The touch was real, the smell was real, this wasn't a dream.
Takina nestled in Aoki's arms, unwilling to get up, vaguely feeling as if she had overlooked something.
After a while, she suddenly remembered and quickly looked up.
"Aoki, we need to tell Mom you're back right away."
"Okay, let's go inside!"
Aoki and Takina walked into the courtyard together.
Kanae Kochō and Shinobu Kochō silently followed.
Just then, Aomura Rie came out of the room carrying a basin of water.
"Takina, is Shinobu here? Why didn't you let her..."
Clang.
Her expression froze, the basin in her hand fell to the ground, water splashed everywhere, wetting her shoes.
"Master's wife, I'm back!" Aoki said.
Two lines of tears fell down Aomura Rie's face: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
After a while, her emotions calmed down.
In the living room, the five people sat around the table.
Takina poured tea for Kanae Kochō and Shinobu Kochō.
Rie Aomura asked, "Aoki, what happened after Takina and I escaped that night? Where have you been this past year?"
Kanae Kochō and Shinobu Kochō both perked up; they were equally interested in this question.
Aoki fell into recollection, and after a moment, slowly said, "After my master's wife and Takina left that day, I began fighting the Demon my master had become. I finally managed to control him, and then, Muzan Kibutsuji appeared."
Takina clenched her fists, while Rie Aomura exclaimed softly, "Muzan Kibutsuji!"
She had heard this name from Shinobu Kochō, knowing he was the progenitor of demons, a monster who had lived for over a thousand years and no one could defeat him. She also knew he was the one who turned Kazuhiko into a demon, the culprit behind their family's disaster.
Shinobu Kochō and Kanae Kochō exchanged a glance.
In other words, they had almost brushed past Muzan Kibutsuji, teetering on the edge of hell.
Aoki continued, "Muzan Kibutsuji killed the Demon that my master had transformed into, and then forcibly turned me into a Demon."
Fortunately, my body underwent some changes. I didn't lose my mind, I no longer need to eat people, and I can become stronger by killing Demons.
I wanted to avenge Muzan Kibutsuji, but I was worried about endangering my master's wife and Takina, so I chose to leave... until last night, when I finally defeated Muzan Kibutsuji."
Kanae and Shinobu Kochō listened, their hearts trembling.
Only they, as Demon hunters, understood how incredible Aomura Kazuhiko's experiences and achievements over the past year were.
To describe it as legendary would not be an exaggeration.
Aomura Rie and Takina didn't have a clear understanding of the strength of Demons, and listening to Aomura's story, they were more worried for him.
As evening fell,
Kanae and Shinobu Kochō said their goodbyes.
"There were three of us when we came, and only two of us are leaving," Shinobu Kochō sighed.
Aomura reminded them, "I will take you back and then come back, so there will be three of you on the way back."
Shinobu Kochō said, "You can only be considered a means of transportation."
Aoki: "..." I
didn't expect you to have such a sharp tongue.
Kanae Kochō asked, "Mr. Aomura, is 'Aoki' your real name?"
Aoki nodded: "I'm sorry for hiding it from you before."
Kanae Kochō smiled faintly and shook her head gently: "It's alright, Mr. Aomura is Mr. Aomura, what your name is doesn't matter."
Shinobu Kochō said: "When I mentioned that Takina's surname is 'Aomura' before, you even said something about 'fate'. You're just using the pseudonym 'Aomura' because of Takina, of course it's the same! And today..."
Aoki quickly said: "We don't need time, let's get going!"
That was indeed one of his mischievous jokes.
Shinobu Kochō glared at Aoki, and she and her sister each grabbed his arms.
In a flash, the three of them returned to the Butterfly House.
"Then I'll go back!"
Aoki said goodbye to the two of them and left again.
Takina stood silently in front of the door.
Suddenly, her vision blurred, and when she came to her senses, there was someone else in the yard.
"Aoki, you're back."
"Yes." Aoki
smiled and walked over.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
During these two weeks, Aoki had done nothing but spend time with Takina and his master's wife; it was the most leisurely period he had experienced since transmigrating to this world.
The cold wind howled, rattling against the windows.
Takina was hunched over the table, diligently sewing clothes.
Opposite her, Aoki was mostly curled up in the kotatsu, reading a biography novel with boredom.
The room was quiet.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door, and Takina looked up.
"I'll go in."
Aoki put down his book, put on his shoes, and walked outside. He opened the door and paused slightly.
In the cold wind, a tall, beautiful, and gentle-looking girl in a kimono stood gracefully in the doorway.
"Miss Kanae?"
Kanae Kochō smiled lightly. "Aomura, no, Mr. Aoki, it's been a long time."
Aoki stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in.
"Actually, it hasn't been long. Did Miss Kanae come alone?"
Kanae Kochō waved her hand. "I won't go in. I'm here today to inform Mr. Aoki about something."
"What is it?"
"In three days, Lord Aoki will be holding a Pillar Meeting and has invited Mr. Aomura to attend."
"A Pillar Meeting?"
Aoki pondered. "No problem, I'll be there on time."
Kanae Kochō said, "Then I'll take my leave!"
Aoki asked in surprise, "Eh? In such a hurry?"
"I just happened to be passing by today, and I have other things to do!"
Kanae Kochō wasn't being polite. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she left.
At this moment, Takina came out, watching the departing figure: "Was that Ms. Kanae? Why did she leave?"
"She seemed to have something to do, she just stopped by to let me know she was going to a meeting," Aoki said.
"Said by? Is it really that coincidental? And it's so cold today..."
Takina looked at Kanae's slender back, then at Aoki.
"The clothes are almost finished, why don't you try them on?"
"Okay."
...
Three days later.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
The usually tightly closed gate was wide open.
"I feel a little out of place!"
Uzui Tengen scratched his head and went inside. There were already several people in the courtyard.
"Am I the last one to arrive?"
Shinazugawa Sanemi shook his head: "No! There's still one person missing."
"There's still one person?"
Uzui Tengen quickly counted them. That's right, there were eight people. Who was missing?
But he quickly realized, "I know who it is, the big shots always have to make a grand entrance!"
"I just arrived and I heard someone talking badly about me behind my back!" Aoki's figure appeared.
"Mr. Aomura," everyone said in unison, their faces filled with respect.
Aoki paused for a moment, then joked, "Let me make this clear first, if you're asking for money, I can only lend you a maximum of two hundred each!"
The atmosphere instantly became cheerful.
Just then, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, supported by two children, came out.
"It's a pleasure to see everyone gathered here again."
"Lord!"
The Pillars knelt on one knee.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya faced the crowd, a smile on his face: "Today is the last Pillar meeting. I called you all here for only one thing: from today onwards, the Demon Slayer Corps is officially disbanded!"
"Yes!" the Pillars responded in unison, their expressions somewhat wistful.
They had already guessed it.
However, this wasn't a sad thing.
Because the Demon Slayer Corps' disbandment wasn't due to external forces, but because it had achieved its ultimate goal.
"An era has ended," Aoki thought to himself.
At this moment, Ubuyashiki Kagaya turned to Aoki, placed his hands on the ground, and solemnly bowed, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Aomura, for fulfilling our dream that we've pursued for a thousand years."
Aoki said, "You're welcome, Head of the Ubuyashiki family."
The Pillars also turned to him.
Aoki waved his hand, saying preemptively, "If you keep this up, I'll have to leave."
He was just there to check off the list, observe the ceremony, and witness this historic moment.
Everyone laughed.
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(End of Chapter)