No, wait—is there some kind of problem with me leaving?
Seeing Natsunishi turn his head back, and with everyone else's gaze shifting toward her, Shinobu shrunk her neck back slightly. A trace of an indiscernible flush rose to her face.
She spoke in a low voice, "Um, I was just a bit surprised that Senior Kuguruma was leaving so soon."
Natsunishi replied, "This isn't my house; once training is over, it's naturally time to go."
Kyojuro, standing to the side, spoke up loudly, "Brother Natsunishi, you can treat this place as your own home!"
Natsunishi shot the two of them a look.
Little Shinobu walked over to Natsunishi's side and, acting on her own accord, picked up the medicinal ointment to start applying it to the untreated bruises on his face.
"Hey, I'm talking to you, Big Radish."
Her tone was still somewhat stiff as she spoke.
"I'll probably be leaving to return to the Butterfly Mansion in a few days as well. When you have some free time—remember to come to the Butterfly Mansion to see me."
Natsunishi: "?"
Seeing his expression, Shinobu's hand immediately applied a sharp force, pinching one of the bruises on Natsunishi's body. The pain made the youth's eyes twitch.
The girl's face was red, but her tone became assertive.
"So, if you are in the vicinity, or if you get injured, you must come!"
"Performing demon-slaying missions while carrying injuries is very dangerous. Compared to treating them yourself as an emergency measure, recuperating at the Butterfly Mansion is the most reliable option."
That phrase "must come" had nearly exhausted all of the girl's courage. She stared intently at Natsunishi, her wisteria-colored eyes revealing a sense of unquestionable authority. Yet beneath that surface lay a hidden sliver of nervousness and anticipation.
Seeing her so serious, Natsunishi could only nod his head. He followed Shinobu's lead and responded, "Understood. If conditions permit, I will go to the Butterfly Mansion."
Shinobu corrected him, "It's not 'if'—it's 'must'!"
Although she was somewhat dissatisfied with Natsunishi's perfunctory attitude, obtaining the promise allowed the nervousness in the depths of her eyes to melt away slightly.
"By the way—you don't always just casually agree to other people's requests like this, do you?"
Natsunishi: ?
Seeing that the ointment had been sufficiently applied, Shinobu pulled out an exquisite sachet from somewhere and quickly stuffed it into Natsunishi's hand before standing up.
"Here, a protective charm I prepared for you."
As if she had completed some momentous task, Shinobu quickly retreated half a step. She tilted her head away, her tone returning to normal. It was as if that slightly forceful and awkward girl from a moment ago had never appeared.
"Well then, have a safe journey, Mr. Kuguruma."
"Please, by all means, do not die easily."
Natsunishi instinctively accepted the sachet. It carried the scent of wisteria flowers and retained a lingering warmth from the girl's person.
Natsunishi: "Oh, thanks."
By the way, what kind of stats do these accessories usually add? Luck or critical hit rate?
Shinjuro, standing nearby, took in the sight of the two of them. Are young people nowadays all this precocious? Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Thinking back to those years, Ruka and I—
He turned back to look at his wife, who was sitting quietly on the veranda. The woman he loved most was currently smiling and waving at him gently. It was just like when they had first met during their youth.
"This is youth—" he muttered. Then he looked toward Natsunishi.
"Since you have finished your training, Kuguruma, accept this parting gift."
Shinjuro gestured slightly to a servant. Soon, an exquisite wooden box was respectfully brought forward. Inside was a set of haori outerwear made from a special fabric. It was the same material as the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, but the craftsmanship was higher and the materials more substantial. It was a meticulously customized version. Clearly, it was much better than the mass-produced ordinary uniforms.
"I had this prepared specifically some time ago."
"We of the Rengoku family, for generations, have inherited the haori of Flame Breathing."
"Though you are not a swordsman of the Rengoku family, Kuguruma, you have been a benefactor to both me and my wife, Ruka."
"Therefore, I commissioned someone to custom-make this set for you using the same craftsmanship. Try it on and see if it fits."
Natsunishi didn't decline. After putting it on, he looked himself over and thought it felt quite good. Aside from replacing the flame patterns on Shinjuro's haori with streamlined flow patterns, it was almost identical.
Once it was on—he somehow felt he had the "vibe" of one of the Nine Hashira. Natsunishi pondered, feeling as though something was still missing. On the back, should I write 'Fourth Generation,' or should I draw 'Justice'? Or should I just write '9th Division'?
Shinjuro remarked, "Not bad, very spirited."
With the youth's frame and features paired with this Rengoku haori, his aura was no longer inferior to his own.
Meanwhile, the other two youths watched silently as the girl gave the sachet and Shinjuro presented the cool haori. Kyojuro and Iguro looked at each other.
Kyojuro: I messed up! I didn't prepare a gift for Big Brother! Iguro, what about you?!
Iguro: How could I possibly have prepared something?
The snake youth rarely even spoke normally with people; how could he possibly understand the etiquette of giving commemorative gifts? Seeing the situation, both of them felt a bit restless and uneasy.
What should I give? It's not like I can give him Kaburamaru's discarded scales.
Just as he was starting to panic, the owl-like youth spoke up. Kyojuro shouted loudly, "Brother Natsunishi! I failed to prepare a gift today! I will definitely make up for it next time!"
Iguro: Don't say that kind of thing out loud, you idiot! It makes me look so slow!
The snake youth looked around somewhat numbly before finally echoing with some hesitation.
"Um, Senior—same for me."
After leaving Tokyo, Natsunishi did not return directly. He spread out the map Kagaya Ubuyashiki had given him earlier, which marked the locations of the five Final Selection sites. Natsunishi traced the routes with his finger.
"Hmm, on the way back to Master Kazemi's place, I'll pass by Lake Ashi."
That was the site where Natsunishi had participated in his own selection. He wondered how much the demon population inside had refreshed after a few months?
But if I take a slight detour—
His finger traced a path to another location on the map. He stared at the map, his eyes gleaming with the light of careful calculation.
Mount Fujikasane.
According to the timeline, the next Final Selection for the Demon Slayer Corps should be starting right about now. No, I have to get there quickly. Otherwise, if I'm late, all those experience points inside will be snatched up by this year's swordsmen.
Natsunishi couldn't help but pick up his pace. At the same time, he kept emphasizing to himself:
"Restraint—restraint. Focus on the big ones and let the small ones go. I can't wipe them all out in one go."
A few days later, at the foot of Mount Fujikasane.
Looking at the mountain range before him covered in a vast amount of wisteria flowers, the intense floral scent almost condensed into a physical barrier. Natsunishi wondered what secret recipe the Ubuyashiki family had to keep these flowers blooming continuously all year round.
Just as he was about to step into the entrance of the exam grounds, two people dressed in Shinto priest attire blocked Natsunishi's path. Even though Natsunishi was wearing the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, the two did not show much leniency.
"During the Final Selection period, unauthorized members are not allowed to enter," the older priest said seriously.
If it were an ordinary civilian, they would have driven them away without a word. Even swordsmen escorting demons to replenish the mountain had to wait until the selection ended. Not to mention that the current Natsunishi hadn't come to deliver demons.
Natsunishi didn't waste words; he reached into his robe and pulled out a smooth, dark jade plaque. On it was carved the Ubuyashiki family crest. He showed it directly to the two priests.
"Tokyo Special Operations Division 9—"
Wait, wrong script.
Natsunishi immediately corrected himself: "My name is Kuguruma. By order of Mr. Kagaya, I have come specifically to inspect."
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