The next day.
Tanjiro's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open.
Without any reluctance to leave the warm bed, Tanjiro sat up straight.
Then his gaze fell on Nezuko, who was still lying not far away, and a smile involuntarily spread across his face.
The door opened at the opportune moment, and looking at Tanjiro was already awake, Sakonji Urokodaki spoke:
"Now that you're awake, hurry up and have breakfast, then start exercising!"
"Yes!" Tanjiro responded.
After quickly tidying himself up, Tanjiro went to the hall, where his keen sense of smell detected two unfamiliar scents.
"Did someone come over last night?"
Sakonji Urokodaki looked up at Tanjiro and nodded.
"One of the scents is so gentle; the owner must be a gentle person!"
Another one... emmm..."
Tanjiro pondered for a moment, trying to find the right words to describe the feeling, before finally saying:
It gives people a very natural feeling!
Sakonji Urokodaki looked up and gave Tanjiro a deep look.
Can you really tell these strange things just by their smell?
"If you keep going like this, you'll eventually meet those two!" Sakonji Urokodaki said.
"Are they both members of the Demon Slayer Corps?" Tanjiro asked excitedly.
"I guess so, it's all about slaying demons anyway!" Sakonji Urokodaki's thought, "If you ever meet that person with the natural scent you mentioned, you can ask him for advice!"
"Huh? Is he very strong?"
Sakonji Urokodaki glanced out the window and slowly said:
"Hmm, very strong! Possibly the strongest person you'll ever meet in your life!"
Butterfly Mansion.
"So you plan to work exclusively for the Butterfly Mansion from now on?" Teiichi asked, looking at Aoi Kanzaki.
"Um!"
Aoi Kanzaki nodded in agreement, then lowered her head somewhat dejectedly.
"I'm still really afraid of ghosts and afraid of dying!"
"It's perfectly normal!" Kanae comforted her. "I'd be scared too!"
"Huh? Kanae- neechan, you're scared too?" Aoi Kanzaki asked in surprise.
Kanae smiled and nodded. "Yes! Because this world is so beautiful, with Aoi, Shinobu, Teiichi, Kanon, Kanao, and everyone else! No matter who it is, they wouldn't want to leave this world, right?"
Aoi Kanzaki said, " Kanae, you're still on missions!"
Kanae chuckled, "That's because there are many demons who can't beat me! If there were many demons outside that I couldn't beat, I think I might choose to become a support staff member, just like Aoi!"
In fact, it would be more troubling for me if Aoi chose to go on a mission!
"By then, the Butterfly Mansion will have a ton of things to deal with, and they won't know what to do without Aoi!"
Even though she knew it was just to comfort herself, Aoi Kanzaki couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing Kanae's words.
At least this proves that his choice was normal, and that he can also contribute to eliminating ghosts.
Seeing that Aoi Kanzaki had recovered from her initial dejection, Kanae turned her gaze to Muichiro.
" Muichiro passed the Final Selection just like everyone else. Is he going to carry out a mission next?"
Upon hearing his master's wife's question, Muichiro turned his gaze to his master.
Noticing Muichiro's gaze, Teiichi lowered his head and began to think.
There are only three years left until the final battle.
If Muichiro continues to grow up as he did in the original story...
Their final fighting strength can reach the level of Upper Rank.
but...
That is, only the level of Upper Rank Four, Upper Rank Five, and Upper Rank Six.
It's still far from being as powerful as Upper Rank One, Two, and Three.
I have confidence Teiichi Muichiro's talent.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time for Muichiro to grow.
Muichiro is only 11 years old now, and he will be 14 years old during the final battle.
A boy's golden period of rapid physical development is only half of what he needs to grow up.
There's already not much time left for him to grow, so we can't let tasks take up too much of his time.
Otherwise, even if he had someone to help him lay the foundation at the beginning, he probably wouldn't have been much better than the original character in the end.
Then, Teiichi looked at Muichiro.
"I plan to continue training you under my wing until you've truly mastered your craft, then you can go do whatever you want!"
Upon hearing this, Shinobu Kocho looked at her with a puzzled expression, "Aren't you planning to send him on a mission?"
Teiichi explained, "The mission still needs to be carried out; after all, practical experience is still very important."
However, I'll talk to Ubuyashiki and ask him to reduce the frequency of missions assigned to Muichiro, and try to select more difficult missions instead!
Muichiro asked in confusion, "Graduated from the apprenticeship?"
Teiichi explained, "Well, 'graduating from the apprenticeship' means that when I feel you are capable of handling things independently, you can go out on your own!"
Shinobu Kocho asked, "When will Muichiro be able to graduate from his apprenticeship?"
Teiichi moment, Ding Yi replied, "When I can withstand about 10 of my blows, I'll consider myself a master, right?"
"Huh? No! Your expectations are way too high!" Shinobu Kocho exclaimed in surprise. "If that's the case, then once he graduates, won't none of our current Pillars, except for Mr. Himejima, be able to defeat him?"
Teiichi coughed lightly twice, "No, he still needs time to cultivate! After that time, there should be a few more people in the Demon Slayer Corps who can withstand ten of my strikes!"
"Then... what if Muichiro trains for several years and still hasn't graduated?" Aoi Kanzaki asked tentatively.
Teiichi, "Don't worry, with his talent, he should be fine within two years!"
Upon hearing this, Shinobu Kocho couldn't help but feel a surge of surprise, despite already having a high opinion of Muichiro's talent.
Apart from Mitsuri, every one of the current Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps has trained for many years.
Even so, only Mr. Himejima withstood more than ten cuts.
Kanae grasped a different key point.
"Taking it with you? Are you going traveling again?"
Two days later.
Kanae's familiar biological clock automatically woke her up.
He gently raised his head.
The black eyes, which he had seen countless times before, were now quietly gazing at him.
Upon realizing she was awake, the owner of the black eyes smiled.
Kanae lowered her head again and gently rubbed against Teiichi's chest.
Feeling the warmth and familiar scent in front of me.
After a long silence, a slightly melancholic voice rang out from Kanae's lips.
Are you leaving today?
"Mmm!" Teiichi, raising his hand to gently stroke Kanae's head.
When will you be back next time?
"Come back for Chinese New Year, just like before!"
Upon hearing this, Kanae did not ask any further questions, and quietly rested her head against Teiichi's chest.