Late at night.
The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters should have been silent.
However, when a thunderous boom echoed from the side courtyard of the Master’s residence…
Almost all the Hashira sensed the anomaly immediately!
“What was that sound?!”
“It came from the Master’s courtyard!”
“An enemy attack?!”
“No… this aura is…”
“It belongs to that handsome Demon Youth, Hanayuki Ichika!”
The first to rush out of his room was Sanemi Shinazugawa; he didn’t even have time to put on his haori, wearing only his uniform.
He almost lost one of his geta…
His nichirin sword was already unsheathed, and the sharp aura unique to the Wind Breathing surged around him.
His face was full of irritable rage and killing intent:
“Damn it! If that brat dares to harm the Master…”
“I’ll definitely mince him into meat paste with my nichirin sword!!!”
Immediately after, Tomioka Giyu’s figure appeared in the courtyard like a ghost, a flicker of sharpness passing through his eyes that were usually as calm as water.
Gyomei Himejima pressed his hands together; despite his massive frame, he moved with incredible speed, tears streaming from his blind eyes: “Namu Amida Butsu… Master…”
Kaburamaru on Iguro Obanai’s wrist raised its head and hissed, while he himself had already leaped onto the roof, racing toward the source of the sound.
Kanroji Mitsuri rushed out of her room while hurriedly tying her belt, her pink and green hair flying in the night wind: “Everyone, wait for me! What happened?!”
Tokito Muichiro was startled awake from a dream, groggily grabbing his sword, heading instinctively toward the chaotic aura before he was even fully awake.
Rengoku Kyojuro’s voice rang out like fire: “Protect the Master and his family! To the southwest!”
The same thought flashed through the minds of almost all the Hashira…
That demon…
The demon who had just passed the trial during the day and created the Breath of Darkness in a single afternoon…
Had he finally bared his fangs?
Deliberately approaching Kochou Shinobu to gain trust, then using the opportunity to repair the roof to get close to the Master’s family…
What a cunning plan!!
Creatures like demons—as expected, they shouldn’t be trusted!
The cold glint of nichirin swords reflected the chilly moonlight as the Hashira rushed toward the side courtyard’s hot spring as if facing a great enemy.
However—
When they burst through the door, the sight they saw left everyone stunned.
The bloody scene they had anticipated did not appear.
The hot spring room was indeed a mess—there was a large hole in the ceiling, wood chips and broken tiles were scattered everywhere, and the hot spring water overflowed the edge of the pool.
But by the poolside, five people were sitting neatly, all dressed in clean, dry kimonos they had changed into.
Lady Amane sat in the center, her demeanor still elegant and composed, though a trace of a lingering blush remained on her cheeks.
Her four daughters—Hinaki, Nichika, Kanata, and Kanao—sat on either side of her; though their small faces still held a bit of confusion, there was no fear.
Meanwhile, Hanayuki Ichika sat a bit further away, also changed into a clean Yukata, his white hair still dripping water, an extremely awkward smile on his face.
Most importantly, the atmosphere between them…
didn’t seem too tense.
In fact, when Lady Amane whispered something to her four daughters, Kanata couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle.
Sanemi Shinazugawa furrowed his brows, his sharp gaze scanning every corner of the room before fixing on Hanayuki Ichika: “Hey, you brat, what on earth—”
His words were interrupted by another voice.
“Everyone, you’ve all arrived.”
Ubuyashiki Kagaya slowly entered the hot spring room, supported by a retainer.
There was no panic on his face; instead, he carried a sense of knowing calm.
“Master!” The Hashira immediately knelt on one knee.
“Please rise,” Ubuyashiki said gently, then looked at Hanayuki Ichika, “Ichi Fu-kun, can you explain what happened?”
At that moment, Kochou Shinobu also arrived.
Her purple eyes swept over the ruined roof, the water all over the floor, and finally landed on Hanayuki Ichika.
The smile on her face gradually became…
dark and dangerous.
Hanayuki Ichika braced himself and stood up, bowing deeply to Ubuyashiki and the Hashira: “I am terribly sorry for alarming everyone. While I was repairing the roof, I stepped on a rotten board and accidentally fell through…”
“Fell through?” Iguro Obanai repeated coldly, “What a coincidence, to fall exactly into the women’s hot spring? Exactly into the midst of the Master’s wife and the young ladies while they were bathing?”
“I really didn’t do it on purpose!” Hanayuki Ichika hurriedly explained, “I was just completing the task Miss Shinobu gave me, repairing the leaking ceiling. Who knew that beam—”
“Ara~”
Kochou Shinobu’s gentle voice rang out, making Hanayuki Ichika’s whole body stiffen.
She walked slowly to stand before Hanayuki Ichika, tilting her head slightly, her purple eyes narrowing into two crescent moons, her lips curling into a smile that was terrifyingly perfect:
“Mr. Hanayuki Ippuu, are you saying…”
“That you just finished your trial this morning, and by tonight you’ve already ‘harassed’ the Master’s wife and the four young ladies?”
Her voice was sickly sweet, but every word pricked like a needle:
“I only told you to fix the long-neglected, leaky bathroom ceiling. I didn’t tell you to fall in and soak in the hot spring with them~”
After she finished speaking, the temperature in the hot spring room seemed to drop several degrees.
