And so, to Akaza's nervous inquiry tinged with apprehension, Mitsuba at that time simply replied with a light, casual remark—
"What was our relationship before? Just ordinary friends from the same town, what else could it be?
You ask why I care about you so much? Of course it's because I thought you, Hakuji, looked quite pitiful all alone, so I took you along. After all, I did say we're friends...
You mention your memories? Oh, that's because I temporarily deleted all your memories, that's all.
What else did you think it was? Those destined protagonists in stories who fall off cliffs after losing their memories and gain miraculous encounters?
I didn't expect you to be so childlike, Hakuji. How adorable..."
...Huh?
What do you mean ordinary friends? What do you mean taking me along because I looked pitiful? What do you mean my memories were deleted by you?!
And what's with being childlike! Annoying woman, you're not allowed to mock me!
Akaza, who had believed he must have had a troubled past and an extraordinary relationship with Mitsuba, nearly broke down upon hearing her seemingly indifferent, casual words.
No! If we have nothing to do with each other, then why do you, annoying woman, watch me all day? Do you have nothing better to do?!
Although Akaza clearly sensed Mitsuba was lying, unfortunately he had no way to make her talk.
Because he couldn't beat her.
"Hakuji, we discussed this before. When the day comes that you're ready, I will definitely return your memories to you..."
"So what exactly counts as the day I'm ready?! Can you, annoying woman, be clearer about it?!"
"The day when you truly want to live."
Looking at the frustrated Akaza, Mitsuba's expression suddenly became extremely serious. She spoke word by word:
"When you truly realize that you are indeed alive, and also truly want to continue living—that day, I will tell you."
As her words fell, the tent suddenly fell silent. Akaza stared blankly at Mitsuba before him. Deep in his mind, there was a sudden sharp pain.
What followed was the voice of a laughing man.
[Young man! Better reform yourself as soon as possible!]
Strange, this voice from an unknown source again...
Just who is the owner of this voice?
Damn it, could this also be part of his lost memories?
"No need to rush. As demons, we have a long time to search for these things. In short, if you don't know what to do, go make some friends first..."
"Tch, boring. I don't want to make friends with those weaklings I can kill with one punch...
I'm leaving. There's an underground fighting ring run by those Europeans nearby. I'm going there to box."
Shaking his head to dispel those strange feelings in his mind, Akaza picked up the umbrella, stood up, and walked straight out of the tent.
When in a bad mood, finding two people to beat up always helped.
This had always been his method of stress relief, and it worked very well.
"Make sure you don't actually hurt anyone, okay?"
"Got it."
"Also, that lord is convening an Upper Rank meeting tonight. Remember to arrive on time, alright?"
"Got it!"
Yes, after decades, the Upper Rank meeting would finally be held once again tonight.
Honestly speaking, Mitsuba really didn't want to attend this meeting.
The reason was simple—because every time an Upper Rank meeting was convened, it was after some Upper Rank demon had been slain by Demon Slayers.
This led to Mitsuba having to listen to Lord Muzan scolding the demons every time. Although he wasn't scolding her, just sitting there listening was quite boring.
After too many times, Mitsuba became less inclined to go.
This Upper Rank meeting was no exception.
Just last night, those Demon Slayers had, after who knows how long, slain another Upper Rank demon.
Although it was only Upper Rank Six, the lowest among the Upper Ranks, there was no need to guess—Lord Muzan would definitely fly into a rage this time.
After all, even the lowest among the Upper Ranks was the sixth strongest demon in this world, second only to the Demon King.
The sixth-ranked demon, actually killed by those ant-like Demon Slayers?!
This was completely unacceptable to Muzan.
Even in Muzan's view, no demon among the Twelve Kizuki should ever be killed by Demon Slayers!
Unfortunately, although Mitsuba really didn't want to go, for some unknown reason, Muzan specifically named her to definitely attend tonight's Upper Rank meeting...
This situation was a first in Mitsuba's memory.
She had a feeling that something bad was coming...
"..."
"Good evening, Nakime. It seems we haven't seen each other in a long time?"
Late at night, with the sound of a biwa, Mitsuba fell into the Infinity Castle through a sliding door.
Returning to her true appearance, she first smiled and greeted Nakime, who sat on the high platform.
"Yes, long time no see, Little Sister Mitsuba."
To Mitsuba's overly familiar attitude, Nakime also used the intimate form of address between them.
"Has Elder Brother arrived? Did he come first?"
"Lord Kokushibo arrived first. He's in the room below now. Also, Lord Upper Rank Two is in the adjacent room...
Little Sister Mitsuba, shall I send you to Lord Kokushibo..."
"Stop, that won't be necessary. I don't want to look at Elder Brother's sour face while listening to Lord Muzan's scolding—I would actually die.
To begin with, why do I have to attend such a boring meeting? I clearly had fortune-telling appointments tonight...
Nakime, remember to send me last next time, understand?"
Among the entire Twelve Kizuki, perhaps only Mitsuba, who was also Upper Rank One, dared to tease that lord and the other Upper Rank One like this.
Without waiting for Nakime to speak further, Mitsuba leaped several steps and landed on the rooftop of a distant high building. Concealing her presence, she quietly sat on the railing above, calmly waiting for the meeting to officially begin.
To Mitsuba's willful complaints and requests, Nakime simply pretended not to hear, raising her hand to strum the strings of the biwa in her arms once more.
Zheng!
With another sound of the biwa, another figure fell into the Infinity Castle.
It was Upper Rank Four—Hantengu.
This was a shabbily dressed, ugly old man with a large lump growing on his forehead, appearing timid and fearful.
As Upper Rank Four, Hantengu's Blood Demon Art was quite special.
When suffering decapitation, he could split himself into up to four clones, each possessing different Blood Demon Arts, capable of coordinating in battle.
And after these four clones were successively slain, they would fuse again, combining into a super body with even greater strength that could use all previous Blood Demon Arts!
Yet even after slaying this body, Hantengu still wouldn't die.
Because this body was also merely one of his clones.
His true body was actually a miniature form only the size of a palm.
When fighting Demon Slayers, Hantengu's true body would sometimes hide inside a clone's heart, and sometimes quietly find a place to hide on its own.
And as long as the true body didn't die, as long as he still had strength, no matter how many times those clones died, he could recreate them...
A very troublesome, very life-preserving Blood Demon Art.
"Eek! H-here again! Can't see me, can't see me..."
As soon as he entered the Infinity Castle, Hantengu pressed himself flat against the ground, carefully wriggling forward. Looking at his terrified expression, it seemed he was desperately afraid of being noticed by someone...
So then, what could the dignified Upper Rank Four possibly be afraid of?
...
(A certain earth-shaking genius is finally about to appear meow~)