"So then, Ume says she wants to inherit too. Says will succeed Shabana together with Kyūtarō! Children's growth truly fast~! Happy but also regretful! Ugh, tears!"
"Not just tears, snot coming out too. Disgusting."
"Not disgusting! It's heart's sweat!"
"Okay okay. Here, blow."
Thanking for offered tissue, blow nose inside hood. Today too, on way back after house call, Leader waited. Thanks to that, listing my children's boasts without reserve.
Content is incident at Ubuyashiki residence few days ago. Of course about Ubuyashiki, spoke indirectly so can't be known.
"Truly… joy exploded, ended up giving this and that as gifts."
"Heh, what did you gift?"
"Kimono, obi, string ornaments, and for Kyūtarō full set medicine tools, for Ume hairpin and apron."
"Quite generous spending."
"Kyūtarō got really angry saying spent too much though."
"Ahahaha, understandable."
Kyūtarō responsible for our household accounts, his anger truly tremendous. At excuse "Used my emergency funds so not impact household!", why got even angrier, utterly don't understand.
"For time being, don't even think about spending unnecessary money!" nailed with scary face. Not unnecessary!
But seems quite liked gifts, midnight secretly got up, picked up new medicine tools, looking at them, mouth corner slightly relaxed. Kyūtarō's that smile priceless preciousness. I even more couldn't hold back tears snot.
"But was happy. Kyūtarō's reliability declaring will succeed me, Ume's kindness participating saying will do together, all of it. Having successors such happy thing!"
"That much moving thing?"
"Rather than moving, feeling reassured. With these children, now even if die anytime okay, thought… no, not. This doesn't mean okay to die. I still want to live. Still many unfinished things. So don't look with such ominous eyes!!"
"Ah my, must be my imagination."
Lie! Just now Leader, somewhat cruel face! Saw covering mouth corner with fan looking with "Heh…" eyes!
Anyway, truly person can't let guard down. Knowing that still meeting, me too though.
"But is that so, happiness. That's Tsukuru's happiness."
Leader with deep smile, tap closed fan.
"Become happiest. To extent no regrets remain."
Grinning Leader. But why? Looks like livestock farmer fattening livestock saying "Eat lots grow fast~"… must be imagination!
"Then I'll be going."
"Yes, see you next time."
Leader abruptly stood from rock sitting as chair, went back that way. I too opposite direction, moved steps to our house in bamboo grove.
Night no different from usual.
Until now.
"Excuse late hour. Is Shabana physician present."
As night deepens, unfamiliar voice heard with knocking door. Going out, guest young samurai. By his words, wife critical, wants request examination immediately now.
Kyūtarō woken by door sound said will go together, but can't leave Ume sleeping alone inside. Kyūtarō also tired probably, stroked head saying sleep first, he reluctantly nodded.
Samurai holding lantern leading, I carrying medicine box, left bamboo grove.
Heading village direction thought house there of course, but samurai passed through village as is, moved steps outside village. Living remote place maybe. Somewhere foot of mountain maybe. But wondering if samurai lives such place.
Walked rough path quite while, but private house still not visible.
"Um, excuse me… Samurai-san. How much further arrive? Said critical, better running…."
Unable bear asking, samurai then stopped steps.
"Right. About here should do."
Samurai turns body looks back at me. Lantern plop falls ground. Paper lantern light spreading on dry ground illuminates ominous shine at his waist.
Cool premonition felt. Not letting fear show on face, I pretended calmness asked.
"Where is patient?"
"Any amount, do examination in afterlife."
Sword tip smoothly drawn out points at me without hesitation.
Danger. Current me can't flee. Even if force run, cough will burst soon, won't move properly. This isn't bamboo grove!
"Could tell reason?"
"Not my business. I'm just hired. Ask whose grudge your skill. Or too many guesses being bamboo shoot doctor living bamboo grove?"
"Please stop. If let go like this, will give corresponding reward. Please only life…"
"Don't need doctor's petty money. Reward already received overflowing. Rejoice, Shabana physician. Your life price fifty ryō was."
Didn't want to die. Wanted to live whatever means.
Too early die leaving two people.
But I don't have stamina flee. Then must defeat this samurai.
It's okay, not killing. Just using breath momentarily elevate physical ability, strike neck knock unconscious. Lungs will damage but if take medicine can endure. Lung medicine in medicine case Kagaya-kun gave carrying.
