Half a month later.
Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the lush wisteria foliage in the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow. A breeze swept past, sending pale purple petals drifting down like snow. A tranquil air filled the courtyard, mingling floral fragrance with the faint scent of medicinal herbs.
After his visit to Mount Sagiri, Takanashi Rokuno had returned to this haven that made him feel utterly at ease. Over the past half month, his daily routine had consisted of Kanae finding new ways to feed him all kinds of delicious food to make up for the terrifying depletion caused by Invincible Might, and sitting on the courtyard's wooden veranda, watching the people of the Butterfly Mansion bustle about.
"Out-in-"
The sound of intensely rhythmic breathing came from the center of the courtyard.
Rokuya took a bite of the pork cutlet in his hand, which had gone completely cold but remained crisp, and turned his gaze toward the source of the sound.
It was Shinobu Kocho.
Dressed in a lightweight black Demon Slayer Corps uniform, she held a specially made wooden practice sword and was furiously practicing thrusts against several wooden posts wrapped in thick layers of straw.
"Insect Breathing, Dance of the Bee Sting-True Flutter!"
With a sharp cry, Shinobu Kocho's figure instantly became a blur. Her toes touched lightly against the ground, and she shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. The wooden sword in her hand traced an exceedingly strange yet nimble arc through the air. With a shrill whistle as it tore through the air, its tip struck five vital points on the wooden post in precise succession, moving at an astonishing speed almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The five