Chương 45: The Hashira Are Shaken

"Lili..." The moment Lili opened her mouth, Cael pressed a finger gently to her lips.

"I know. You do not have to say it." They returned to the ruined church that served as the Familia's home and opened the stone door to the basement.

"This is Hestia Familia's home. It looks shabby right now, but it will not be long before Hestia Familia becomes one of Orario's top Familias. Every member will be strong like me." Cael sat on the sofa and looked at Lili, who had kept her head lowered the whole time. It seemed she felt guilty because his Familia was so poor and she had just tricked him despite that.

"Lili, when our goddess returns, join Hestia Familia. Stay with me." Lili lifted her head in surprise. Joy rose in her heart at once, but worry made her lower it again.

"But Mr. Cael, will Goddess Hestia really agree? Lili is only a Supporter with no strength, and Lili..."

"It is fine. Hestia is different from Soma. She is very considerate. I have a way to make Soma release your Familia contract. Leave everything to me." Cael confidently took all the burden onto himself, his lips curving. Lili looked at Mr. Cael, who had taken the mountain pressing down on her chest and claimed it as his own. Warmth spread through her entire body, and she made a vow in her heart. Even if she lost her life, she would stand beside Mr. Cael.

She would use everything she had to repay him, unwavering until death.

"Tonight, Lili should rest in the goddess's bed. Lady Hestia will not be back for the next two days." Cael spoke. The basement was too small. Having two people live here was already barely workable. Once the Hashira joined Hestia Familia, he would need to do something big.

"How could Lili sleep in the goddess's bed?" Lili ran to Cael's side and hugged his arm.

"Lili can squeeze in with Mr. Cael." Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Eh? I am still a normal guy, you know. You trust me way too much." Cael was shocked.

"Lili trusts Mr. Cael."

"Why do you trust me that much? Even I do not trust myself."

"Lili trusts Mr. Cael anyway." Cael nearly broke into a sweat. At the same time, in the world of Demon Slayer. At the Ubuyashiki estate, lantern light illuminated the wooden house, casting more than a dozen silhouettes through the paper windows. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Twelve figures sat in seiza on the floor. In front of them sat a refined young man whose face was half-covered in strange purple, orange-peel-like skin.

"Master, we only held the Hashira meeting earlier today. May I ask what important matter required you to summon us urgently again? More than anything, I am concerned for your health, since you are still awake this late." A short white-haired young man covered in scars like a berserker asked respectfully.

"Ah, Mr. Sanemi took the words I wanted to say. I did not get to say them in time." The girl with sakura-colored hair thought shyly to herself.

"My body is well. Thank you for your concern, my children. I am very sorry for disturbing everyone so late." The master's gentle voice entered the room.

"I called my children here in haste because of Kyojuro's mission. What happened during that mission may change the future of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Ah... A major event that may change the future of the Demon Slayer Corps. Mr. Rengoku's mission must have been deeply perilous." The tall man in monk's robes pressed his palms together. Tears flowed from his unseen eyes, as if he were mourning something.

"It seems Kyojuro made an unprecedented discovery. For Master to say it may change the Corps' future..." said the man with a white snake around his neck, touching the snake's head as he looked toward Rengoku in shock.

"I must listen flamboyantly to what the Flame Hashira experienced." The man dressed like a shinobi folded his arms with dazzling confidence. The others said nothing and simply looked toward Rengoku.

"Kyojuro, please tell everyone in detail what you experienced during this mission." The master spoke gently.

"Yes, Master." Rengoku stood and spoke loudly.

"This mission was extremely perilous. We encountered not only a Lower Rank demon, but also an Upper Rank demon."

"What?"

"An Upper Rank?"

"You encountered an Upper Rank? Then how strong was it? Since the Flame Hashira returned safely with those three boys, does that mean the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki are not much after all?" Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa asked urgently, eyes bloodshot as if he had rushed to a battlefield.

"Mr. Rengoku encountered an Upper Rank and still returned unharmed while protecting three children. He is so strong." Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji blushed and thought absentmindedly.

"Ah... To encounter an Upper Rank, protect innocent people, and still fulfill your duty. Mr. Rengoku, I respect you deeply." Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima spoke with tears in his eyes.

"That is not the case. The Upper Rank was extremely powerful. I was not his match. If Mr. Cael had not acted in time, I, the Kamado boy and the others who were exhausted after slaying the Lower Rank, and the innocent people who had fallen unconscious from the demon's Blood Demon Art would have met misfortune. I thank Mr. Cael with all my strength." Rengoku spoke loudly, full of energy, gesturing toward Tanjiro and the others behind him.

He delivered the whole report in a rush, and the amount of information packed into it was enormous. Every Hashira turned to the three boys.

"That's right. I, the great Inosuke, defeated that Lower Rank whatever. Cutting all those eyeballs felt great. I want to cut up more eyeballs, hahaha!" Inosuke put his hands on his hips and laughed proudly.

"I do not remember anything. I think I slept until morning." Zenitsu lowered his head and thought sadly, shivering as the gazes of all nine Hashira landed on his back.

"I must praise these three with all my strength. They are excellent and powerful Demon Slayers. I want to take them as my Tsuguko." Rengoku spoke with bright enthusiasm.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Rengoku. I will work hard." Tanjiro quickly patted his chest happily.

"Who is Mr. Cael? Is he the key to this emergency meeting? Someone outside the Demon Slayer Corps defeated an Upper Rank that even the Flame Hashira could not match?" Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, his expression as flat as ever, caught the most important point and asked.

"So the key is this person called Cael? Are there people outside the Demon Slayer Corps who can hunt demons?" Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro said.

"That is correct. Mr. Cael is extremely powerful. When I could no longer fight and was about to be killed, Mr. Cael fought the demon with all his strength and gave me time to recover my breathing. Then Mr. Cael and I joined forces and cut off the demon's head." Rengoku described the situation with gratitude and respect.

"Stronger than you, Flame Hashira?" Tengen Uzui asked.

"Mr. Cael is far stronger than I am. I respect him deeply. Also, Upper Rank Three did not die after his head was cut off. It is possible that Upper Rank demons are not afraid of beheading. This is a very important discovery." Rengoku spoke.

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

"What?" Every Hashira's expression changed in shock.