manynovel Page 113
Page 113
"I can't sleep..."
Shota gave a wry smile and looked at Ryosuke.
Ryosuke knew what he was thinking and shook his head with a smile.
"Even if you're going to argue with me, you don't need to curl it up like this, do you?"
"I'm not trying to argue with you."
As Shota spoke, his gaze deepened: "I'm battling with myself."
Ryosuke raised an eyebrow, waiting for what would happen next.
Shota's gaze calmed down a bit.
A teenager's growth requires the tempering of reality and the sedimentation of time.
Clearly, Shota experienced all of these things.
That's why he was able to speak to Ryosuke calmly.
"Rika and I... are just like most of the Demon Slayer Corps members."
"My parents were killed by demons, but I was lucky enough to be rescued. Then I trained continuously, passed the final test, joined the Demon Slayer Corps, and started wielding my sword to slay demons..."
"Just like Pear Blossom usually says, it's a boring and monotonous story."
Such tragedies were all too common in an era teeming with evil spirits, so common that they almost became a template for life.
When similar tragedies are repeated again and again, the heart-wrenching pain seems pale and numb to outsiders because of the sheer number of occurrences.
Like a mass-produced vehicle of tragedy, individual pain is submerged in the torrent of the times, appearing neither so unique nor so tragic.
However, this does not mean that the pain itself will be lessened in the slightest.
Shota continued, his voice steady.
"So my initial reason for wanting to become stronger was very simple: I wanted to protect Rika. She is my only family, and I can't lose her again."
He paused, then looked into the distance.
"But now, there are more people I want to protect."
"I want to protect my grandfather so that he can enjoy his old age with less worry."
"I want to protect my comrades who went on missions with me, and I don't want to see them fall in front of me again..."
Shota stopped talking at this point.
His gaze returned to Ryosuke's face, his expression utterly serious.
"And you."
Ryosuke pointed to his nose, his lips twitching uncontrollably.
Although he knew that Shota was acting out of pure sincerity, he still couldn't help but burst out laughing.
You're just bragging, buddy!
Do I need your protection?
After all, I'm someone who's sparred with Doma!
Shota's words sounded rather ridiculous.
"What a joke!"
Shota was a little embarrassed and angry at his laughter, so he nudged him with his elbow.
"Have you forgotten what you were like when you first came to Taoshan? You were like a weakling, always acting like you were going to die! Who knew you'd change so much and become such a monster!"
"Ha ha……"
Ryosuke touched the tip of his nose and gave an embarrassed dry laugh.
His success today is not only due to his own relentless training, but also largely thanks to the system's cheat code.
Shota gave a wry smile, his expression turning serious again.
“I know that even someone as monstrous as you has enemies you can’t defeat, gets injured, and faces life-threatening situations.”
"so……"
Shota clenched his fist: "I need to work harder and fight even harder."
"Whether it's catching up with you and Tianyuan, or just the struggle in my own heart, even if I can only improve a little bit, even if it seems insignificant to you..."
"But who knows, maybe one day, the extra sweat I shed, the extra effort I put in, will turn everything around?"
Chapter 108 What's the rush?!
Ryosuke was deeply moved.
It seems that while he was away from Momoyama, Jigoro provided him with a lot of psychological support.
However, it's always a good thing that Shota was able to figure things out and break free from the shackles of his inner conflict.
Besides, you have no right to laugh at someone who is working hard.
Not to mention that his efforts are aimed at protecting important people, including you.
This sentiment is profound and precious.
"Alright, stop with the empty talk."
Ryosuke stood up, grabbed a wooden sword from the shelf next to him, and tossed it to Shota.
"Come on, let me see what you've accomplished during this time."
Shota took the wooden sword and stood up nimbly.
"Exactly what I want!"
"Feel free to come over here."
Ryosuke stood there casually and waved to him.
The next moment, the sound of wooden swords clashing rang out on the training ground.
The two figures moved swiftly, colliding and clanging, creating a continuous series of sounds.
The sounds of fighting could be faintly heard in the nearby ward.
Kanae adjusted the position of the cushion for Rika and asked softly.
"Pear Blossom, did you call me here specifically because you're not feeling well? Or is there anything you'd like to eat? I'll have Xuanmi and the others prepare it."
Lihua shook her head.
Her face was still pale, but she was in much better spirits.
"No, the wound is fine, and there's nothing I particularly want to eat for the time being."
Pear Blossom paused for a moment, then got straight to the point.
"Kanae, I won't beat around the bush. I want you to take over the Pillar's position."
Kanae paused, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, which quickly turned into a gentle sigh of helplessness as she shook her head.
“Pear Blossom, this topic... I know you mean well, but the credit for slaying Wuxu…”
"Honors my ass!"
Pear Blossom interrupted her: "Do you think I'm just being polite to you, or that I'm overflowing with sympathy?"
She stared into Kanae's eyes and spoke, word by word.
"I'm letting you take over because you're qualified, and the Butterfly Mansion needs a pillar!"
"You saw my injury. Even if it heals, it won't be possible for me to recover to the point where I can perform high-intensity tasks in a short period of time."
"The Butterfly Mansion is an important medical base for the Demon Slayer Corps. Normally, you are the only person here who can exchange blows with a Lower Moon."
"What if, I mean just what if, another troublesome Lower Moon comes along? Should we rely on the regular crew members and the Hidden Ones? Or should we count on the other Pillars who are far away to help us in the short term?"
Rika's words silenced Kanae.
Pear Blossom paused for a moment, then continued.
"If you take over as Pillar, you will not only be able to legitimately mobilize more resources to protect the Butterfly Mansion, but you will also be able to better cultivate medical capabilities."
"Look at those new kids outside, look at the Shinazugawa family, and those wounded. The Butterfly Mansion cannot fall, nor can it be weak!"
She took a breath and said casually.
"As for me, I'll have plenty of opportunities to slay demons. It won't be difficult for me to accumulate enough merit points to kill fifty demons once I've recovered from my injuries."
Rinka's words were direct and reasonable, hitting the nail on the head regarding Kanae's long-standing concerns.
The Butterfly Mansion's current manpower is too weak.
Even though she and Shinobu Kocho tried their best, they were still far behind.
But once she becomes a Pillar, Kanae will be able to command more and stronger swordsmen.
Kanae nodded solemnly.
“I understand, Pear Blossom. Thank you. I will accept this position and work even harder to be worthy of it.”
Pear Blossom nodded and looked away.
It would be difficult for her to say those words to Kanae.
But when she thought about this guy's personality, Pear Blossom guessed that she wouldn't be able to take over the position of Pillar with a clear conscience.
However, these words were most effective when she said them to Kanae.
They were forced into this situation.
Kanae knew Rika's little secret, but didn't say much, quietly standing by her side.
Time flies by like a white horse.
After a month of recuperation, Li Hua is now able to get out of bed.
Kanae and Ryosuke also received Kagaya's decree at this time.