At the foot of Fujikasane Mountain entrance, Shinichi stood beneath countless wisteria flowers, with the Kasugai Crow Eizo perched on his shoulder, recounting the events unfolding on the mountain.
As Eizo spoke, Shinichi's expression grew increasingly grim, his face gradually turning ashen.
Shinobu happened to pass by Shinichi and overheard him muttering through gritted teeth.
"Yuichiro! That damn brat, did he completely forget my warnings?"
Seeing Shinichi's furious expression, Shinobu couldn't help but cover her mouth with a light chuckle.
However, despite her amusement, there was still business to attend to.
"Shinichi-kun? Shinichi-kun?"
Shinichi, who had been lost in thoughts about how to discipline his disciple, was startled by Shinobu's sudden call and reflexively asked.
"What is it, Shinobu?"
"Ara, it's nothing major," Shinobu explained with a smile. "It's just that you'll have to oversee the Final Selection alone from now on. I just received word from the Butterfly Mansion—our medicinal supplies are running low. Since my sister is on a mission, I'll need to go gather more herbs."
Shinichi nodded, indicating that it wasn't an issue.
After all, it was just the Final Selection.
He replied straightforwardly, "No problem Shinobu. You can go with peace of mind. I can handle things here."
However, shortly after Shinobu turned to leave, a tremor ran through Shinichi's heart.
He glanced back at Shinobu's retreating figure and frowned slightly, while murmuring.
"Why do I feel... something strange?"
****
At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, within the master's residence, Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled as he watched a young Demon Slayer girl with cherry-red and green-streaked hair shyly cover her face and leave.
"She's such a lovely child. I believe she'll get along well with Kyojuro" Kagaya remarked warmly.
Hearing this, Amane Ubuyashiki, who had been quietly standing by his side, suddenly seemed troubled.
"Oyakata-sama, the Flame Hashira, Rengoku-sama, has been in a very poor state lately. He hasn't left the Rengoku estate for a very long time. With the biannual Hashira meeting approaching, I fear..."
Kagaya turned his gaze in a certain direction—towards the Rengoku estate.
His vision could no longer discern scenery clearly, only faint light and shadows.
This was only possible due to Shinichi occasionally using his life-force energy to suppress the deterioration.
Without Shinichi, Kagaya senses might have long since plunged into endless darkness.
"The Rengoku family has contributed immensely to the Demon Slayer Corps, sacrificing countless members over centuries. We shouldn't demand that every Rengoku child must give their life to slay demons. However, I believe the legacy of the Flame Hashira will never fade. That blazing, surging flame of Rengoku will never be extinguished." Kagaya voice was soft, yet carried unwavering conviction.
****
In Tokyo, Asakusa, within a secluded villa invisible to ordinary eyes, the elegant female demon Tamayo stood in a white lab coat, carefully observing something under a rudimentary microscope.
Beside her hands lay numerous bottles and jars, along with many notebooks filled with densely packed records.
Of course, the varying handwriting in the notebooks indicated they were not all written by the same person.
Behind Tamayo, Yushiro was on his knees, clutching a rag as he swiftly scrubbed the already spotless floor until it gleamed.
Just then, Tamayo suddenly let out a startled gasp, immediately drawing Yushiro's attention.
He tossed the rag aside and practically flew to her side, anxiously gripping her arm as he bombarded her with questions.
"What's wrong, Lady Tamayo?! Are you alright? Did something happen? Have we been discovered? Are you feeling unwell? Did the experiment fail?"
The rapid-fire questions left Tamayo momentarily dazed and it took her a moment to collect herself before she quickly reassured him that she was fine.
Once Yushiro had calmed down, Tamayo turned her gaze to the microscope.
Beside it lay a small vial of dark red blood—taken from a Lower Moon demon.
After a moment of contemplation, Tamayo softly called out for Chachamaru.
Soon, an adorable calico cat wearing a small leather backpack appeared before her.
"Chachamaru, I'll need to trouble you again. Could you deliver an invitation for me?" Tamayo said gently, affectionately rubbing the little cat's head.
Yushiro watched enviously—he longed to be treated with such tenderness by Lady Tamayo!
****
"Maito, are you heading out?" Hearing Shoukyu voice behind him, The martial Demon bared his fangs impatiently.
"Staying cooped up here all day is making my bones rust."
"Is that so? Then why not take Ayame out for a stroll as well?"
At this, Maito immediately frowned and retorted irritably.
"Take that idiot woman out? I'd have to be insane to do that. Let her squat in her own pit and play by herself."
With that, he leaped away without a backward glance, vanishing from Shoukyu sight in mere moments.
Shoukyu sighed and turned helplessly to the small figure beside him.
"Ayame, I'm sorry. Maito just has a sharp tongue."
However, there was no response.
The small figure beside him remained as still as a puppet.
****
Twang!
A crisp strum of a biwa echoed through the luxurious villa.
A pair of crimson eyes abruptly snapped open in the darkness.
Thud!
The corpse of a woman was carelessly tossed to the floor, her face frozen in terror.
A bright lamp suddenly flickered to life, illuminating the figure seated on a wooden chair.
His pristine white suit was now splattered with blood, his black hair slightly curled.
Those crimson eyes and cold features exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance with just a single glance.
The progenitor of demons—Muzan Kibutsuji—glared displeasedly at the woman who had appeared in the room.
She cradled a biwa, dressed in elaborate attire, her thick black hair obscuring half her face.
Extending his tongue to lick the warm blood from his black claws, Muzan spoke, his tone laced with unmistakable displeasure.
"Nakime, I told you not to disturb me while I'm feeding. You'd better have important news, or else..."
"Muzan-sama, the earrings you once mentioned—I've found traces of that family," Nakime said softly.
Muzan froze for an instant.
"What did you say? What earrings?!"
"The earrings adorned with the sun wheel!"
Whoosh!
Muzan suddenly stood up, an overwhelmingly terrifying and violent aura erupting around him in an instant.
Boom!!
A flash of cold light appeared out of thin air in the luxurious room and the next second, the entire space was reduced to dust.
Nakime immediately prostrated herself, submitting beneath the progenitor of demons.
Meanwhile, Muzan's expression twisted violently, his fangs bared unconsciously, his face contorted into an exceptionally grotesque visage, as if lost in some memory.
After a long while, Nakime finally heard Muzan speak again.
"Which Upper Rank is closest to that location?"
"It's Akaza-sama."
"Akaza? Heh, he might not be willing to act. As for Kokushibo... Never mind. I'll go myself."
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