Chapter 14 - 14: 14: Former Flame Hashira

(≧∇≦)ﾉMany thanks to Ian Tringolo for becoming the first patron of this book!???????? _____ "F-Father!" The way Senjuro addressed the man confirmed Takeo's suspicion. This drunken man really was the former Flame Hashira—Rengoku Shinjuro. Since the man had once held the title of Hashira, proper respect was still due. With that in mind, Takeo respectfully bowed and said: "Are you Rengoku Shinjuro-san? I'm Kamado Takeo. I came here by recommendation to seek a cultivator—" "Get lost." Shinjuro cut him off bluntly. Drinking heavily, he spoke with open hostility: "Just some snot-nosed brat, and you think you can join the Demon Slayer Corps? Don't kid yourself!" "..." "Father! You're drunk! Kamado-san came here to see my brother… Please, go back inside!" Seeing how tense the atmosphere had become, Senjuro quickly stepped forward to defuse the situation. But Shinjuro wasn't having any of it. He roughly shoved Senjuro aside and barked: "You little brat—are you saying I'm inferior to Kyojuro?!" "I—I didn't mean that at all!" "You, that brat, even Kyojuro! You're all just talentless nobodies! And you want to join the Demon Slayer Corps? Stop dreaming! Go home and sleep it off!" As he spoke, Shinjuro took another swig from his sake bottle, the stench of alcohol filling the room. Takeo, who had been silently observing from the side, looked visibly displeased. It wasn't Shinjuro's words that bothered him—it was his actions. Seeing Senjuro thrown to the ground, Takeo's expression turned cold. He stood up and said firmly: "Talentless nobodies? I'll have to disagree with that. Let's set aside Kyojuro-san, who became a Hashira. I personally mastered a Breathing Technique in less than half a quarter of an hour and used it to kill a demon on the spot. Is that something a 'nobody' could do?" "What did you say, you brat?!" Shinjuro paused for a moment, stunned by Takeo's claim. Then he stepped forward, sloshing his sake bottle angrily as he shouted: "Don't spout nonsense! Mastered a Breathing Technique in under fifteen minutes? Who do you think you are—the founder of the original Breathing Styles?!" "I have no interest in arguing with a drunk. Everything about my situation is written in the letter of recommendation. And for the record, that letter is meant for Kyojuro-sama—not for you—" Faced with someone openly hostile toward him, Takeo saw no reason to remain polite. His tone was calm, but the way he spoke made it sound like a thinly veiled mockery as he addressed the man: "—Former Flame Hashira." "Ah…" Senjuro froze when he heard that. The next moment, he rushed forward and grabbed Shinjuro's arm, trying desperately to stop him. But Senjuro's strength was too feeble—he had no way of holding Shinjuro back. In a blur, Shinjuro closed the distance between them and grabbed Takeo by the collar, yanking him forward until their faces were inches apart. "You little brat—what's that supposed to mean?! Are you looking down on me?!" "Father! Kamado-san didn't mean it that way, please—!" "I did mean it that way."Though startled by Shinjuro's sudden speed, Takeo stood his ground and stared back without flinching, speaking each word with deliberate clarity:"I do look down on a drunk who beats his child and does nothing but drown in alcohol—" BANG! The moment the words left Takeo's mouth, Shinjuro's fist came crashing down on his forehead! Shinjuro's strength was considerable. Even if he seemed to be holding back somewhat, the blow was still enough to leave Takeo dizzy and seeing stars. "Father! Please, stop!" Seeing Shinjuro raise his hand, Senjuro panicked and tried to intervene. But before he could say more, Takeo's indignant voice rang out: "What's wrong, former Flame Hashira? Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you want to lash out? How disgraceful." "You little brat!!!" "If you really need to vent your anger on a kid who's not even a full-fledged Demon Slayer yet, go ahead. I just wonder—if word of this gets out, what will it do to the Rengoku family's reputation?" Even with Shinjuro's hand clamped around him, Takeo showed no intention of backing down or apologizing. On the contrary, he poured more fuel on the fire. But it had to be said—his words hit the mark. Shinjuro's raised fist froze in midair, suspended for several seconds without coming down. He glared viciously at Takeo, still held tightly in his grip… then suddenly, a wide, twisted grin spread across his face. "Very good, you little brat… You've succeeded in pissing me off." Thud. Shinjuro threw Takeo to the ground, then looked down at him and said, "You just said… you mastered a Breathing Technique in under fifteen minutes?" "That's right. Is there a problem with that?" Takeo stood up from the floor, lifting his head to meet Shinjuro's gaze without backing down. Shinjuro turned to Senjuro and said: "Teach him Flame Breathing. I'll give you thirty minutes. If he can use Flame Breathing to defeat me after that—then forget Kyojuro, I'll personally train him myself!" "What?! Father, that's—!" "Silence, Senjuro! Teach him Flame Breathing! I'll be back in thirty minutes!" Not giving Senjuro any chance to argue, Shinjuro barked his command, then turned and walked away, sake bottle in hand. Leaving only Senjuro and Takeo staring at each other in stunned silence. Nearly a full minute passed before Senjuro snapped out of it, panic rising in his voice: "This is bad! Thirty minutes… Even though my brother is nearby, there's no way he can make it back in time… Kamado-san, you—you should just leave for now!" "Why would I leave?" Takeo looked at Senjuro. "Didn't he say I have thirty minutes to learn Flame Breathing? You just start teaching me—everything else can come later." "Kamado-san, please don't joke like that. Thirty minutes… There's no way anyone could learn a Breathing Technique in just thirty minutes! I… I've been training for so long and I still haven't mastered it…" Senjuro spoke with urgency, unable to believe that Takeo could possibly grasp Flame Breathing in such a short amount of time. Even if Takeo was a recommended recruit of the Demon Slayer Corps. "How would we know unless we try?" Takeo shot the question back. "No! Even if you could learn Flame Breathing, you wouldn't stand a chance against my father! He's a former Flame Hashira! Even without a sword, you wouldn't be able to beat him! He'll kill you!" "It's fine, Senjuro. Just teach me what you know. I'll figure out the rest myself." Seeing that Senjuro was still wasting time, Takeo couldn't help but press him. "And just a reminder—it's already been nearly five minutes." "..." Senjuro froze, staring at Takeo in a daze. But seeing the unwavering resolve in Takeo's eyes, he knew he had no other choice. Reluctantly, he began teaching Takeo the basics of the Flame Breathing forms that he knew. Senjuro had learned Flame Breathing before—after all, it was the Rengoku family's inherited Breathing Technique. But Senjuro himself had never been able to use it—because, unlike his older brother Kyojuro, he lacked the talent necessary to become a Demon Slayer. Even so, he had a deep understanding of the theoretical foundations of Flame Breathing. Precisely because he had struggled to learn it, Senjuro had read through the secret Flame Breathing scrolls countless times. Now, all that effort was becoming nourishment for someone else—a foundation to cultivate a new swordsman. Over forty minutes later, Shinjuro finally appeared again at the doorway. The smell of alcohol on him was even stronger than before—he had clearly downed quite a bit more sake. Staggering slightly, he gave off a sense of drunken frailty. And yet, in Takeo's eyes, Shinjuro now seemed even more dangerous than earlier. "Alright, brat. Time's up. Let's see whether you were just running your mouth." Shinjuro looked at Takeo with a fierce, menacing grin that made it clear—he wasn't here to play nice. _______ Hehe~ Who else likes the trash-talking Takeo? That Former hit the sour spot lol—But he might have dug his own grave... Don't forget to add this to your reading list! o(*≧▽≦)ツ Like the story? Read ahead at—P@treon/HornyFBI