Mizuki lowered her gaze and her calm voice sounded, "Are you alright?"
"Yes!" Tanjirou couldn't help but blush, waving his hands as he jumped down.
"That's good. Before you master Constant Concentration, it's best not to force the use of Sun Breathing when facing enemies of this caliber."
Otherwise, you might not defeat the enemy but instead end up in a difficult situation yourself.
"I understand." Tanjirou watched the body slowly disappear into the ground, sweating slightly.
As expected of Miss Mizuki, she really is incredible.
Mizuki nodded lightly and dragged the demon body, which hadn't completely vanished yet, toward the villa.
Seeing the body Mizuki was carrying, Yushiro's eyes narrowed slightly. This woman is formidable.
Tamayo smiled slightly, "As expected of Mizuki."
Because Mizuki was present, she hadn't panicked from the very beginning.
"Tanjirou is also very reliable."
"No..." Tanjirou scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Yushiro's demeanor turned monochrome for a moment. It was over; his image in front of Lady Tamayo was completely ruined.
"They were just two small fry." Mizuki shook her head and handed the body over to Tamayo.
Tanjirou asked in confusion, "Weren't those the Twelve Demon Moons? The twelve strongest demons."
"The Twelve Demon Moons are divided into Upper Rank and Lower Rank. Strictly speaking, those two demons only possessed the strength of a Lower Rank Demon Moon, they weren't true Twelve Demon Moons." Mizuki pointed to their eyes. "The eyes of the Twelve Demon Moons have characters carved onto them representing their rank."
"Once you encounter one, you will naturally understand."
Tanjirou felt somewhat ashamed; demons of this level weren't even true Twelve Demon Moons.
"Furthermore, strictly speaking, the Lower Ranks are merely expendable resources that Muzan can create easily."
If Muzan himself wasn't against increasing the number of his kind, the Lower Ranks could be numerous.
Even among the Upper Ranks, aside from those with high talent, it's not difficult to create the ones at the bottom.
Tanjirou's pupils shook: "The Twelve Demon Moons... created easily?"
Demons of that caliber?
Suddenly, he thought, "In comparison, who is stronger: the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps or the Twelve Demon Moons?"
Mizuki was slightly surprised he brought this up. After pondering for a moment, she said, "If it's a Lower Rank, a Hashira's strength is sufficient to win safely."
After all, this generation of Hashira is strong. Even Kochou Shinobu, who is considered a weaker Hashira, wouldn't have too much trouble.
"But for the Upper Ranks... although this might be a bit discouraging, if it's the top three, they probably cannot be defeated by a single Hashira fighting alone."
As far as she knew, the Flame Hashira died at the hands of Akaza, Upper Rank Three.
Furthermore, concerning Kokushibou, if he were serious, the Hashira who haven't awakened their Demon Slayer Marks would suffer immediate casualties even if they fought together in the first round.
Tanjirou's breathing hitched, "How could that be..."
In that case, wouldn't Kibutsuji Muzan be overwhelmingly powerful?
Tanjirou clenched his jaw. He had to work even harder!
Mizuki suddenly called out, "Tanjirou."
"Miss Mizuki?"
Mizuki said seriously, "I won't be traveling with you tomorrow. Please be careful in all things."
Tanjirou paused for a moment, then bowed deeply to her, "Of course. Thank you for all your trouble up until now!"
Mizuki smiled slightly and helped him up, "Take good care of Nezuko."
"Mhm!"
Watching the two finish their interaction, Tamayo said, "Tanjirou, I also need you to collect some blood for me whenever you encounter a Twelve Demon Moons."
"I understand." Tanjirou agreed to everyone's instructions and requests without exception.
As the sky gradually brightened, Tamayo drew a tube of Nezuko's blood.
Watching Tamayo place the test tube into the medicine box, Tanjirou breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it really was only a small amount.
Tanjirou placed Nezuko into the box and put it on his back: "Well then, Miss Mizuki, Miss Tamayo, Mr. Yushiro, we will be leaving now."
"Be safe."
"May your military fortune be prosperous."
"Hmph."
After Tanjirou left, Mizuki stood at the entrance looking at the sky, "It's a beautiful sunny day today."
The morning sun shone on her face. Yushiro's eyelids twitched belatedly, and his serious expression suddenly crumbled as he pointed at Mizuki with an incredulous look.
"Aren't you a demon, woman?!"
Mizuki turned back and said calmly, "No, I'm human."
Yushiro froze for a moment, then said through gritted teeth, "You're human! Yet you lied and said you knew Lady Tamayo longer! Do you know how long I've known Lady Tamayo?!"
Mizuki was speechless. This guy really hadn't recognized her.
She even suspected that when this guy was lying in bed back then, his eyes only saw Tamayo.
"Mizuki, stop teasing him." Tamayo covered her mouth and chuckled softly, explaining to Yushiro, "Mizuki and I met during the Sengoku Period. She is the only demon who has overcome the sun."
Yushiro's breath hitched, "Then wouldn't that mean..."
Tamayo nodded, "Yes, even Muzan hasn't achieved that."
Yushiro found it hard to believe that a demon had overcome the sun when Lady Tamayo hadn't even managed it yet.
Mizuki suddenly remembered, "Speaking of which, this summer, I'll go see if I can find the spider lily. You can research it then."
Previously, Tamayo worried she might die at Muzan's hands, and since Muzan could view memories within cells, Tamayo never let Mizuki know the location of the spider lily.
But things are different now. Everything will end in this era.
Tamayo paused, then smiled slightly, "Is it because of that young man?"
"Yes, Tanjirou inherited Sun Breathing from my older brother."
Tamayo nodded lightly, "I see."
Although the memory was distant, the swordsmanship the young man used was indeed the same technique the Swordsman had used hundreds of years ago.
Mizuki looked confused, "Why aren't you surprised at all?"
That's a Sun Breathing Swordsman!
The main protagonist!
You don't understand... Tamayo's gaze softened, and she said with a smile, "Because I have always believed in Mizuki from the very beginning."
"Regardless of others, I always believed Mizuki could defeat Muzan."
"..." Mizuki's expression shifted slightly, her eyes flickering.
To be honest, she was very touched, truly... if only the towering resentment and sourness behind Tamayo could be toned down a little.
Yushiro was radiating towering malice and staring straight at her with a ferocious expression.
If looks could kill, she would have surely died a thousand times over.
Mizuki twitched her lips, "I'm going to contact Ubuyashiki first."
If she was bringing a friend over, she definitely had to notify them.
Leaving that message, Mizuki turned and went out to contact the Kasugai Crow.
Tamayo, slightly puzzled by Mizuki's reaction, looked back.
Yushiro, radiating a sparkling, sunny aura, said gently, "Lady Tamayo, I will go pack our things now."
"...Mhm."
Why does something feel strange?
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