Sanemi Shinazugawa crossed his arms, his mouth twitching slightly as he thought to himself:
[Profaning and offending the Master’s wife and the four young ladies on his very first day in the Demon Slayer Corps?]
[What a character!]
[Even more outrageous than the performance of us two brothers on our first day in the Demon Slayer Corps!]
Tomioka Giyu remained expressionless: “Doesn’t Kochou’s place even have a place to bathe?”
(What he actually meant was, aren’t there several bathing rooms in Miss Kochou Shinobu’s Butterfly Mansion?)
Kochou Shinobu: “… (Smile, veins popping on her forehead)”
Gyomei Himejima pressed his hands together: “Namu Amida Butsu… Young people inevitably make mistakes, but such a mistake is truly…”
“Umu!” Rengoku Kyojuro said loudly, “Although it does sound like an accident, since it caused such a huge commotion, you should still reflect seriously!”
Kanroji Mitsuri cupped her face, her eyes sparkling: “But Ichi Fu-kun looks really apologetic… and everyone seems to be okay…”
Tokito Muichiro yawned: “So can I go back to sleep now?”
“Wait.” Iguro Obanai stared at Hanayuki Ichika, “Even if it really was an accident, you saw things you shouldn’t have, didn’t you? For this sin—please gouge out your own eyes to atone!”
“No.”
Lady Amane’s gentle yet firm voice interrupted all questioning.
She slowly stood up, walked to Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s side, and then faced the Hashira, bowing slightly:
“Thank you all for your concern for me and my daughters. However, please believe that Ichi Fu-kun truly did not do it on purpose.”
The four little girls also stood up together.
Nichika nodded vigorously: “And he turned around immediately!”
Kanata added in a low voice: “He kept apologizing too…”
Kanao said in a soft, thin voice: “Big Brother is a good person!”
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled and nodded, taking over the conversation: “Not only that. I heard from my wife… after Ichi Fu-kun fell, although he was very embarrassed and apologetic, he didn’t flee immediately, but instead offered to make amends for his mistake.”
A faint blush appeared on Lady Amane’s face, her voice soft:
“Ichi Fu-kun said… he knows a bit about massage techniques and could help relax bodies that are tight from years of hard work. We were a bit hesitant at first, but… but he was very professional.”
She paused and continued: “Because of our status and mission, Hinaki and the others and I have had to maintain a dignified demeanor for years, and our spirits have always been tense. Over time, many hidden injuries and fatigue have accumulated in our bodies. Ichi Fu-kun used a special technique to provide care for us. Indeed, we feel much more relaxed.”
The four little girls nodded in unison, their small faces showing expressions of agreement.
Kochou Shinobu’s eyebrows rose slightly: “Care?”
“Yes.” Lady Amane smiled, “Although we were a bit shy at first, Ichi Fu-kun’s technique was very proper, and he maintained appropriate politeness and distance throughout. Afterward, he even brewed some calming herbal tea for us.”
She looked at Hanayuki Ichika with a gentle gaze: “So, please do not blame him. This was indeed just an accident, and his behavior after the accident… instead showed us his kind and responsible side.”
Ubuyashiki Kagaya gently held his wife’s hand and then said to the Hashira: “In that case, let this matter end here. Ichi Fu-kun, be more careful next time when you work.”
Hanayuki Ichika bowed deeply: “Yes! I am very sorry, and thank you, Master, Lady Amane, and the young ladies, for your tolerance!”
As he spoke, he recalled his experiences from his past life…
Ancient TCM methods, massage, acupuncture, back-rubbing, essential oil treatments—he was proficient in all of them!
He had even become the top technician at a women’s foot massage parlor.
Later, those female customers would proactively praise him to the boss,
Leaving the boss very confused…
Because in his women’s foot massage parlor—there was no such technician!
…
At this moment, the Hashira looked at each other.
Sanemi Shinazugawa clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword: “Since the Master has said so…”
Tomioka Giyu silently turned and left.
Gyomei Himejima nodded while weeping: “A kind heart can dissolve all sins… Namu Amida Butsu…”
Iguro Obanai glanced at Hanayuki Ichika and gave a cold snort, but also withdrew his hostility.
Rengoku Kyojuro laughed and patted Hanayuki Ichika’s shoulder: “Umu! Be careful next time!”
Kanroji Mitsuri breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good, it was just a misunderstanding…”
Tokito Muichiro was already almost at the door: “So can I sleep now…”
Kochou Shinobu walked up to Hanayuki Ichika, the smile on her face finally returning to its usual state—gentle with a hint of darkness:
“Ippū-san, I’ll let it go this time. However—”
She leaned in closer, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“You’re going to help the girls in our Butterfly Mansion and Lady Amane with the housework~”
“Furthermore, from now on, every time I go on a mission, the dirty clothes and tabi,”
“As well as the dirty clothes of Lady Amane and the four young ladies that she can’t wash in time because she’s busy…”
“And every time Lady Amane’s room or the Butterfly Mansion’s roof leaks, or the drains get clogged,”
“All those dirty, tiring, and hard jobs will be given to you~”
“If you don’t do a good job… then you’ll only be allowed to eat the leftovers from Kanao and the others every day~”
Hanayuki Ichika’s whole body stiffened, his mouth twitching wildly, while his heart was filled with wild joy: [No! I can’t laugh yet, I have to hold it in…]
[The rewards have been stated, so where is the punishment?]