Hiru had intended to idle away a few more days on Mount Sagiri, but the next morning his Kasugai Crow, Kitaro, started squawking non-stop, urging him to support some nearby swordsmen.
He had no choice but to bid everyone farewell and prepare to leave.
Just before his departure, Urokodaki called him back and told him that only the Upper Moon demons of the Twelve Kizuki were truly powerful in the real sense; the Lower Moon were just substitutes that could be replaced at any time.
Many demons, even without numbers in their eyes, still possessed strength on par with the Lower Moon—or even surpassed them.
"Your brother is probably in that category. You weren't a Hashira back then, and you weren't yet used to your weapon. It's only natural you couldn't defeat him. The fact that you survived is only because he had only just become a demon and still clung to some human emotions."
"...It's different from how I think of it, but thank you for telling me this." Hiru showed a slightly bitter smile. "Then I'll be off. I'll come bother you again when I have time."
"...Mhm. Stay safe—and don't walk down a path you'll regret."
Hiru froze for a moment, then nodded seriously. "...Alright. I'll keep that in mind."
Urokodaki watched as Hiru covered his eyes and, following the Kasugai Crow's guidance, sprinted away until his figure disappeared. Only then did he turn back toward the house. Soon, Urokodaki's voice rang out again, loud as ever, "Alright! You lot, hurry up and train! Move it! Get going!"
Even Giyu, who had already passed the assessment, was driven out by Urokodaki.
The four of them exchanged glances. In the end, Makomo and Sanemi once again picked up wooden swords and headed into the mountains for live-combat practice, while Giyu took Genya aside to work on basic sword techniques and physical conditioning.
Genya didn't really understand what Giyu meant most of the time, but he wasn't talkative by nature anyway. When he didn't understand something, he would simply nod to show he'd heard; when he did understand, he would give a brief reply or two.
For Giyu, getting any response at all was enough to make him happy. So although he was a bit disappointed he couldn't train with Makomo, practicing with Genya was still far better than being stuck with Sanemi.
Well, in its own way, it was a kind of strange harmony.
...
Following his instructions, Hiru arrived at the designated location, helped the swordsmen resolve their trouble, then began traveling by tracking the mark he had left on Tamayo, advancing in fits and starts along the way.
As he neared the city where Tamayo resided, Hiru sent Kitaro off to rest at a nearby Wisteria House and headed alone toward Tamayo's location.
Since it was still daytime, Hiru used his own Blood Demon Art to directly sever Yushiro's illusion, stepped into the courtyard, and then picked the door lock with his fingernail to enter the house.
But he stopped there.
Hiru cupped a hand to his mouth and looked into the dim room. "Miss Tamayo, it's me. Is now a good time to talk?"
He didn't have to wait long before a voice came from within. A demon who looked like a young boy stepped out, draped in a long white haori, with short light-green hair and fairly handsome features. But his pale violet eyes were full of displeasure.
"Tamayo-sama says you may come in."
Hiru curled his lips, closed the door behind him, and followed down to the basement.
"Hey, you. Do you have to break something every time you come? Do you know how much of a pain it is to fix?"
"Should I have you, a useless piece of trash who can't walk in sunlight, come out and open the door for me?" Hiru snorted. "Or do you want Tamayo-sama herself to come open it for me?"
"You—!"
"'Me' what? Tamayo has Muzan Kibutsuji's blood in her, so she can't overcome the sun. But you were transformed by Tamayo, so your blood is relatively pure. You've been a demon for over two hundred years and still can't handle sunlight? You really are useless."
Yushiro fell silent, only stomping on the steps so hard that they creaked.
When they finally reached Tamayo, Yushiro's expression turned utterly aggrieved. "Tamayo-sama, I brought him."
Tamayo still looked as gentle as ever. She sighed helplessly at Yushiro's wounded expression, then turned her gaze to Hiru.
"Hiru, don't bully Yushiro every time you visit."
"Do I look like I want to bully him? He's the one who keeps provoking me." Hiru curled his lip and went straight to the point. "I need medicine to conceal my aura and restore my sense of taste. Do you have any ready?"
"Not yet. But the aura-concealing medicine shouldn't lose effect in just one year..." Tamayo frowned slightly. "Hiru, did you perhaps overuse your Blood Demon Art, or... did you undergo full demonization?"
"Yeah. After leaving the mountain, I fully demonized once."
Tamayo thought for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. Give me a few days. I'll start preparing the aura-concealing medicine right away."
"Then I'll stay in this city for the time being."
"Would you like to rest here for a while?"
Seeing Yushiro's expression suddenly turn fierce, Hiru couldn't help but laugh. "I'd really like to say yes, if only to annoy this kid. But I'm a Hashira now—I can't stay here long-term. I'll wait for your message at the nearby Wisteria House."
"Alright. The aura-concealing medicine will take about five days. As for the medicine to restore your sense of taste, I always keep some in stock. Yushiro."
"Yes, Tamayo-sama! I'll get it right away!"
"He really does listen to you," Hiru said, propping his cheek on his hand. "Have you made any other medicine recently? I can help you test it."
"I've only made some medicine to enhance recovery, but I doubt it would be of use to you or Mr. Yoriichi." Tamayo shook her head. "However, I'll still need you to leave some more blood for my research."
"No problem." Hiru took the medicine Yushiro brought over and stood up. "To be on the safe side, I'll draw blood next time I come to pick up the medicine."
"Understood." Tamayo nodded. "Then I'll see you again in five days. Oh, Yushiro."
"Here, Tamayo-sama!"
"Didn't you say before that there were demons investigating us? Give that information to Hiru."
"Yes, I'll bring the compiled intelligence right away!"
Hiru watched Yushiro obediently leave, then lowered his gaze to Tamayo. "Kibutsuji is after you again?"
"It would be more accurate to say he's never stopped." Tamayo lowered her eyes. "I'll leave the demons who are investigating us to you."
Hiru accepted the intelligence from Yushiro, skimmed through it, then slipped it into his robe. "Don't worry. I may not be that good at fighting, but dealing with demons of this level is no problem at all."