Why would the gentle Tanjirou point at her with an expression that said, 'She's the one who did it'?
Mizuki fell into a brief state of shutdown.
Before she could react, a figure leaped out from behind Tanjirou, rapidly approaching.
A cold glint flashed in Mizuki's eyes, and she instinctively drew her blade to parry.
Clang~
A crisp sound.
Two blades, one black and one blue, collided.
???
Can someone tell her why the plot has changed after she only left for a while?
Or did she write it down wrong in her little notebook, and Giyuu left only after he and the others had gone home and buried the kamado family?
She knew it! Too much time passing would cause problems!
Mizuki parried Giyuu's blade and quickly shouted, "Wait..."
As soon as she spoke, Giyuu calmly interrupted, "Where are the others?"
How strange... there's a faint wisteria flower scent on her. Is this woman really a demon?
Before Mizuki could speak, Giyuu's eyes flickered, noticing the character '滅' (Exterminate) engraved on the blade.
Demon Slayer Corps?
The Nichirin Blade configuration for Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen is divided into two levels: regular members and Hashira. Even an A-rank regular member cannot have characters engraved on their blade.
The Nichirin Blades of the Hashira are all engraved with the words '惡鬼滅殺' (Destroying Evil Demons). Although this blade has slight differences, it is undoubtedly a Nichirin Blade.
"Ah, Nezuko!"
As Giyuu and Mizuki were at a standstill, Tanjirou's surprised cry suddenly came from behind them.
Giyuu was slightly distracted and turned to look, only to see a head butt violently into his waist, pushing him away.
Sliding a trace in the snow, Giyuu steadied himself and looked towards Mizuki.
Nezuko was blocking in front of her, looking at him warily.
Giyuu: "..."
Mizuki put away her Nichirin Blade, slipped her hands under Nezuko's armpits, picked her up, placed her behind her, and turned to explain, "I've settled the kamado family down the mountain."
Looking at Nezuko, who was motionless behind her, Giyuu's eyes flickered. Before he could speak, Tanjirou, who had long been anxious, quickly asked.
"Where is everyone?"
Mizuki: "In the town down the mountain. I arranged for them to stay at my residence."
Tanjirou was slightly stunned, 'Your residence?'
That being said, he did feel a very familiar scent from the person in front of him.
Tanjirou exclaimed, "That large mansion?!"
It was the exact same floral scent as near that large mansion!
Mizuki nodded slightly.
Tanjirou's eyes lit up, "You're that young lady who doesn't leave the house?!"
"..." Mizuki's nodding motion stiffened, and her mouth twitched, "You could say that."
After knowing that his family was safe, Tanjirou finally breathed a sigh of relief and had the leisure to observe Mizuki.
He had been too anxious just now to pay attention to her appearance. Now that he had calmed down, Tanjirou felt his face flush.
What a beautiful older sister... Giyuu looked left and right, silently putting away his Nichirin Blade.
He looked up at Mizuki, his gaze calm: "Demon Slayer Corps?"
Mizuki shook her head slightly: "No."
Giyuu's brows furrowed slightly. Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who leave the corps always have their Nichirin Blades confiscated.
There's no way one could be circulating.
Moreover, although he couldn't discern what Breathing Technique the woman in front of him practiced, judging by her steady and orderly breathing, she had definitely mastered some kind of breathing skill.
Giyuu asked, "What about the demon that attacked their home?"
Was it cut down by this woman?
Mizuki looked up at him: "It was Kibutsuji Muzan."
Giyuu's pupils contracted slightly, and his calm expression showed a hint of fluctuation.
Sensing the stagnant atmosphere, Tanjirou asked in confusion, "Who is that?"
Mizuki explained: "The progenitor of demons, an existence like a Demon King."
Tanjirou couldn't yet grasp the weight of that name, but he knew that Nezuko's transformation was all because of that individual.
Tanjirou committed the name to memory.
Mizuki looked up at the sky: "Let's go down the mountain before the sun comes out. I think Sister Kie must be worried too."
Hearing his mother's name, Tanjirou felt a little more at ease.
Three people and one demon... no, two people and two demons began to walk down the mountain.
Seeing Nezuko continuously clutching Mizuki's clothes, Tanjirou waved his hand: "Nezuko, come here."
Nezuko tilted her head to look at him, then at Mizuki, and resolutely lowered her head.
Crack~
Tanjirou instantly turned to stone.
Giyuu didn't speak and didn't walk with the three of them, but quietly trailed behind.
His calm gaze was fixed on Mizuki's back.
Mizuki slightly tilted her head, gently pushed Nezuko towards Tanjirou, and slowed her pace by two beats, gradually walking parallel with Giyuu.
Giyuu glanced at her, remaining impassive.
It was unwise to try to out-silence him.
Mizuki spoke first: "Water Hashira-san, I wonder if you could help me get an introduction to Ubuyashiki."
She had originally planned to act with Tanjirou, but plans had changed, and Tanjirou needed to study with Teacher Giyuu for a year or two.
Perhaps she should find a time to re-establish contact with the Ubuyashiki family in advance.
This generation's Ubuyashiki family head seemed to have a great deal of charisma, and she believed there would be good results.
Hearing such words, Giyuu subconsciously turned to look.
Not a Demon Slayer Corps member, yet so familiar with the Demon Slayer Corps, wielding a Nichirin Blade, and even knowing Kibutsuji Muzan's name.
What was this woman's background?
Mizuki seemed to have seen through his confusion and volunteered, "Water Hashira-san, have you ever heard of Snow Breathing?"
Tomioka Giyuu's expression shifted slightly: "Just call me Giyuu."
"I have heard of it," he added at the end.
Snow Breathing, of course he had heard of it.
As a Breathing Technique as ancient as the Five Great Breathing Styles, the tradition of Snow Breathing had not been fully inherited.
This was not really a question; anyone who had come into contact with this Breathing Technique would understand.
This Breathing Technique... it was completely messy.
No... calling it messy was praising it. It was simply a Breathing Technique developed haphazardly by a madman.
One move was a normal wind-water linkage, the next incorporated Flame Breathing, and the one after that was Thunder Breathing.
The training conditions were already harsh, and the Sword Forms were so chaotic. No one who tried to master this Breathing Technique could get out of bed the next day.
The biggest taboo for Breathing Techniques is switching during combat, and this Snow Breathing absorbed all the dregs of Breathing Techniques.
Whether demons died or not was unknown, but if you felt even slightly uncomfortable, you'd be paralyzed by the next move. The continuity between moves was simply baffling.
It would be a miracle if such a Breathing Technique could be fully passed down.
If it weren't for the occasional person who could master a couple of its Sword Forms, they would even doubt the authenticity of this Breathing Technique.
Mizuki said straightforwardly: "I am a swordsman who has mastered Snow Breathing, and I want to contribute to killing Muzan."
What breathing? Snow what?
Giyuu turned his head, and under Mizuki's gaze, his expression gradually became subtle.
Mizuki's heart skipped a beat.
To make a stoic person show such an expression, did she say something wrong?
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