Kochou Shinobu placed a cup of hot tea in front of Haruto, furrowing her brow. "He said it was a waste for perfectly healthy people to stay here, and it would be better to use this time to hunt more demons."
The successors coming and going in the Butterfly Mansion were all healthy swordsmen. Some had passed the selection, some hadn't. Their expressions turned sour after hearing this.
"Ah…" Haruto's hand, holding the teacup, paused. "He didn't mean it that way."
"I understand." Shinobu squatted beside him, gathering her overly long haori, like a butterfly folding its wings. "Like Mr. Shinazugawa? Ah, I'm not talking about your Shinazugawa, but the one… with many scars.
He looks so fierce and unreasonable, but my sister said he's a gentle person."
"Oh?" Haruto's voice suddenly went up an octave, and his eyebrows shot up. "Kanae said Sanemi is a gentle person?"
What gossip, what gossip? Is it reliable?
Shinobu, however, continued speaking to herself. "Mr. Kuwano also said that of Mr. Shinazugawa's whole body, his face looks the angriest, like a pufferfish that puffs up greatly when poked… but actually, he's not threatening at all."
Haruto imagined a Sanemi-brand pufferfish in his head—ah, impossible to imagine!
He was clearly a C4, ready to explode with one button.
But… quickly tell me the gossip about Sanemi and Kanae!
"So," Haruto asked casually, "does Sanemi come to the Butterfly Mansion often?"
"Yes, he comes often. Mr. Sanemi's fighting style is very unique, often leaving him covered in injuries. Mr. Kuwano brings him to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment every other day, and it's usually my sister who bandages his wounds."
Ah, that guy just takes advantage of being a rare blood type, cutting himself in every battle to make demons who smell his blood enter a drunken state, thereby reducing their combat effectiveness.
"What about your sister?" Haruto raised an eyebrow at her. "What's your sister's attitude?"
Haruto, eager for gossip, was determined to be on the front lines of Demon Slayer Corps gossip, but his ambiguous attitude led Kochou Shinobu to misunderstand.
"My sister… probably doesn't mean it that way…" She uncertainly stroked her smooth chin, tilting her head and winking her left eye at Haruto. "But if it's you, Haruto-nii, I fully support it!"
Me?
Haruto was utterly bewildered.
"Me… what?
Me, pursue Shinazugawa?
What kind of new brand of crazy literature is this?"
The two stared at each other with wide, bewildered eyes for a moment before Kochou Shinobu let out an extremely confused, "Eh? Haruto-nii… Haruto-nii, you like Mr. Shinazugawa?!"
"Of! Course! Not!"
Haruto suddenly stood up, his handsome face turning green with urgency. "Of course I still like soft, sweet, cute girls between 15 and 35 that go 'bo~' when you touch them!"
Shinobu was startled by his sudden standing, sitting crookedly to the side and clutching her chest. "You scared me, I knew it… I was talking about my sister just now, do you like my sister? Why would I say you like Mr. Shinazugawa?!"
Haruto: ( ᵒ ̤ ̑ ₀ ̑ ᵒ ̤ ̑ )
"…Oh, I see."
He sat back down, rubbing his nose. "I was wondering… why would you think I like your sister? Although I do have a good impression of Kanae, this is based on knowing her for a long time, and under the influence of the same beliefs, it's hard for me not to feel a good impression towards her."
"There shouldn't be anyone among the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen who doesn't like Kanae, she has a heart as pure as gold. Even the seemingly arrogant Sound Pillar, Uzui Tengen, has a good impression of Kanae. But this kind of good impression…"
He looked up at Kanae, who was smiling at the successors. "Is it romantic love? Probably not."
"My sister… is the gentlest person in the world." Kochou Shinobu hugged her knees, resting her small head on her arms. "So I hope she can be happy. I once thought of entrusting this happiness to you, Haruto-nii, but then I found out that it doesn't seem to be the case."
"How can one's own happiness be entrusted to others?" Haruto showed a hint of a proud expression. "Although I admit I am quite excellent, one's own happiness must still be fought for by oneself, and that goes for Kanae, and for Shinobu too."
"What about you, Haruto-nii?"
"Me? Although Master Godo is pressing me urgently, with the demons not yet eradicated, I truly have no mind for romance."
What's more… Haruto's blue eyes darkened as he thought of that "Upper Moon Daki."
When would she discover that the Takanashi Family still had descendants in the world?
Outside, the Kasugai Crow fluttered in, and the Butterfly Mansion resumed its orderly busyness.
The injured were carried off the battlefield by the Kakushi, transported to the Butterfly Mansion, and then these young girls engaged in a life-and-death struggle with the King of Hell.
Haruto went to see Sabito, who was still unconscious. His condition had improved somewhat.
Shinobu said that since this morning, Sabito had been swollen like a steamed bun, and it was thanks to Constant Concentration that his vital signs had stabilized.
Makomo had stayed by his side all night, and seeing him enter, she nodded wearily. "Haruto-nii… where's Giyuu?"
"He went out to kill demons; he's feeling bad."
"I understand." Makomo nodded with a bitter smile.
Haruto stepped out of the room and sighed as he stood on the veranda.
"…Lord Sanemi has slain Lower Moon One, but Lord Kuwano…"
The Kakushi, covered in blood, placed the injured swordsman on a stretcher in the Butterfly Mansion and whispered to Kochou Shinobu.
Shinobu covered her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Mr. Kuwano… passed away?"
"No!" The Kakushi quickly shook his head. "When we left, Lord Kuwano was already on the verge of death. Although it's not far from the Butterfly Mansion, if we moved him, Lord Kuwano would likely die on the way…"
"What does that mean?!" Haruto frowned and strode over. "So you just left him there to die?"
"Star Pillar…"
"Where was Masachika injured?"
"His abdomen was pierced by a demon…"
"Shinobu, get your medicine box!" Haruto frowned fiercely, interrupting him. "We're going to find the patient!"
Kochou Shinobu nodded quickly, grabbed a passing successor to explain the situation, and then rushed out, carrying a large medicine box.
With an abdominal injury, who knew if it was still possible to make it in time… Damn demons, damn demons!
Sora was already in position, ready to guide Haruto's way forward.
"Jump on!" Haruto knelt on one knee, allowing Kochou Shinobu to climb onto his back.
Fortunately, Shinobu was very light, lighter than a basket full of sushi.
A fast travel method… if he continuously used Tear of Light, it would greatly shorten the travel time. The only problem was whether his body could endure it… The white-haired swordsman supported the girl's back with one hand, took a sword-drawing stance with the other, and slightly bent his body. Amidst the girl's gasp, he transformed into a streak of light.