This sleep seemed very long. A rare good dream.
Perhaps I hadn't unloaded all pressure and responsibility for a long time. Hadn't had a good sleep.
Didn't see Ohagi in the dream. But someone kept singing a lullaby. Gently touched my face. Coaxed me to sleep peacefully.
The singing was familiar yet strange. I tried hard to remember for a long time. Finally recalled that person was my mother.
She died early. I couldn't even clearly remember what she looked like. Also almost never dreamed of her.
But she still came. Sang me a song. Gently kissed my forehead. Also said to me—
The dream dissolved into a ball of white light. I heard a noisy clamor. Drowsily opened my eyes.
As soon as I opened them, met several faces crowding over. Blocked the ceiling completely.
After staring at them for a few seconds, I heard Ume's scolding: "A bunch of ugly freaks! Don't block in front of Big Sister! All of you move aside!"
These few people by the bed retreated several steps. Ume pounced over. Pressed on my bed whimpering.
"Big Sister, Ume was so worried about you. You finally woke up!"
I touched my neck. Touched my face again. Then touched my arm. Didn't find wounds anywhere.
Couldn't help wondering why she was crying like I had a terminal illness.
"Did I sleep for a long time?"
Ume continued whimpering. Didn't respond to me.
Gyutaro stood behind her. Quickly answered me: "You slept about a day and night."
That wasn't very long.
I moved aside this crybaby lying on me. Sat up and surveyed this room.
Looking at the decorations, should be at the Butterfly Estate. Sharing the adjacent bed was Kyojuro. Also tilting his head looking this way.
Besides the three people who went on the mission with me this time, the sickroom also had Tengen and Tanjiro's group of three.
"Why are you all gathered around me?" I couldn't help asking. "Did something happen? How was the mission aftermath handled?"
Shinazugawa's injuries looked relatively serious. Head and arms wrapped in gauze.
Mitsuri and Obanai had several bruises on their faces. But no missing limbs. Luck could be said to be quite good.
"Nothing. Just that Mr. Uzui came to the Butterfly Estate. Heard you and Mr. Rengoku were injured. So came by to visit."
Mitsuri considerately explained. She and Obanai weren't seriously injured. But didn't leave. Kept watch here the whole time.
Mm... that simple?
Still, Ume whimpered for a while. Seeing I never coaxed her, pouted and climbed up to sit properly. Still glared irritably at those three Hashira over there.
"They said Big Sister was exposed to sunlight. Afterward fell unconscious. Don't know if you were affected somehow. So kept watch here."
Ume spoke, then rolled her eyes again. "So many people couldn't protect Big Sister properly. Really useless!"
I smacked her. Wouldn't let her talk nonsense.
"This has nothing to do with the sun." I explained. "The unconsciousness was just because I absorbed that Lower Rank demon. Too much of Muzan's blood in his body. I felt a bit uncomfortable."
Everyone showed sympathetic looks. Mitsuri even whimpered: "That feeling must be too awful. Do you want to eat something delicious? I'll go buy it now!"
It was okay. I wasn't very hungry either. After sleeping, felt much better. Could ask in detail about that battle's results.
Seeing me wake unharmed, Shinazugawa politely took his leave. He had to return to his jurisdiction to execute missions.
I had to admit this was the Demon Slayer Corps' number one workaholic. Every day just thinking about his missions.
So explaining what happened afterward was left to Obanai.
Simply put, under pressure from three Upper Ranks working together, the three of them awakened their Demon Slayer Marks.
These three Upper Ranks' goal seemed to be taking me away. Moreover, two of the Upper Rank demons didn't coordinate well. During battle, actually hindered each other. Plus Shinazugawa used his rare blood constitution to affect them.
Various factors enabled them to hold on until sunrise.
I knew the biggest reason was still Akaza. Couldn't help worrying about him. Was holding back this time a bit too obvious?
Three Upper Ranks working together actually didn't even disable one Hashira. Such results obviously couldn't satisfy Muzan.
But having him kill Hashira to gain Muzan's trust also wasn't what I wanted to see.
After all, the person who pushed him into this dilemma was me.
I could feel he was still alive now. But perhaps his condition wasn't good. Could sense Muzan's will was very restless.
Just didn't know—after failing to smoothly kill me this time, what tricks could Muzan think up.
Obanai's thinking was clear and rational. Understood the changes in himself very clearly. Unlike Ritsuka's messy description. Couldn't explain clearly the conditions for the Mark appearing.
He said he'd go back and share insights with other Hashira. Help them find ways to awaken Marks. Then got up to take his leave.
Mitsuri also hastily said she'd return to her jurisdiction. Also told Kyojuro to rest and recover peacefully. Would help watch over his jurisdiction. Then left together with Obanai.
I stretched my neck watching their backs walking out side by side. Two ears perked sharply. Really wanted to hear clearly what they said after walking out the door.
Unfortunately, the walls' soundproofing was too good. Didn't hear anything clearly.
Pulled my head back. Turned around. Tengen and Tanjiro's group were all staring at me intently.
I coughed once. Pretended I hadn't done anything. Asked how the several of them gathered together.
"I have a mission here that needs female Corps members to assist. So came to the Butterfly Estate to find people." Tengen pointed. "Just happened to meet these three guys. Volunteered to help."
"The girls at the Butterfly Estate have no combat ability. Having them face demons is too dangerous!" Tanjiro said with a righteous expression. "So if Mr. Uzui needs help, just find us."
But I knew this was very wrong. How could Tengen need female Corps members' help?
"What about Hinatsuru and the others?"
Tengen said: "For this mission, the three of them can't participate. You also know I'm pursuing my good-for-nothing brother's whereabouts. That guy knows Hinatsuru and them. As soon as they meet, it'll be exposed."
By the same logic, he also didn't call Ume to help. Because in the island battle, the opponent had already seen her face.
"Did you get some lead?"
Tengen nodded. "That's right. Heard the Entertainment District recently got three beautiful courtesans. Physical descriptions very similar to my brother's three wives.
Plus recently women in the Entertainment District often go missing. I guess he might be lurking there. Women are top-grade nutrition for demons. That guy probably wants to quickly raise his strength. Make his status higher."
Right, Tengen's brother was also a shinobi. Naturally would also have three wives. Very familiar with Hinatsuru and them too.
"Taking Tanjiro and them—no problem?"
Tengen looked over those three youths rather critically. Also like Ume, curled his lip disdainfully:
"Though they don't look great, can barely make do. Let this lord use gorgeous exquisite makeup techniques to give them a big transformation."
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