Three days later.
“This is…
a strange ceiling…”
Lying in bed, Kanae slowly woke up and surveyed her surroundings.
“I’m still alive?”
Just as she was about to sit up, a sharp pain shot through her chest.
“Hiss—”
“I suggest you stay lying in bed,” Rukia said indifferently, having appeared at the doorway at some unknown point, looking at Kanae.
“Who are you?” Kanae found the voice very familiar but couldn’t recall where she had heard it.
“Sigh, have you forgotten?
I saved you from that Upper Moon Two.” Seeing Kanae look as if she had never met her, Rukia couldn’t help but facepalm, feeling somewhat helpless.
“Oh, so that’s how it is.
Where is Shinobu?”
“Her?
She went to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to report.
She couldn’t bear to leave you here alone, so she asked me to stay and look after you.
By the way, there’s something I need to tell you; you should prepare yourself mentally.”
Not being able to fight on the front lines of demon slaying is a heavy blow for a Hashira.
Rukia could only give her a heads-up in advance so she could prepare herself and wouldn’t feel as bad when the time came.
“Your…”
Rukia had just started her sentence when Kanae interrupted her:
“I know my own body.
Isn’t it just that I have to retire from being a Hashira?
The moment I used Equinox Vermilion Eye, I knew it would come to this.
As a technique I created myself, I am well aware of its side effects.”
“And my lungs; the consequence of forcibly using a Breathing Style while injured is simply that I won’t be able to use a Breathing Style anymore.
It’s just as well; after stepping down as a Hashira, I can focus on teaching my disciples.”
Looking at the open-minded, smiling girl before her, Rukia didn’t know what to say, because she certainly wouldn’t be able to be as happy as Kanae after losing her power.
She didn’t dare imagine what her mindset would be if she lost her power.
Perhaps, as Kochou Shinobu said, if their family hadn’t been killed by demons when they were young, their wish now might have been to become the world’s best doctors.
Even after joining the Demon Slayer Corps, the two had not forgotten their original calling, establishing the Butterfly Mansion within the Corps as a specialized medical department, which greatly reduced the casualty rate of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Rukia sighed softly and said:
“Sigh, it’s good that you can think that way.
I thought you wouldn’t be able to accept losing your power.”
“By the way, how did you save me?
And what about that Upper Moon Two?”
“How else could I save you?
I just gave you some simple first-aid to stop the bleeding; all the surgeries afterward were performed by your sister.
It had nothing to do with me.”
“As for Upper Moon Two?
He’s long since been crushed into bits.”
Hearing this, Kanae’s eyes widened in surprise: “What?
Upper Moon Two is dead?
You killed him?
Is your strength really that great?”
At this moment, Kanae seemed somewhat incoherent.
She hadn’t expected this girl, who looked even younger than herself, to be powerful enough to slay an Upper Moon alone; by comparison, she had been in such a pathetic state.
At the same time, Kochou Shinobu had already arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, and the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had convened a Hashira Meeting.
The reason for the meeting was precisely the news brought back by the Flame Hashira and the other two.
In a courtyard, the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps were kneeling on one knee, awaiting the arrival of their leader.
The door was slowly pulled open, and two figures emerged.
One was a man with extensive scarring on his face; his right eye was blind, and only his left eye could still see.
Beside him, a white-haired woman was carefully supporting him.
The white-haired woman was his wife, Amane Ubuyashiki.
She possessed the bloodline of Shinto priests, and her family had intermarried with the Ubuyashiki Clan for generations.
Because a demon had appeared within the Ubuyashiki Clan, they were cursed; the infants born to them were all frail and sickly, dying shortly after birth.
Following the advice of a high priest, they intermarried with the priest clan generation after generation, which allowed the family to continue, but still, no one could successfully live past the age of thirty.
“Everyone, today is a day to be remembered.
Upper Moon Two—Douma, has been eliminated.
At the same time, the Flower Hashira—Kanae Kocho, did not die, but is recovering at a Wisteria House.
I believe it won’t be long before you all see her again.”
“Master, is the source of this news reliable?” Although he knew the Master would not deceive them, Sanemi Shinazugawa still wanted to be certain.
“There is no mistake.
Upper Moon Two turned into a pile of ice shards before the Flame Hashira, Sound Hashira, and Stone Hashira.”
“Ice shards?
Don’t demons usually turn to ash after being decapitated?
Why would he turn into ice shards?
And I recall we don’t have any so-called Ice Breathing in our Corps.” The one speaking was Obanai Iguro; with his meticulous mind, he quickly noticed the discrepancy in the statement.
“That is exactly what I want to discuss next.
However, to ensure the authenticity of the events, let the Flame Hashira and the other two recount it themselves.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki passed the topic to the three Hashira.
Kyojuro Rengoku: “Oh!
It happened like this: when we rushed over, there was no one at the scene, nor were there any items left behind, only snow covering the ground and footprints that vanished into thin air.”
Tengen Uzui: “And based on my observations, it was determined that the footprints were left by two females.”
Gyomei Himejima: “Just as we were struggling with the disappearance of clues, the Flame Hashira discovered a peculiarly shaped ice sculpture.”
Kyojuro Rengoku: “That’s right.
When we approached to observe, we found that the one sealed inside the ice sculpture was indeed Upper Moon Two.
Afterward, cracks appeared on the ice sculpture.
Just as we thought Upper Moon Two was about to break out, he turned into a pile of ice shards and could not regenerate.”
“Hey, hey, are you kidding me?
It’s summer right now!
I’m so hot I want to strip off my clothes, and you’re telling me it snowed?” Sanemi Shinazugawa pointed at the sun in the sky, his tone somewhat displeased.
“Indeed, while I trust the character of you three, your words are truly hard to believe.” Obanai Iguro, perched on a tree, also expressed his doubt toward the three.
“But what we have said is the truth.
And according to our judgment, the person who slew the demon is very likely a swordsman who uses Ice Breathing.
Although we do not know who she is, as long as she stands in opposition to demons, she is a friend of our Demon Slayer Corps.”
Gyomei Himejima’s steady voice came through.
As the strongest member of the Demon Slayer Corps, his words were convincing enough.
Hearing the strongest Stone Hashira affirm it again, the Wind Hashira and Serpent Hashira had no choice but to believe what they were told.
“It seems everyone has believed this matter.
Then the following business will be easier to discuss; I already have news of that swordsman.” After saying this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned toward the interior of the house and said, “Kochou Shinobu, you may come out.”
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”