After much coaxing, Mizuki finally managed to send off the enthusiastic, talkative Owl, letting out a sigh of relief.
Kochou Shinobu suppressed a laugh and said, "Mizuki, it seems you're not very good at dealing with Mr. Rengoku~"
"That's right." Mizuki sighed again. "He's too enthusiastic, I feel like I can't handle it."
He speaks in a boisterous manner, leaving no room for refusal.
But because of his candid and straightforward nature, it's impossible to truly dislike him.
It can only be said that communicating with him gives one a headache.
Mizuki rubbed her brow, looking depressed: "Speaking of which, the appearance of Kyoujurou's Family hasn't changed since the Sengoku Period; they look exactly the same generation after generation. If they weren't appearing together sometimes, I would almost think they were all the same person."
Kochou Shinobu looked surprised: "Is that so? Mr. Rengoku certainly looks very much like his father, Mr. Shinjuro."
"And Mr. Rengoku's younger brother, Senjuro, that child too."
"No, that's not just looking alike; they are exactly the same." Mizuki couldn't help but complain. At least she truly couldn't distinguish any difference between them besides their varying personalities.
Kochou Shinobu twitched the corner of her mouth and secretly smiled: "Well, the world is vast and full of wonders; there are always a few strange things that pop up."
"That's true."
Mizuki didn't intend to dwell on this; she just couldn't help but think that way whenever she saw Kyoujurou.
She still held great respect for the Rengoku Family.
The Rengoku Family, as a veteran Family of the Demon Slayer Corps, has had the Flame Hashira position passed down almost entirely through their line for generations. It's not that they are a Family holding sinecures or monopolizing the ownership of Flame Breathing.
Rather, perhaps due to genetic compatibility, this Family possesses a natural affinity for Flame Breathing.
They have been on the front lines, fighting to slay demons for hundreds of years, making them a respectable Family.
Mizuki thought of Kyoujurou asking about Tanjirou, and couldn't help but gaze at the clear blue sky: "I hope things go smoothly for Tanjirou."
Kochou Shinobu was silent for a moment, then said, "That Old Master Kuwajima will most likely not be persuaded so easily."
She didn't think it would proceed smoothly.
"A Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, especially a Hashira, couldn't possibly lack that level of resolve."
Even with Zenitsu's request.
She wasn't sure what Zenitsu's relationship was with that Old Master Kuwajima, but Zenitsu, despite appearing unreliable and sloppy all the time, was fundamentally a decent person, so their relationship should be good.
But some matters cannot be fully complied with just because of a good relationship.
Mizuki lowered her eyelids, not bothered by Kochou Shinobu's somewhat harsh statement.
A change in ideology cannot happen overnight.
This is an issue of the era, not an issue of personal character.
Kochou Shinobu is still a kind and gentle... er, occasionally temperamental good person.
If it weren't for the good education in her previous life that shaped her relatively sound worldview, she would likely share Shinobu's opinion.
She has never approved of the Demon Slayer Corps' System of Guilt by Association; it has been this way since the Sengoku Period.
Because Michikatsu became a demon, Yoriichi was required to Commit Seppuku. What kind of logic is that?
Simply because a student they taught became a demon, the master had to commit seppuku as atonement.
This is abnormal.
There is a saying: the premise that guilt does not extend to the Family is that benefits do not extend to the Family.
She doesn't think these Disciples can bring much benefit to their teachers.
But if one were serious, swordsmen who know the Breathing Technique and turn into demons would be far stronger than ordinary demons and cause greater harm.
Mizuki didn't agree with the System of Guilt by Association, yet she had no reason to challenge it.
However, Ubuyashiki Kagaya informed her first before notifying Zenitsu and Mr. Kuwajima.
Was it because Zenitsu was close to her, and her status was rather unique?
Just like Tanjirou.
Or perhaps he also wanted to change this system and make a difference.
In any case, the message has been delivered, there is still time to catch up, and the rest is up to Zenitsu.
"Amitabha."
Just as Mizuki and Kochou Shinobu were worrying about Zenitsu's matter, the deep voice of the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei, came from not far away.
The two turned their heads to look. Himejima Gyomei walked over from a distance with his upper body bare, his massive physique coupled with his 2.2-meter height showcasing overwhelming pressure.
He was someone Mizuki had to look up to.
Even counting her horns, she couldn't match him.
Kochou Shinobu respectfully greeted him: "Mr. Himejima."
Himejima Gyomei was the benefactor who once saved her and her sister from the hands of a demon.
"Amitabha." Himejima Gyomei chanted the Buddhist name in response, then asked doubtfully, "You two just mentioned Mr. Kuwajima. Did something happen?"
He could hear that from that distance?
Mizuki was slightly surprised. Her conversation with Shinobu hadn't been deliberately quiet, but given Himejima Gyomei's previous location, it should have been difficult for an ordinary person to hear clearly.
Mizuki subconsciously looked at his white, vacant eyes.
She recalled an interesting saying that the ears of a blind person are often more sensitive than those of ordinary people, and their hearing is stronger.
"It's nothing major."
"It's about the Disciple of the Former Sound Hashira, Mr. Kuwajima, who seems to be called..."
Mizuki and Kochou Shinobu's voices rang out simultaneously, yet they gave completely different answers.
Kochou Shinobu stopped halfway through her sentence and instinctively looked at Mizuki.
Mizuki said, amused, "Go ahead and say it. It's not something that needs to be kept secret."
She just felt that since the matter didn't concern Himejima Gyomei, there was no need to bring it up and cause him distress.
However, Shinobu probably spoke subconsciously out of trust for Himejima Gyomei.
Kochou Shinobu nodded, looking at Mizuki, and said with some uncertainty, "He seems to be called... Kaigaku?"
"Mm." Mizuki nodded in agreement.
Hmm?
Mizuki clearly felt that the massive man in front of her seemed to experience a moment of disorientation.
After a moment of silence, Himejima Gyomei proactively asked, "Kaigaku, what happened to him?"
Kochou Shinobu continued, "That guy defected to Muzan and became a demon."
Her tone was full of anger toward the person named Kaigaku.
Kochou Shinobu is not someone who is good at hiding her emotions. Don't let her usual smiling, amicable demeanor fool you; she is practically cut from the same mold as her older sister, Kanae.
Well, except for the figure.
But in reality, she is even more unreasonable when she gets fierce, and given her personality of hating evil like an enemy, her anger toward a traitor is perfectly justified.
Himejima Gyomei opened his mouth, seeming like he wanted to say something, but ultimately just closed his eyes, and two streams of tears flowed down, turning into a single utterance.
"Amitabha."
At this point, not only Mizuki, but even Kochou Shinobu sensed that something was wrong with him.
"Mr. Himejima?"
Something felt strange.
Himejima Gyomei always maintains that compassionate and humanitarian appearance, but Kochou Shinobu just felt that something was amiss.
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