Luke snapped out of the harmonious atmosphere and smiled. "I want to travel and see this vast world for myself."
"Traveling, huh? That is a fine choice."
Kagaya said with a smile. He had already decided to provide Luke with some travel funds, though he would not bring it up in front of everyone. He was afraid Luke would refuse.
Though Luke had only been with the Demon Slayer Corps for a short time, Kagaya Ubuyashiki felt a special affection for him. Luke's arrival had broken the thousand-year deadlock and ultimately brought the demon-slaying cause to its conclusion.
Now that his family's curse had been lifted, they too had benefited from it. Kagaya regarded Luke, along with every member of the Demon Slayer Corps, as a great benefactor of the Ubuyashiki family.
Originally, he had thought someone like Luke, who knew nothing but battle and killing, would struggle to survive in the rapidly changing society ahead. That was why he had wanted to look after him. But since Luke had already decided to travel, Kagaya could only offer his support.
After the meeting ended, the nine Hashira went their separate ways. Some shed tears before parting. Years of fighting side by side had forged unbreakable bonds between them.
Through their conversations, Luke gained a general idea of everyone's plans for the future.
The Sound Hashira planned to return to his hometown and retire there with his wives. He intended to reform the ninja village, abolish its cruel rules, and allow its people to welcome a new age of freedom.
The Serpent Hashira and the Love Hashira planned to open a small restaurant. Apparently, their relationship had progressed quickly, and they were already preparing to marry. They even invited everyone from the Demon Slayer Corps to their wedding.
The Flame Hashira returned home to inherit the family estate. He planned to help the local people reclaim wasteland and develop the local economy.
The Stone Hashira was returning to his old temple. He wanted to restore it, and besides chanting sutras and praying to Buddha every day, he would help the farmers at the foot of the mountain with heavy labor.
Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, planned to find his teacher. Since he was so quiet and aloof, everyone initially thought he was going back to live off his teacher. In truth, Giyu wanted to care for his teacher in old age before setting out to travel.
With Kagaya's support, Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, opened a hospital with Tamayo. Many of the children from the Butterfly Mansion joined them as well. Other than treating patients, they spent their days conducting medical research.
The Wind Hashira had finally stopped fighting with his younger brother. After the two brothers had a heart-to-heart talk, they embraced and wept bitterly, finally releasing all the grievances and guilt they had kept bottled up for years.
Afterward, the Wind Hashira and his brother returned to their hometown. With money provided by Kagaya, they bought a plot of farmland and began a life of farming.
The Mist Hashira had recovered his memories after being thoroughly won over by Tanjiro's friendship. He was no longer so absent-minded. Since he was still young, he chose to attend school. Whether he would be bullied there was another question entirely.
As for Tanjiro and the other younger generation who had yet to become Hashira, each of them had their own fate ahead.
Inosuke decided to return to the mountains that had raised him and become a forest ranger, protecting nature. Tanjiro and the others were shocked by his decision. They all thought Inosuke would probably get lonely soon and come looking for them to play.
Tanjiro had originally wanted to return to his hometown with Nezuko and continue the family trade of chopping firewood and selling charcoal. In the end, however, he did not get to return to that remote poor village. Sakura Tsuyuri made him stay.
Eventually, he and Nezuko opened a small restaurant beside the hospital where Sakura worked. Thanks to Tanjiro's outstanding cooking, they quickly won over the local diners, and business flourished.
Nezuko became the restaurant's charming hostess, serving tea and food. Their happy little life had begun to take shape. The only issue was that Tanjiro, dense as steel, still seemed not to have confessed to Sakura. Nezuko hinted at it to her brother more than once, but Tanjiro always acted as though he did not understand.
Oh, and speaking of Nezuko, since Tanjiro and Nezuko had stayed in the big city, Zenitsu stayed as well. He had never given up on pursuing Nezuko, though Tanjiro seemed to have been especially displeased with him lately.
Maybe older brothers were all the same. Even Tanjiro could not escape it. Nezuko herself, however, had not rejected Zenitsu's pursuit.
Of course, Zenitsu was not idle in his daily life. Through Kagaya's introduction, he became a local letter carrier—an early postal worker. He worked for a state-run enterprise, and the pay was quite good.
And because Zenitsu delivered letters at astonishing speed, he earned praise from countless people. Apparently, he would be getting a raise soon.
During holidays, Zenitsu also returned to Mount Peach Blossom to keep Jigoro company. He told his grandfather stories about his demon-slaying adventures. Whenever he mentioned Luke, Zenitsu's account became far more exaggerated, but Jigoro only laughed heartily. He loved Zenitsu's dramatic storytelling.
Luke also returned to Mount Peach Blossom once and stayed there for a week, treating it as his final farewell to the old man.
Jigoro was deeply moved by Luke's return. He had never expected his eldest disciple to become a Hashira within days of descending the mountain, then wipe out the Demons in just two months.
He was immensely proud of his eldest disciple. Every day he saw Luke, he wore a smile. Only when he occasionally remembered that his second disciple, Kaigaku, had died at the hands of Demons did he feel a little sad.
But as a trainer, he had lost quite a few disciples. He would not remain trapped in sorrow forever. Besides, Zenitsu was truly skilled at cheering people up, so Mount Peach Blossom was always filled with laughter.
After seeing off the nine Hashira, Luke left Kagaya's estate as well. Tanjiro and the others were waiting for him outside.
"Senior Brother Luke, are you leaving?"
Zenitsu and Tanjiro asked in unison.
Luke nodded. "All feasts must come to an end. Muzan is dead, but our journeys have only just begun."
