"By the way, Tanjiro, during this battle at Mount Natagumo, did your Mark spread to anyone else?"
Kanae suddenly asked this question, her gaze falling on Zenitsu and Genya beside Tanjiro.
Previously at Mount Fujikasane, Mitsuba had already clearly informed them that the Mark was "contagious"—as long as one person awakened to it, those around them would follow one by one.
"Not at all..."
Hearing this, Tanjiro raised his hand to scratch his head.
Because Mitsuba had spoken too vaguely at Mount Fujikasane, in order to thoroughly understand exactly how to awaken the Mark, the three of them had tried many methods over the past few days.
Including but not limited to having Zenitsu carry Genya on his back and sprint ten kilometers at once, forcing his body temperature to rise and heart rate to accelerate under intense exercise...
Or, when Zenitsu was completely unprepared, suddenly springing something terrifying on him to startle him...
Or, simply having Zenitsu sit under the scorching sun for an entire day, baking until his eyes went dim and his consciousness grew hazy...
Finally, Tanjiro and Genya even resorted to having several beautiful young ladies surround Zenitsu simultaneously, singing and dancing to make his heart race and blood flow faster of its own accord...
Unfortunately, even after going this far, Zenitsu still failed to awaken the Mark.
This result left Tanjiro quite distressed.
Strange. Didn't that Upper Rank One say that as long as heart rate and body temperature reached the standard, it would work?
Then why had they tried so many methods, yet Zenitsu still hadn't awakened?
Could it be that his dear friend was truly an earth-shattering good-for-nothing?!
"I believe perhaps it's still lacking a certain willpower enhancement?"
After hearing Tanjiro's account, Kanae offered her speculation.
"Willpower enhancement?"
"Yes, just like when you awakened your Mark, Tanjiro.
To allow the Mark to appear smoothly, I think that besides the physical requirements, the awakener probably also needs to possess some spiritual resolve.
Thoughts intense to the extreme, such as 'I must become stronger,' 'I must defeat it,' or 'I absolutely cannot lose.'
Only when both body and spirit are satisfied can the Mark awaken smoothly...
Of course, we still have plenty of time. The matter of the Mark can wait for now.
Right now, I have a new mission to assign to you."
As Kanae spoke, she stood up and took a promotional brochure from the table nearby, handing it over.
"Infinity Mountain Villa... Welcomes You?"
The three of them hurriedly gathered around and read out the title on the brochure cover.
As the title suggested, this was a brochure promoting a certain tourist mountain villa.
According to the content in the brochure, this villa was once the residence of a certain great figure, later sold at a low price due to family decline.
A few years ago, a foreign company took a fancy to this residence and paid a large sum to renovate it into an entertainment tourist attraction.
It was equipped not only with a small cinema but also with hot springs, botanical gardens, children's playgrounds, and various other entertainment facilities—extremely luxurious.
Just recently, this Infinity Mountain Villa officially opened to the public, attracting many visitors to come and enjoy themselves.
"Kanae-senpai, is there something wrong with this Infinity Mountain Villa?"
After carefully reading through the brochure's contents, Tanjiro asked curiously.
"The problem is significant. According to intelligence gathered by the Master, since this villa opened to the public, more than a hundred visitors have mysteriously disappeared from within it.
Among them are also two squads of swordsmen who secretly went to investigate..."
"What?!"
Hearing this, the expressions of Tanjiro and the others changed drastically.
"Then doesn't that mean..."
"Exactly."
Kanae nodded lightly, voicing the guess in their hearts.
"There must be a demon hiding within this Infinity Mountain Villa, and it's very likely also one of the Twelve Kizuki."
As she spoke, she took out three invitation letters from her pocket and placed them before the three.
"The Master has already managed to obtain invitation letters that allow entry into Infinity Mountain Villa. We will depart for the villa tomorrow, find the demon hidden within, and then slay it."
"We? Wait, senpai, you're coming with us this time?"
Tanjiro hurriedly asked.
"That's right."
Kanae nodded, explaining with a smile:
"To be able to cause such a commotion in such a short time, the Master speculates that the strength of this demon hiding in the villa absolutely far exceeds that of ordinary Lower Rank demons.
It's even very possible that it's one of the Upper Rank demons."
[Upper Rank demons...]
Just hearing this title made Tanjiro and the others feel as if a massive boulder had been pressed onto their hearts, their breathing involuntarily becoming sluggish.
Upper Rank One...
As the only Upper Rank demon currently with eyewitness records in the Demon Slayer Corps, her strength had already exceeded the limits of their imagination.
Would the other Upper Rank demons be as powerful as her?
"Just in case, this operation must have a Hashira-level swordsman participating. As your captain, the Master also requires me to participate in this mission.
Of course, it's not just me. Besides me, other Hashira-level swordsmen will also participate in this mission.
We'll rendezvous inside that Infinity Mountain Villa when the time comes."
"Which other Hashira?"
Tanjiro subconsciously asked.
"That's a secret for now. You'll know tomorrow."
Deliberately keeping them in suspense, Kanae said with a smile:
"Alright, I've said everything that needs to be said. Perfect, we still have half a day left... So next, the three of you should take a good stroll around Tokyo city, relax your minds, and we'll depart early tomorrow morning."
"Yes!"
"..."
On the other side, at the University of Tokyo, in Akaza's office. Not long after Shinobu left, Mitsuba also arrived here.
"Little Hakuji~"
With a bang, she forcefully pushed the door open. Mitsuba looked at Akaza, who was buried behind his desk writing lesson plans, and said with a beaming smile:
"Quickly call our sister-in-law. Tomorrow we're all going out to play together!"
"Damn woman, be gentle! You're going to break my door!"
Nearly jumping in fright, Akaza forcibly suppressed his inner rage, his face red as he roared:
"Also! I've told you many times! Don't call Koyuki sister-in-law! We..."
"What, so you don't plan to marry Koyuki in the future, Hakuji?"
Mitsuba suddenly asked, simultaneously putting on an expression as if looking at a scumbag, gazing at Akaza with disdain.
"I never said that! Of course I'm going to... No! I mean, Koyuki and I aren't in that kind of relationship yet. This kind of thing has to wait until..."
"Alright~ Don't fuss over these trivial matters~"
Completely uninterested in wasting words with Akaza, Mitsuba immediately stepped forward and sat impolitely on his desk, casually handing two invitation letters before him.
"Here, invitation letters to Infinity Mountain Villa. Remember to bring Koyuki to play tomorrow, understand?"
"Hah? Why should I go just because you say so?!"
"There, there~ Good boy, be obedient, don't throw a child's tantrum anymore~
I guarantee, Hakuji, you absolutely won't regret going~"