Mizuki had a nightmare, dreaming that Michikatsu still became a demon.
Waking from the dream, Mizuki, whose forehead was slick with cold sweat, suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.
Was it a dream?
She almost instinctively searched for the table she had knocked over in the dream and the bloodstained floor.
The table stood properly where it should be, and there were no bloodstains on the floor.
It was... *Swoosh*~
The door was opened, and the Physician Miss entered, carrying a basin of water. Seeing Mizuki awake, she quickly stepped forward.
"Miss Mizuki? I'm relieved you're safe."
Mizuki's gaze was somewhat vacant: "? What?"
The Physician Miss paused for a moment, her fingers clutching the basin tightening, and her expression became somber.
"Michikatsu... cut off the Master's head and defected to the Demon King."
There was also anger in the Physician Miss's eyes.
Mizuki opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.
As a modern person, Mizuki felt deeply uncomfortable with the ancient idea of the ruler-subject relationship.
Being made to kneel was something she disliked from the bottom of her heart.
But it was undeniable that the Head of the Demon Slayer Corps was a charismatic leader who treated his Corps Members exceptionally well.
Michikatsu had also received his kindness... Yet Michikatsu, who always respected the hierarchy, personally chopped off the Master's head.
How ironic.
Mizuki opened her mouth, her voice slightly hoarse, and asked, "What about the others?"
"They are all fine."
"Michikatsu fled immediately after killing the Master."
"If the Hashira hadn't all been out on missions, the Master Lord would definitely have been safe."
"What about Yoriichi? Does he know?"
"Mr. Yoriichi returned this morning with the Flame Hashira Lord. He came to see you once and should be at the Master's Residence now."
Hearing this, Mizuki threw off the covers and got up.
"Miss Mizuki, your body really cannot withstand this kind of abuse anymore."
"Snow Breathing causes severe damage to the lungs. If this continues, in three years you might..."
From the perspective of Breathing Techniques, forcing someone whose body is unsuitable for Sun Breathing to practice it will cause burning pain in the lungs.
Snow Breathing, conversely, causes frostbite to the lungs of those who are unsuitable.
This is why many people in the Demon Slayer Corps consider Snow Breathing to be on par with Origin Breathing.
The conditions for training are too harsh; currently, only Mizuki can use it.
However, after Mizuki's lungs were injured, the effects of Snow Breathing on her became extremely pronounced.
Mizuki gently pressed down the Physician Miss's hand. "I know. I apologize for making you worry."
"But I still have something I need to do."
Dragging her heavy body, she walked out of the room toward the Master's Residence.
On the way, she ran into Demon Slayer Corps Members, the Newcomers she had trained.
Mizuki forced a smile and nodded at them.
The crowd remained unmoved, looking at her with a very subtle gaze.
That look held anger, resentment, and sympathy—an indescribable feeling.
But it was vastly different from their usual admiration.
Mizuki was momentarily lost in thought. When she snapped back, her expression shifted slightly, and she couldn't help but quicken her pace... toward the Master's Location.
The Hashira, who had rushed back overnight upon receiving the news of the Master's death, were currently surrounding Yoriichi, who was kneeling on the ground.
Yoriichi simply sat rigidly, his hands clenched tightly on his thighs.
"It's all your fault! Your Elder Brother became a demon and killed the Master!"
"Stop talking. Yoriichi must be suffering too." The Flame Hashira pulled back the comrade who was accusing Yoriichi.
"It's all because he failed to kill the Demon King and let the Evil Demon traveling with the Demon King escape!"
"You! Commit Seppuku..."
*Swoosh*~
The door was suddenly slid open. An astonishing strength erupted from Mizuki's frail body, pushing away everyone surrounding Yoriichi. She then embraced Yoriichi protectively, shielding him beneath her.
"Stop talking..." She held Yoriichi tightly, uttering a voice that was almost a plea.
The Hashira here were all the Masters who taught her the Breathing Technique; they were kind people who also had a very good relationship with Yoriichi.
