The warmth in the room seems to take a chill as the damage done slowly repairs itself.
Nakime's unconscious body twitched ever so slightly.
"You... don't know?" Muzan said calmly.
Kokushibo hung his head and said nothing more.
He knew what Muzan really asked was why are there still people who can inflict such wounds on HIM!?
Unfortunately, Kokushibo really doesn't know.
Muzan paced around, leaving behind dark red footprints from his blood on the wooden floor, and his rage veins uncontrollably spasmed across his whole face.
"Your brother, Tsugikuni Yoriichi..."
"He's truly dead, right?" Muzan locked eyes with Kokushibo.
Kokushibo's eyebrows twitched. Confusion finally breaks his calm facade. The memories kept coming to the forefront of his mind.
He gripped his katana tightly as they were beginning to twist in a hideous manner. His six eyes didn't dare to stare back at Muzan.
He calmed himself as he answered.
"Yes."
"Died at the age of 81..."
Muzan nodded, as he expected such an answer. He turned his back on his strongest subordinate as he continued to pace around.
"What if I told you..." Muzan began, his tone of voice a little provocative, as if he was deliberately trying to stimulate more reaction from Kokushibo.
"That Tsugikuni Yoriichi is still alive."
"For 300 years."
"What do you think?" Muzan turned around and slowly walked toward Kokushibo, stopping directly behind him with his hands behind his back.
"..."
"That's impossi—" Kokushibo choked a little.
He suddenly remembered Muzan's injuries. The kind of wound he suffered was the same as the wound he had seen when he turned into a demon three hundred years ago, when Muzan had been cut by Yoriichi until only his head was left.
He looked again at Muzan and concluded that, yes, the injuries were the same.
'Could it be...'
His emotions fluctuate again, but his mind tells him it is impossible.
"I personally cut his body in half!"
"Even he wouldn't be able to survive such..."
Kokushibo asserts this fact, clearly flustered from the evidence in front of him.
If Upper Moon Two were here, he would definitely tease Kokushibo in his embarrassing moments.
The meaning of his statements was self-evident.
Muzan's attitude toward Kokushibo seems to be much more tolerant than toward other demons.
If other demons had spoken in such negative connotations, Muzan would have already tortured them through their blood.
"So you don't believe me?" Muzan flicked his hand carefully, forcing Nakime, who was still unconscious, to wake up.
"Perfect."
"Go and see for yourself."
He ordered the Upper Moon One as he walked deeper into the Infinity Castle, his tone filled with impatience and anger.
Kokushibo immediately raised his head, his expression stunned at the order.
"Muzan-sa—"
Dang!
With the crisp sound of Nakime's biwa echoing through the Castle, the figure of Upper Moon One, Kokushibo, disappears without a trace.
He didn't even get to finish his objection.
Nakime raised her hand, continuing to play her notes even as her whole body was still trembling.
---
---
-Location: Kamado family house-
The wind and snow blew as the sun shone through the clouds. The snow on top of the mountain slowly melted and turned into water, flowing down the stream.
"Be careful, Tanjiro." Goto kneels in front of Tanjiro with his back to him.
Masao helped Tanjiro up and settled him on Goto's back as they were preparing to carry Tanjiro to move to the Butterfly Mansion.
Since Tanjuro has failed to kill the demon, the possibility of the demon attacking again on the second night is very high.
Giyu couldn't protect this place all night, as he had another mission to carry out.
So they decided to move Tanjiro and Tanjuro to a safe place before it gets dark.
"Heave-ho." Goto hoisted Tanjiro up. He made sure his hold on Tanjiro was secure. Then he turned around to look at Masao and Tanjuro.
Masao, catching his looks, clicked his tongue softly.
He pursed his lips and started kneeling down in front of Tanjuro with his back to him.
He closed his eyes and steeled himself.
"Hop on, I'll carry you!"
Tanjuro looked at Masao, shook his head, and slowly stood up by himself.
"No need." Tanjuro said earnestly and nodded to Masao as if he had done something insignificant.
"I can walk on my own, thank you."
This casual exchange felt like a heavy hammer hammered into Masao's heart.
Masao stared blankly at Tanjuro passing him, walking over to Goto. He kneeled there in a daze for a while.
'Is... is this called being rejected?'
Tanjuro opened the door and stepped aside to let Goto carry the sleeping Tanjiro out.
Only to come upon the sight of Giyu, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed with the Nichirin sword at his waist.
Seeing that Tanjuro and others finally walk out the door.
Giyu called out.
"Kamado-san."
Giyu stopped Tanjuro directly.
"How is it?"
Tanjuro was taken aback. He looked up and down at the way Giyu was standing.
—?
That sentence without any preface made Tanjuro perplexed.
But seeing that the other party was expecting an answer from him, Tanjuro hesitated for a while. Then he looked Giyu in the eyes.
"Cool..."
"...?"
Giyu didn't expect such an answer either, but he thought deeply for a moment.
'This is probably an expression of agreement.'
Giyu nodded at Tanjuro.
"That's good."
Giyu straightened up. His hand rests on the Nichirin sword at his waist.
"The mission location is on the snowy mountain, north side from here."
Giyu said as he released his kasugai crow to lead the way.
"This matter should not be delayed any longer."
He turned and gestured for Tanjuro to follow.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Tanjuro frowned.
As he found out for himself, conversation with Giyu wasn't as easy as he had imagined.
"The mission of the Demon Slayer Corps." Giyu reiterates.
"As a member of the Corps, you should come and complete the mission with me."
...
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"A member?"
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"Just now."
"..."
"What did I say?"
"Cool."
"?"