Horitake never underestimated the ugliness and greed of human nature.
He had already resolved to keep the recipe for the Life Replenishing Potion a profound secret. He needed to ensure that as few people as possible knew of its existence; it could never, under any circumstances, be leaked to the outside world.
If word got out, it would trigger a localized apocalypse—a bloodbath of unimaginable proportions and a world-shaking upheaval.
As for why he decided to share it with "as few as possible" rather than keeping it entirely to himself?
The reason was simple: Horitake was no medical expert. Although he possessed the recipe in his mind, he hadn't fully grasped its complexities. He knew that if he attempted to brew the potion alone, he would likely fail—producing nothing more than a pale imitation or, worse, a toxic failure.
Horitake possessed enough self-awareness to know that his skills in alchemy and medicine were mediocre at best. Even with a god-tier recipe in hand, he couldn't guarantee a successful concoction.
Therefore, he needed an assistant. Only through mutual cooperation with a master of the craft could this potion truly be brought to life.
And who could help him?
The answer was far on the horizon, yet right before his eyes.
Shinobu Kocho had overseen the Butterfly Estate for years. She was the preeminent medical authority within the Demon Slayer Corps. Beyond that, she spent her free time concocting lethal poisons; her research into pharmacology was undoubtedly top-tier.
More importantly, Shinobu was now his woman. If he couldn't trust his own woman, who could he trust? When it came to keeping secrets, he knew she was as solid as iron.
Thus, Horitake decided to study the recipe alongside Shinobu. He wanted to finalize the potion as soon as possible to serve as a safeguard against the reduced lifespan caused by the Demon Slayer Mark.
As they continued their journey, Horitake turned his head to look at Shinobu's beautiful profile.
"Sister Shinobu."
Shinobu turned, her violet eyes meeting his. "What is it? Something on your mind?"
"I happened to come across a recipe recently. I find it incredibly mysterious and profound. I believe that if we follow it, we can create a truly extraordinary medicine. Here, help me look over the details."
And so, as the two walked leisurely toward headquarters, Horitake began to describe the intricacies of the recipe to her.
By the time he finished, the way Shinobu looked at him was as if she were staring at a divine being. She was instantly captivated, her mind sinking entirely into the theoretical depths of the formula.
She became so absorbed that she stopped paying attention to the road ahead. She walked with her head down, her brow furrowed in deep thought, her eyes growing brighter and more vibrant with every passing second of analysis.
If Horitake hadn't been holding her hand and guiding her, Shinobu would have surely tripped and fallen.
After a long silence, the sheer brilliance of the formula finally settled in. She let out a breath of pure awe.
"Horitake... where on earth did you find such a miraculous recipe? This formula is... it's flawless! Perfect!"
She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "With my current abilities, I can't fully grasp it in a single sitting. Whether it can be successfully brewed and the specific steps required will need extensive, detailed experimentation. But I have a premonition—this will work!"
"And I can see it clearly," she continued, her excitement mounting. "The potion produced by this recipe would be something world-altering. If used correctly, it can replenish a massive amount of vitality... it could even extend a human's natural lifespan with ease! This recipe is simply..."
Horitake squeezed her hand gently, calming her agitated state.
"Sister Shinobu, stay calm!"
He looked her in the eyes, his expression becoming grave. "Promise me, you must never let this recipe leak out. If the world finds out about this, the trouble we'll face will be catastrophic. Neither the Demon Slayer Corps nor the two of us will ever know a day of peace again."
Shinobu stiffened as the realization hit her like a bucket of ice water.
As an exceptionally intelligent woman who had seen the dark underbelly of the world, how could she not understand his meaning?
Following Horitake's train of thought, she realized that if this recipe were exposed... they would likely find themselves in a situation far more desperate and terrifying than even a confrontation with Muzan Kibutsuji.
It wouldn't just be demons hunting them; it would be the entire human world. They would be "enemies of the world" in every sense of the word.
At that thought, Shinobu couldn't help but shiver. A chill ran down her spine.
"Horitake, you're right. This recipe must never, ever be leaked."
Suddenly, a flash of "girlfriend logic" took over. She pouted, lightly punching his arm in a display of mock indignation.
"Really! Why did you have to tell me then?" she complained. "Keeping a secret this big, this dangerous... I'm probably never going to get a good night's sleep again! It's all your fault!"
Horitake caught her small fist in his hand, chuckling as he coaxed her. "Yes, yes, it's my fault. I'm the villain here."
He leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But be honest, Sister Shinobu—are you interested in the recipe? Don't you want to be the one to bring this potion into existence? Deep down... do you?"
Pinned down by his direct gaze, Shinobu went silent. She couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye, her gaze darting left and right, but she remained true to her nature as a researcher.
"I do..." she whispered.
Horitake leaned closer, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You do what? Do you want me? Or are you thinking about what I did to you last night?"
A rosy flush bloomed on Shinobu's cheeks. She flared up in embarrassed rage, though her "dark" side remained intact.
"I want to brew this potion and then force-feed you a thousand bottles of it! I'll turn you into an immortal monster like Muzan, making you the ultimate 'prized meat' that the entire world will hunt down just for a bite of your longevity!"
"Uh..."
Horitake couldn't help but follow that line of thought.
If he really drank a thousand bottles, he might not become immortal, but he'd certainly live a very, very long time. And if he reached a certain age and refused to die, he really would become like the legendary "Monk's Meat"—a walking prize that every scoundrel in the world would want to dissect to find the secret of long life.
Well played, Sister Shinobu.
Horitake raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, alright. I can never win an argument with you."
He turned serious once more. "In all honesty, Sister Shinobu, do you truly want to make this?"
Shinobu took a moment to compose herself, then nodded firmly. "Anyone with a shred of talent in medicine would want to see this through. I am no exception."
"That's good to hear."
"I can't do this alone," Horitake admitted. "But with your help, the birth of this potion is only a matter of time. To be honest, I told you this recipe for a very specific reason."
"What reason?"
Horitake's mischievous grin returned. He leaned toward Shinobu's ear and whispered, "Sister Shinobu, we were quite... transparent with each other last night. You saw the purple lightning mark on my chest, didn't you?"
Shinobu's face reddened slightly, but she nodded candidly. "Yes, I saw it. I asked if it was a tattoo, and you said it wasn't."
"It's not a tattoo. It's a Mark—a Demon Slayer Mark, specifically tied to our Breathing Styles."
"A Mark?"
It was the first time Shinobu had heard the term. Confusion clouded her features.
Horitake wrapped his arm around her as they continued their walk, slowly beginning to explain exactly what the Mark was—and the heavy price it demanded.
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