The war council ended.
To prepare for the upcoming battle, Tomioka Giyu and the others bid their farewells and left.
"Leo, I should go back and rest."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya coughed twice and looked at the black-haired youth who had not yet left the courtyard.
"Regarding your residence..."
"Master, let Leo rest at the Butterfly Mansion."
Kochou Kanae, who also hadn't left yet, stepped forward and suggested.
"Leo, is it okay with you?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya looked at Leo.
"Any place to stay will do."
Leo nodded.
After staying in the deep mountains and old forests for several months, his requirements for a residence had lowered significantly.
"As long as I can sleep normally, it's fine."
Bidding farewell to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, Leo and Kochou Kanae walked toward the Butterfly Mansion.
Although Kochou Kanae looked ninety percent similar to Kochou Shinobu, their temperaments were completely different.
Compared to the impulsive and easily heated Kochou Shinobu, Kochou Kanae was more like a refined lady from a wealthy family.
She wore a colorful butterfly-patterned haori, her long black hair draped behind her, and a gentle smile was often on her face.
"Leo, did you and Shinobu have a fight?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Because Shinobu generally doesn't make bets, so I was wondering if you two fought."
"Oh, that."
Realizing what she was talking about, Leo waved his hand and gave a light chuckle.
"We didn't fight; the bet was because she didn't believe I could one-shot a Lower Rank Demon."
"One-shot a Lower Rank Demon?"
Kochou Kanae blinked.
Recalling Kochou Shinobu's maid outfit from not long ago, she had an idea of the outcome of this bet.
"Leo, you're amazing. I heard the Master say before that you've only been in contact with Breathing Techniques for a few months, and you can already insta-kill a Lower Rank Demon."
"It's alright. I was mainly dealing with Lower Rank Five; that guy isn't strong among the Lower Rank Demons. If it were you, you could probably one-shot him too."
"No, my strength isn't as great as yours, Leo; I can't achieve that level."
Kochou Kanae shook her head.
As a woman, she was weaker in strength compared to the other Hashira.
Combined with the characteristics of her Breathing Technique, her fighting style leaned more toward stability.
Although she could kill a Lower Rank, imagining a one-shot kill like Leo was basically impossible.
"By the way, Leo, can I ask you a sensitive question?"
"Is there a trick to me being this strong?"
"Oh, I am indeed curious about that, but that's not what I wanted to ask."
Kochou Kanae's expression turned serious: "Leo, do you think humans and demons can live together in peace?"
"No."
"Eh? So decisive."
"It would be strange to hesitate."
Leo glanced at her: "If you had been hungry for a week and a delicious pig appeared in front of you, and coincidentally you had a hunting rifle and kitchen utensils in your hand, would you live in peace with it?"
"...No."
"So, the answer is obvious."
Leo held up a finger: "As long as demons still need to eat humans to fill their stomachs, humans and demons cannot coexist in peace."
"But this shortcoming can be overcome, right? Like that Miss Tamayo you mentioned earlier. She has lived for so many years without being discovered by the Demon Slayer Corps because she doesn't eat humans."
"Then have you thought about what the prerequisite for her overcoming the shortcoming of eating humans was?"
"...Breaking free from Kibutsuji Muzan?"
"Exactly. Only after she broke free from Kibutsuji Muzan's control did she have the chance to modify herself."
"In this regard, Tamayo is a very special case; you can't use a special case to represent the whole."
Speaking of this, Leo pointed at himself: "To give another example, I could slash Lower Rank Five in one hit after learning Breathing Techniques for a few months. Do you think my situation can be used as a reference?"
"Obviously, it's impossible."
Without letting Kochou Kanae reply, Leo gave the answer himself.
"I am special; my growth experience cannot be replicated by ordinary people at all."
"Similarly, Tamayo is also special; her experience cannot be replicated by average demon."
"I see, that's a pity then."
Kochou Kanae let out a sigh.
There was naturally a reason why she asked Leo this question at this time.
As a kind-hearted person, Kochou Kanae discovered during the process of hunting demons that many demons were not bad people initially.
