At this moment, Kazuki was completely baffled. He was trying to make sense of the situation unfolding before him.
Ahead of him, Giyu and Shinobu were entangled in a very strange posture.
Giyu had Shinobu clamped under his arm, holding her tightly against his side. Shinobu was struggling desperately to break free, but her strength was no match for Giyu's. Even though she exerted herself to the point that her body began to tremble, she still couldn't escape his hold.
…What… exactly is this…?
Kazuki stared at the scene and didn't dare step out. He was afraid of interrupting the two of them.
"Tomioka-san, are you listening? Tomioka-san. My attacks were carried out for the sake of slaying demons, so they don't violate the Corps rules. But what you're doing right now clearly does. This is obstruction of demon slaying. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Unable to break free, Shinobu questioned Giyu with a smile on her face. Although she was furious inside, she maintained her polite expression.
Giyu didn't answer her. Instead, he wore a strange expression—part confusion, part helplessness. In any case, Kazuki couldn't tell what that look was supposed to mean.
"…Shouldn't you say something already? This is your final warning. At the very least, tell me your reason."
Still receiving no response, Shinobu continued smiling as she spoke. However, veins were already bulging on her forehead—it was obvious she was angry.
Pressured repeatedly, Giyu finally broke his silence and spoke.
"That was probably… about two years ago…"
But before he could continue, Shinobu interrupted him.
"If you start from somewhere like that, you'll ramble on forever. That's really annoying, you know. Are you doing this on purpose to mess with me? Or are you holding a grudge because I said you're disliked?"
Shinobu was now seriously suspecting that Giyu's actions were retaliation for her comment about him being disliked.
Hearing this, Giyu felt offended all over again.
…Are they this relaxed because the Twelve Kizuki here has already been defeated?
Kazuki wanted to step out and ask whether the Twelve Kizuki at Mount Natagumo had already been eliminated, but he couldn't find the right moment.
At that moment, he noticed his Kasugai Crow perched on a tree above. Lowering his voice, he asked it quietly,
"Excuse me, has the Twelve Kizuki here already been defeated?"
His crow had flown around Mount Natagumo earlier and should know whether the Twelve Kizuki was still alive.
"Caw! Caw! Lower Rank Five has been slain by Giyu! Lower Rank Five has been slain by Giyu!"
…That was on purpose, wasn't it?!
Kazuki's heart jumped. He panicked and turned his head—only to find both Giyu and Shinobu staring straight at him, still locked in that same awkward position.
"Um… I was just passing by. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Sorry!"
With nowhere left to hide, Kazuki awkwardly stepped out and immediately apologized.
It's over! I saw them in such an embarrassing position—am I going to be remembered for this? Especially Shinobu… being held under Giyu's arm for that long and having me see it—she's definitely going to want to erase my memories!
Kazuki had already noticed Shinobu's gentle smile—so gentle that it terrified him.
I absolutely can't stay close to her in the future. Otherwise, I'll definitely get poisoned!
"I'll leave right now!"
Seeing that Giyu and Shinobu were still staring at him, Kazuki felt that if he stayed any longer, he might be silenced on the spot.
Just as he was about to turn and flee, a Kasugai Crow flew in, shouting loudly.
"Orders! Orders! New orders from headquarters! Capture Tanjiro and Nezuko and bring them back! Caw! Capture Tanjiro and the demon Nezuko and bring them back!"
Another Kasugai Crow followed, repeatedly describing Tanjiro and Nezuko's appearances.
"Tanjiro—wearing a checkered haori, scar on his forehead.
The demon girl Nezuko—biting a bamboo muzzle.
Bring them back! Bring them back!"
The two crows circled overhead, shouting incessantly.
Upon hearing the order, Giyu and Shinobu finally stopped. Kazuki froze in place as well, completely confused.
Tanjiro and… a demon girl?
There's still a demon on this mountain? Why capture her instead of killing her? And what does this demon have to do with Tanjiro? Nezuko… Zenitsu mentioned that name earlier too. What's going on?
Questions flooded Kazuki's mind one after another, pushing the earlier scene between Giyu and Shinobu completely out of his thoughts.
Until Shinobu walked over and lightly patted his shoulder.
"Yō, you didn't see anything just now, right? You definitely didn't, correct?
"If there's anything you'd like to forget, I can prepare some medicine to help you forget it.
And if you ever get injured in the future, feel free to come to the Butterfly Mansion. I'll make sure your body is perfectly restored."
Shinobu spoke with a bright smile, a shadow cast across her face.
Those three sentences sent a chill straight down Kazuki's spine—each one was more terrifying than the last.
I absolutely must not get injured in the future! If I encounter a demon, I have to kill it in one strike—no second slash allowed!
"I didn't see anything at all! And there's no need for the other things—thank you for your kindness, Shinobu-san!"
Kazuki replied immediately. As he slightly turned his head, he saw Giyu lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing violently.
"It's good that you didn't see anything. I really hope you're not lying to me. Liars end up like Tomioka-san, you know."
Shinobu said threateningly.
Kazuki nodded frantically.
Only then did Shinobu turn away and go over to lift Giyu off the ground.
"Eh? What happened to Tomioka-sama?"
The Kakushi arrived at that moment. Seeing the unconscious Giyu, one of them asked Shinobu.
"Tomioka-san ran too fast and overheated. He got heatstroke. Take him to the Butterfly Mansion as well," Shinobu replied with a smile.
"Ah? Heatstroke? In such a cold forest?"
The Kakushi looked confused, but after checking Giyu, he exclaimed in surprise,
"Wow! It really does look like heatstroke. Shinobu-sama's medical skills are amazing—you could diagnose something this unbelievable instantly!"
Shinobu simply smiled and said nothing.
Two Kakushi brought over a stretcher, placed Giyu on it, and carried him away.
Nearby, Kazuki didn't dare say a single word. He could only silently offer Giyu his blessings.
The incident at Mount Natagumo gradually came to an end.
The injured Demon Slayers were sent to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment. Tanjiro and Nezuko were taken back to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
On the way, Giyu regained consciousness on the stretcher.
"…What happened to me?"
He held his head, still feeling dizzy.
"Tomioka-sama, you're awake. You had heatstroke earlier—Shinobu-sama saved you," one of the Kakushi explained.
Giyu: "..."
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