Over the next few days, Asuka quietly underwent treatment under the arrangements of the Kakushi, while also going through a series of rehabilitation exercises he felt were completely unnecessary.
Asano Mori's condition was far better than expected. He had already regained consciousness.
However, the claw strike from that shadow demon had injured his internal organs. He might suffer from lingering respiratory issues in the future.
Shinobu Kocho found herself rather impressed with Asuka over this.
From what she had learned, this boy—two years younger than her—had not suffered a pierced organ injury for the first time. And yet, every time, he recovered full of life and vigor as though nothing had happened.
'Perhaps, like Mitsuri, he's a child with a special constitution,' she thought.
During treatment, she had also noticed that even while asleep, Asuka maintained Total Concentration Breathing. That alone greatly aided his recovery.
Should she say that Mr. Arasaki truly lived up to his reputation as the strictest cultivator? His instruction had been thorough—Asuka had already unconsciously mastered Total Concentration: Constant.
Orders from the Demon Slayer Corps soon arrived as well.
The Kasugai Crow brought recognition and rewards from the Master.
Asuka, as a Mizunoto-ranked swordsman, had fought Lower Rank Two alone and forced him to retreat. It was nearly an unbelievable feat.
Even Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had been reporting his mission to the Master at the Ubuyashiki residence at the time, found it hard to believe upon hearing the news.
Within the Demon Slayer Corps, killing fifty demons or defeating one of the Twelve Kizuki qualified a swordsman to become a Hashira.
Although Asuka had not killed the Lower Rank demon this time, he had already proven that his abilities far exceeded those of ordinary members.
Thus, the Master promoted Asuka to the rank of Kanoe. This meant that if he encountered Demon Slayer Corps members ranked below Kanoe in the field, he could have them cooperate with his actions and temporarily form a demon-slaying squad.
Additionally, upon hearing that Asuka's uniform had been torn to shreds during his battle with the Lower Rank, the Master specially ordered a brand-new Demon Slayer uniform for him.
Compared to the standard uniform from before, this set included an extra gray-white haori.
Hotaru Haganezuka had mentioned that Asuka's blade was an extremely rare colorless sword. So a colorless haori had also been prepared for him, in hopes that he would one day find his own color.
As for the monetary rewards, Asuka did not care about them at all. He entrusted everything to the Kakushi to forward to the Hayama Training Grounds.
"Nanajūhachi Asuka, you have done well. Recover in peace and await further orders!"
After delivering everything, the aloof Kasugai Crow flew off without saying another word to Asuka.
"Looks like you've been disliked by your own crow, Mr. Asuka."
Having listened to the orders alongside him, Shinobu Kocho smiled as she glanced at his equally stern profile. "You should try to get along with your Kasugai Crow. They're important guides and companions in battle."
"…I'm not disliked." Asuka genuinely believed that. In a certain sense, he was quite satisfied with his crow's attitude.
No unnecessary chatter. Deliver the message and leave. Wasn't that ideal?
"Ah, is that so?" she laughed lightly, her tone full of doubt.
Meanwhile, south of Sendai, in the Fukushima region, at midnight.
After several days of fleeing with all his strength, Rokuro finally shook off the lingering scent of death and escaped into a rural town near Fukushima.
After he fled the shrine, the shadow puppet he left behind immediately sensed the aura of a Hashira-level swordsman. That alone made him grateful he had not stayed behind to tangle with that brat.
If he had delayed even a little longer, he might not have escaped at all.
"That damn mad dog! Next time I—"
After thinking it over, Rokuro swallowed whatever harsh words he had been about to say. Instead, he slammed a fist against the tatami in frustration and stuffed another mouthful of the homeowner's flesh into his mouth.
"Heehee, isn't this Senior Rokuro? Why are you having a picnic all by yourself here?"
Rokuro's body stiffened abruptly. Even his chewing stopped as he warily turned toward the source of the voice.
Under the moonlight, a petite figure was leaning against the doorway of the grass hut at some unknown time, smiling as she looked at him.
She had the beautiful appearance of a young girl, with smooth white short hair. If not for the blood-red sclera in her eyes, the pale violet pupils… and the pair of sharp, prominent horns on her forehead, she could easily be mistaken for a maiden in her prime.
Her eyes shifted slightly, revealing the number within.
Lower Rank Four.
