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Ume speaking sarcastically in front of me didn't matter. At least after meeting Koyuki, she was relatively normal.
Considering being closer to the Butterfly Mansion would be more convenient, I moved house again. The new residence was closer to there.
Ume and Gyutaro naturally moved with me. I prepared a new room for Koyuki, had her things sent over and arranged first, then brought her over.
Koyuki was somewhat nervous, kept clutching my sleeve, pressed tightly against me.
Seeing this, Ume started saying strange things again: "Like a burden following a stepmother into a new home."
I couldn't bear it anymore. Slapped her forehead.
She didn't quarrel with me. Covered her slapped forehead and left, strange words coming one after another from her mouth: "What's the use of being pretty? After looking for over a hundred years, sure enough, you've gotten tired of my face..."
Where did she learn all this!
The corner of Gyutaro's mouth twitched slightly. Don't know if he was suppressing laughter or speechless. In any case, still habitually defended Ume: "My lord, don't mind her. Ume means no harm."
Right. I'm a mature, reliable adult. Won't quibble with this little girl.
Before bringing Koyuki, I'd already informed Akaza. He had no objections. Just that from now on when coming to see Koyuki, must choose the timing more carefully.
Not long after, Kanae, who'd received Kagaya's permission, came to visit.
She brought quite a few things over. Shinobu was beside her lending a hand. Looked like they'd emptied her examination room.
The room I'd left for her with only minimal furniture was filled with various precision instruments in the blink of an eye.
Ume hadn't seen these things before. Showed great interest. While they organized their luggage, she kept wandering over.
With Gyutaro watching, I wasn't worried she'd accidentally break others' things.
Seeing guests arrive, Koyuki thought to go to the kitchen first to prepare lunch.
I saw the time was nearly noon. Glanced at Shinobu. Her expression was much more normal than when she'd seen me last time.
Even facing Ume directly, she didn't show bad emotions that Ume could detect. Gyutaro looked at her a few more times but didn't say anything.
So I felt at ease helping Koyuki cook together.
When lunch was ready and I came back to observe the situation, Kanae had already started chatting with Ume. Looked quite happy.
Aside from coming to greet us and do basic examinations, they'd also brought me the blood analysis results.
Shinobu even took out a notebook recording various data to show me. All sorts of technical terms and complex numbers made my eyes blur.
I maintained composure taking it, flipped through a few pages, pretended to read carefully, pondered for a bit then asked: "I understand. So what's your assessment?"
Kanae's face held a hint of mischievous smile. Didn't expose me in front of Shinobu, also said seriously: "Your blood activity is very strong, and it's constantly changing. Very incredible."
"Heard Muzan previously injected you with large amounts of blood, attempting to make you become a man-eating demon, right?"
I nodded. Kanae's smile became more obvious: "I compared your blood with demon blood normally collected, didn't find similarities... On the contrary, your blood can kill the activity in demon blood."
Things too complex and technical, I couldn't understand either. Summarizing, probably meant—Muzan injected so much blood into me and I endured it. Now I had resistance to his blood.
Next time he wanted to make me lose my senses, even injecting more blood might not succeed.
For me this was indeed a good thing. That feeling of not being able to control myself—I didn't want to experience again.
In the short term, Kanae hadn't researched much more. Planned to combine Koyuki and Ume's blood to do comparison experiments together.
However, my blood's lethality against demons had increased. She indicated she could improve the poison the Demon Slayer Corps made using my blood, could destroy demons' bodies faster.
This matter was handed to Shinobu. Seemed compared to research and analysis, Shinobu was more proficient in pharmacology.
Additionally, Kanae also accepted the commission to overcome the mark's side effects. Just that this matter still needed an experimental subject to cooperate with her.
Speaking of who was closest to the mark, currently definitely Ritsuka.
I wrote a letter and sent it over, telling her to visit Kanae at the Butterfly Mansion when she had time.
Recently seemed to be approaching the Demon Slayer Corps' annual physical examination time again. The Butterfly Mansion also shouldered part of the Corps members' examination work, so there were always Corps members going in batches for checkups.
Ritsuka still often ran into Sabito. The area where they operated was assigned to the Water Hashira to manage. I suspected Giyu was being bullied by them again.
Because Corps members coming for checkups often said they couldn't tell which one was the Water Hashira. Whenever Corps members requested instructions from Lord Tomioka, before he could speak, someone beside him would interject a few words.
Sometimes a peach-haired youth, sometimes a black-eyed girl. Even worse, the two of them would collide together.
Talking and talking, those two would inevitably start quarreling within three sentences, squeeze the real Water Hashira aside.
Giyu was now too lazy to mediate. Silently stood aside waiting for them to finish quarreling. Whoever won the argument, he'd adopt their opinion. Or listen to neither, continue doing his own thing.
Just had to be careful—those two little bastards quarreling and quarreling would inexplicably turn their spearheads toward him, start singing in harmony to mock him. Roughly meaning "some people become Water Hashira and get arrogant, turn their backs on people" and such strange talk.
Giyu wrote many letters describing to me how Ritsuka and Sabito united to bully him.
Not mentioning distant matters, just saying when they went to the Butterfly Mansion for physical examinations, happened to encounter Kanao sitting in the courtyard.
Ritsuka walked up and spoke a few words to her. Kanao took out a coin to decide whether to answer her.
That coin bounced up, flew into the sky, fell down. Just as it was about to fall back into Kanao's hand, suddenly whoosh—Ritsuka grabbed it.
Her movements were shockingly fast. Kanao still maintained the posture of catching the coin... For a moment stared at her blankly, as if not knowing what reaction to make.
Sabito immediately scolded: "Idiot, why are you snatching a little girl's things?"
"Thought it was that Western magic trick kind of coin that disappears when it falls..." Ritsuka just muttered this sentence, then retorted with high fighting spirit: "Who are you calling an idiot? Need to buy a dictionary to look up what 'snatch' means? Rabbit with only muscles in your brain."
They never picked occasions for quarreling. I was even somewhat glad they didn't become Pillars, otherwise wouldn't they quarrel during meetings.
In the end, it was Shinobu who heard the courtyard was too noisy, walked out to check the situation, called Kanao's name once.
Ritsuka reacted especially quickly. Slapped that coin into Giyu's hand with a smack, like a whirlwind darted past him.
The words Giyu had prepared for mediating were still stuck in his throat. Stupidly looked up to see her already distant retreating figure, then turned his head—
Sabito had also run away.
Shinobu came to the courtyard, only saw Giyu holding a coin, staring wide-eyed at Kanao.
I laughed rolling on the tatami. Even through the letter paper could feel the capital HELPLESS written on Giyu's face at that time.
After laughing for a long time, felt this wasn't very ethical. So replied to him: I'm keeping track of everything for Ritsuka. Will definitely beat her up later to vent your anger.
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