Mizuki knew clearly that they were directing sharp words at their comrades-in-arms out of anger because their beloved Master had been killed by Michikatsu.
Michikatsu and she were both recommended to join the Corps by Yoriichi. The Master's death was inextricably linked to Yoriichi.
Not to mention letting the Demon King escape, allowing the Evil Demon traveling with the Demon King to escape was equally unforgivable.
In this era, being ordered to commit Seppuku was actually a very normal thing.
So she couldn't explain anything; she could only hope everyone would calm down.
Mizuki's popularity within the Corps was quite good. Both the Hashira and the Corps Members had a favorable impression of this gentle girl.
Seeing her frail figure at that moment, everyone's accusations immediately ceased.
The Hashira had learned the news of Mizuki's collapse when they returned.
The one who discovered Mizuki's collapse was the Physician Miss who had been treating her.
When she found Mizuki, there were signs of combat in the room, proving that Mizuki had fought Michikatsu after he became a demon.
"Mizuki..." In the eyes of Yoriichi, whom she embraced, flickered an emotion called gratitude.
The internal anger of the Hashira subsided significantly due to Mizuki's arrival, but the atmosphere remained tense.
Fortunately, at this moment, the Master's child appeared.
At only six years old, he hastily took over the position of Head of the Demon Slayer Corps after his father's death.
He calmed the angry Hashira and, on the condition of expelling Yoriichi from the Demon Slayer Corps, forgave his error of poor judgment in people.
After resolving Yoriichi's matter, the six-year-old Master looked toward Mizuki, who was sitting properly beside him. Her pale figure resembled a precarious white lotus in a pond.
"Miss Mizuki, I will have someone take you back right now."
"The Physician Miss has come to see Father more than once. Please, you must take care of your body."
Mizuki lowered her head slightly: "I ask the Master to permit me to Leave the Corps with my Elder Brother."
"Miss Mizuki..."
"Mizuki, you didn't do anything wrong."
Everyone spoke up one after another.
Even Yoriichi did.
"Mizuki, you don't need to do this."
Mizuki shook her head: "I can no longer slay Evil Demons. Staying in the Demon Slayer Corps would only cause trouble for everyone."
"I will Compile the Snow Breathing Technique into a Manual later, hoping it can be used someday."
The Master opened his mouth, wanting to persuade her to stay, but no words came out. Finally, he just nodded slightly: "I understand, Miss Mizuki, Mr. Yoriichi. Please take care of yourselves."
"Master, take care."
"Everyone, take care."
After compiling the Snow Breathing Sword Forms and Breathing Technique, Mizuki left the Demon Slayer Corps with Yoriichi.
She had already developed eight Sword Forms for Snow Breathing, a number greater than the current Five Great Breathing Styles.
Leaving the Demon Slayer Corps, Mizuki looked at the boundless clear sky and said, "Elder Brother, you've been away for a long time. Do you want to go home and see?"
It was also just before Leaving the Corps that Mizuki learned the truth about the battle with Muzan from Yoriichi.
It wasn't because he couldn't kill Muzan, but because he hadn't expected Muzan to be able to instantly split into over 1,800 pieces of flesh and escape.
This was the reason Yoriichi was called the Peak.
If she had just mentioned it briefly to Yoriichi at the time, asking him to pay more attention... would things have been different?
Mizuki had actually thought about staying by Yoriichi's side and helping him when they encountered Muzan, possibly succeeding in killing him.
But what she didn't expect was that Michikatsu becoming a demon and killing the Master, and Yoriichi encountering Muzan, happened almost one right after the other.
She was completely unprepared.
She... couldn't change anything... "I have a place I want to go." Yoriichi looked at the same sky as her, a faint layer of sorrow coloring his expression.
Mizuki nodded. Following Michikatsu's betrayal, she had even less attachment to that lukewarm home; whether they returned or not didn't matter.
"Where does Elder Brother want to go?"
"To see my wife."
"Eh?"