DS Chapter 107: Kochou Shinobu Returns Home
Muzan excitedly covered his face and giggled for a long time before finally stopping.
After calming himself down, Muzan restored his usual dignified, authoritative demeanor and turned toward Hantengu.
"Reward!"
"Dir~"
Upon receiving Muzan's command, the biwa-playing girl plucked the strings, and Hantengu's position immediately shifted closer to Muzan.
A gigantic crimson tentacle emerged from beneath Muzan's qipao and swiftly bit down on Hantengu's neck!
With the sound of liquid gushing, the veins on Hantengu's face bulged as he clenched his fists tightly, looking as though he were in tremendous pain.
Gyokko watched with undisguised jealousy.
Both of them had gathered information, yet Hantengu was taking all the credit!
"Lord Muzan, I..."
"You'll be rewarded as well."
Muzan was in an excellent mood today, so naturally, he wasn't stingy.
Soon, another tentacle emerged from beneath his qipao and eagerly lunged forward, biting into Gyokko's pot!
Blood surged into view, and Gyokko immediately felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
Soon, however, a dazed expression appeared on his face.
Lord Muzan...
He was actually pouring blood into my pot.
Just thinking about it was enough to make Gyokko tremble with excitement!
The two Upper Ranks roared one after another, overwhelmed by the long-lost surge of power. Their faces seemed to glow with renewed vitality, as though they had suddenly been given a second life.
Unfortunately, the blood transfusion ended very quickly.
Even after the process was over, both Upper Ranks still wore expressions that seemed to say they wanted more.
Gyokko kept glancing at the hem of Muzan's dress, his eyes filled with longing.
"Enough. I've already given you your first dose of blood today. If you want more, then go find that Blue Spider Lily! When you do, I'll let you drink your fill."
Muzan waved his hand.
"Please, let me do it, Lord Muzan! The Demon Slayer Katsuragi Ren is being held in my home. As one of the Twelve Kizuki and an intelligence officer, I, Gyokko, cannot shirk this responsibility!"
Gyokko grinned wickedly and eagerly accepted the assignment.
Muzan stroked his chin, his expression returning to its usual indifference.
"No. Another Upper Rank must supervise this matter. We cannot afford to be careless."
Muzan narrowed his eyes.
Then, with a strange little sound—
"Yaa~"
He performed an unexpectedly intimate gesture.
Muzan lifted Gyokko's head in one hand and kindly asked his subordinate,
"Gyokko, where is your current home?"
Gyokko nodded.
"The red-light district, Lord Muzan. And that Demon Slayer named Katsuragi Ren is being held there as well!"
The moment he finished answering, Gyokko's head couldn't help but tremble.
Lord Muzan is patting my head!
He had only just received his reward, and now Lord Muzan was actually patting his head!
Gyokko was so excited that he didn't even know where to put his head.
"Very well. I'll send three Upper Ranks to supervise you. They have other missions over the next two days, so make absolutely certain that you keep a close watch on that Demon Slayer!"
Gyokko's face flushed.
"Yes!"
"Dir~"
The Infinity Castle closed.
...
At dawn, after a thorough cleanup, the Butterfly Mansion on the mountaintop was still a complete mess.
Everyone was in low spirits.
Aoi Kanzaki, Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho all wore faint expressions of sadness.
Kanao's condition was even worse.
Ever since Katsuragi Ren had been taken away the previous night, she had been burning with a high fever that refused to subside.
Creak—
Inside Kanao's sickroom, Aoi and the others had gathered around her.
When they heard the door open, everyone immediately turned their heads.
Kochou Shinobu stood there.
She hadn't returned the entire night.
Her hair was disheveled, her haori was covered in leaves that had fallen from the forest, and even the butterfly hairpin at the back of her head was missing.
She looked somewhat disheveled, but the anxiety on her face was even more obvious.
"Where is Katsuragi Ren?!"
Shinobu shouted.
The only answer that greeted her was a long silence from everyone in the room.
In fact, Shinobu had already received Aoi's message through her Kasugai Crow while she was returning.
But even though she had rushed back at full speed, she had still failed to protect Ren in time.
If Ren hadn't stepped in to save them the previous night, the Butterfly Mansion would probably have already been slaughtered!
Shinobu stood frozen in place, unable to accept the outcome for a moment.
Her petite body seemed almost unsteady within the large mansion.
But in the next instant, she steadied herself.
She was the Insect Hashira.
She was one of the spiritual pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.
If she collapsed, the Butterfly Mansion would collapse with her.
Shinobu forced a smile.
"Aoi, go open the gates of the Butterfly Mansion. On my way back, I saw injured comrades waiting outside for treatment."
"Kiyo, Sumi, Naho, you go as well."
"Miss Shinobu..."
Aoi raised her pale face.
"Mr. Ren, will he..."
"It's fine. Didn't Ren say so himself? He's strong."
Shinobu smiled.
"Now that Ren has become the Dragon Hashira, it means he's already made his decision. The only thing we can do is believe in him."
"Right now, we have to do our own duties."
"Miss Shinobu, I understand. I'm just... a little sad."
Aoi lowered her head, desperately holding back her tears.
No one in the Butterfly Mansion could possibly remain unaffected by Ren.
He had lived here for so long that he had become more than just the mansion's Hashira. Aside from Shinobu, he was also the only physician capable of treating the wounded at the Butterfly Mansion.
Everyone had long since grown accustomed to living alongside him.
But yesterday, in order to protect everyone, Ren had willingly gone with the demons, choosing to sacrifice himself to ensure their safety.
That spirit was truly moving.
Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho all lowered their heads and walked out.
Aoi followed them.
Since Ren had protected the Butterfly Mansion so thoroughly, they had an even greater responsibility to protect everything he had fought to preserve.
As long as the Butterfly Mansion remained standing, its doors would always be open to injured members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
After Aoi and the others left, Shinobu remained standing there, her expression somewhat numb.
Just as she slid the door open and prepared to leave, Kanao spoke.
"Master..."
"Kanao, what's wrong?"
Shinobu immediately turned around and smiled.
Kanao lay on the bed, repeatedly murmuring the last two things Ren had said to her the previous night.
Shinobu was startled.
"Clean the house?"