"Um..."
"The Master has arrived."
Kochou Shinobu still wanted to say more, but she was interrupted by the arrival of the Ubuyashiki family and reluctantly sat down next to Mizuki.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat down, supported by his two daughters, a faint smile on his lips: "I am very relieved that everyone was able to return safely."
"The number of Lower Rank members of the Twelve Demon Moons slain by the Demon Slayer Corps is countless, but when it comes to the Upper Rank Demon Moons... even the Hashira have a slim chance of survival if they encounter one."
"This is the first recorded instance of the Demon Slayer Corps slaying an Upper Rank in over a hundred years, and it was Upper Rank Three."
"A powerful demon known as the Fighting Demon."
Fortunately, Ubuyashiki didn't follow up by adding Akaza's name, or Mizuki would have had to find a hole to crawl into.
Kochou Shinobu's purple, unfocused eyes and small mouth opened slightly in surprise: "Upper Rank Three?!"
"That Chicken Nest Seat?"
Kochou Shinobu subconsciously turned her head to look at Mizuki.
Did Mizuki do it?
Because Mizuki had told her privately that to slay one of the top three Upper Ranks alone, one must master the Demon Slayer Mark, or even the Transparent World and the scarlet blade.
Mr. Rengoku and Tanjirou clearly couldn't do that yet.
Mizuki was covered in black lines (exasperated) and no longer wanted to struggle.
"Pfft~" Tanjirou couldn't help but burst out laughing, and belatedly covered his mouth and lowered his head.
He looked quite like a slacker secretly watching short videos and trying to stifle laughter in the corner during a boss's meeting.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded seriously: "That's right, it's that Chicken Nest Seat."
Rengoku Kyojuro nodded, crossing his arms: "Mhm, that's the guy."
It's not that guy at all!
Hearing Tanjirou stifling his laughter nearby, Mizuki said with a headache: "About that... actually, I wrote it incorrectly..."
"Upper Rank Three's name is actually Akaza..."
"..."
The crowd fell silent for a moment. That mistake was quite far off.
After a moment of silence, Ubuyashiki Kagaya changed the subject: "Well then, Kyoujurou, how do you feel?"
Rengoku Kyojuro straightened his posture, his back rigid, and said with a serious expression: "Very strong!"
"It was the first time I had encountered such a powerful demon."
"If I had encountered him alone, I might have lost to him."
"I'm ashamed to say that during the battle with Upper Rank Three, I couldn't get involved at all."
In his view, that little bit of help didn't even count as an assist.
Hearing this, the smile on Tanjirou's face froze.
It was like hearing your final exam results just when you were happy... He felt the same way.
He hadn't helped at all.
Kochou Shinobu's breathing became heavier. Even Mr. Rengoku couldn't help... Was Upper Rank Three truly on a completely different level of power compared to the Hashira, just as Mizuki had said?
The sight of Mizuki awakening the Demon Slayer Mark for her was still imprinted on Kochou Shinobu's body; whenever she thought of that power, her body would tremble involuntarily.
That was a realm no human could reach.
Although the exaggerated traces of the battle had been confirmed by photographs from the scene, hearing this information directly from Rengoku Kyojuro still weighed heavily on Ubuyashiki Kagaya's heart.
Kyoujurou is considered a mid-tier fighter among the Hashira. If even he couldn't prevail, perhaps only Gyoumei could be useful.
This was only Upper Rank Three... it truly cannot be underestimated... Ubuyashiki Kagaya exhaled slowly and smiled faintly: "Miss Mizuki, thank you for your trouble this time."
Mizuki shook her head: "No, it was just a small effort."
Everyone: "..."
If that was a small effort, then what were they?
Just running errands?
Indeed.
Ubuyashiki smiled: "Miss Mizuki, there is no need to be modest. Everyone has seen the help you have brought to the Demon Slayer Corps."
"We are merely moving forward toward a common goal; it cannot be called 'help'."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya understood Mizuki's character and did not press the matter: "Yes, by slaying Upper Rank Three this time, I believe even Muzan must have suffered a significant blow."
Mizuki asked: "Speaking of which, has Muzan made any moves?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya shook his head: "Not yet..."
Mizuki furrowed her delicate brows. Does he not know yet?
No, that shouldn't be the case.
Muzan cares deeply about the Twelve Demon Moons, especially the Upper Ranks... He must constantly monitor their locations, and since Upper Ranks possess more of Muzan's blood, he couldn't possibly fail to notice their disappearance.
"If there is any movement from the demons, I will immediately send a Kasugai Crow to notify you."
"I appreciate that."
When the soldiers come, the general resists; when the flood comes, the earth covers it... worrying now is useless.
The most important thing is... up to this point, the plot she was familiar with has ended.
The plot she remembered only went as far as Tanjirou defeating lower rank five at Natagumo Mountain. She only inevitably noticed the Mugen Train incident because the Flame Hashira's popularity was too high.
But starting from here... she has no idea about the subsequent plot development.
She only knows that Tanjirou will still fight a white-haired female demon.
If nothing unexpected happens, she should also be among the Upper Ranks, but which one, she doesn't know.
After reporting everything that happened on the Mugen Train, Ubuyashiki Kagaya issued the dismissal order.
Before leaving, Ubuyashiki Kagaya suddenly remembered: "Oh, Kyoujurou."
"Master?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya said calmly: "I will assign your missions appropriately. During this time, I will trouble Miss Mizuki to help Kyoujurou awaken his Demon Slayer Mark."
The power of Upper Rank Three made Ubuyashiki feel a sense of crisis; they had to quickly get the Swordsmen to awaken their Demon Slayer Marks.
Rengoku Kyojuro was slightly startled, then bowed ninety degrees respectfully toward Mizuki.
"Then please guide me, Miss Mizuki!"
"...Mm."
Tanjirou, standing nearby, was confused. What was the Demon Slayer Mark?
Everyone left the Master's location. Mizuki, feeling uneasy while standing next to Kochou Shinobu, couldn't help but quicken her pace toward the Butterfly Mansion.
Kochou Shinobu was about to follow when she suddenly noticed Tanjirou, who was standing silently beside her.
Isn't this child usually quite cheerful?
What's wrong?
Did he quarrel with Mizuki?
No wonder Mizuki looked strange... After a moment of hesitation, Kochou Shinobu asked with a smile: "What's the matter, Tanjirou?"
"You look quite down."
Tanjirou snapped back to reality: "Ah, Miss Shinobu."
"Actually..." He trailed off, hesitating: "...Am I truly qualified to be a Hashira yet?"
Kochou Shinobu asked with a smile: "Why do you say that?"
So he was confused about this.
She thought he had quarreled with Mizuki.
Come to think of it, she had once thought the same thing: could someone as weak as herself really bear the title of the Demon Slayer Corps' pillar?
Tanjirou hesitated: "Because... the Master didn't assign me anything."
"What is the awakening of the Demon Slayer Mark?"
Kochou Shinobu was slightly stunned: "Didn't Mizuki tell you?"
Tanjirou scratched his head: "No, maybe Miss Mizuki thinks I'm not ready yet."
He inexplicably felt like everyone knew something he was still in the dark about.
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