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Chapter 109: Mr. Urokodaki, It's Been a Long Time
"Is there a problem with the conditions?" Suyan asked, looking at Makomo in confusion.
Whether it was providing the Conjuration Nen for Sabito and the others or killing the Hand Demon on Mt. Fujikasane, shouldn't these be the exact two things they desired most?
"My lord, didn't you mention earlier that Mr. Urokodaki took in two new disciples? And that they're at the bottom of the mountain talking with him right now?" Makomo didn't answer his question directly, opting instead to ask one of her own in her soft, lilting tone.
"That's right, I did say that." Suyan nodded, providing a bit more detail. "They're a pair of brothers named Kamado. The older brother, Kamado Tanjiro, actually possesses an exceptionally keen sense of smell, just like Mr. Urokodaki. It's quite a fated connection."
"Is that so? That is truly something worth celebrating." Makomo smiled happily, turning to Sabito. "Don't you agree, Sabito?"
"Not really," Sabito huffed, turning his head away haughtily.
However, the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his true feelings. He was genuinely overjoyed that his beloved master had found such fitting successors. He quickly urged her, "How long are you going to dawdle? I'm waiting to go see Mr. Urokodaki, so hurry up!"
Makomo nodded at him, then turned back to Suyan, pointing specifically at the clause detailing the Hand Demon's execution. "My lord, could you please remove the condition about you helping us deal with the Hand Demon?"
Before Suyan could process the request, Sabito erupted in shock. "What?! Makomo, do you realize what you're saying?! Do you really want to see another junior disciple die at the hands of that monster? Do you want to break Mr. Urokodaki's heart all over again?!"
Sabito stared at her in utter disbelief, completely unable to fathom her reasoning.
"I just... I just feel like if the lord solves the Hand Demon for us, something would be missing," Makomo blinked, her voice gentle but firm. "If possible, I hope Mr. Urokodaki's new disciple can be the one to defeat it."
"I see."
Hearing her explanation, Sabito finally understood her sentiment. He couldn't help but agree. "You're right."
Suyan looked at Makomo. "Are you sure?"
He couldn't help but sigh internally. It seemed the fate of this particular mini-boss was destined to remain in Tanjiro's hands after all.
Makomo thought it over one last time and gave a firm, serious nod. "I've decided. Please remove this clause, my lord."
"Understood."
Suyan didn't mind at all. Not having to hike all the way to Mt. Fujikasane to deal with the Hand Demon actually saved him a lot of trouble.
He took the Equivalent Exchange parchment back from Makomo, crushed it into dust, and conjured a brand new one. This time, the only condition listed was providing the Conjuration Nen for Sabito and the others.
"Thank you, my lord." Makomo took the new parchment, scanned the single condition, and stated clearly, "I agree!"
As the words left her lips, the parchment dissolved into a ball of Nen that sank directly into her chest.
Though her physical appearance didn't change in the slightest, Suyan immediately felt the tether connecting his Nen to her. The sensation was profoundly strange—far deeper than the control he exerted over his Nen zombies using Undead Overture.
It required no words. A single thought was enough to convey his intent, and he could bypass her emotions entirely to puppet her actions if he so chose.
However, unlike his Contract targets, even if Makomo learned Nen, she wouldn't be able to share her developed abilities with Suyan.
Was this the true meaning of absolute ownership?
Pushing the thought aside, Suyan raised his hands and rapidly condensed multiple spheres of Conjuration Nen. With the contract finalized, he easily pushed the spheres into the chests of Sabito and the other fallen disciples.
As the Nen settled inside them, the ethereal phantoms of the Water Disciples instantly solidified.
Suyan deactivated Gyo, allowing his aura to disperse from his eyes. He found that he could still see them perfectly clearly.
It worked!
Having completed his task, Suyan leaped up and sat on the massive boulder Makomo had previously occupied. He waved them off. "Go on! Normal people can see you now."
"Thank you, my lord!"
The disciples exchanged glances before bowing deeply to Suyan in unison. Without wasting another second, the entire group turned and hurried eagerly down the mountain path.
Halfway down, Sabito and his group crossed paths with Kocho Shinobu, who was making her way up to find Suyan.
Seeing the sudden crowd of people, Shinobu was mildly curious. Were there usually this many people on Mt. Sagiri? Were they Mr. Urokodaki's friends? Or were these the "friends" Suyan had mentioned he was visiting?
For some reason, she felt a strange sense of familiarity from the group, especially from the fox masks they wore. But she didn't overthink it, brushing past them and continuing her ascent.
Shortly after, Sabito and the others reached the foot of the mountain. There, they saw Tanjiro, his younger brother, and their master, Urokodaki Sakonji.
Sharp-eyed Tanjiro immediately noticed them. "Mr. Urokodaki, people are coming down the mountain."
"People? Besides the gentleman and the Insect Hashira who went up earlier, who else could possibly be on this mountain? Remember everything I've told you today, and don't you dare die to a demon and disgrace me!" Urokodaki scolded, assuming Tanjiro was just trying to change the subject to avoid the lecture.
"No, there really are people," Tanjiro insisted.
Seeing his earnestness, Urokodaki finally turned around with a skeptical frown.
But the moment he laid eyes on those painfully familiar figures, his breath hitched. His pupils contracted violently.
Urokodaki rubbed his eyes from beneath his tengu mask, his lips trembling. "Sabito... Makomo... everyone...?"
"Mr. Urokodaki, it's been a long time."
Sabito and the others had thought they would have a million things to say. But in the actual moment of reunion, there was no grand, emotional speech. Just a simple, heartfelt greeting.
.....
Meanwhile, back up on Mt. Sagiri.
Shinobu finally found her target. But seeing him lounging lazily on the boulder made her blood boil.
"Moshi moshi, Mr. Scumbag, are you still alive? Or have you finally dropped dead? Should I just dig a hole and bury you right here?"
Shinobu leaped up, landing lightly right next to Suyan's head. She stared down at him, murmuring her viciously sweet threats into the open air.
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