She was probably the only demon in this world who needed to lie in bed to recuperate.
While Mizuki was distressed, she saw Nezuko secretly giggling. Remembering that Tanjirou had previously sent a letter back to Kie Kamado to inform them that Nezuko had recovered, she could not help but ask: "Nezuko, have you received a letter from Sister Kie?"
"Mm, I received it two days ago." Nezuko subconsciously touched her pocket, only then remembering that she had left the envelope in her room.
Mizuki nodded with a smile: "That's good."
This could also be considered fulfilling her duty to Sister Kie; after all, Nezuko becoming a demon back then was entirely because of her.
Mizuki did not want to betray that kind of trust.
Hearing the way Mizuki addressed Nezuko's mother, Kochou Shinobu asked curiously: "Mizuki, why do you call Nezuko's mother... Sister?"
No matter how you look at it, it does not seem appropriate, right?
"Shinobu, that's a bit rude." Mizuki knew what she was thinking, gave her a faint look, and explained, "At the time, Sister Kie did not know my identity, so she took the initiative and asked me to address her that way."
Although Mizuki did not know Kie Kamado's exact age, she was the mother of six children, and Tanjirou was already fifteen or sixteen years old. Without even thinking, she must be approaching forty.
Mizuki's apparent age was around twenty-five. If not for the enchanting red Demon Slayer Mark on her cheek that made her look a bit more mature, there would be no problem saying she was a teenager.
"Does Mizuki care about age too?" Kochou Shinobu's purple eyes held a hint of a smile.
"No, I..." Mizuki pursed her lips, the words just leaving her mouth.
Kochou Shinobu interrupted her with a beaming smile: "I do not care at all."
The second half of Mizuki's sentence was choked right back. She held her breath and said: "Don't be so bold in front of a child."
"Besides, discussing age with an immortal being is inherently meaningless."
Kochou Shinobu tilted her head: "That's true. As long as the appearance is not that of an old hag, it should be fine, right?"
Mizuki: "..."
Nezuko revealed bean-shaped eyes.
While Mizuki was speechless, Kanzaki Aoi walked in from outside.
"Young Miss Shinobu, Young Miss Mizuki, Mr. Haganezuka is here."
"Coming right away." Mizuki knew that her Nichirin Blade had arrived.
But...
How was she supposed to explain to Haganezuka now that she no longer needed a Nichirin Blade?
...
"This blade is a work of my blood and sweat; you must use it well." Haganezuka's tone was unprecedentedly serious.
"Of course, after seeing that blade, I understood." Haganezuka sighed with emotion, "You are the type of person who treats weapons as partners and values them accordingly."
Before, he had been wondering just how precise the Legacy was, to be able to encounter an excellent swordsman every generation.
Now he knew; it was not that he had encountered excellent swordsmen one after another, but that he had encountered an even more excellent swordsman.
With such a person, he believed his blade would not be buried.
Unlike that infuriating brat.
"Is... is that so?" Mizuki's expression stalled, turning into bean-shaped eyes just like Nezuko's.
Why did she suddenly feel like the Nichirin Blade in her hand was scalding hot, even though the hilt felt cool to the touch?
Was she as good as Haganezuka said?
Even treating weapons like partners.
Mizuki looked down at the white Nichirin Blade in her hand; the white scabbard and the hilt were wrapped in circles of black cloth to increase friction, looking exceptionally exquisite.
Without deliberately decorating the blade itself, this appearance could already be called beautiful.
Haganezuka leaned forward slightly, unable to help himself: "Want to try it out?"
"Ah... is that okay?"
Looking at Haganezuka, who was quite excited and expectant, Mizuki's lips moved unnaturally.
She could not say it... the sentence that she no longer needed a Nichirin Blade.
Haganezuka completely failed to understand the helplessness in Mizuki's words, nodding without the slightest hesitation: "Of course! With you, it will definitely shine brilliantly."
Mizuki: "..."
Why was this guy so good with words now?
It made her lose confidence.
Just as Mizuki was hesitating, Haganezuka remained motionless, his eyes beneath the mask staring straight at her, full of expectation.
"Excuse me." After a moment of silence, Mizuki thought that no matter what, she should not disappoint his expectations, and gripped the black-and-white hilt with her right hand.
Haganezuka's eyes lit up, staring with focused attention.
"Wait." Kochou Shinobu suddenly covered Mizuki's hand, stopping her from drawing the blade.
Mizuki looked over in confusion.
Kochou Shinobu said calmly: "You need to rest quietly."
"???" Even Inosuke, who could not move while lying in bed last time, had not been treated so strictly.
Before Mizuki could speak, Haganezuka was the first to lose his composure. He sprang up, furious: "Do you know, for a swordsmith, being able to see one's own..."
"Who cares." Without giving Haganezuka any chance to lament, Kochou Shinobu ruthlessly interrupted him.
Haganezuka hopped around on the spot, shouting in dissatisfaction: "You are insulting my dignity as a swordsmith!"
Responding to him was an expressionless, cold-to-the-extreme Kochou Shinobu.
She was not even willing to say words to retort.
Then, just after Mizuki was momentarily dazed, she saw Haganezuka flash to the corner at quantum speed, squatting in the corner with his back to them, drawing circles, muttering to himself, and beginning to emit a resentful black aura.
"..." The corners of Mizuki's mouth twitched slightly; he was really unexpectedly spineless.
Is this your dignity as a swordsmith?
Mizuki looked helplessly at Kochou Shinobu, "Shinobu..."
It is really not necessary.
She was just a bit weak, not dying.
Kochou Shinobu sighed, looking as if she could not do anything about her: "Then Mizuki must agree to one thing for me first."
"Fine." She would just lie down obediently later...
The look of helplessness on Kochou Shinobu's face vanished in an instant, and she smiled with her hands pressed together: "Tonight will be the same as last night~"
Mizuki's helpless expression froze on her face.
...She seemed to have been tricked again.
Why are you so practiced at this!!!
Nezuko, who had been sitting quietly to the side, could not help but ask: "What does 'the same as last night' mean?"
Kochou Shinobu rubbed her head: "Grown-up matters, kids should not ask."
Mizuki pulled a dry smile.
Although she was more reliable in personality than her peers, Shinobu was only eighteen after all. In Mizuki's eyes, she and Nezuko were truly the same type.
A difference of four or five years did not count for anything here to Mizuki.
...
Regardless, this was good news for Haganezuka.
Upon hearing that he could see his weapon being used by Mizuki again, Haganezuka came running back happily.
"Hmph." He snorted coldly at Kochou Shinobu and turned his head away.
Kochou Shinobu shrugged, too lazy to retort back.
After all, if Haganezuka were not there, she might not have been able to trick Mizuki so easily.
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