"No, don't fight!" Kanroji Mitsuri was panicking a little. "Calm down..."
Kochou Kanae also chimed in, "Shinazugawa, please calm down."
A trace of helplessness flashed in Sanemi Shinazugawa's eyes. He gritted his teeth and finally let it go.
Rengoku Kyojuro's highly infectious voice boomed, "Tomioka! You should come too!"
Tomioka Giyu glanced back slightly, then left the residence without stopping.
It's over. Not even the enthusiastic Owl could call him back.
Tanjirou looked hesitantly at everyone, then at the direction Tomioka Giyu had left, unsure what to say.
Mr. Giyu... has he always been like this?
Seeing his distressed appearance, Mizuki simply said, "Tanjirou, go bring Giyuu back."
"Huh? Me?" Tanjirou's eyes widened slightly.
"You two are fellow disciples, aren't you?" Mizuki tilted her head. "It's most appropriate for you to go."
Rengoku Kyojuro grinned at him, showing his white teeth, "Go! I have faith in you!"
"Kamado boy!"
Uzui Tengen also joined in, giving a thumbs-up, "Oh! Keep up the good work, boy."
Kanroji Mitsuri clasped her fists to her chest, "You can do it!"
Tanjirou's mouth twitched slightly. What exactly were these people doing here...? Tanjirou and Tomioka Giyu's departure did not delay the group's discussion, as he could simply join in after dealing with the situation.
Although Ubuyashiki was not present, under the guidance of the elder brother, Himejima Gyomei, everyone formulated a series of training plans to help the members increase their combat power.
This included, but was not limited to, Uzui Tengen's basic physical enhancement, Kanroji Mitsuri's Hell Flexibility Training, Tokito Muichiro's High-Speed Movement Training, the Snake Pillar's swordsmanship correction, and so on.
Essentially, except for Kochou Shinobu, who was in logistics, all the other Pillars were assigned tasks.
From the Pillars' perspective, they understood the benefits: dealing with wave after wave of incoming members, even if the Pillars were clearly stronger than them, the continuous "wheel battles" could still improve their stamina.
However, due to the skill level of the members, it was somewhat unrealistic to expect them to force the Pillars to use their full strength, thereby achieving the necessary increased heart rate and body temperature to activate the Demon Slayer Mark.
But no matter what, this was beneficial for both sides.
After the members' training concluded, during the most fatigued time of the day, they would undergo training related to activating the Demon Slayer Mark with Mizuki.
Facing high-pressure danger while exhausted makes it easier to enter that state.
Those who had already activated the Demon Slayer Mark would attempt training to maintain that state constantly.
Up until now, among this group of swordsmen who had activated the Demon Slayer Mark, only Mizuki was capable of keeping the Mark permanently manifested on her body.
If you ask her how she trained?
Well, sorry, she thinks it's probably a matter of talent.
Her lack of talent was only relative to Yoriichi; although it was a bit embarrassing, compared to everyone else, she was still likely stronger.
After all, once she activated the Demon Slayer Mark, it never disappeared from her face.
After the discussion concluded, Mizuki returned to the Butterfly Mansion with the Kocho Sisters... "What? Group training?!"
As soon as they returned to the Butterfly Mansion, the three heard a wail from the sickroom that echoed throughout the building.
A vein pulsed on Kochou Shinobu's forehead: "That guy..."
Kochou Kanae smiled, "He's certainly energetic~"
Mizuki said helplessly, "Well, that's the gist of it."
"Does this mean strong guys are going to help us train?" Inosuke said in a muffled voice. "That's amazing! I'm totally fired up!"
"Amazing my foot! It's absolutely terrible, that's basically Hell, isn't it?" Zenitsu said, sounding extremely displeased. "Who came up with this? Go die, okay?"
"Fighting people of a higher Rank than yourself is a shortcut to getting stronger," Tanjirou said excitedly. "Sparring with stronger people allows you to absorb a lot of experience and become even more powerful."
"If you're going to talk so positively, my friendship with you ends here!" Zenitsu was furious.
Inosuke, being slow on the uptake, said foolishly, "If that's the case? Why don't we just fight Mizuki?"
Mizuki's steps paused, and the activity in the sickroom seemed to quiet down for a moment, then Zenitsu's desperate voice was heard:
"No... that can't even be called a fight, right?"
"It's just a one-sided massacre."
"R-right... I guess so." Tanjirou's weak voice sounded out.
Mizuki couldn't help but fall into contemplation. Was she too rough when she fought?
She vaguely remembered when she first picked up a sword, Michikatsu would beat her up like this, often saying things like she was wasting his time.
She hadn't even said any trash talk that would affect people's mood!
Kochou Shinobu pushed open the door and looked at the three of them expressionlessly, "Do you have any dissatisfaction with the Master's arrangements?"
The three swallowed nervously, unable to move, and anxiously turned their heads.
Zenitsu instantly broke down and shouted, "Why are you only looking at me?!"
Mizuki: "..."
Of course, it's because you're the most troublesome one.
Footsteps sounded outside the room.
"Brother, the floral tea is ready." Nezuko appeared at the doorway carrying the tea. Seeing the people inside the sickroom, she said a bit shyly, "Sorry, I'll go get more right away."
Mizuki shook her head, "No need, Nezuko, you should rest for a bit."
Since turning back into a human, this child had been helping out at the Butterfly Mansion, working as diligently as a slogan posted outside a company.
"Little Nezuko~" Zenitsu instantly revived and rushed over.
Ignoring the erratic Zenitsu, Mizuki looked at Tanjirou in confusion and asked, "Tanjirou, didn't you go find Giyuu?"
Tanjirou scratched his head dejectedly, "Um... Mr. Giyu didn't seem to want to communicate with me."
Kochou Kanae raised a finger and suggested, "Then why don't you try being persistent?"
"Eh?"
Kochou Kanae smiled slightly, "Although this method definitely won't work when pursuing girls, it might work against an introverted boy like Mr. Tomioka."
Upon hearing this, the first person to react wasn't Tanjirou, but Zenitsu, who was clinging to Nezuko.
"Persistent?" This shouldn't count as persistent pestering, should it?
No, no, no, that's sexual harassment.
Tanjirou thought for a moment, decided it was feasible, and clenched his fists to encourage himself.
"I understand! I will work hard!"
"I will definitely make Mr. Tomioka participate in the special training!"
Seeing his enthusiasm, Mizuki smiled slightly, "I'll give you a hint, Tanjirou."
"A hint?"
"If Giyuu says something harsh, take it as the opposite, and that will be his true feelings."
Tanjirou's eyes turned into dots: "Is... is that right?"
What does that mean?
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