If escape home using gap samurai unconscious, somehow manage. If enter bamboo grove, condition also much better, even if awakened samurai chases, can deal sufficiently.
Samurai with sword held both hands strikes from overhead. Short breath. Momentary but lungs complained violent pain.
Enduring agony can't stand, read sword's trajectory. Hand edge gathered all strength thrust down opponent's neck.
Samurai's body staggers collapses backward. And I also clutching chest kneels ground.
"Kuh… kuh… ugh…"
Danger, can't breathe. Not vomiting blood fortunate, but really feel like dying.
Medicine, must take medicine quickly. Must quickly get up flee before samurai awakens. Urging hand wanting to tear chest, fumble inside bosom.
If I die, Kagaya-kun also troubled. So must endure.
That moment trying to roll pill onto palm opening medicine case lid.
"Guh… you bastaaaaard!!"
"...!!!"
Kicked side with shout. Unable withstand that impact, I thrown to ground disgracefully.
What. Failed to knock unconscious? Making mistake such moment. Using breath meaningless.
Medicine case rolls from hand, medicine scatters on ground. No good, quickly medicine——
Moment reaching out, sharp slash grazed back. Clearly felt myself flesh tearing wide. Cut.
Even then not giving up, tried somehow picking medicine but── cold metal stabbed that hand.
"Aaaaaah!!"
"Ho, quite good medicine case. Excessive item for poor physician."
Samurai pulling sword from my hand picks up mother-of-pearl decorated medicine case slowly scans. Lecherously appraising gaze— has thief's eyes.
Stop, don't touch.
That Kagaya-kun gave me.
Proof Shabana, I, am his neighbor.
Must pass to Kyūtarō precious thing.
"Give, back…!"
Desperately stretched hand not stabbed by sword, but mercilessly brushed away. Samurai coldly looks down at me. While picking up medicine case Kagaya-kun gave between hem.
"Earlier begged only spare life. Fine, will substitute with this. Won't take life. Already seems breath about to break."
"Ha, stop, give back… give baaack…!"
Samurai no further words, without even giving glance, turned footsteps. Back soon disappears into darkness, footsteps also fade.
Lying on ground thrash. Panting at back pain and lung agony, desperately stretch hand digging soil.
Must return. Must return home.
If treated by Kyūtarō, wound like this nothing. Now not just medicine compounding but wound treatment also top level. Ume also quite courageous, any wound won't fluster, will treat.
Back wound deep, hand stabbed wound also painful. But though bleeding amount large, not instant death degree.
First go village direction. If endure crawling, if someone discovers me, can still live──.
"Oh my, such thing happens."
Heard voice. Without sound, without presence, something stands beside me.
Turning head look, round man like fat rat. Reading phrase engraved in eye of man standing blocking my path, astonished.
"Alive aren't you. So tenaciously tore off, like this utterly can't call work worth fifty ryō. Haa, truly glad came check."
"Upper Rank…?!"
Left Upper. Right Two. Covered flabby flesh eye clearly engraved so.
Fortunately inside bosom have bamboo canteen always carry. Honestly lungs hurt too much feel like dying, but rather than be killed doing nothing like this, even if overdo, elevate breath move body, give demon medicine──
"Eh, huh?"
Arm not moving.
No finger sensation.
"Oh my, scary scary."
My hand. Why over there.
"Without hands can't handle poison. No, if heaven's poison doctor Shabana, can kill demon with feet too maybe. Ooh, then must tear off legs too for reassurance. Poison scary thing. So tried finish with human hands, but this human fellow does work half-heartedly, really."
Round demon grumbling complaints, this time grabs my leg and snip, and.
"Poison doctor, perhaps know saying 'kill one hundred save ten thousand'? Saying transmitted from continent but… ah, no. Answer not needed. That person not pleased poison doctor like you appearing world again. Enemies Demon Slayer Corps enough. So what I want to say——"
Shoulder blade hot, knee area painful, pain beyond degree already stole even voice from me. Sneering down at insect thrashing on ground, round demon stickily whispers.
"An example. Die as miserably as possible."
＊
"Muzan-sama, Shabana's neck as desired."
Without slightest movement, with crafted smile, that demon first doubted own ears.
