After a splendid session of being tormented, Uzui Tengen finally sent everyone off.
Leaving Uzui Tengen's basic training, everyone began to head to the next location.
On the way, Mizuki asked, "Who is the closest to here?"
Kochou Shinobu replied, "It should be Tokito-kun's residence, right?"
The special training was not concentrated in one place, but rather centered around the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, which was the Ubuyashiki residence.
Only those like Uzui Tengen, who needed an open field, would train in the mountains, while Tokito Muichiro was responsible for the practical combat portion, which could be conducted in his own residence's dojo.
Tanjirou's face lit up with joy: "Tokito-kun? Speaking of which, I haven't seen him since returning from the Swordsmith Village."
By now, Tanjirou had become familiar with most of the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. To be precise, he was only unfamiliar with the Stone Hashira, the Wind Hashira, and the Serpent Hashira.
He got along well with everyone else, even Tokito Muichiro, who wasn't very pleasant to talk to.
Of course, given Tanjirou's gentle personality, he could probably smile and communicate with even the two ill-tempered Shinazugawa brothers.
Tanjirou asked curiously, "By the way, which part of the training is Tokito-kun responsible for?"
Kochou Shinobu smiled and replied, "Practical combat, oh. Does Tanjirou want to try and beat him up?"
"No, no! How could I be so excessive!" Tanjirou said righteously, "But it would be great if I could spar with him."
After all, he also wanted to improve.
Having fought against those Upper Rank monsters, he couldn't indulge in entertainment and dared not stop for a moment.
You see, until now, apart from Miss Mizuki, none of them had defeated an Upper Rank demon with their own individual strength.
Perhaps a Hashira who had activated their Demon Slayer Mark had the strength to defeat the lower-ranked Upper Ranks, but this still didn't change the fact of the Upper Ranks' power.
Kanzaki Aoi said with a wry smile, "Is there a difference?"
Mizuki said lightly, "One is a bit more subtle, sounds more proper."
Tanjirou's eyes were like dots: "Is... is that so?"
So beating someone up and sparring meant the same thing?
Kanzaki Aoi muttered to herself, "No, no, they're not the same thing at all, okay?"
Nezuko walked empty-handed behind everyone, looking troubled as she glanced at one, then at another.
Whose burden should she help lighten?
They all seemed very heavy.
"Is Nezuko keeping up?" Mizuki could still spare a thought for Nezuko, turning back with the box in her arms. "Are you keeping up?"
"Um, Miss Mizuki, why don't I help you carry some?"
"Hmm? No need, even though I look like this, if I wasn't worried about stacking them too high and losing balance, I could carry them all by myself."
"…" After a moment of silence, Nezuko quickly took two steps to Tanjirou's side. "Then, Brother..."
"I don't need help either. This weight isn't even considered exercise."
Immediately after, before Nezuko could speak, Kochou Shinobu and Kanzaki Aoi said in unison, "I don't need help either."
"…"
And so, the group arrived at Tokito Muichiro's residence, chatting and laughing.
The Demon Slayer Corps never lacked money, and its members were all wealthier than the last.
After all, they were doing a job where they put their lives on the line, a job where they could die on any mission.
Therefore, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was not stingy when it came to money.
And as the highest-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Hashira possessed wealth that could rival some of today's magnates.
Their residences were also exceptionally grand.
Without even marveling at the spaciousness of the Tokito residence, Tanjirou could hear a wailing sound coming from inside while still far away.
Tanjirou: "…"
Just listening to the sound made him feel terrible.
And thinking about it carefully, given Tokito-kun's personality, he might be even scarier than Mr. Uzui.
Tanjirou couldn't help but feel pity for the members undergoing his training.
Kanzaki Aoi saw through his thoughts and said lightly, "It was the same when Miss Mizuki beat you guys up before, too."
Tanjirou apologized with an embarrassed look: "Sorry..."
Kanzaki Aoi magnanimously said, "It has nothing to do with Tanjirou, it's those other two idiots."
"Always making a ruckus."
Sweat!
A bead of sweat trickled down Tanjirou's temple.
Just how annoying were they?
Mizuki recalled that, indeed, compared to the other two goofballs, the noise Tanjirou made was hardly noise at all.
Zenitsu wailed like a vengeful ghost, while Inosuke yelled mindlessly.
Mizuki said, "Let's not stand outside talking anymore, let's go in."
Because they were welcoming batches of swordsmen, the mansion's main gate was wide open.
Following the swordsmen's screams, everyone, carrying their boxes, arrived at Muichiro's residence's dojo.
Clatter, clatter, the sound of wooden swords colliding came from inside, followed by dull thuds of blows landing on flesh, and then the swordsmen's horrific screams.
"Ah~"
On such a hot day, it was like a bucket of cold water had been poured on Tanjirou, making him somewhat afraid to push open the dojo door.
But Mizuki didn't have so many thoughts. She walked to the front, stretched out her foot, pushed it against the door, and pulled it open.
The commotion inside quieted for a moment.
"Who is it?" A swordsman questioned.
"It's Lady Kochou!"
"It's Lord Tanjirou!"
Tanjirou was still unaccustomed to everyone's honorifics, smiling awkwardly.
It was interesting, actually. When addressing other respected individuals, it was better to use their surname plus'sama'.
While in situations of close familiarity but clear status, it would often be their given name plus'sama', which expressed both respect and closeness.
Demon Slayer Corps members rarely used the second form of address when facing unfamiliar Hashira.
But Tanjirou's personality seemed to be exceptionally good, so everyone liked to call him by his given name.
Mizuki's name was also inevitably discussed privately by everyone, as her long-term residence at the Butterfly Mansion was already well-known.
Many people, even if they hadn't spoken to her, mostly knew of her existence.
However, very few knew her true identity, and she herself had mastered the Transparent World, reaching a certain level in suppressing her aura. Furthermore, not everyone had a sensitive nose like Tanjirou.
They only knew that a very powerful female swordsman had appeared in the Butterfly Mansion at some point.
She seemed to possess Hashira-level strength, and some even claimed to have seen Mr. Rengoku getting thrashed.
But others expressed disbelief.
Nevertheless, it was undeniable that Mizuki's interactions with the Hashira clearly showed equal status, so even if they didn't believe Mizuki possessed swordsmanship superior to a Hashira, she was at least on the same level.
At least in terms of status, they were equal.
Mizuki didn't mind everyone's murmuring. She placed the box in her hands on the ground and looked at Tokito Muichiro, who was quietly watching them.
"Muichiro, these..."
Before she could finish, Tokito Muichiro walked over expressionlessly and opened his mouth.
Seeing that he was about to speak, Mizuki voluntarily stopped, intending to hear what he wanted to say.
"Please... hit me."
...
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