He rubbed Zenitsu's head. "Take good care of yourself. Take good care of our teacher. And one day, take good care of your family too."
Zenitsu's eyes shimmered with tears as he nodded. "Don't worry, Senior Brother!"
After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Will you come back someday?"
Under Tanjiro and the others' gazes, Luke considered the question for a moment, then smiled. "If fate permits, perhaps we'll meet again."
He had conquered this world. After killing Muzan, he had obtained its World Core. If he wished, he could return here. Through his ownership, he could even guide and alter certain historical developments in this world.
But Endspace was not a place where he could remain comfortable forever. He had already rested in this world for quite some time, and the road ahead was still long.
Zenitsu watched Luke's retreating back and felt as if he had suddenly grown up. There would no longer be a towering tree sheltering him. Just as his senior brother had said, everyone had their own journey through life, and his path was one he could only walk himself.
As daylight spread across the sky, Luke's figure vanished beyond the horizon.
From then on, only the legend of the strongest demon slayer remained in this world.
…………
As the sensation of weightlessness faded, Luke's feet touched solid ground again, and his vision cleared. He had returned to his room.
[No obvious injuries detected on the Pioneer. Begin settlement?]
Luke walked to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of cola, and drank after opening it. Then he sat down on the sofa. "Settle it."
[Beginning derivative world reward settlement...]
Derivative World: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Difficulty: lv.5–15 (Easy–Nightmare)
World Exploration: 89.9%
[Beginning settlement of Pioneer No. 008's mission completion...]
[All main quests complete. Reward: 10,000 Endspace Coins, World Core.]
[Beginning side quest settlement: Demon Slayer...]
[The treasure chests rewarded by the side quest have been stored by the Pioneer. Total obtained: 83,489 Endspace Coins.]
[Beginning hidden quest settlement: Tamayo's Research...]
[This quest was completed to an exceptionally high degree. Pioneer has obtained the highest-tier reward: Other Shore Demon Bloodline Item.]
[Beginning hidden quest settlement: Perfect Ending...]
[Perfect Ending achieved. Pioneer has obtained 10 free attribute points.]
All quests were completed outstandingly, raising this world's overall evaluation.
Beginning overall evaluation of the Pioneer's mission world...
The Pioneer's Explorer Mark level is below this world's overall difficulty level. Evaluation increased. Pioneer experience increased.
Overall Evaluation: S+
Obtained one S-rank Honor Medal. This medal may be used to exchange for special privileges.
[Detected that more than three of the Pioneer's attributes have naturally broken through their rank barriers. The advancement trial has been waived this time. Attribute-cap rewards are available. Please claim them at the Enhancement Hall.]
Pioneer level increased to lv.13.
[Based on the Explorer's overall evaluation, four of the following seven rewards may be selected.]
A. 15 free attribute points
B. 40,000 Endspace Coins
C. Legendary Random Equipment Chest (compensation for Muzan's drop)
D. Purple Random Item Chest (guaranteed maximum-rarity item)
E. 15 Small Inheritance Crystals
F. Special Title: Demon Slayer
G. Purple Random Equipment Chest (guaranteed maximum-rarity equipment)
Luke looked over the rewards. After thinking for a while, he first checked the details of the Demon Slayer title.
[Special Title: Demon Slayer]
Title Rank: A+
Title Origin: A title created after Pioneer No. 008 killed large numbers of Demons in the world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, then ultimately slew the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, and the people spread tales of the Pioneer's deeds.
Title Effect 1: While holding this title, the Pioneer deals an additional 20% true damage to all targets commonly defined as demons, devils, evil entities, or spirit-type beings.
Title Effect 2: A holder of this title will naturally receive -1,000 reputation with factions of demons, devils, evil entities, and the like upon entering a world, while receiving +1,000 reputation with their opposing factions. In certain worlds, the holder may also choose a specific starting identity.
Title Description: A legendary Demon Slayer, about to venture into the myriad worlds.
Luke studied the title's description thoughtfully. Though its name was Demon Slayer, its effects covered an exceptionally broad range. It essentially included demons, devils, monsters, ghosts, and spirit entities. As long as a target met the criteria, cutting them would grant him 20% additional true damage. That was a massive bonus.
As for why it worked against entities beyond Demons, Luke guessed it had something to do with the mechanism through which the title had been created.
In the Demon Slayer world, Endspace had activated a reputation system. By the time he left that world, the passage of time had pushed his reputation past ten thousand, reaching the Epic rank.
He guessed that the Demon Slayer Corps members would pass down his story generation after generation. As those stories spread among ordinary people, he would effectively become a local myth and legend.
Once someone became a myth, the stories naturally grew wildly exaggerated. Later generations had never seen a Demon and did not know what a Demon like Muzan was truly like. They would probably assume Luke was a powerhouse who could slay all manner of monsters and evil spirits. That was why the Demon Slayer title's effective range had expanded.
Luke did not know whether his guess was right, but he felt that he should probably build up more reputation in future worlds. That would help him obtain powerful titles.
As for whether he should choose this title, the answer was obvious. True damage was rare, and its scope was far from narrow. Against enemies within that scope, this title was incredibly powerful. Better yet, it did not even need to be equipped to take effect.
After deciding to take the title, the remaining choices became easy. Luke had earned a huge amount of Endspace Coins from side quests and was flush with cash, so 40,000 Endspace Coins no longer interested him.
For the same reason, he ruled out the purple-quality chests. Even maximum-rarity purple equipment was probably worth only around 30,000 Endspace Coins, making it worse than simply taking the currency. The item chest might possibly yield a more valuable purple bloodline item, but that kind of gamble was too unreliable.
So he decided to choose options A, C, E, and F.
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