In the days that followed, Kuguruma Natsunishi began to consciously adjust his level of control.
After allocating more attention to [Force Control] and [Peaceful Mindset], he tried focusing on repetitive tasks.
For instance, he would grind coffee beans continuously without proceeding to the subsequent brewing.
Or, when a fish bit the line, he would simply feel the vibration of the rod tip without pulling it up.
Or, he would stare at a single line on a page of a book without turning to the next.
Just as he expected.
Gradually, the game's "Fast-Forward" function quietly unlocked.
He was able to immerse himself fully, in bursts, into the balancing cultivation of [Total Concentration: Constant] and [Daily Life].
Because his breathing technique would occasionally cut out, the process was somewhat slow.
But ultimately, it was effective.
Coffee grounds no longer flew everywhere, the surface of the water while fishing no longer rippled violently, and he could finally start focusing on the "little yellow book" in his hand.
When he finally managed to brew a cup of coffee with balanced flavor while in the [Constant] state—and even had enough energy left to pour a wobbly tulip in the milk foam—the Storm Hashira acknowledged his progress with a smile.
Meanwhile, the scheduled departure of the three "disciples" arrived.
Kondo was the first to leave.
Members of the Demon Slayer Corps, after all, could not stay in one place for too long.
The orders brought by the Kasugai Crow directed this Mizunoto-ranked swordsman further south.
Before leaving, he bowed deeply to Kuguruma Natsunishi several times.
Only after repeatedly stating that "Kuguruma Natsunishi's kindness could never be repaid in a lifetime" did he wipe his reddened eyes, take up his Nichirin Sword, and depart.
[Mitsujiro Kondo (Power Level: 61)] Water Breathing LV.3
Two days after the Mizunoto swordsman left, Dojima also packed his gear to set out.
He solemnly bowed once to both Kuguruma Natsunishi and the Storm Hashira, his words brief.
"My thanks to both Lords for your guidance. I shall surely repay this in the future."
True to his personality: efficient, reserved, yet very sincere.
Although his progress was not as obvious as Kondo's or Sashiko's in terms of attribute growth, it was only because his starting level was higher than theirs.
Slower growth was, naturally, normal.
However, compared to when he first arrived in Yokohama, his improvement could still be considered significant.
[Dojima Kazuma (Power Level: 97)] Flame Breathing LV.4
After the two left, the training grounds became much quieter.
In the end, only Sashiko and Kuguruma Natsunishi remained.
Under Kuguruma Natsunishi's guidance and her own hard work, her power level and Water Breathing had also seen considerable progress.
[Yukishiri Sashiko (Power Level: 83)] Water Breathing LV.3 (?)
A few weeks' time naturally wouldn't cause a leap in their physical fitness or breathing styles.
The reason their power levels changed so noticeably was primarily due to the "Technique" aspect of [Body], [Technique], and [Heart] raising the total value.
Under Kuguruma Natsunishi's harsh, death-match-like training and guidance, the greatest improvement for the three of them was naturally in combat arts and force-exertion techniques.
Sashiko, however, was a bit special.
In her breathing style column, a special icon with a question mark had quietly appeared.
It had emerged after she broke through a certain bottleneck and her sword techniques became somewhat sharp and resilient.
It was a mark showing that she was gradually shedding the traditional framework of Water Breathing and walking toward a path of her own.
The Kasugai Crow brought Sashiko's new mission orders.
The destination was a remote northern town.
On the morning of her departure, light snow began to fall faintly from the sky.
Winter in Yokohama had arrived earlier than in previous years.
Kuguruma Natsunishi met Sashiko at the train station.
She wore a clean uniform and carried her pack.
Her face seemed to have been meticulously prepared; not a strand of hair was out of place at her temples.
Just as Kuguruma Natsunishi was weighing whether to offer some polite parting words, the girl walked up to him.
"Kuguruma Natsunishi-kun."
She looked up, a fresh smile on her face, but a certain indescribable glimmer rippled in her eyes.
The white mist of her breath rose curling into the cold air.
Her face was also a bit flushed from the cold.
"For this period of time, truly... thank you so much."
Though the training during this period had been arduous, and she had often been beaten black and blue by Kuguruma Natsunishi during practice, she had ultimately grown stronger.
