Although Muichiro did not quite understand what had happened, he obediently nodded at his brother's words. "Mm, I understand, big brother."
Watching the two children walk into the wooden cabin, Rokuya leaned against the pile of firewood behind him and let out a long breath.
"Whew... giving lectures really is exhausting. Takes more brain cells than cutting down Lower Ranks." Rokuya rubbed his temples, but a sense of accomplishment welled up inside him.
The cold wind on Mount Jōshin felt especially biting as night began to fall.
After settling the twin brothers Yuichiro Tokito and Muichiro safely in a relatively sheltered cave at the foot of the mountain, Takanashi Rokuno headed straight for the nearest Kakushi Corps contact point. His black Demon Slayer Corps uniform snapped in the wind, the hem of his dark blue haori fluttering, while his short silver hair reflected a cold, hard sheen in the faint moonlight.
"This is it." Rokuya stopped before a Kakushi Corps outpost disguised as an ordinary hunter's cabin.
Bang, bang, bang! Without hesitation, he knocked on the wooden door.
The door soon opened a crack, and a masked Kakushi Corps member cautiously poked his head out. When he recognized the visitor's signature dark blue haori and the terrifying giant blade on his back, he immediately threw the door wide and bowed respectfully. "Lord Takanashi! What brings you here in person? Please tell us if you have any instructions!"
Rokuya waved a hand, his casual tone carrying a trace of unquestionable resolve. "Spare me the formalities. I've persuaded those Tokito twins on Mount Jōshin. Those two brats are stubborn about admitting how they feel, but they'll go with you in the next couple of days. Send someone sharp to coordinate with them right away. Don't let anything else go wrong."
"Yes! Understood!