"..."
After listening to Tamayo's story, Shinobu looked at the woman in front of her, who was in so much pain she couldn't control herself, and the hatred for Kibutsuji Muzan, which emanated from within her, was too strong to ignore.
She sighed softly. Seduced by Kibutsuji Muzan because of a terminal illness, her original intention was to spend more time with her husband and watch her children grow up, but by a twist of fate, she ended up killing the people she loved most with her own hands.
Such examples are not uncommon among demons. Most demons, after demonization, would first devour their closest and dearest ones. Even if some demons realize what they have done, they will only go further down the path of devouring humans.
Shinobu had witnessed too many such incidents.
Some people would protect their demonized relatives and friends, only to be bitten on the neck and die in the next instant.
This was not uncommon in Shinobu's demon-slaying career.
But the demon in front of her had already been honest, so how could Shinobu not let go of her concerns? For a good future collaboration, sincerity is always the first step.
"I'm very sorry to have brought up bad memories, Miss Tamayo."
"Thank you for your honesty. I will no longer harbor any doubts about you."
"Let's get along well~" Shinobu said, clasping her hands beside her cheeks, tilting her head, and smiling.
Tamayo, having adjusted her emotions, slowly nodded. Yoizumi's lover truly was an unfathomable person.
Tamayo found it hard to imagine how two people with such distinctly different personalities ended up together.
"Well then, let's first determine the direction of the antidote."
Tamayo picked up a pen and, on a blank sheet of paper, first wrote down the efficacy of inhibiting cellular division. Hundreds of years ago, she had encountered a man so powerful that Muzan was no match for him. He instantly dismembered Muzan, but unfortunately, Muzan split himself into eighteen hundred pieces.
The man reacted extremely quickly but only managed to cut off fifteen hundred pieces, and the remaining three hundred successfully escaped.
Since then, that man became Kibutsuji Muzan's inner demon, so feared that Muzan only dared to emerge long, long after the man had died.
If someone could have helped the man back then, Muzan might have died.
And now, Tamayo's primary research direction was inhibiting division, and she had informed Shinobu of this.
Even the Demon King feared him and was nearly killed… Shinobu suppressed her surprise. This information was very important.
However, regarding the Demon King, they had too many things they hadn't grasped. Everything had to be decided with the worst-case scenario in mind, so Shinobu thought for a while, and after a long time, she said,
"I believe we should assume that the poison will be decomposed by Muzan, and immediately begin research into combining multiple drugs."
"Mhm," Tamayo nodded.
After a day and a night of discussion, the human and the demon finally finished their work and had time to sit down and rest. Shinobu brought out some fine black tea as a treat.
After Tamayo's body transformation, she could try some human foods. She usually enjoyed drinking black tea as a relaxing beverage, and she lightly sniffed the aroma of the tea.
"It's good tea."
"It's great that you can tell." Shinobu's tea skills were not professional, but she knew a little. All of it came from Kochou Kanae; her sister was very skilled in the tea ceremony, and after watching her many times, she naturally picked up some rudimentary knowledge.
"Yoizumi doesn't like black tea, though."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, he still likes sweets like a child."
Tamayo smiled as she looked at Shinobu in front of her. At this moment, she truly looked like a girl her age should. Tamayo rarely had the opportunity to chat with young women.
"Mr. Yoizumi, I never would have guessed he was that type."
One was proficient in medicine, and the other in pharmacology. Both seemed to have different questions and discussed them with each other until their cups of black tea were empty. Only then did they belatedly put down their teacups and exchange a smile.
"It seems we have to work again," Shinobu said to Tamayo as she stood up.
"Indeed."
Tamayo was very happy to meet a like-minded ally.
They already had a concrete direction for combining multiple drugs. Their next step was to realize these ideas.
One, inhibit division.
Two, restore to human form.
Three, aging.
Four, cell destruction.
Tamayo took out a test tube. This was a medicine she developed using the blood of Yoizumi and Nezuko. Their siblings' blood both had powerful regenerative abilities.
So Tamayo developed a healing medicine. Many people who were terminally ill were willing to try it as long as there was a glimmer of hope for life. Tamayo understood the risks and didn't want people to die in vain. After repeated confirmation, she would pay enough money to the families of patients who were willing to inject the medicine.
Initially, some people showed signs of improvement, but their bodies still seemed too weak to withstand the effects of the medicine and they died. Fortunately, those who died did not feel any pain before their passing.
Not long ago, after many modifications, good cases finally appeared. A patient with cancer recovered completely in just one week, even healthier than most people.
Subsequent patients who took it also experienced the same positive effects.
"This is a healing medicine made from Yoizumi and Nezuko's blood. Miss Kochou, please take a look."
If produced in large quantities, it would provide an extra layer of protection for the Demon Slayer Corps, though it might require a bit too much blood… She cautiously watched Shinobu's expression, wondering if Miss Kochou would agree.
After all, it would require drawing blood from Mr. Yoizumi and Nezuko.
"Mr. Yoizumi told me that you have a large amount of wisteria poison in your body. You can try it first."
Tamayo was also unsure, as it was wisteria poison, and its effect on demons went without saying. If Yoizumi and Nezuko's blood didn't work in her body, they would have to make other plans.
Her fingers caressed the glass test tube. So Yoizumi had also entrusted Miss Tamayo… "I understand. This is more important right now. I'll try it when I have time." Shinobu put away the medicine and joined Tamayo in their work… "Miss Kochou, you need to rest." Tamayo noticed the dark circles under Shinobu's eyes and reminded her.
"Mhm." After working for two consecutive days, Shinobu was indeed a bit overwhelmed. Demons truly had boundless energy; Tamayo showed no signs of fatigue on her face.
"Please rest assured and leave this to me. It wouldn't be good if you collapsed from exhaustion."
Shinobu pushed open the door, exchanged a glance with Yushiro, who was guarding the entrance, and then both turned their heads away, ignoring each other.
Returning to her room, she took out the medicine. Looking at the slightly reddish liquid, Shinobu opened the cork and drank it down.
She wrapped her body in the soft blankets.
She hoped she could get a good night's sleep today… Her mind was filled with the uncertainty of whether the medicine would work and the details of their research on defeating the Demon King.
Shinobu fell into a deep sleep.
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