Time always flies by when there are no evil spirits around.
More than half a month has passed since the bloody battle at the quarry.
For the past two weeks, the world has been so quiet it feels almost unreal.
In the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion, sunlight streamed onto the wooden corridor, and the air was filled with the pleasant Wisteria.
Giyu Tomioka was dressed in a loose and comfortable dark blue kimono, looking like a well-fed cat, completely devoid of his usual murderous aura.
My head rests on a soft knee, my eyes half-closed, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
And beside him.
Kanae Kocho knelt on the tatami mat, serving as Giyu's lap pillow. Her two soft, white hands rested on Giyu's temples, providing a comfortable massage.
"Is this force okay, Mr. Giyu?"
Kanae's voice was soft and sweet. She lowered her head slightly, and her amazingly full breasts occasionally brushed against Giyu's cheek.
Her watery pink eyes held undisguised love and doting affection, and her fingertips ran through Giyu's black hair with a tenderness that was intoxicating.
"Mmm, that feels good. Thank you for your hard work."
With his eyes closed, Giyu gave a very natural response.
He reached out a hand and gently grasped Kanae's small hand that had slipped to his side, placing the soft hand in his palm and squeezing it gently.
Kanae felt Giyu sweet inside when Giyu took her hand.
She picked up a small dish of delicate tea snacks from the side, pinched a piece with her fair fingers, and held it directly to Giyu's lips.
"Come on, open your mouth, ah--"
Giyu obediently opened his mouth, even chewing slowly, enjoying this decadent life of being waited on hand and foot.
"Oh dear, in broad daylight, do you really have to do this? You're almost ruining the medicine I just brewed!"
Shinobu Kocho, holding a steaming bowl of medicine and wearing wooden clogs, stood sulking at the other end of the corridor.
Her purple eyes stared at her own shameless older sister, who treated Mr. Giyu like a cat, feeding him.
"Big sister, you are the medical director of the Butterfly Mansion! So many wounded soldiers need dressing changes, and you're just sitting here giving some nobody a lap pillow?"
Shinobu slammed the medicine bowl onto the low table with a "bang," then pointed at Giyu lying there and unleashed her Full Release fury:
"And you! Mr. Giyu! You've been eating and living here for the past two weeks, and even had your sister wash your clothes for you! I bet your bones have been softened by this world of pleasure!"
Faced with this oncoming attack.
Giyu slowly opened his eyes. He wasn't angry; instead, he calmly sat up from Kanae's lap.
"I said... you've worked hard these past few days too."
"Working day and night to develop those medicines and toxins, you're practically developing dark circles under your eyes."
"Since it's a rare peaceful day, let's leave the wounded to their care and leave them to the underlings. You sit down and rest with us for a while."
???
The Shinobu Kocho bewildered.
Her previously puffed-up cheeks instantly turned red to the roots of her ears, and all the sharp words she had prepared were stuck in her throat.
"Why... why are you suddenly saying something like that...?"
Shinobu blushed, her eyes darting around nervously.
Kanae covered her mouth beside her, laughing so hard that her chest rippled out in waves.
"Alright, alright, Shinobu, don't be shy. Mr. Giyu really cares about you. Here, I have some tea and snacks, let's have some together."
Kanae very generously pushed the tea tray over and even took Shinobu's arm.
Giyu sat cross-legged between the two sisters, with the gentle and graceful Kanae on his left and the proud and adorable Shinobu on his right.
He picked up a cup of tea and took a small sip.
The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing.
I need to go out for a bit.
Giyu put down his teacup, stood up, picked up his Nichirin Blade from the sword rack, and hung it at his waist.
"Huh? I have to go to work now? But it's almost lunchtime." Kanae looked up at her beautiful face, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
Shinobu pouted, "What a busy person. I just rested for a little while and now I have to leave again."
"There's something I need to confirm with the Master."
Giyu put on his signature contrasting-colored haori, looked down at the two women, and spoke with a hint of tenderness in his voice.
"I'll be back for dinner. You all wait for me at home."
"Okay, I know, I'll definitely make you the best food~ Come back soon." Kanae gently straightened his collar.
Shinobu blushed and muttered softly, "Who wants to wait for you at home? Don't flatter yourself."
Giyu smiled slightly, not exposing her hypocrisy, and turned to stride out of the Butterfly Mansion.
Half an hour later.
In the tranquil tea room of the Ubuyashiki Estate.
The air was filled with the delicate aroma of matcha.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat behind the low table, his face, the upper half of which was eroded by purplish-red curse Demon Slayer Marks, bearing his usual gentle smile.