Strange reaction shown by him becoming new Upper Rank 6 granted name Dōma. Only one noticing that is Kibutsuji Muzan alone.
Detecting fine emotional change of Dōma thought emotionless being toward anything, Kibutsuji Muzan narrowed eyes. More interesting than head inside hood Upper Rank 2 presented.
Led by curiosity, peeking into Dōma's heart, Muzan soon couldn't help click tongue.
──No different night made him demon, Dōma's heart blackened no change. Dōma beaming smiling. While knowing nothing Shabana's existence, beaming looking at head.
Saying saw unpleasant thing, Muzan turned gaze, not satisfied that alone, instantly cut connected line.
"Put quite effort killing, Katsu."
"Wanted make deeply realize weight of rudeness defying Muzan-sama. Conscious until limbs torn off, but slicing stomach leading death lamentable. Only regret not reaching lord's will."
"Nonsense. Tormenting weakened prey your hobby. Don't plausibly sell my name."
Upper Rank 2, Katsu immediately closed mouth prostrated head ground. Hood placed beside Katsu indeed no different from one Muzan examined through subordinate.
Though face unknown, Muzan well remembered even single seam of that hood. No doubt poison doctor Shabana's head inside hood mouth tightened like pouch, Kibutsuji Muzan inwardly sneered.
Ordinary humans truly pitiful. However strong poison made, after death becomes like this nothing.
"Muzan-sama, will directly examine corpse's neck?"
Katsu rubbing head ground respectfully presented hood. Round back fidgeting squirming is gesture expecting reward from lord served Kibutsuji Muzan.
Naturally, only self killed genuine Shabana other demons couldn't kill.
But from Kibutsuji Muzan's position, this degree "So what".
"Where use examining neck of person face unknown. Ordered kill Shabana, never wanted neck. Stop foolish acts. Utterly disgusting."
Only blaming fact wasted full three years killing one ordinary doctor not hiding like Ubuyashiki, no such thing as reward.
Cutting Katsu's expectation at once, scattering sharp anger seeming to slice skin.
"Ubuyashiki's residence, blue spider lily, white hair red eyes child. You all still achieved nothing. Hoping reward for Shabana degree utterly presumptuous. Don't boast picking pebble at feet."
Before Katsu receiving killing intent head-on, Hantengu screamed shrill voice frightened first. Conversation didn't continue further. With biwa sound, space Kibutsuji Muzan stands begins close.
Ding, ding, dididing.
Each time Nakime plays biwa, one, another demon disappears. After demon peak left, Katsu straightening back glared at hood holding hand, clicked tongue threw.
Dugururu rolling hood hits Nakime's knee stops there.
"Biwa demon, take that away."
"...…"
Not consenting silence, but man flattering superiors arrogant to inferiors, whatever say useless. Nakime silently plucked strings, Katsu's appearance soon disappeared somewhere.
Sweet scent rises from hood rolling side. Only head little to eat, but okay to eat? But heard handles poison, maybe better not touch.
Hesitating so, Nakime following duty picked plectrum again to send last demon but.
Swish——
Upper Rank 6 stands up. With head deeply bowed, ghost-like footsteps step tatami.
And for some reason, picks up hood fallen Nakime's side. With gentle touch as if holding baby.
Upper Rank 6's expression not glimpsable. But faintly visible mouth corner quiet, appearance innocently smiling until moments ago no trace remains.
That appearance so creepy, Nakime quickly raised biwa plectrum to drive out.
Then, contents flow from hood. Nakime's sole eye bulging wide seeing Shabana's neck.
Flowing down hair white like old man's. Appearance stained spots blood reminiscent camellia fallen on snow, but nape revealed between hair full young vitality tells not old man's neck.
" "
Muttering swallowed biwa sound, and again man's appearance stroking neck also disappeared from Infinity Castle.
Kibutsuji Muzan making one misunderstanding.
Day first met, Dōma's heart dark.
Today becoming Upper Rank 6, Dōma's heart black.
Not empty. Worn-out heart filled with that. Name of stickily clinging unpleasantness like muddy swamp, but worn-out child didn't know.
Didn't know but certainly there.
Like galloping. Like burning. Like freezing. Like howling.
"Next time, next time definitely, whatever happens, will save. So rest assured be born again."
None heard whisper dyed insane benevolence,
Also none noticed moment creepy emotion never again in this world sprouted.
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