"Miss Mizuki, thank you for your guidance." On the training ground, several Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, who had been instructed by Mizuki, bowed in thanks.
Mizuki gently said, "This is all thanks to your own efforts."
"Please continue to maintain this enthusiasm, and I believe that one day your efforts will be rewarded as they deserve."
Everyone looked on, somewhat lost in thought: "Miss Mizuki..."
Miss Mizuki is so gentle.
"Now, continue training according to the method we just used." Mizuki scanned the training ground, then bowed slightly to everyone before leaving.
"If only Miss Mizuki hadn't been injured."
"With Miss Mizuki's strength, if she hadn't been injured, she would definitely have become a Hashira."
"Of course! Miss Mizuki is the younger sister of those two esteemed adults!"
"Miss Mizuki's self-created Snow Breathing is a powerful Breathing Technique comparable to Origin Breathing, and even now, she is the only one in the Demon Slayer Corps who has mastered it."
Everyone looked with admiration at her departing figure, until someone blurted out.
"Miss Mizuki is so gentle, I really want to marry her and bring her home."
His words immediately angered the others.
"Matsuda, you bastard! Go look in a mirror! Only I am worthy of Miss Mizuki!"
"Huh? Yamamoto, you go die too! Don't even think about defiling my gentle Miss Mizuki!"
Mizuki, who had already left, naturally didn't hear the commotion, otherwise she might have grumbled.
Who is spreading such exaggerated rumors!
Comparable to Origin Breathing!
Overpraising! It's definitely overpraising!
After instructing everyone, Mizuki returned to her room, retrieved the prepared tea set, and headed straight for the back mountain.
Whoosh whoosh~
Before reaching the mountain peak, Mizuki heard astonishing sounds coming from above.
Michikatsu, holding his nichirin blade, was honing the Sword Forms of Moon Breathing, but judging by his wild aura, his state of mind was not peaceful.
Mizuki walked over to a stone table nearby, sat down, and waited quietly.
About twenty minutes later, Michikatsu finally stopped, panting.
Mizuki called out, "Brother."
Michikatsu put away his nichirin blade and walked straight towards her.
Mizuki poured a cup of tea: "Brother, please."
Michikatsu picked up the teacup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp without any regard for manners, then slammed the teacup heavily onto the table.
This was uncharacteristic of Michikatsu, who usually paid close attention to etiquette.
Mizuki's eyes flickered, noticing the veins gradually appearing on Michikatsu's hand as he gripped the teacup, and calmly said, "Brother, are you troubled by the Demon Slayer Mark?"
She knew, she had always known.
She was an adult who had lived two lives; influenced by Akeno in her childhood, Mizuki had once regarded herself as a true child, acting spoiled in her mother's arms.
But after Akeno's death, she reverted to being an adult.
With the delicate emotions of an adult, she clearly understood what kind of person Michikatsu was.
Hearing Mizuki's words, Michikatsu's grip on the teacup tightened even more, and his breathing became slightly erratic.
Before Michikatsu could speak, Mizuki continued, "Brother, you're unwilling, aren't you? Because there's no more time to catch up to Brother Yoriichi."
"…" Michikatsu's breathing stopped unconsciously this time.
Mizuki always seemed to see through his heart unintentionally.
Sometimes, he found Mizuki even harder to deal with than Yoriichi.
Michikatsu never liked to speak when communicating with Mizuki, because in front of her, he felt as if he had no secrets.
Noticing Michikatsu's shock, Mizuki sighed from the bottom of her heart.
She raised her head slightly, her wine-red eyes looking at Michikatsu gently.
"Brother doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. I have always been proud of you."
"Whether it's Brother or Brother Yoriichi, both of you are unique in my eyes."
Michikatsu's heart trembled. He lowered his eyelids, his eyes quivering incessantly.
He had always known.
That no matter how much he chased, he could never catch up to Yoriichi.
He was just unwilling... Mizuki pressed on: "Brother..."
Her voice paused, and an itch rose in her throat, causing her to cough repeatedly.
"Cough cough."
The coughing strained her lungs, and the piercing pain made Mizuki bend over, clutching her mouth in agony.
Michikatsu reached out worriedly to support her, "Mizuki!"
Mizuki wiped the corner of her mouth, looked up, and forced a smile, "It's nothing serious."
Michikatsu was silent for a moment: "Show me your hand."
Mizuki knew she couldn't hide it from him, so she sighed and reluctantly opened her palm, revealing a patch of cherry-red blood.
"When did it get worse?"
"About a month ago."
"What did the doctor say?"
"Provided I don't engage in strenuous exercise, I have about three years left to live."
Mizuki optimistically said, "That's about the same amount of time as the Demon Slayer Mark, so it practically has no effect on me."
Michikatsu remained silent. His Transparent World allowed him to clearly ascertain Mizuki's physical condition.
However, Mizuki had strongly resisted their prying into this matter, calling it an invasion of a girl's privacy, and even spouted a string of words he didn't quite understand.
Things like 'posting on Xiaohongshu' and 'internet bullying him on Weibo'.
Now it seems she was trying to conceal her injuries.
"Speak less. I'll take you to the doctor."
"No need, my body..."
Mizuki hadn't finished speaking when her brother forcefully carried her on his back and headed down the mountain.
Mizuki was stunned for a moment, then a faint smile curved her lips.
This is good... Brother... Michikatsu was personally turned into a demon by Muzan; there's no doubt about that.
As for when and where, she didn't know.
At first, when Mizuki was worried, she secretly followed Michikatsu out several times.
It was only later, when her physical strength became increasingly inadequate, that she gave up the idea of tracking Michikatsu.
It should be fine, right?
With Michikatsu's strength, even if he encountered Muzan, escaping shouldn't be difficult... Michikatsu, while on a mission, first encountered the progenitor of demons—Kibutsuji Muzan.
At this time, Michikatsu's attitude towards the Demon King was still one of drawing his sword, until the Demon King spoke.
"Wouldn't it be better to become a demon?"
"As long as you become a demon, you can possess infinite years."
"You want to pursue higher swordsmanship, and I want to try turning a swordsman who uses Breathing Techniques into a demon."
"What do you say? You are different from other swordsmen; you have a choice."
Michikatsu's breathing hitched, his expression somewhat moved.
Even though Mizuki had repeatedly tried to guide him, and even though his heart had undergone some minor changes.
However, what a person truly desires in their heart is difficult to shake with just a few words.
Those who have had their backs bent by reality and abandoned their dreams are not unwilling to achieve them.
Once a possible opportunity arises, they will cling to it tightly, like a drowning person grasping at the last straw.
Muzan's voice almost instantly reawakened Michikatsu's dream of surpassing Yoriichi.
That's right.
If he could become a demon, if he could have eternal life, then he would have time to continue training and would surely surpass Yoriichi.
And the only price would be not being able to be in the sun.
With the opportunity to achieve his dream right before his eyes, Michikatsu's breathing involuntarily quickened.
Almost as his Adam's apple subtly moved, Mizuki's gentle face appeared before his eyes, and her soft voice followed.
'Brother doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. I have always been proud of you.'
'Whether it's Brother or Brother Yoriichi, both of you are unique in my eyes.'
Michikatsu subconsciously tightened his grip on the sword hilt.
Muzan's brows furrowed.
What a pity, it seems I'll have to find someone else.
Just as the atmosphere became stagnant, Michikatsu's fingers, tightly gripping the sword hilt, slightly relaxed, and he abruptly spoke, "If I become a demon, can illnesses also be cured?"
Muzan paused, then a wicked smile curved his lips.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"If you become a demon, any kind of injury or pain can be easily healed."