After Himejima Gyomei, Shimizu also shared his insights and experiences.
Following him was Uzui Tengen.
He introduced the concept of the Score to each Pillar, which could essentially be considered a simplified version of the Transparent World.
The Transparent World is difficult to master, and so is the Score, but the latter is significantly easier than the former.
Those who become Pillars are naturally talented, all being exceptional individuals with a good chance of learning it.
Even if they ultimately fail to master the Transparent World, learning the Score still allows them to steadily increase their overall combat strength by a level when entering the Score state during battle.
"Sounds like a lot of trouble."
Shinazugawa Sanemi commented.
"But it's worth dedicating time to learn."
Iguro Obanai chimed in.
"The Twelve Kizuki have suffered more than half their numbers in such a short time, including the loss of Upper Moon Two and Upper Moon Five. Given Muzan's personality, the Demon Slayer Corps will face the most insane retaliation."
"In fact, I suspect that the emergence of so many Twelve Kizuki this time is due to our consecutive killings of several Lower Moon demons in the past year. Muzan wants to strike at our strength in a short period to prevent this from happening again, only to encounter Shimizu and Gyomei, who possess the greatest strength, and Kyojuro, whose strength has greatly improved due to the Sun Breathing."
"I believe that with Muzan's nature of rewarding those who obey and punishing those who defy, he will definitely launch even more insane retaliation, and may even take action himself."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya said to everyone.
The Demon Slayer Corps has been opposing Muzan for hundreds of years, and no one understands Muzan's personality better than they do.
"This is our opportunity, a chance to truly eliminate this millennium-old scourge!"
"However, now that the Twelve Kizuki have suffered heavy losses, if I were Muzan, I would definitely want to take this opportunity to wipe us out in one fell swoop. But no matter how powerful Muzan is, he is still just one person, and he will definitely replenish the Twelve Kizuki."
"This interim period is our best opportunity to improve our strength, and the only opportunity, but we must also prevent Muzan from allowing other Twelve Kizuki to continue causing trouble, and prevent our strength from being diminished."
Speaking so much in one breath made Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who was already terminally ill and physically weak to the point of needing assistance to walk, pant heavily.
"Shimizu, Gyomei, and Tengen, please organize the training of the Pillars during this time and try to get everyone to master the Transparent World."
"Also, as I just said, in case of Twelve Kizuki causing trouble, to avoid our strength being weakened, the following missions will require two Pillars to team up. Now that most of the Lower Moon demons have been killed, the demons dispatched by Muzan are likely to be Upper Moon demons. Even though you are the strongest generation of Pillars in terms of average strength in so many years, you still need to team up in pairs to ensure safety."
"Also, Amane, next week's selection trial on Fujikasane Mountain…"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya continued to elaborate on his arrangements.
Although this person was physically weak and only in his early twenties, his ability was indeed remarkable, managing the large Demon Slayer Corps in an orderly manner.
The ten Pillars were divided into groups: Himejima Gyomei and Tokito Muichiro, Iguro Obanai and Kanroji Mitsuri, Shinazugawa Sanemi and Uzui Tengen.
Tomioka Giyu and Rengoku Kyojuro, who rarely disliked him, and the last group was Shimizu and Kocho Shinobu.
"Why do I feel like your arrangements have a deeper meaning?"
Amane asked her husband, looking at the Pillars leaving the Ubuyashiki estate.
"That's natural. Gyomei is experienced and has already mastered the Transparent World. Muichiro has extraordinary talent, and being by his side makes it easiest to master the Transparent World. Giyu has a twisted personality, and only Kyojuro doesn't mind it. Sanemi is inherently impulsive, and Tengen, as a former ninja, is cautious, making them the most complementary. Iguro is also a very introverted child, and putting him together with the cheerful Mitsuri will make it easier for him to get along."
"As for Shimizu and Shinobu… to be honest, Shimizu is different from the other Pillars. He is a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, but he is also a nobleman and a member of the government, not a retainer of the Ubuyashiki family."
"Moreover, he is too powerful, single-handedly killing two Upper Moons. If we want to end Muzan in this generation, we must rely on his strength, so I want him to establish more ties with the Demon Slayer Corps."
Ubuyashiki Amane's face showed a look of realization.
"Shinobu and Shimizu… their ages are indeed very close, but have you discussed this matter with Shinobu?"
"No need to say. Haven't you noticed that Shinobu looked at Shimizu differently today?"
"That's true. Shimizu can be considered a hero saving a damsel in distress this time, and he also helped Shinobu's sister avenge her death. Plus, Shinobu has reached this age, so she might really have such thoughts.
This kind of young, handsome, powerful, and wealthy man is also a good match for Shinobu."
In fact, besides Kocho Shinobu, Kanroji Mitsuri was also a backup choice, because she joined the Demon Slayer Corps to find a husband.
However, if that really happened, Iguro Obanai would probably go crazy.
…
…
Half a month later.
Night, Saitama Prefecture, Mount Kumotori.
Three figures quickly traversed through the forest, and soon intense fighting sounds were heard.
Shimizu stood on a tree, not taking action, watching the scene of the battle below in the distance.
He stood quite far from Kocho Shinobu, so as not to disturb her.
The sensing range of the Transparent World is closely related to mental strength, which Shimizu has developed as a puppeteer.
Although not as exaggerated as the Byakugan, it still has a range of hundreds of meters.
Kocho Shinobu gracefully dodged the attacks of a misshapen demon that could temporarily fade into the shadows, but she didn't strike, only blocking its escape when it tried to run away.
It wasn't until a faint light appeared on the horizon, burning the shadow demon, that Kocho Shinobu unleashed her full strength, piercing the shadow demon's head with a sword, injecting concentrated wisteria poison.
In the slowly rising sunlight, the shadow demon's head was affected by the wisteria poison, rapidly decaying, and finally turning into ashes amidst wails.
"Still couldn't succeed."
Kocho Shinobu sighed.
"The Transparent World is not so easy to unlock. A mere misshapen demon, its movements are incredibly slow in your eyes, unable to activate your instincts. But at least, it seems you have mastered the basics of the Score."
Shimizu, facing the rising sun, jumped down from the treetop and came to Kocho Shinobu's side.
