"Huh?"
Kochou Shinobu was stunned by Tamayo's question. Why would Young Miss Tamayo say that?
Did she mislead Young Miss Tamayo somehow?
Yushiro rolled his eyes behind her, muttering to himself, "No, no, no, Lady Tamayo, this person probably just wants to see that bad woman shrink."
Being stared at so seriously by Tamayo, Kochou Shinobu's expression became somewhat unnatural.
Hearing her say that, she felt as if she had done something wrong.
Tamayo took in the blank look on Kochou Shinobu's face, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes: "Isn't that right?"
"N-no... that's not it..." Kochou Shinobu replied weakly.
She couldn't bring herself to say that she wanted to see Mizuki shrink.
It was too embarrassing.
Moreover, Young Miss Tamayo had misunderstood her.
Kochou Shinobu was quite respectful towards Tamayo; to her, Tamayo was both a teacher and a friend, and Tamayo's personality was somewhat similar to her older sister's.
This made her always treat Tamayo with respect when facing her.
It was like when a teacher thinks you came to ask a question, but you're actually asking when the vacation starts.
Tamayo was slightly confused by her attitude. The more she looked at her, the more she felt it resembled... "...Although I haven't seen Mizuki change her body size, this kind of ability is not uncommon." After a moment of silence, Tamayo added, "At least, I personally think it's very possible to achieve."
Growing larger or smaller isn't a remarkable ability. Even Nezuko can only'slightly' change her body size, oscillating between a mature woman and a small child, which is merely a change in 'age.'
If she could become ultra-gigantic or as small as a mosquito, that would be an ability that could be useful.
Just as Tamayo said, changes in body size during Demonization are quite normal.
Probably feeling a bit embarrassed, Kochou Shinobu didn't respond but instead actively steered the conversation back on track.
"The Swordsmith Village was attacked by Muzan, and this blood was obtained by Mizuki when she killed Upper Rank Five there."
Tamayo understood the sudden shift in topic and, after a moment of silence, asked, "Could it be that child Tanjirou again?"
Does that child really have some special Physique?
Upper Rank... no, the Twelve Demon Moons are flocking to him one after another.
It's even more incredible than so-called Rare Blood.
She felt more and more how accurate Mizuki's words—'the change has begun'—were after coming into contact with Tanjirou.
Kochou Shinobu paused, then nodded, "Tanjirou was indeed there..."
But she felt that Young Miss Tamayo had misunderstood something again.
The reason Tanjirou and the others were at the Butterfly Mansion was because she thought The Three Little Ones had been working hard lately and could use a hot spring trip to rest.
"Mizuki's older brother, Upper Rank One, also appeared on that battlefield, and Mizuki consequently exposed her ability to conquer the sun."
Hearing this, Tamayo fell silent again.
Kochou Shinobu pursed her lips, "I believe Muzan's attack will commence soon."
"Mhm." Tamayo closed her eyes slightly. "That guy won't let this opportunity slip away."
No one understood Muzan's obsession with conquering the sun better than her.
That was Muzan's obsession for over a thousand years.
That guy... must be going crazy with excitement.
Tamayo did not doubt Muzan's actions in the slightest.
Since the passing of that swordsman, no one has been able to directly contend with Muzan.
What's more, Muzan now possesses the older brother of that swordsman, a fighting force whose strength is no less than Mizuki's.
Even now, their hope of victory is not great.
Fortunately, though... her medicine has been fully developed. Now, it just depends on... how to create a good opportunity.
Hopefully, it can help everyone... "Why is no one here?"
At that moment, Mizuki's confused voice appeared outside the door.
"Over here." Yushiro was the first to step out the door and wave at her.
Mizuki was walking toward the Laboratory. She wasn't surprised to see Kochou Shinobu's figure upon entering, and merely nodded at her.
"Speaking of which, where is Yae?" She hadn't seen a single person along the way.
Tamayo lowered her eyelids slightly and said after a moment of silence, "Young Miss Yae went home with her father a few days ago, saying she was going to atone for sins."
Atonement?
Mizuki fell silent for a moment, thinking of Yae's Old Man's situation.
Although he retained a shred of humanity and she saved him, it was undeniable that Yae's father had harmed others after turning into a Demon.
Presumably... those must be very painful memories.
If the emotional entanglement between Yae and her father hadn't moved Mizuki at the time, she might not have chosen to intervene.
Yae's father was different from her, Nezuko, and Yushiro; he had consumed humans.
Upon mentioning this topic, Tamayo's expression also became heavy.
Mizuki's expression was somewhat unnatural; it seemed she had asked something she shouldn't have.
Because this topic was also Tamayo's perennial sorrow.
Tamayo had also once given up on herself and consumed many people.
Tamayo's experience was pitiful. When she was human, she suffered from a terminal illness. Even though she was already a famous Physician at the time, she couldn't cure her own disease.
Because she wanted to see her children grow up, Tamayo was deceived by Muzan and turned into a Demon.
After becoming a Demon, although her illness was cured, she killed her own husband and children while out of control.
Therefore, after regaining her sanity, Tamayo's heart was filled with despair, and she hurt many people during that period of self-abandonment.
It wasn't until that swordsman severely wounded Muzan that she broke free from Muzan's control.
To fulfill her promise to Yoriichi, she relied on perseverance to overcome her demonic instincts, researching how to modify herself while sustaining herself with the corpses of animals and humans.
However, deep down, Tamayo never went a day without wanting to atone for her past self-abandonment.
If it weren't for Mizuki and Yushiro, Tamayo couldn't imagine how she would have persevered through these past few centuries.
She was truly very lucky.
The atmosphere became somewhat strange, and Mizuki winked at Yushiro.
This is your cue to step up!
Kochou Shinobu blinked. Not knowing Tamayo's past, she indicated that she didn't understand at all.
But Yushiro understood.
"Lady Tamayo, you don't need to blame yourself. I will always be by your side." Yushiro's voice wasn't as lively as usual, but the weight of his words could be felt.
A teachable youth.
Mizuki sighed in relief.
A faint smile appeared on Tamayo's lips. She didn't want others to worry. After glancing at Kochou Shinobu, she shifted her gaze to Mizuki.
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