Having been inexplicably fed a mouthful of dog food, coupled with the commotion she heard last night, Mizuki's mood underwent a subtle change.
Don't misunderstand, nothing actually happened last night.
All she heard were the sweet nothings the couple exchanged... No, calling them sweet nothings isn't quite right. They were discussing normal topics, but Ubuyashiki Kagaya was simply too smooth.
Things like walking together for so many years, and how much he owed to her care... Mizuki listened until goosebumps nearly rose on her skin.
Mizuki said helplessly, "Since you know the value of life, why are you still taking this risk?"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled, "Because no matter what, there are things I want to say to that person."
Say what?
You want to imitate Yoriichi and insist on having a confrontation, is that it?
Ubuyashiki's words brought up unpleasant memories for Mizuki, and she blurted out subconsciously, "Did a donkey kick your brain?"
"..." Ubuyashiki Kagaya froze, momentarily speechless.
It's a good thing that certain white-haired husky wasn't present, or he would have flipped out again.
Mizuki belatedly realized her words were a bit excessive. She cleared her throat and said awkwardly, "What I meant was, if there's anything you want to say to him, I can deliver the message for you."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya quickly recovered from his bewilderment and calmly shook his head.
He didn't say much more, but Mizuki could feel the resolve in his heart.
That's why sometimes she just couldn't understand these people.
After a moment of silence, Mizuki sighed, "I understand. I will try my best to draw the battlefield far away."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled, "I apologize for the trouble."
Mizuki couldn't help but retort, "If you know it's trouble, then don't act recklessly!"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya simply smiled without speaking.
"Since Muzan will arrive tonight, I will notify the others now." Moments later, he opened the window beside him and summoned a Kasugai Crow.
"Notify the other Pillars to gather here."
The Kasugai Crow, wearing a purple scarf, nodded slightly and said in a steady tone, "Understood."
Mizuki broke out in a sweat. The Kasugai Crow's voice was as intimidating as ever.
After the Kasugai Crow left, Ubuyashiki Kagaya paused, then smiled and said, "My apologies, I seem to have forgotten to tell it to notify Young Miss Tamayo. Perhaps Young Miss Mizuki, you could go yourself?"
"...Fine."
Tamayo's location was not far from the Ubuyashiki Residence, just a few steps away.
Yesterday, those Eyeball Monsters should have explored that area as well, but due to her obstruction, after she crushed that one Eyeball Monster, the surrounding ones retreated one by one.
Mizuki left the room. Outside, several children were playing in the courtyard, yet there was no noise; it was quite silent.
"Young Miss Mizuki."
Seeing her emerge, they all turned their heads in unison and bowed slightly towards her.
Mizuki: "...Have fun."
Actually, if you watch them long enough, you'll realize these children are quite well-behaved... well, in terms of personality... they are just a bit too dull.
Mizuki left the Ubuyashiki Residence and arrived at Tamayo's house within a few minutes.
Since it was daytime, the main gate here was tightly shut and there was no one to open it for her. Mizuki performed a sudden jump, launched herself into the air, and landed in the courtyard, then expertly headed toward Tamayo's laboratory.
"Why are you here again?" When Yushiro saw her, he instinctively frowned, showing dissatisfaction and disdain.
Before Mizuki could retort, Yushiro's expression changed from disdain to surprise.
"Has Muzan already made a move?"
The special training was in full swing, and Tamayo and Yushiro were already mentally prepared. Given Muzan's capabilities, it wouldn't be surprising if their location was discovered at any moment once he got serious.
It was only because Mizuki wasn't dangling in front of him before—and Muzan was timid and lacked motivation—that he only dared to let Kokushibou, who had some understanding of the Demon Slayer Corps, search outside.
The result was that he searched for hundreds of years and never found it.
Mizuki couldn't help but feel confused. This place is so small; Kokushibou, shouldn't you have found it using the process of elimination after hundreds of years?
Was he perhaps trying to hone his swordsmanship and fool his own boss? Maybe he didn't care about the task assigned by the company at all.
After all, Kokushibou's mind was filled entirely with Yoriichi, and it was unlikely Muzan would casually check Kokushibou's inner thoughts.
Mizuki swallowed the curse words that had risen to her throat and nodded lightly, "Where is Tamayo?"
When it came to serious business, Yushiro's expression became more solemn. "Lady Tamayo is in the laboratory."
Mizuki sighed, her expression somewhat conflicted.
Yushiro was wondering what her expression meant when he heard Mizuki prop her hand on her forehead and say, unable to listen further, "Still using honorifics? So after hundreds of years, you're still just pining for her."
Yushiro froze for a moment, unable to process Mizuki's sudden change of topic.
After realizing what she meant, his old face first flushed red, and then the veins on his forehead bulged.
"You..."
Mizuki ignored him, having already turned and headed toward the laboratory.
Yushiro angrily followed after her.
Arriving at Tamayo's laboratory, Tamayo was sitting at the experiment table tinkering with something.
Mizuki asked curiously, "Did you know I was coming?"
Hearing the sound, Tamayo looked up in confusion. "Huh? Mizuki, when did you arrive?"
Mizuki: "Just..."
"Why didn't you knock?"
Mizuki: "..."
Yushiro followed behind. "My apologies, Lady Ta... Young Miss Tamayo, this rude fellow."
He glared fiercely at Mizuki. Although his expression was meant to be menacing, he was deliberately avoiding Tamayo's gaze, making him look conflicted and struggling.
Mizuki caught the change in his address, and instead of getting angry, she secretly shot him a look of approval.
Although this address still carried a sense of respect, it was at least better than 'Lady.' It was merely a polite formality, an address used between equals.
Just like how others address her.
Yushiro lowered his head, feeling a little guilty.
Tamayo, who had spent hundreds of years with Yushiro, subconsciously ignored the corrected address.
Tamayo shook her head and looked at Mizuki. "It's alright. What did you mean just now, Mizuki?"
Noticing that Tamayo hadn't paid attention, Yushiro sighed in relief, his heart rate slightly accelerating.
He did it!
He did it!
"Oh, weren't you tinkering with the medicine to weaken Muzan?"
Tamayo looked down at the medicine in her hand and looked at Mizuki speechlessly. "Speaking of which, you didn't throw away the medicine I made, did you?"
"What?" Mizuki was stunned for a moment, only then remembering that the medicine to weaken Muzan had been snatched away by her previously.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Mizuki's skin.
Where did she put it?
Why couldn't she remember?
She was clearly only four hundred-something years old; had she already contracted that thing, Alzheimer's?
That's not scientific.
Her room at the Butterfly Mansion was spotless; aside from a bed, there were no decorations to be found.
A drop of sweat rolled down Tamayo's temple. "You didn't forget, did you?"
Mizuki: "Let me think."
She was truly starting to panic. If she couldn't find it, wouldn't she have to fight a fully powered Muzan?
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"