It seems I lost more blood than I thought. Not long after leaving the hut, I collapsed in the bamboo forest.
When I opened my eyes next, what came into view was not bamboo but a familiar ceiling. I was in some recuperation villa at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. According to the nurse, I had been asleep for a full three days.
When I defeated Hahyun with Lord Shōjuro before, we hovered on the brink of death for a whole month side by side, so compared to that, this was much lighter.
The first person to visit upon hearing I had woken up was Urokodaki.
We weren't in a master-disciple relationship like tsuguko, but Urokodaki was in a position akin to my guardian, so it seems I caused quite a bit of worry.
Moreover, he even gave me a new fox mask, saying, "You'll need a new one, right." He must have made it himself in between his busy duties as a Pillar.
Just as glasses are an essential item for those with the glasses attribute, a mask is an indispensable item for me. It's no exaggeration to call it my second face now.
I feel uneasy without wearing it, so I was all the more grateful for that consideration.
According to Urokodaki, it's extremely rare for a member to survive against an Upper Rank and return. That's why the higher-ups wanted to share information about Upper Rank 3, and I was advised, "Once you're discharged, you'll be summoned to a Hashira meeting, so be aware of that."
My injuries were especially severe around the head, requiring many stitches. I had to stay hospitalized until the stitches were removed.
While I was bored and unable to control the time, the next person to visit was Goto. In his hand were castella as a get-well gift and a report on the horse demon mission.
He said that of the two horse demons, one was defeated by me, and the other by another member. But…….
"There was one injured person."
Upon hearing that report, the first thing that came to mind was the Kie-rank member I was paired with. But when I asked, he said it was a Kinoe-rank member who was hurt.
I was surprised. The strength of horse demons is at a level that Shin-rank members can defeat. I couldn't believe a Kinoe-rank had fallen victim.
"For that mission, you were paired up in twos, right. He was injured because he couldn't coordinate with the guy he was paired with."
"Was he badly injured?"
"In critical condition, unconscious. His leg was crushed too, so he can't stand on the battlefield anymore. ……Lord Kuwajima will be saddened."
"Lord Kuwajima?"
"Yes. That kid was a Thunder Breathing user. I heard he had talent and was planning to take him as a tsuguko."
"……Ah, I see. That must be the kid Lord Kuwajima mentioned."
Recalling Lord Kuwajima, who was happy that he had finally decided on a tsuguko, I felt depressed.
Lord Kuwajima is thirty-five this year. He was getting anxious about needing to decide on a tsuguko soon, and now he's lost the candidate he just found. How must he feel?
Upon hearing the kid's name, I realized I knew him too. I had even performed missions with him a few times.
Even if it's common in the Demon Slayer Corps, knowing someone who went through that makes my heart heavy. The castella I ate in my depressed mood had no taste at all.
After that, once the stitches were removed and I was discharged, I was immediately guided by the Kakushi and dragged to a Hashira meeting. I told the Lord and the Pillars everything they asked about, like Akaza's fighting style and techniques used.
I thought my turn was over after the barrage of questions like a raging wave, but Lord Kagaya, who had recently completed the succession, said, "I have something to discuss briefly afterward, so please stay."
What is it? Did I do something wrong…? I stayed behind alone, tense, and Lord Kagaya held it out to me.
"I wanted to give this to you."
In his youthful hand was a neatly organized bundle of paper. The moment I received it and skimmed through, I stopped breathing.
Familiar, gentle handwriting. Meticulously written documents. It was my mother's research notes.
Before I could ask why……, Lord Kagaya answered first.
"I knew that Rei wanted to see this. Originally, I planned to give it when you became a Pillar, but seeing you today, I felt it would be better to give it to you early."
To think that what I wanted desperately would come into my hands before becoming a Pillar. I couldn't make a fuss in front of Lord Kagaya, but inside, I was jumping for joy.
When I turned my gaze back to the documents to check the detailed content of the research notes, I immediately felt a sense of incongruity from the content.
Lord Kagaya voiced what I felt in a troubled tone.
"It's not encrypted."
Yes. Unbelievably, my mother's research notes were encrypted. I could barely tell that it was about some medicine formulation related to demons, but the listed ingredients, procedures, and quantities were all a mess.
Lord Kagaya said that over the past five years, they used the Ubuyashiki family connections to entrust decryption to experts, but recently, it was concluded that decryption was impossible. According to the experts, it's a code that only the author themselves can solve.
The reason such a 'code only the author can solve' was given to me was as follows.
"Even if it's a code others don't know, as her family member, Rei might be able to figure something out."
Yes, Lord Kagaya properly understood my relationship with my mother.
I thought so. I had that feeling.
Hanachiyo is my assigned Kasugai Crow, but ultimately, it's a Demon Slayer Corps crow. If there's a member with suspicious circumstances, of course, it would report, right?
For a moment, I was scared, thinking, 'Am I going to be punished? Am I going to be punished now?' But if they had intended to punish me, they would have done it five years ago. As if supporting that guess, Lord Kagaya also reassured me not to worry.