Just as she had desired from the very beginning.
It was just that, at this moment... she was still a bit reluctant to leave.
She suddenly took a step forward and gave Kuguruma Natsunishi an extremely light, extremely quick hug.
Like a snowflake landing on Kuguruma Natsunishi's shoulder.
Touch and go.
"This is a comrade's hug!"
She stepped back two paces, hands behind her back, smiling brightly as she deliberately emphasized the word "comrade."
"Well then, goodbye! Kuguruma Natsunishi... Master."
She waved her hand, turned, and merged into the surging crowd of the station.
Her pale red hair and deep black uniform swayed in Kuguruma Natsunishi's vision for only a moment before being completely swallowed by the gray background.
Kuguruma Natsunishi watched quietly.
Inexplicably, a trace of parting sorrow welled up in his heart.
He wondered when the next time the three of them would gather like this would be.
He hoped they would... all level up quickly and survive safely.
Thinking this, Kuguruma Natsunishi decided to look at something happy to alleviate his sentimentality.
So, he opened the system panel.
This period of bitter cultivation, along with the rewards from Sashiko's side quest, had given Kuguruma Natsunishi a significant boost.
Kuguruma Natsunishi [Power Level: 201]
┣ Body: 89
┣ Technique: 59
┗ Heart: 53
Combat Skills:
[Wind Breathing] LV.3 (1265/2000)
[Water Breathing] LV.3 (899/2000)
[Stone Breathing] LV.3 (936/2000)
[Thunder Breathing] LV.4 (1291/4000)
[Storm Breathing] LV.0 (139/250)
Remaining Achievement Points: 11 points
Among Life Skills, [Cooking], [Suburi], and [Medicine] had all reached LV.3.
"Hmph, what a touching farewell scene."
While Kuguruma Natsunishi was browsing the system, a sweet but somewhat cold voice drifted from the nearby intersection.
"That girl has already gone far. Is Mr. Kuguruma still standing here dazed?"
Kuguruma Natsunishi turned around.
A petite figure had stood a few paces away at some unknown point.
It was a girl who looked no more than ten years old, with purple, curly short hair pinned back with a deep purple butterfly hair clip.
Most importantly, she was wearing a scaled-down version of the Demon Slayer Corps uniform.
"Sister Kanae said that Mr. Kuguruma is a person of pure heart who focuses on cultivation, and told me to ask for advice if I had the chance."
The voice was sweet, but every word was like a small needle coated in frosting.
"It seems my sister's judgment fails her sometimes? When that girl turned around just now, her eyes looked very sad."
Wisteria-colored eyes stared unblinkingly at Kuguruma Natsunishi.
They swirled with unabashed distaste and a hint of a child's sulky displeasure.
She was originally only delivering medicinal materials from the Butterfly Mansion to the Storm Hashira and going on a mission, while incidentally bringing a letter for her sister.
It was absolutely not out of curiosity that she had pestered her sister, negotiated with the Kakushi members, and specifically taken on this task.
Alright... there was a little bit of curiosity.
A genius swordsman that her own sister, Kanae, mentioned and praised from time to time. She was bound to be curious about exactly who he was.
But the result?
As soon as she got off the train, she stumbled upon that "touching" hug and farewell!
There was no mistaking it.
A three-sword-wielding... playboy!
Kuguruma Natsunishi was indeed a bit dazed.
He had just sent Sashiko off; how did a prickly little brat spawn in the blink of an eye?
Looking closely:
[Kocho Shinobu]
[Power Level: 57 (Body: 17, Technique: 22, Heart: 18)]
[Water Breathing LV.0]
[Flower Breathing LV.1]
[Insect Breathing LV.2]
Tsk, quite the "mesugaki" with a messy mix of breathing styles.
"Mr. Kuguruma is truly... busy."
Shinobu placed heavy emphasis on the word "busy."
Kuguruma Natsunishi, however, felt that this child's face shape, hair ornament, and even her voice... were faintly familiar.
And this name... could it be?
Kuguruma Natsunishi spoke.
He asked: "Who are you?"
He couldn't remember, so he just asked directly.
The air suddenly froze.