Aoki watched Giyu leave.
He had sensitive things to do next. It was best to keep it from the Demon Slayer Corps.
It wasn't about trust.
Some things were best kept secret.
Nezuko tilted her head, looking puzzled.
Why did he leave?
Creak.
The door behind her opened. A woman in a white-collared robe and white headscarf walked out.
"Nezuko, who are you talking to? Is Tanjiro back... Oh? Who's this?"
Kie Kamado looked surprised.
They rarely had visitors because they lived in the mountains.
That must be Tanjiro's mother... Aoki walked over and said politely, "Madam Kamado, Miss Nezuko, hello. My name is Aomura."
"Hello, Mr. Aomura," Kie Kamado bowed slightly.
Nezuko bowed with her mother, confused. How did he know her name?
"Madam, I want to discuss something with you," Aoki said.
Kie Kamado was puzzled, but she invited Aoki inside.
"It's simple here, please excuse us!"
"Don't worry, Madam!" Aoki took the tea and asked, "Is Tanjiro not home?"
He had only seen a group of little kids smaller than Nezuko. He hadn't seen Tanjiro.
"Tanjiro went down the mountain to sell charcoal. He hasn't returned yet. Do you know Tanjiro, Mr. Aomura?"
Kie Kamado asked carefully.
"I've heard of Tanjiro, but he probably doesn't know me."
Aoki smiled and got straight to the point. "I heard there are blue spider lilies nearby. Do you know where they are?"
"So you came for the blue spider lilies. I do know where they are," Kie Kamado said.
"But the blue spider lilies bloom for a short time, only for two or three days when the sun is strongest. And they don't bloom every year."
Aoki sighed in relief. "Please tell me where they are!"
Then, even if he couldn't overcome the sunlight with the system's power, he had a chance to become the ultimate being.
The "short blooming time" and "not blooming every year" weren't problems.
He could wait.
Muzan had been searching for thousands of years. Waiting two or three years was nothing.
"Of course!"
Kie Kamado agreed readily. She looked out the window. "Tanjiro should be back soon. He knows the location better than I do. Let him take you."
"Thank you, Madam!"
Aoki took out a stack of money and put it on the table. "This is a reward!"
"So much money?"
Kie Kamado was startled. She waved quickly. "No, no! Please take it back, Mr. Aomura! It's not something valuable!"
"It might not be valuable to you, but it's very important to me!"
Aoki said, "And this isn't just for the blue spider lily information. I have two more requests."
Kie Kamado hesitated. "Two more requests? Please tell me."
Aoki said, "First, I want some blood from your family. Second, I want to learn the Hinokami Kagura."
There were two extraordinary powers in this world: demon power and Breathing Styles.
He had felt the power of extraordinary classes. He wanted to learn Breathing Styles.
But Breathing Styles were controlled by the Demon Slayer Corps. They were the foundation of the Demon Slayer Corps.
He was just working with the Demon Slayer Corps.
He couldn't ask for Breathing Styles, just like they didn't ask about his secrets.
Maybe he could try later, when they trusted each other more.
But he had a better option.
Sun Breathing, the first Breathing Style, the strongest Breathing Style, the source of all Breathing Styles, was passed down in the Kamado family as the Hinokami Kagura.
Sun Breathing had high requirements. Few could meet them. Aoki didn't know if he had the talent.
He was more worried about whether he could use Breathing Styles as a demon.
Breathing Styles worked by inhaling a lot of oxygen quickly, speeding up the heartbeat and blood flow, raising body temperature, and unleashing superhuman power.
Demons had different bodies than humans. Could they learn Breathing Styles?
Kokushibo and Kaigaku could use Breathing Styles because they had learned them before becoming demons. Their Blood Demon Arts were related to Breathing Styles.
He could worry about learning it later. He needed to get the Breathing Style first.
"Blood? Hinokami Kagura?"
Kie Kamado looked blank.
Both requests were unexpected.
Aoki took out a blood collection device. "Don't worry, Madam. I only need a little blood from each person. It won't hurt them."
"Blood is fine!"
Kie Kamado said. They lived in the mountains. They got hurt sometimes. A little blood wasn't a problem.
"But the Hinokami Kagura..."
"Is it a problem?" Aoki frowned slightly.
"It's not a problem."
Kie Kamado shook her head.
She thought the Hinokami Kagura was just a dance to pray to the Fire God. It wasn't valuable.
Her husband had only asked her to pass it down. He hadn't said she couldn't teach others.
But she didn't want to decide on her own.
Kie Kamado said, "Mr. Aomura, I need to talk to Tanjiro about this first!"
Tanjiro was young, but he was the oldest son and the one who knew the Hinokami Kagura. He had more say in this.
"Of course," Aoki didn't pressure her. He stood up. "I'll visit again tomorrow."
"Wait, Mr. Aomura!" Kie Kamado quickly picked up the money on the table. "Please take this back!"
"Madam, the blue spider lily and the Hinokami Kagura are priceless to me. This money is just a token of my appreciation. It's nothing."
Aoki said honestly, "And this isn't just for the information. I have two more requests."
He had made a lot of money from the Yagihime Society.
The Demon Slayer Corps paid him too, at the Pillar rate.
He had plenty of money.
Kie Kamado hesitated.
She was used to being poor, but she wanted her children to have a good life.
Their clothes were old. They had trouble getting enough to eat. They often dug for wild vegetables. In winter, when there were no vegetables, they might go hungry.
"But this is too much! Mr. Aomura, you..."
Kie Kamado made a decision, but Aoki was gone.
---
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