Tanjirou couldn't help but ask, "Then is it possible for Nezuko to overcome sunlight too?"
He had always wanted to ask this, but since Mizuki hadn't brought it up, he kept it to himself.
"Of course."
That's how it was written in the plot.
Mizuki had it noted in her little book.
But whether Nezuko could overcome sunlight now, Mizuki wasn't quite sure.
Logically speaking, Nezuko should have consumed the blue spider lily. Perhaps like her, a little sunbathing would be enough to overcome it.
However, ever since she realized that her ability to escape Muzan's control might be related to her own physique, Mizuki became a little uncertain.
Mainly, Nezuko was currently in a deep sleep, and her body seemed to be evolving.
Perhaps the ability to overcome sunlight wasn't inherent but acquired through evolution.
Muzan increased the number of demons partly to find a demon who could overcome sunlight.
Most of the humans who died directly at Muzan's hands actually died because they couldn't withstand his blood.
Not everyone has the aptitude to become a demon.
"That's wonderful." Tanjirou breathed a sigh of relief.
He originally only had one goal: to turn Nezuko back into a human.
But now, if she could first overcome sunlight, that would also be good; at least she could be like a normal person... After a moment of silence, Tanjirou slapped himself on the face.
Why didn't he just ask Miss Mizuki how to turn a demon back into a human!
Too stupid.
Muttering to himself, Tanjirou asked Mizuki about this.
Mizuki shook her head.
Tanjirou looked a bit disappointed. Indeed, if it were possible to turn back into a human, Miss Mizuki would surely have already done so.
"Currently, there are no examples of demons turning back into humans."
Tanjirou's eyes dimmed a little.
Mizuki continued, "But Nezuko is very special. Unlike other demons, she hasn't eaten human flesh and even replenishes her energy by sleeping."
Tanjirou was slightly stunned. Miss Mizuki... has she eaten human flesh?
He didn't want to think about it.
"Her body is undergoing changes, that's for sure. Perhaps in the future, she will be able to turn back into a human."
"Really?" Tanjirou instantly perked up.
"Really." But it would probably have to wait until the grand finale.
Mizuki didn't say the latter half of the sentence to avoid bothering Tanjirou.
Upon receiving this news, Tanjirou was excited for quite a while.
The two descended the mountain together. At their farewell, Urokodaki-sensei gave Tanjirou an amulet mask to protect him from misfortune.
Compared to a few months ago, when he wasn't optimistic about Tanjirou, Urokodaki Sakonji now had great confidence in him.
Perhaps it was because his knot had been untied.
Waving goodbye to Tanjirou, Mizuki temporarily stayed on Mount Sagiri.
It was impossible for her to enter the Final Selection to help Tanjirou with his assessment, and besides, with Tanjirou's current strength, there would be no problem.
Urokodaki Sakonji was gradually able to understand Mizuki's thoughts. He had previously wondered why Mizuki would guard Tanjirou so closely.
Now that he thought about it...
Perhaps Mizuki saw Tanjirou as the hope to defeat Muzan.
The origin of the Breathing Technique.
Sun Breathing... He never expected that child to have such aptitude.
Even after knowing Mizuki's identity, her interactions with the old man remained harmonious.
Urokodaki Sakonji, although he felt Tanjirou was too sympathetic towards demons, was he not a gentle person himself?
His tolerance for Nezuko's existence was proof enough.
As the two conversed, they suddenly turned their heads in unison, looking towards the house.
Nezuko had, at some point, arrived at the doorway, staring at them with a curious expression.
She tilted her head, watching Mizuki, and the confusion in her eyes gradually brightened as she happily ran towards Mizuki.
Mizuki caught her and laughed, "Nezuko, you still remember me."
Nezuko happily rubbed against her.
She hugged Mizuki, her gaze suddenly falling on Urokodaki Sakonji beside them.
After a pause, Nezuko let go of Mizuki and pounced towards Urokodaki Sakonji.
Urokodaki-sensei quickly caught her, feeling as if his own daughter hadn't been raised in vain.
If only all demons were such adorable creatures.
Mizuki laughed, "Tanjirou will be very happy when he comes back."
"Yes." Urokodaki Sakonji stroked Nezuko's head, greatly relieved.
After rolling around with Urokodaki-sensei, Nezuko again pounced into Mizuki's arms.
It was softer here.
Looking at Nezuko, who seemed like a well-behaved child, Mizuki couldn't quite understand.
Logically speaking, demons could all talk, and their cognitive abilities weren't bad, similar to that of a normal person.
But Nezuko... not only couldn't she speak, but her intelligence also seemed to have diminished significantly.
Was it a side effect of her evolution?
Her wine-red eyes showed a hint of confusion, and Mizuki couldn't help but tilt her head.
Nezuko also tilted her head in imitation.
Probably... kindergarten level intelligence.
Mizuki felt a bead of sweat... It wasn't until many days later, in the evening, that Tanjirou returned, covered in dust, leaning on a stick.
When he saw Nezuko standing outside the door, all the hardships of the past few days became insignificant.
"Nezuko, you're awake!"
Hearing Tanjirou's voice, Nezuko turned her head and ran towards him.
The siblings embraced.
"You came back alive, Tanjirou." Urokodaki Sakonji was also moved and stepped forward to embrace them both.
Nezuko peeked out from the embrace and blinked at Mizuki, as if saying, 'Come here quickly.'
Mizuki laughed wryly and shook her head.
She wasn't very comfortable with such emotional scenes.
Tanjirou passed the Final Selection, but because he still had to wait for his Nichirin Blade to be forged, he stayed on Mount Sagiri for another half a month.
One day, half a month later, a man with a wind chime on his straw hat and a fire man mask on his face appeared on Mount Sagiri, carrying a long box on his back.
"My name is Haganezuka. I am the one who forges the blade for Kamado Tanjirou."
"I am Kamado Tanjirou, please come in and sit!"
Inside the house, Mizuki was playing a pre-school game of 'Pat-a-cake' with Nezuko.
Haganezuka's arrival immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"The raw material for the Nichirin Blade is..." Haganezuka first introduced it to himself, then handed the Nichirin Blade from the long box to Tanjirou.
"A Nichirin Blade is also known as a color-changing blade; its color changes according to its owner."
Tanjirou solemnly drew the blade, and a streak of black instantly extended to the tip.
The same color as Yoriichi's.
Mizuki looked slightly sideways.
"Black."
"Black, huh..."
Haganezuka and Urokodaki-sensei's subtle tone made Tanjirou feel a sense of unease.
"Eh? Is black not good? Is it an ominous sign?" Tanjirou asked in a panic, "But I remember Miss Mizuki's blade is also black, right?"
"No, my blade actually..."
Before she could finish, Haganezuka, who had looked at her because of Tanjirou's words, naturally reached out after seeing the Nichirin Blade at her waist: "Could I trouble you to let me see it?"
Mizuki: "...I suppose so."
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