Hearing Kokushibou's voice, tinged with a hint of emotion, Tanjirou couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
"Young Miss Mizuki, the method you gave doesn't seem to be working very well."
It even seems to have had the opposite effect.
This guy looks very happy.
Kokushibou's calm voice carried a trace of nostalgia: "She always liked to play little tricks, even back then."
Tanjirou's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he bit the bullet, saying, "Since you understand Young Miss Mizuki's thoughts, why aren't you willing to think about her more?"
Tanjirou now clearly understood that he was no match for Kokushibou. If he insisted on fighting, he might not last until his teammates arrived. He was more than happy to engage in a war of words now.
Rather, being able to tie down Kokushibou's movements with just the two of them was already an incredibly good deal.
After all, from the very beginning, Young Miss Mizuki's plan was that if fewer than three people encountered Kokushibou, they should try to avoid direct confrontation and ideally wait for more reinforcements to prevent meaningless casualties.
This plan was met with strong opposition from Sanemi Shinazugawa as soon as it was formulated, because they were there to kill demons, not to play hide-and-seek with them.
But after being soundly beaten by Mizuki, he reluctantly agreed to the plan.
Mizuki knew he was only convinced by Kanae and had no intention of following through.
There was nothing that could be done about it. If they only ran away when encountering powerful demons, then there would be no need for the Demon Slayer Corps to exist.
Mizuki just wanted to preserve as much combat power as possible... No, perhaps it was a simpler thought; she just didn't want to see more people die.
Tanjirou initially thought he was just talking to a brick wall, but to his surprise, the monster in front of him actually stopped.
Why... Young Miss Mizuki herself couldn't convince him... Kokushibou was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his cry of emptiness and slashed at Tanjirou.
Tanjirou broke out in a cold sweat and quickly raised his Nichirin Blade to parry.
Fortunately, he had been on guard; otherwise, he would have been caught off guard by Kokushibou's sudden attack.
Even so, he only felt a tingling sensation in his palm.
Why... Is it really not working?
Tanjirou was drenched in sweat.
From this guy's reaction just now, he should understand... Kokushibou... No, or rather, the Twelve Demon Moons, unlike other demons, possess a high degree of self-awareness. The pause just now was the best proof; he should be able to understand what he said.
Why isn't he willing to think more for Young Miss Mizuki?
Kokushibou wasn't without such thoughts, but... it was too late.
He had lived until now not just by the tenacious vitality of a demon, but also by a long-cherished wish to surpass Yoriichi.
It had been this way since he joined the Demon Slayer Corps, and it remained so hundreds of years later.
For this, he was willing to abandon his wife and children, willing to give up his identity as a human.
Mizuki... Memories that should have been forgotten deep within Kokushibou's mind unconsciously surfaced, memories of Mizuki, gradually becoming clearer than those of Yoriichi.
If only... if only this sister had listened to him, had chosen to stand with him.
No, that rebellious sister had never listened to him since she was little... While Tanjirou and Inosuke were entangled with Kokushibou, everyone else in other locations was also diligently slaying demon after demon.
"Lady Tamayo, are you alright?" Meanwhile, on the surface, Tamayo stood up from the rubble with Yushiro's support.
"I'm fine." Tamayo waved her Hand, trying to stand up by herself.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya walked over, accompanied by several swordsmen, and seeing this scene, he was about to step forward to express his concern.
Yushiro's expression suddenly changed drastically: "A wound! Lady Tamayo, you're injured!"
Tamayo broke into a sweat and raised her elbow: "It's nothing, nothing, just a scrape."
As she spoke, the bloodstain on her elbow had already fully healed.
Yushiro let out a sigh of relief.
Tamayo's mouth twitched slightly. Yushiro was good in every way, except sometimes he liked to make a fuss over nothing.
'It's because I like you that my reaction is so big...'
Mizuki's voice suddenly appeared in her mind, and Tamayo quickly shook her head.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya interrupted, unable to bear it: "Young Miss Tamayo, the Hashira have already pursued Muzan into the Infinity Castle. Let's start the second plan now."
Tamayo snapped out of her memories and quickly instructed Yushiro: "Yushiro, I'll leave the rest to you."
She was just a doctor and did not possess the powerful combat abilities like Mizuki, nor did she have such an amazing Blood Demon Art as Yushiro.
She could only act as support, not causing trouble at the front. Her mission would be complete once those medicines were injected into Muzan's body.
She would likely be helpful in the subsequent handling of casualties.
Yushiro nodded solemnly: "I understand."
"Without further ado, I will have the Kasugai Crows cooperate with you to draw a map of the Infinity Castle. As for the rest, I entrust it to all of you." As Ubuyashiki Kagaya spoke, Kasugai Crows landed in front of everyone.
Yushiro created an eye-like Blood Demon Art Talismanic Incantation and placed it on the Kasugai Crows.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya personally watched as the Kasugai Crows disappeared before his eyes.
"Using my Blood Demon Art, I can conceal their presence. Only those who also wear the Talismanic Incantation can see them." Yushiro explained while distributing Talismanic Incantations to everyone.
Tamayo took a Talismanic Incantation from Yushiro, separated one, and handed it to Ubuyashiki Kagaya with a solemn expression.
"I'll leave the command to you."
No one would question the Ubuyashiki family head, the Demon Slayer Corps' brain, regarding his position in command.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya took the Talismanic Incantation from her Hand and nodded solemnly: "I understand."
As soon as he placed the Talismanic Incantation on his forehead, the Kasugai Crows that had disappeared from his sight reappeared.
Fortunately, Young Miss Mizuki had cured his eyes in advance; otherwise, the situation truly couldn't have been accurately judged, and he would have had to rely on others' accounts to make decisions.
Yushiro was ready, preparing to follow another Demon Slayer Corps team down into the Infinity Castle.
Before parting, Tamayo worriedly reminded him: "Be careful."
"Please rest assured, Lady Tamayo." Receiving Tamayo's comfort, Yushiro felt a surge of strength throughout his body and patted his chest, assuring her.
Standing with Yushiro was a powerful team that had undergone the Hashira's Hell training.
As long as they didn't directly encounter an Upper Rank Demon Moon, they had the ability to engage in combat.
This team was entering the Infinity Castle as reinforcements; they would not actively search for Muzan or the traces of other Upper Rank Demon Moons.
Instead, they were tasked with providing assistance and helping the Kasugai Crows complete the map-drawing work.
In the battle against Muzan, only Hashira who had awakened their Demon Slayer Mark were qualified to participate.
No, even with an awakened Demon Slayer Mark, it didn't mean they had the strength to confront Muzan directly.
It just meant that these were the conditions; if they were any stricter, there would be no Hands available.
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