If they operated on a timeline of two and a half years, the schedule was, in fact, perfectly aligned.
Of course, two and a half years was merely Kagaya's estimate. In truth, no one could say for certain how much time remained before the final curtain rose, but they could be confident that they had at least two years.
Horitake and Shinobu quickly ran the numbers again in their heads and reached the same conclusion: the time was sufficient, provided they managed it wisely.
"Calculated that way, we do have enough time," Horitake said, looking toward Kagaya. "It simply means that for the foreseeable future, Sister Shinobu, Aoi, and I will have a significantly heavier workload."
Kagaya offered them a warm, gentle smile. "I realize I am asking a great deal of you both. However, this elixir concerns the very future of the Demon Slayer Corps' highest echelon of power. We cannot afford to be anything less than meticulous."
With the weight of the situation fully articulated, Shinobu inclined her head toward Kagaya, her expression resolute. "Please rest easy, Oyakata-sama. Moving forward, we will prioritize the production of the elixir as a core duty. We will ensure there is enough for everyone."
That matter settled, Kagaya shifted slightly, a look of contemplation crossing his face. "Regarding the elixir, there is one more detail I find myself curious about."
"Please, ask away," Horitake invited.
"Once we have produced a sufficient supply, when should the Hashira take it? Should they consume it before they manifest their Marks, or only after?"
It was a natural concern. In Kagaya's mind, since everyone would eventually manifest a Mark, it seemed to be only a question of when the life force was replenished. Taking it early might even provide a buffer that would make the manifestation of the Mark less physically taxing.
Horitake, however, realized he needed to correct this line of thinking immediately.
"Oyakata-sama, that approach wouldn't be quite right," Horitake explained. "The Life-Replenishing Elixir is, as the name suggests, meant to refill what has been lost. If a Hashira were to take it before their Mark appears, the medicine wouldn't be replenishing life—it would be attempting to extend their natural lifespan beyond its inherent limit."
He gestured with his hands to illustrate the point. "Human life has a natural 'cap' or ceiling. If you take the elixir before that ceiling has been lowered by the Mark, your lifespan cannot push past that peak. Any excess life force provided by the medicine would simply dissipate, wasted. It wouldn't be stored for later."
Horitake paused to let that sink in. "Therefore, it isn't suitable for early consumption. We must wait until a swordsman manifests their Mark and their lifespan is actively being drained. Only then can the elixir do its work, flowing in to fill the deficit as a matter of course."
The realization dawned on Kagaya, and he nodded in understanding. He immediately offered an apologetic bow to the two of them.
"I see. I apologize; I was speaking from a place of assumption. It seems I have fallen into the trap of an amateur trying to direct professionals. I am no expert in pharmacology, and my assumptions were clearly misplaced."
Kagaya smiled, a trace of self-deprecation in his voice. "From this point on, I shall leave all matters regarding the Life-Replenishing Elixir entirely in your hands. I will follow your lead."
Shinobu smiled back, her voice humble. "You are being too hard on yourself, Oyakata-sama. You were simply acting out of concern for the well-being of the Corps."
The three of them spent a short while longer refining the details of the plan. Through their mutual consultation and careful deliberation, the blueprint for this monumental task grew increasingly robust. For the days to come, they only needed to follow the path they had just laid out.
With the discussion concluded, Horitake and Shinobu took their leave of the Ubuyashiki estate.
In the days that followed, reality bore out Horitake's predictions. Kagaya's health underwent a transformation that was nothing short of miraculous. With his life force replenished and his longevity restored, he was now as healthy as any man in his prime—a far cry from the frail figure he had once been.
To see Kagaya now was to see a man brimming with vitality. One could hardly imagine that only a short time ago, he had been a bedridden invalid, looking as though a stray gust of wind might blow him away.
But Kagaya did not merely use his newfound health to manage the administrative affairs of the Demon Slayer Corps. He found himself a new hobby: the way of the sword.
In his years of infirmity, Kagaya had lacked the strength to even swing a blade more than a few times. Yet, deep in his heart, he had always harbored the dream of the strong. He had yearned for the day he could draw a sword and stand against the demons himself.
Before, that dream was a luxury—a fleeting wish he couldn't afford to entertain. Now, it was a tangible reality. With his body fully restored, he could endure the rigors of training. He could finally pick up the sword he had once been forced to set aside.
And so, alongside his duties as the leader of the Corps and his responsibilities to his family, Kagaya began to practice his swordsmanship.
As the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps and the head of the Ubuyashiki family, Kagaya's every action resonated through the entire organization. It didn't take long for the members of the Corps to realize that their Master had made a complete recovery.
Though the exact method of his recovery remained a mystery to most, the fact of it was undeniable—and it was a cause for immense celebration. Kagaya was perhaps the most beloved leader of his era, respected and cherished by every member of the Corps. Seeing him healthy and strong sparked a wave of renewed enthusiasm and morale that swept through the ranks.
Productivity soared. The fervor with which the slayers approached their duties intensified, fueled by the joy of seeing their Oyakata-sama whole again.
But if the Corps felt joy, the Ubuyashiki family felt something much deeper: profound, soul-stirring gratitude.
The seven members of the Ubuyashiki household were all aware that the catalyst for Kagaya's recovery was Horitake. While they didn't know the specific means he had used, that did not dampen the debt of thanks they felt they owed him.
Horitake had already performed an enormous service by lifting the curse from Kagaya and Kiriya. For Lady Amane, this alone was a kindness she could never repay.
Often, in the quiet of the night when sleep eluded her, Amane would reflect on their fortune.
It is already a blessing that my husband's curse was lifted, she would think. To have him live a healthy life, to have him by my side until we are forty... I would have been more than grateful for that alone.
And Kiriya... the curse is gone from him as well. He can grow up healthy. He can marry, have children, and live a normal life.
These were things Amane had once never dared to imagine. And yet, Horitake had gone even further. He had used some unknown means to replenish Kagaya's very life force, restoring his years so that they might grow old together, their hair turning white in each other's company.
In Amane's eyes, what Horitake had done for the Ubuyashiki family transcended the idea of a "timely favor." It was nothing short of a miracle of rebirth.
It was a debt of honor that could perhaps never truly be settled.
This sentiment was shared by the entire family. Consequently, the way the Ubuyashiki household looked upon Horitake shifted from mere respect to a deep, abiding reverence and a sense of eternal gratitude.
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