"Why does Muichiro think his body temperature was 39 degrees?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked.
"Although Yoizumi-ge treated me, past memories made me a bit restless, causing me to have a fever several times. My body temperature then was as hot as when the Mark appeared."
"I see, thank you, Muichiro."
"As long as I can help Master."
"So, the top priority now is to awaken this Mark, right?" Sanemi Shinazugawa said.
"But... there's one thing you must know about the Mark."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked at the still young Muichiro with a pained expression, "Those who activate this Mark, without exception, will all..."
"Die... before the age of 25."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki closed his eyes. The Pillars before him were at most 27 years old, the youngest 14. They were all at an age where they should have many beautiful years ahead. This was a very cruel fact.
The reason why everyone present could become a Pillar was not only because of their powerful strength, but more so because of their determination to die. They existed to annihilate demons.
If they could defeat Kibutsuji Muzan and crush the root of that suffering, compared to this price, it was almost insignificant.
Of course, not everyone would remain unshaken.
Kanroji Mitsuri was one of them. Not living past 25... What would happen to her family?
She was a Pillar... How could she desert in the face of battle?
Kanroji Mitsuri's heart was tormented.
The person with the greatest emotional fluctuation present was not Muichiro, who had already awakened the Mark, but Yoizumi... His hands, placed on his knees, suddenly tightened, his sapphire eyes trembling with disbelief, staring blankly at his clenched fists, where veins bulged.
Tanjirou... won't live past 25?
How could this be?
How old was he? 15!
He could only live for 10 more years at most? Yoizumi could not accept this.
His younger brother should live a long life... "Yoizumi..."
Shinobu looked worriedly at the emotionally unstable Yoizumi. All she could do now was hold his white-knuckled fist.
He, who valued his family the most, how could he maintain his usual calm in the face of such a cruel reality?
What Shinobu didn't know was that on the back of his right hand, which she was holding, a faint blue, almost transparent snowflake Mark slowly appeared.
Yoizumi remained in a state of unease afterward. Kagaya Ubuyashiki explained the Pillar Training. Giyu Tomioka seemed to have had a conflict with Sanemi Shinazugawa?
As for the details, Yoizumi couldn't remember them at all; a sense of unease enveloped him until the familiar scent of wisteria wafted over, and he fell into a warm embrace.
"Yoizumi, now is not the time to think about this."
Everyone else had left; only Yoizumi and Shinobu remained.
Shinobu soothingly stroked her lover's head, wanting him to relax.
"You've saved so many people, so you can definitely save your brother."
"He'll be fine."
"Just like before, just like you changed my future, Tanjirou will be fine..."
Shinobu couldn't guarantee it either, but Yoizumi had to pull himself together.
Hugging Shinobu back, his face pressed against her soft waist, Yoizumi closed his sore eyes... "Welcome back, Yoizumi-nii!"
Tanjirou, who was training, immediately greeted his brother with a smile. His black and red hair fluttered in the wind, his crimson eyes were very bright, and his cheerful smile was as dazzling as the sun.
Yoizumi looked at his younger brother, who was a head shorter than him. His life shouldn't be only a short 25 years.
Tanjirou would still grow taller, grow up, and start a family.
Tanjirou looked at his brother in a daze. Yoizumi's hand gently stroked Tanjirou's head, his palm covering the red Mark.
What was wrong with Yoizumi-nii?
He was subtly exuding an aura of sadness...
His sapphire eyes were full of complex yet firm emotions, and he heard his brother say:
"Tanjirou, I won't let anything happen to you."
He didn't understand what had happened, but Tanjirou always trusted his brother.
"Yes! Although I don't know what's wrong."
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