aged man and said in unison, "Bring us ten more bowls."

They looked at each other, and Kyojuro said first, "Handsome young man, I didn't expect you to eat so fast."

Roa smirked and said, "I didn't expect your eating style to be so fast and so… unique."

Kyojuro disagreed. "For delicious food, you have to express your appreciation loudly."

Roa had no retort and simply nodded, continuing to eat.

The two of them devoured the food at an alarming rate, leaving the middle-aged man sweating profusely.

Looking at the towering stack of bowls in front of him, the middle-aged man's face turned bitter. If this continued, he was afraid his family's noodle supply would be completely depleted.

At that moment, a pleasant voice came from the entrance.

The middle-aged man's pupils contracted sharply. Could it be…?

He was right. It was Kanroji Mitsuri.

Kanroji Mitsuri called out excitedly, "Uncle, I'm here for one last meal before I… Huh? Brother Roa? You, you, why are you here? Didn't you say you had things to do?"

Roa paused mid-bite and looked up at Kanroji Mitsuri.

She was still dressed the same way, with bangs framing her forehead. Her pretty face was lit up with joy, and her light green eyes were fixed on Roa's.

Roa smiled at her and waved. "Kanroji Mitsuri, come here."

He pointed to the spot next to him. Instantly, Kanroji Mitsuri's already flushed face turned even redder. She walked over to Roa's side with some hesitation, sat down, and kept her eyes fixed on the table.

Kyojuro Rengoku, who had been focused on eating, glanced up at Roa and said something that made Roa want to punch him.

"Handsome young men are so lucky. They're so popular."

Kanroji Mitsuri, who was already shy, instantly turned into a steam engine.

Visible steam seemed to rise from her head.

Roa was also a bit curious. This was the first time he'd seen a "steam engine" in real life. It was kind of cute.

But cute as she was, there were still serious matters to discuss.

He turned his attention to Kanroji Mitsuri and said, "So, what would you like to eat? Oh, by the way, this big brother here is treating us."

Roa winked at Kyojuro.

Kyojuro was slightly taken aback but didn't say much. He figured this petite girl couldn't eat much, so he nodded in agreement.

Kyojuro said in his booming voice, "Feel free to eat as much as you want. I can handle the bill."

Kanroji Mitsuri's eyes lit up. She smiled brightly, her face still flushed, and said to Kyojuro, "Thank you! Then, uncle, please bring me 50 sakura mochi to start with."

Kyojuro paused mid-bite. He was starting to feel a bit uneasy, but his easygoing nature kept him from worrying too much. He continued eating his noodles.

In the kitchen, the middle-aged man and his son-in-law exchanged a look and sighed. The rolling pin in their hands became a blur as they quickly scooped large bowls of plain noodles from the pot, poured hot broth over them, sprinkled chopped green onions, and added slices of pork. A bowl of noodles was ready.

Although it was all mass-produced, the speed at which they cooked the noodles was still impressive. The problem was that the three prodigies sitting outside were devouring the noodles at an alarming rate.

The three of them ate in silence.

By the time Roa, Kyojuro, and Kanroji Mitsuri were satisfied and full, the middle-aged man was slumped in his chair, utterly drained.

The lunch rush was already busy, and with these three added to the mix, he was practically being worked to death.

Roa cleared his throat and continued speaking to Kanroji Mitsuri. "So, the man in front of you is the Flame Hashira. The Flame Hashira is the strongest swordsman who has mastered Flame Breathing. In short, he's incredibly powerful, and both his authority and strength are among the top in the Demon Slayer Corps."

Kanroji Mitsuri nodded somewhat cluelessly, while Kyojuro nodded solemnly and said, "That's right."

Roa continued, "So, you can become his Tsuguko. A Tsuguko is essentially a direct disciple. It'll be a convenient path for you in the future."

Kanroji Mitsuri nodded again, still looking a bit confused, while Kyojuro nodded and said, "That's right."

Roa smiled at Kanroji Mitsuri and asked, "So, what's your choice?"