He said he had no intention of punishing me or telling anyone.
"The Demon Slayer Corps' ideology is to annihilate evil demons, but if you ask if all demons are evil, not necessarily. There are demons like your mother who live without eating people. We can't call such beings evil demons. If they're not evil, we can't punish them. Isn't that right?"
It was a kind word to me, but it's a thought incompatible with the beliefs of Demon Slayer swordsmen. Lord Kagaya himself must know that well.
He put his index finger to his lips, saying this matter is a secret to everyone else. His slightly tilted head made him look like a child his age. Somehow, it reminded me of Lord Kagaya's face. Well, he's a descendant, so it's natural.
"You'll need time to think quietly about the code too. I'll grant permission, so go visit the swordsmith village to recuperate. I heard your sword broke too, after all."
＊
Thanks to Lord Kagaya's consideration, I came to the swordsmith village, but──,
"Uh, Mom's code is too devilish difficulty, isn't it? I don't get it. I don't get anything. It's impossible with my brain. I don't even know what to do or how."
I immediately despaired at the difficulty of decrypting the code.
Well, of course! It's Mom's code! I knew it wouldn't be easily solved!
Even so, this is harsh. This formulation, where ingredients, procedures, and quantities are all messed up to anyone who sees it, I can't even begin to guess how it could become the correct medicine formulation.
"Someone call Kyūtarō. Or a state alchemist. Or the god of the new world not in Osaka. Even the world's greatest detective is fine. The one with dark circles. I'll give you mitarashi dango……."
How did the experts commissioned by the Ubuyashiki family endure wrestling with this code for five years? I feel like my spirit would break from the first day.
After groaning in the room for a while, I soon broke down and said, "That's enough, let's just go for a walk to catch my breath~ Come to think of it, I haven't greeted them yet. I should go to Tetsuido's house~" and went outside.
I asked a villager for directions and arrived at Tetsuido's house. Tetsuido wasn't angry at all about me breaking the sword.
"Well, it was forged with soul, so it's not that I have no feelings about it breaking…… but it's much better than you dying and only the sword remaining."
Saying that, Tetsuido slightly removed his hyottoko mask and lit his pipe.
He's a manly man. A mature, handsome middle-aged type manly man.
"Moreover, you can tell by looking. How much you cherish the sword, and how much you trust and use it."
After saying that, Tetsuido slowly took another puff from his pipe. Purple smoke danced up from the tobacco pouch. The smell of finely cut, cured tobacco leaves was bitter, but it was a strangely calming, good fragrance.
"You really are a good swordsman. You have consideration for the sword. To the extent that if I had a daughter, I'd want to give her to you."
The moment Tetsuido raised the corner of his mouth, I prostrated myself in a bow like lightning.
"Please take care of me, father-in-law!!!"
"I said, 'if I had one.' Sorry, but I don't have a daughter, let alone a son or daughter-in-law. I'm a lonely bachelor."
"Damn it!!!"
"Was it that earnest that you'd shout like that……."
Looking down at me crying and hitting the tatami with my fist, Tetsuido made a dumbfounded face.
"For a swordsman of your caliber, there should be women hanging on asking you to accept them."
"Unfortunately, sword skill and popularity aren't proportional!"
It's been about five years since I joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Yet, I have no meetings that lead to romance, and I've never received a confession.
My colleague Maeda got married last month, and Goto says he has a nice person too…… why is there no sign of that for me?
Lord Shōjuro is popular regardless of age or gender. His face deviation value is Oxford level, so it's only natural.
To female members, to Kakushi, even to civilians attacked by demons── really, if he set his mind to it, he could pick anyone.
I wish he'd share some of that popularity. But Lord Shōjuro prioritizes swords・friendship・demon necks over romance, so he has no lover yet.
Lord Shinjuro seems to have found someone he likes lately!
"Well, it'll take a few more days for the new sword to be completed. There's a hot spring, so relax and take it easy."
"Hot spring……."
"It has various effects. I hear it's effective for the pain of heartbreak too."
"I haven't even gained memories of love, let alone lost it."
・
・
・
During the few days I stayed in the village, I did various things.
Groaning over my mother's formulation, going out for walks to change my mood, entering the hot spring at night, or playing with village children.
"I'll be the black iron scarlet ore, so Rei, you're the black iron ore role! I'm specially conceding it to you!"
"Wait, this is a bit different from the role-playing I know……"
Ignoring my retort, the hyottoko-masked boy stretched his limbs on the ground and lay flat.
His name is Haganezuka Hotaru. He was a village child I met right after parting with Tetsuido a few days ago.
On my way back to the lodging, I accidentally witnessed children having a big argument, and when I meddled and mediated, I heard that after arguing over role-playing roles, Hotaru got angry.
Hotaru had a naturally quick-tempered personality, so such disturbances were frequent, it seems. Eventually, the children couldn't take it anymore and said angrily, "We won't play with you anymore!"
Then, as the saying goes, if you speak kindly, kind words come back, Hotaru retorted, "Hmph, that's my line, idiot!" and immediately kicked the ground and ran out.
