The eighth day.
As the first light of dawn pierced through the clouds, Kiyokawa Izumi, his clothes tattered and emitting a foul odor, walked dazedly through a path lined with lush wisteria flowers.
His body felt slightly feverish, and his throat felt as if it were blocked. Kiyokawa Izumi took heavy steps, walking forward slowly.
Looking around, he didn't see a single other swordsman who had participated in the Selection.
Was he the first one to arrive here?
In the distance, a figure slowly appeared.
It seemed to be a woman.
She wore a dark blue kimono, her figure slender and tall, carrying an innate air of elegance.
'Who is this?'
His sluggish brain couldn't quite process things at this moment.
He only felt that the person before him looked very familiar, yet he couldn't recall who she was or what her name was for a moment.
Kiyokawa Izumi's gaze remained fixed on her as she gradually approached.
It wasn't for any other reason; there wasn't a hint of desire in Kiyokawa Izumi's eyes, not even simple admiration, he just stared blankly.
In such a terrible physical state, even if a beautiful older sister appeared before him, he wouldn't have any such thoughts.
'Who exactly is it?'
Kiyokawa Izumi panted slightly, his whole being like an old machine that could no longer process even simple thoughts.
The older sister before him had very fair skin, dignified and soft features, and purple-black pupils that shone like gemstones.
She had rare white hair that was as smooth as a waterfall, with a few stray strands falling from her temples. Perhaps because of her journey, a few beads of sweat were faintly visible on her smooth forehead.
When he saw that iconic low ponytail, Kiyokawa Izumi reacted almost instantly.
The person before him was the wife of the Demon Slayer Corps' leader—Ubuyashiki Amane!
"I..."
As soon as he spoke, Kiyokawa Izumi felt the world spin.
Everything in his vision seemed to rotate, and a feeling of dizziness emerged.
Failing to keep his footing, he fell directly to the side.
He hadn't finished what he wanted to say.
What he wanted to say was: I don't want to join the Demon Slayer Corps!
No cliché plot occurred, such as falling onto the leader's wife—Ubuyashiki Amane was still some distance from Kiyokawa Izumi. Seeing him fall, she quickened her pace, but ultimately couldn't reach him in time.
Kiyokawa Izumi fell heavily to the ground and lost consciousness.
Butterfly Mansion.
Kiyokawa Izumi opened his heavy eyes, only to find the entire world blurred.
'Where is this?'
'A comfortable big bed—this isn't my home!'
'It can't be another Transmigration, right?'
Kiyokawa Izumi instinctively tried to lift his hand, only to find his entire body unable to move.
It wasn't that someone had tied him to this bed.
Although his consciousness was awake, his muscles were still in a state of paralysis, which was why his whole body couldn't move.
Simply put, it was what's commonly known as sleep paralysis.
Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't in a hurry; he just tried hard to lift a finger. As long as he could move even a little bit, he could gradually wake up his whole body.
After a moment, he finally regained control of his body.
Kiyokawa Izumi slowly raised his arm. He didn't know if he had strained the wound on his shoulder, but the sudden pain made him gasp.
"Do you want some water, Mr. Izumi?"
A soft voice sounded in his ear. Kiyokawa Izumi's gaze instinctively shifted towards it, and he was instantly stunned.
The girl had medium-short hair as smooth as silk ribbons, with an iconic purple butterfly hair ornament pinned in her hair.
Her small, delicate face had regular features, and her pale purple eyes were like gemstones.
Her skin was very fair and fine, and the corners of her mouth were always slightly upturned in a gentle smile. Upon closer inspection, it felt somewhat strange.
Because it wasn't a smile from the heart; clearly, her eyes were slightly cold.
The girl's figure was slender, much smaller and thinner than the average woman.
Underneath, she wore the standard Demon Slayer Corps uniform, and over it, she wore a light haori with black butterflies embroidered on a white base.
'She is... Kochou Shinobu?'
'Why am I here?'
'This is probably the Butterfly Mansion?'
Kiyokawa Izumi felt a faint pain between his eyebrows.
The breath he had been holding onto collapsed after completing the Selection. His slightly feverish body wasn't a precursor to the Awakening of the Demon Slayer Mark; he had just caught a bit of a fever from the mountain winds.
"Mr. Izumi?"
The girl tilted her head slightly, looking at the suddenly dazed Kiyokawa Izumi with some confusion, a faint smile still on her delicate face.
"Water..."
Kiyokawa Izumi spoke while struggling to sit up.
His muscles felt as if they were paralyzed, unable to exert any strength.
Not only that, it felt as if a giant rock were pressing on his chest, making every breath slightly difficult.
He managed to sit up, but a strange smell wafted towards him.
Kochou Shinobu smiled slightly, her fair hands holding a ceramic cup filled with medicinal soup, speaking in a tone used to coax a child.
"Come, open your mouth. You have to be good and drink your medicine when you're sick!"
"?"
Kiyokawa Izumi stared at her blankly, unable to speak.
Although the original owner of this body was indeed young, he wasn't the original owner.
If he remembered correctly, this person was only eighteen when she died in battle.
In his past life, that was the age of someone just graduating from high school. To him, she was just a little sister.
"Be good!"
Seeing Kiyokawa Izumi dazed again, Kochou Shinobu's eyebrows rose slightly, and she couldn't help but sharpen her tone a little.