The is an AU Hashira named the Light Hashira
...
Edo Castle, Shogunate.
Oboro sat in a kimono in the hall where singing and dancing performances were taking place. Exquisite cakes and drinks rested on the square table before him.
A group of performers sang and danced, accompanied by monotonous string music. The women wore white powder makeup, which Oboro did not appreciate.
Many important figures of the shogunate filled the room around him. Some were retainers, and others were military generals. However, the person who attracted the most attention sat in the front row of the crowd.
He was a descendant of Tokugawa,
, the current "king."
As he watched the high-ranking shogunate officials indulge in their debauchery, Oboro set down his wine glass. After the geisha performers left the stage, he slowly stood and walked forward. "I apologize, but I'm not feeling well. I won't stay here and spoil your enjoyment."
Everyone turned to look at him, displaying a range of emotions.
The head of the Tokugawa family showed no anger and let Oboro leave.
Those present had all heard that Oboro had been weak and sickly since childhood. Rumors circulated that he had nearly died of an illness at home not long ago and had only narrowly escaped death.
One of Oboro's direct elders was also at the gathering. Thanks to this person, Oboro enjoyed considerable influence and standing.
The Oboro lineage was one of the major contributors to the unification of the Tokugawa clan and the establishment of the Edo period.
After leaving the palace, Oboro listened to the restless noises behind him, a cold expression settling on his face.
Though interested in the Demon Slayer power system, he had no desire to become entangled in political affairs.
Unlike the Hunter world, in this world, the power system and political structure were completely unrelated.
Nevertheless, Oboro knew everything he needed to know.
During the Edo period, the country closed itself off from the outside world, promoting a rigid class system and excessive criminal laws. The oppressive atmosphere was palpable.
It was no wonder that rebellions occurred frequently throughout the land.
The shogunate alone executed nearly two thousand prisoners every year.
This figure does not include those under the jurisdiction of other authorities. Once imprisoned, prisoners faced torture through extremely cruel methods.
Wrongful imprisonment was commonplace.
Additionally, the shogunate's finances were depleted and facing serious deficits. Those in positions of power reveled in their class's superiority and were unable to extricate themselves from it.
No matter how one looked at it, the shogunate was coming to an end.
"We still have to do what we should do. After all, we have to live a long time," Oboro murmured to himself.
A few days later, he left Edo Castle and returned to the pleasure district of Yoshiwara.
Several sedan bearers carried him on foot.
It would be a while before the main plot unfolded. Oboro's plan was simple: increase his lifespan by refining his body and conserving his energy.
Just like Netero in the Hunter World, it was possible to live well over a hundred years, perhaps even two hundred.
The methods Oboro used to strengthen and nourish his body were beyond the understanding of the people of this world.
Though he could overcome some of this world's limitations, there were still boundaries he couldn't cross.
The dimensional difference was significant. In the Hunter World, Oboro could easily live for hundreds of years, but that might not be possible here. If his methods proved insufficient, his only option would be to continue using Muzan's blood.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Oboro suddenly raised his eyebrows, a playful smile forming on his lips.
They were traveling along an official road when a black bird appeared in the sky.
A crow.
"Being targeted?" Oboro mused, his interest piqued.
In Ubuyashiki Kuno's eyes, Oboro had become a demon. Though it was daytime, hiding in the sedan chair made him look suspicious.
Ubuyashiki Kuno was an exceptionally intelligent person.
The only contribution he could make to the Demon Slayer Corps was his wisdom. Unable to contribute physically, he could only devise intellectual strategies.
He introduced breathing techniques to the Corps. Based on what Kagaya and Rengoku witnessed, Kuno's keen mind allowed him to gauge Oboro's true power.
"Even so, you still insist on attacking me?"
It wasn't difficult for Ubuyashiki to find him; the clan was intimately familiar with the shogunate's affairs.
"Is this the will of the Demon Slayer Corps?" Oboro asked softly.
The situation intrigued him.