I unconsciously chased after him. For some reason, it reminded me of Lord Muzan.
Lord Muzan, who had severe emotional instability due to the doctor's medicine, often cried after outbursts of anger. So, I thought Hotaru might be crying too, and sure enough, I saw the child sitting under a tree shade, rubbing his eyes.
Soothing and comforting him like that and playing with him, before I knew it, Hotaru had come to follow me very well, and it has continued until now.
"Come on, Rei, do it quickly!"
"Uh, uh…… like this?"
"No! That's just a pill bug! Black iron ore is like this!"
"T, this?"
"Yeah, just do it!"
'I don't see the difference from before……!'
…Words like that, even if my mouth tears, I can't say, so I quietly assumed a prone position.
It was a game I couldn't understand what was fun at all, but since Hotaru looked happy, I went along without saying anything, when I heard the sound of kicking gravel from nearby.
"Oh, playing a nostalgic game, I see."
Looking up, standing there was Tetsuido. Seeing the bundle tied on his back, I gasped and quickly straightened my posture.
Seeing my appearance, Tetsuido chuckled and unwrapped the bundle placed on the ground.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, but it's finally completed. Your new sword."
"Thank you."
"Sword? A sword?! I want to see too!!"
Perhaps his interest soared as a child of the swordsmith village, Hotaru jumped up and reached for the wooden box. But before his fingertips touched the wooden box, Tetsuido slapped his hand away.
"Haganezuka's son. That's not yours. It's Rei's sword. Know your place."
Hotaru's ears turned bright red after being scolded harshly by an adult. His small fists clenched tightly. Though his face was hidden by the hyottoko mask, Hotaru expressed anger with his whole body more richly than with facial expressions.
I placed my hand on Hotaru's head and quietly urged.
"Oneー, twoー?"
"……Threeー, fourー, fiveー, sixー."
Counting that far, Hotaru let out a long breath as if releasing trapped heat. His earlobes were still red, but his fists loosened, and his shoulders noticeably dropped. Seeing that, Tetsuido opened his eyes wide.
"……Amazing. What kind of spell is that? Haganezuka's son not throwing a tantrum."
"Anger is transient. If you wait a few seconds, it calms down somewhat."
It's a simple coping method called anger control or anger management.
I told it to Hotaru, hoping he'd become a bit calmer since he's quick to anger, and surprisingly, it's helping.
Sometimes, even after counting six seconds, the anger doesn't calm down and it just ends as a countdown.
When I drew the new sword from its scabbard, it turned purple like last time. Tetsuido exclaimed, "Still a captivating color." Hotaru, excited by the color he saw for the first time, spun around me.
"Amazing! It's purple! Wisteria flower color!"
"How does it feel? No sense of incongruity?"
"Yes, it fits well. Thank you very much, Tetsuido."
I put the sword back in its scabbard and attached it to my waist. Now, then.
"Then I'll be going back now. I'm really indebted to you."
"Yeah, take care."
"Eeh, you're leaving already? Stay a bit longer!"
"This kid. Don't be too clingy, Haganezuka's son."
Saying that, Tetsuido forcibly detached Hotaru, who was clinging to my back. But Hotaru wasn't the type to quiet down that easily. He grumbled and poured out complaints.
"Snack time is almost here! Today is mitarashi dango! And you're leaving now?!"
"Hey, you can eat my share of mitarashi."
"I want to eat it with you!"
"Come on, six seconds, six seconds."
"One two three four five six… damn it~~~!!!"
When it doesn't work after counting six seconds, it just doesn't work.
Hotaru was waving his arms wildly and making a fuss, but by the time we reached the village outskirts, he had quieted down. The hyottoko mask with drooping eyebrows seemed to show his current face exactly.
"Are you really going back……?"
"Yeah, I rested long enough, so now I have to work again."
By the way, decrypting the code still had no clue and was at a standstill. I only feel sorry to Lord Kagaya, who gave me time.
"Um, you know."
Hotaru, with his hyottoko mask deeply bowed, hesitated for a while, then as if deciding something, raised his head and beckoned me with a nod.
Matching that, I lowered my posture, and Hotaru covered his mouth with both hands and whispered in my ear.
"Our house has a secret polishing technique. I'll quickly become a full-fledged swordsmith."
"……Huh?"
"……Huh? That's not it! I'll polish it for you, so come again! This迟钝 guy, stupid guy!"
"Sorry, but don't shout in someone's ear!!"
＊
I started devoting myself to demon hunting missions again with the new sword forged by Tetsuido, but decrypting my mother's code still showed no progress.
Perhaps because the content is what it is and the circumstances inherited are what they are, it's also tough that there's no one to consult with.
I reported the fact that I obtained my mother's research notes to Lord Shōjuro.
But he's an amateur regarding pharmacology, and about codes, he said things like, "I tend to solve such problems with force, but is that okay?" so seriously that I couldn't ask for further help.
Just when the code decryption had no clue at all, a ray of light shone on it one afternoon.
A letter arrived for me, who was completely stuck.
The sender is Lord Shinjuro.
The matter is gift advice.
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