The reason they became demons was simply due to bad luck—encountering Kibutsuji Muzan, being chosen by him, and being injected with the Demon King's Blood.
If conditions allowed, Kochou Kanae wanted to save these demons who had no choice and realize a vision of humans and demons coexisting in peace.
However, after hearing Leo's examples, she deeply realized how difficult this matter was.
Rather than finding a way to let demons break free from Kibutsuji Muzan's control and then creating medicine to help them overcome the shortcoming of eating humans...
It is much simpler to proceed with Leo's plan and deal with Kibutsuji Muzan.
Once the old thoughts were resolved, the world suddenly felt vast.
Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, the aura around Kanae quietly changed.
A gentle smile still hung on her face, but a touch of determination appeared in her purple pupils.
"Thank you for your answer, Leo."
Looking at the black-haired youth beside her, Kochou Kanae thanked him from the bottom of her heart.
"Now, I should be able to devote all my energy to the operation without any distractions."
"Oh, then good luck."
Leo nodded, feeling impressed without quite knowing why.
Although he didn't know what had happened, his social experience from his previous life told him that at this time, he just needed to say "uh-huh" and "oh."
Chatting with Kochou Kanae along the way, the two soon arrived at the Butterfly Mansion.
As the core logistics institution of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Butterfly Mansion served the triple functions of treating the wounded, analyzing toxins, and combat rehabilitation, covering a vast area.
After entering the Butterfly Mansion, Leo walked inside for another ten minutes before arriving at Kochou Kanae's residence, a Japanese-style courtyard.
"Kanao, I'm back!"
Just as they walked into the courtyard, Kochou Kanae's eyes lit up, and she waved toward a spot not far away.
Leo looked over and saw a small loli standing in the corner of the courtyard.
She was wearing children's clothes, and her black hair was tied in a side ponytail, looking very cute.
"Leo, let me introduce her to you."
Kochou Kanae led Leo over.
"Her name is Kanao Tsuyuri; I rescued her from a human trafficker."
"Kanao, this is Leo. He's the Demon Slayer Corps' new Sound Hashira, and he's very powerful~"
"Come, say hello to Leo."
"...Hello."
Kanao Tsuyuri nodded slightly, her expression showing no fluctuations throughout.
Seeing this, Kochou Kanae sighed in her heart and explained to Leo.
"This child seems to have some emotional defects due to her childhood experiences."
"It's fine, being Emotionless is a charm point."
Leo reached out and patted Kanao Tsuyuri's head, a smile appearing on his face.
"Hello there, little sister Kanao."
"Do you want to go see the goldfish with big brother?"
"..."
Kanao Tsuyuri silently took a few steps back.
"Eh?"
Kochou Kanae let out a sound of surprise.
She had adopted Kanao Tsuyuri for some time now and knew her condition very well.
Her emotional defect was essentially caused by closing off her heart and self.
Affected by this defect, Kanao Tsuyuri would be in a daze most of the time.
Unless she received a clear command, she wouldn't have any reaction.
Like today, clearly expressing resistance and unwilling movements seemed to be a first.
"Could it be... the way to help Kanao step out of her predicament is to communicate by acting like a pervert?"
"Hey! I can hear you!"
Leo rolled his eyes. "What do you mean 'acting like a pervert'? Careful, or I'll report you for personal attacks!"
"Ahem~ Leo, try saying a few more things to Kanao and see how she reacts."
"Fine, fine."
Looking at the expressionless little girl in front of him, Leo thought for a moment and reached out his right hand.
"Shake hands."
Kanao silently reached out her left hand.
"Give me a hug."
Kanao silently walked forward.
"Give me a kis—"
"Alright! That's enough!"
Before anything indescribable could happen, Kochou Kanae timely covered Leo's mouth.
"We'll continue the testing next time. I'll take responsibility for preparing the dialogue content."
"Eh? That won't be any fun!"
"Treating a patient doesn't need to be 'fun'."
A look of helplessness appeared on Kochou Kanae's face.
She now somewhat understood why Kochou Shinobu would get so worked up as to make a bet with Leo.
At certain times, this guy's words were truly infuriating.