Though he hadn't seen any members of the Demon Slayer Corps, only a crow, he had already sensed their murderous intent.
"Even if it's like an egg hitting a rock, we will never back down.
We must give everything we have to bring evil to its knees. This is our unshakable stance and determination."
Most of the resolve he had encountered in the Hunter world stemmed from individual determination. The Hunter world depended heavily on personal strength. Even organizations like the Hunter Association and groups of Nen users couldn't unite as a cohesive force. Everyone remained fundamentally "selfish."
Had the Hunters united like the Demon Slayer Corps, Netero's fate might have been different.
In the Hunter world, there were too many powerful individuals with strong wills, but no true "collective" bond existed. The Phantom Troupe didn't qualify; that wasn't their way.
Moreover, each member of the Phantom Troupe harbored their own thoughts and ambitions.
It was Chrollo's exceptional charisma, leadership, and powerful will that drew the individual wills of others together.
At its core, the group remained a collection of "individualized" wills moving toward a common goal.
Ironically, however, a rare will of inheritance had emerged in the relatively small, low-level world of Demon Slayer.
The primary reason for this was the group's different background and setting.
Throughout the day, Oboro remained in his sedan chair, only occasionally resting beside the bearers when they took breaks.
Two maids handed him water and food.
As night fell, they approached their lodging place.
The Demon Slayer Corps had made their move.
First, dark shadows flashed along both sides of the road, accompanied by faint sounds.
Chiyoko and Rina, who were walking alongside the sedan chair, couldn't help but glance sideways.
After looking around, they found nothing unusual.
Their group had no guards because Oboro didn't require any. Although they weren't concerned about their master's safety, encountering bandits or robbers would still be problematic.
When they looked back, they saw an extremely light and graceful figure descending from the night sky. It was a woman with long braids.
Her fluttering coat emitted a colorful glow under the moonlight, dazzling and beautiful.
She resembled a great bird as she lightly touched the roof of the sedan with her toes. This seemingly gentle movement contained terrifying power and instantly broke several of the sedan's shoulder poles. The sedan crashed to the ground with a resounding bang.
The sedan bearers fell to the ground, miserable.
Almost simultaneously, two individuals approached from the left and right.
They swiftly knocked out the sedan bearers and maids, abducting them in an instant.
The entire sequence took mere seconds. On the empty road, only Oboro's damaged sedan and the woman standing on it remained.
"Pillar of Light, Sayuri.
Well, Lord of the Northern District Magistrate's Office, you're remarkably calm. Have you accepted your fate?" Sayuri tapped the wooden board with her toes, a cold sneer on her face.
Without another word, a stream of light appeared in her hand.
The slender blade of the sword pierced the wooden board and entered the sedan chair.
The handle offered no feedback from striking a physical object.
"No one?"
Sayuri immediately realized her target wasn't in the sedan and her eyelid twitched involuntarily.
How was that possible?
Before making her move, she had locked onto the aura inside the sedan.
The sedan's curtain fluttered slightly, and the sound of rustling fabric came from nearby. Sayuri glanced to the side, her pupils constricting.
Looking up, she saw a man wearing a black haori standing a few meters away and smiling at her.
So fast!
Sayuri's scalp tingled with unease.
"Impressive. Is this the power of inherited will?" I truly underestimated you," Oboro said with a smile.
Despite having only the slightest amount of Muzan's cells remaining in his body, this Pillar could sense them.
Attacking him meant she was certain he wasn't fully human. This perception and intuition were difficult to achieve through mere practice.
Even Oboro sometimes failed to notice the faint, strange aura emanating from his body when he wasn't concentrating.
Oboro had no intention of explaining his current situation.
He neither needed nor wanted to explain himself to these people, nor did he want to waste time doing so.
Three individuals stood on the road before him, with three more behind.
Among them were Giyu and Rengoku.
Seven Pillars in total.
"I see. All of this generation's Pillars have arrived. Seven in total," said Oboro, smiling.
They had mobilized the entire elite fighting force of the Demon Slayer Corps, determined to execute him.