Lady Amane knelt to one side, skillfully brewing tea.
Giyu Tomioka sat cross-legged opposite him, his hands resting flat on his knees, his back ramrod straight.
"Giyu- kun, have you been resting well at the Butterfly Mansion? You seem to have gained a more vibrant, human-like energy than before."
Kagaya's tone was filled with undisguised satisfaction.
"Thanks to your concern, my Master, I have had plenty of rest."
Giyu didn't waste too much time on pleasantries. The warmth he showed at the Butterfly Mansion disappeared from his expressionless face, replaced by his usual aloof calm.
"My Master, I have come today with a proposal regarding the selection process for Mount Fujikasane."
A cold glint flashed in Giyu's deep blue eyes.
"Regarding Tanjiro Kamado, I think he needs a real test."
Upon hearing the name, Kagaya didn't show much surprise. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and nodded with a smile.
He knew Tanjiro's special circumstances inside and out. The boy who was not afraid of sunlight and had the blood of miracles flowing through his veins had always been the focus of the Ubuyashiki Family's attention.
"Ordinary small fry and evil spirits are no longer enough to test his current limits."
Giyu stared directly into Kagaya's empty eyes, his tone steady.
"I plan to completely change the trial rules for Mount Fujikasane this year. I will personally go outside and capture a demon of the Twelve Kizuki level."
"Throw it into the Wisteria Barrier of Mount Fujikasane as Tanjiro's trial target."
"Only by taking this step can he truly become the key to breaking our deadlock."
"At the same time, if one of the Twelve Kizuki dies at Mount Fujikasane, it might slightly prick the nerves of the man hiding in the shadows and see if it can force him out."
They treat the Twelve Kizuki as trial monsters, capturing them and locking them in cages for newcomers to practice on.
This suggestion sounds absolutely insane. Throughout the Demon Slayer Corps' hundreds of years of history, only this man in front of us would dare to think of it and put it into practice!
After hearing this plan...
Kagaya Ubuyashiki fell into a brief silence.
A moment later, a smile suddenly bloomed on Kagaya's sickly face.
"Haha! Great! Excellent!"
Kagaya laughed and nodded, offering his unconditional support!
"As expected of our Giyu- kun. Although this suggestion is bold, it is indeed the most suitable stepping stone for Tanjiro."
"At the same time, it's time to bring it into Muzan's sights!!"
"I completely agree with your plan! I will have the Kakushi Division fully cooperate with you on Wisteria Barrier."
Kagaya smiled as he looked at Giyu.
"So now the only problem is, the Twelve Kizuki are always elusive, where do you plan to go to catch this unlucky ghost that you'll use as bait?"
Upon hearing this question, Giyu frowned slightly.
Indeed, finding ghosts can sometimes be more troublesome than killing them, especially when it requires prey of a specific level.
However--
Just as the two were preparing to further discuss where to find prey...
"Gah! Gah! Gah--!"
It was accompanied by a loud flapping sound.
A black Kasugai Crow swooped in through the paper door.
Urgent report!
"Mount Natagumo! A serious anomaly has occurred at Mount Natagumo!!"
"The dozen or so swordsmen dispatched to the area, in multiple squads, have all disappeared after entering the mountains! They've all lost contact!!"
"Based on the last faint distress signal! The mountains are covered in terrifying spider webs! The team members died in extremely bizarre ways, killing each other!!"
"The Twelve Kizuki are suspected to be lurking! Requesting urgent support from Pillar-level swordsmen!!"
Amane's face turned pale instantly, and Kagaya's smile vanished, his brows furrowing tightly.
The fact that more than a dozen swordsmen have gone missing is a testament to the fact that they've encountered a terrifyingly tough opponent!
However--
Kagaya was sitting opposite Giyu Tomioka.
Upon hearing this urgent report, he showed no sign of panic.
He slowly put down his teacup.
A gentle breeze blew in from outside the door, stirring his red and white contrasting haori.
He didn't care what the ghosts there were called or what tragic past they had.
He only heard one key message:
--There are ghosts there, it's very dangerous, and we need a Pillar-level swordsman to provide support!
"I've had enough rest, it's time to loosen up my bones."
He stood up from the tatami mat.
"My Master."
Giyu gripped the scabbard at his waist with his left hand, casually straightened the hem of his haori with his right, and spoke with a hint of decisiveness.
"It seems we can postpone the hunting business for now."
He bowed slightly to Kagaya, as if to resign.
"I'll take on the support mission for Mount Natagumo."
I'll be right back.
Before he could finish speaking...
Giyu's figure disappeared directly at the entrance of the tea room.