Seeing everyone staring at him, Aoyama awkwardly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Inwardly, he couldn't help marveling at the power of the regeneration potion. Its recovery ability was no weaker than a demon's regeneration.
Rengoku Kyojuro carefully moved his body.
His condition felt exactly the same as if he had never been injured at all.
"Aoyama … your medicine is truly incredible. It actually can…"
Rengoku paused, unable to find the right words to describe what he wanted to say.
"Even Shinobu, who is highly skilled in pharmacology, has never created something with such miraculous effects. Aoyama , how did you make it?"
Rengoku asked with bright curiosity.
"Uh… well…"
Aoyama was suddenly put on the spot.
What medicine could he possibly make?
The potion had simply been a system reward from slaying demons.
"Ah, is it a secret recipe? Not convenient to reveal?"
Rengoku leaned forward slightly and asked.
Then he continued excitedly.
"Aoyama , we've all seen the incredible effects of this medicine. If you share the formula with Shinobu and she can produce it in large quantities, the casualties of the Demon Slayer Corps would drop drastically!"
In his mind, he had already imagined the scene.
If this miraculous medicine could be mass-produced, it could be distributed to every Demon Slayer.
If even more were produced, ordinary civilians could carry it too to protect themselves from demons.
Seeing Aoyama remain silent, Rengoku subtly gestured to Tanjiro with his eyes, asking him to help persuade him.
Tanjiro scratched the back of his head awkwardly and spoke softly.
"Yeah… Aoyama -senpai. Rengoku-san is right. If the formula is shared, it could benefit everyone."
The corner of Aoyama 's mouth twitched.
"Benefit everyone?"
Who was going to benefit him?
Listening to them talk about it, it sounded as if his regeneration potion were as cheap as cabbage.
In reality, since the beginning of his demon-slaying journey until now, the system had only given him two bottles.
One had just been used on Rengoku.
Which meant he had only one left.
Just one.
Incredibly precious.
Rengoku placed a hand firmly on Aoyama 's shoulder.
"Well? You've thought it through, right? Aoyama , you're definitely not a selfish person… right? Haha!"
Aoyama suddenly felt his chest tighten.
His internal injuries seemed to worsen slightly.
"Well… about the medicine," he said slowly. "I don't have any formula. It can't be mass-produced. Even Shinobu wouldn't be able to replicate it. So please… don't think about it anymore."
"Aoyama -senpai—"
"Be quiet."
Aoyama directly cut off Tanjiro's words.
Looking at Rengoku, he continued calmly.
"Rengoku-san, I understand what you mean. But I have my own difficulties. Please understand."
Seeing how firm Aoyama was, Rengoku nodded.
He said nothing more about producing the medicine in large quantities.
After all, someone willing to use such a miraculous potion to save his life certainly wasn't stingy.
If Aoyama refused, there must be a reason.
By now, the sky had completely brightened.
The sun rose fully, marking the beginning of a new day.
Aoyama looked up at the sky and let out a slow breath.
The battle they had just fought—against an Upper Rank demon—gave him much to think about.
The road of slaying demons ahead would be long.
Next time he encountered Akaza—
He would never let him escape again.
Never.
Not long after their battle ended, the Demon Slayer Corps' support unit—the Kakushi—arrived to clean up the battlefield.
The crows delivered the results of the battle to Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the other Hashira stationed elsewhere.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki gently stroked the crow perched before him, a satisfied expression on his face.
Sending Aoyama and the others to the Mugen Train mission had been the correct decision.
Even Shinobu had recommended them at the time.
"Everything is progressing in a good direction," Kagaya said softly.
Standing before him was an exceptionally beautiful woman.
She was his wife—Amane Ubuyashiki, who carried the bloodline of a priestly family.
"That is true," she replied with a gentle smile. "This mission was completed flawlessly with zero casualties, thanks largely to the Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyojuro… and that young swordsman named Aoyama ."
Kagaya nodded.
"We should write a letter to Urokodaki-sensei to express our gratitude. He has trained truly outstanding disciples."
From the crow's report, he had learned that Rengoku had suffered severe injuries during the battle—but Aoyama had instantly healed him with a miraculous medicine.
The other Hashira who received the report praised the outstanding results of the battle.
Sanemi Shinazugawa listened to the crow's message with distracted focus.
Hearing about the fight stirred something inside him.
He wanted to go there himself.
He wanted to battle an Upper Rank demon too.
Shinobu listened to the report with a smile.
Her smile deepened slightly.
She had chosen correctly.
Aoyama truly possessed the strength she had believed in.
Meanwhile—
Inside a luxurious mansion, a child stood before a bookshelf in the study, reading a book far beyond what someone his age should be reading.
The child was Muzan Kibutsuji.
This was yet another of his disguises, different from both his male and female forms.
Suddenly—
A shadow appeared behind him.
It was Akaza, returning to report.
Akaza knelt respectfully behind Muzan and spoke.
"I have returned to report."
Muzan turned his childlike face toward him.
A terrifying pressure filled the room.
"Did you find it?" he asked slowly.
Akaza kept his head lowered.
"I conducted an investigation, but I could not obtain any definite information. I cannot confirm whether it truly exists."
The object Muzan had ordered Akaza to search for was the Blue Spider Lily.
The doctor who once treated Muzan had been killed by him by mistake.
Only afterward did Muzan realize that the treatment had cured his fatal illness.
But the price was eternal exile from sunlight.
"And then?" Muzan asked coldly.
Akaza answered respectfully.
"Before coming to report to you, I followed your orders and eliminated a Hashira. You may rest assured."
The moment Muzan heard the words "rest assured," his eyes widened.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
"Akaza… are you certain you eliminated him?"
Akaza hesitated.
He recalled the battle with Rengoku.
He had destroyed Rengoku's left eye and delivered what should have been a fatal wound.
Although he had not witnessed Rengoku's death personally, those injuries should have been enough to kill any human.
Muzan stared coldly at the kneeling Akaza.
"It seems you misunderstand something, Akaza."
"That Hashira did not die."
"He was saved… by Aoyama Ren"
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