Rokuro let out a breath of relief and resumed swallowing his meal.
"So it's you, Mukago… It's nothing. Just changing flavors once in a while."
"Is that so?" Mukago tilted her head. Her small nose twitched slightly, as though she could smell the guilt and concealment in his words. She smiled like a little girl. "Senior, you don't look like you're enjoying wild game. You seem rather… disheveled."
She lightly hopped forward, closing the distance between them. Her large eyes openly examined Rokuro's tattered dark-patterned kimono.
"I heard you've been cooperating with humans for steady meals. How did you get injured? Did those humans betray you?"
Tch… this is why brats are the worst…
Mukago's bouncy demeanor irritated Rokuro, yet there was little he could do.
Demons could not kill one another. Even if he made a move, it would be meaningless.
Besides, this Mukago fellow had a somewhat airheaded nature. Perhaps in her mind, she was genuinely curious and concerned.
With a sigh, Rokuro set down the chunk of flesh and looked at her solemnly.
"Hmph… you guessed right. I am a little disheveled, but it's not because of betrayal!"
He pointed north toward the Sendai region and said seriously, "I was careless… I didn't expect a Hashira to be hiding there! If not for my solid strength—exchanging several rounds with that person before retreating—I might have had to give up my position!"
As an adult adept at bluffing, Rokuro naturally wouldn't admit that he had been chased down by a mere brat. So he exaggerated his experience.
But to Mukago's ears, it was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.
"A Hashira! An actual Hashira!"
Mukago cried out, covering her mouth with both hands. Genuine fear instantly filled her large eyes.
Just hearing the word made her body shrink involuntarily.
"No wonder, no wonder! Senior, you're amazing! You actually fought a Hashira!"
She looked at Rokuro with a trace of admiration and understanding, even a hint of closeness. "I get it, I get it! Of course you run when you encounter a Hashira! The farther the better! Staying alive is what matters most… Those people are all terrifying!"
As she spoke, Mukago nodded repeatedly, as if she had found a kindred spirit.
Two cowards, unexpectedly brought closer by a shared tale of a miserable escape.
Rokuro let out a sigh of relief. He had concealed the matter of Asuka to save face before a junior. Fortunately, this brat was easy to fool…
He looked Mukago over and asked curiously, "What about you? What are you doing here? Not staying in Hokkaido anymore?"
Mukago adjusted her crimson kimono trimmed with black fur and regained her slightly naive cheerfulness, as if she had already cast aside her earlier fear.
"I'm planning to head south! I heard from traveling merchants that the Osaka region has been chaotic lately! Lots of refugees and unruly people—sounds like plenty of opportunities for a good feast!"
She licked her lips and looked at Rokuro. "Senior, want to come with me? It's bound to be lively!"
"I'll pass."
Rokuro rejected her almost without thinking.
Leaving aside his poor condition, he had no desire to be dragged into chaotic whirlpools.
Moreover, that infuriating brat had already set his sights on him. Who knew what tracking methods he might have? It was better to lie low for a while…
Seeing Mukago's slightly disappointed expression, and out of a subtle sense of shared hardship, Rokuro decided to offer a warning—a trivial bit of help for a fellow coward.
"Mukago, if you're heading south, after Fukushima you might pass by a mountain called Natagumo Mountain."
"Natagumo Mountain? Is there some special delicacy there?"
"Delicacy? No. You'd better stay far away from that place!"
Rokuro gave a strange snort, his tone growing more serious.
"That's the territory of Lower Rank Five, Rui. That brat… is a little strange."
"Whether human or demon, no one fares well there. And that one holds a certain favor with that Lord… Believe me. If you provoke him, your fate won't be much better than provoking a Hashira."
"Rui…"
Mukago repeated the name. She did not know much about that secretive Lower Rank who kept to himself.
But since Senior Rokuro had kindly warned her, perhaps she should be careful and avoid getting dragged into trouble…
"I understand! Thank you for the reminder, Senior! I'll steer clear of Natagumo Mountain—far, far away!"
She slapped her forehead as if to knock the troublesome place name out of her mind.
"Osaka's better anyway. Free and easy—grab whatever you want to eat! Since you're recovering, Senior… Mukago will be on her way! Wishing you a speedy recovery!"
She waved at Rokuro and vanished into the moonlight, as though they had merely been discussing a casual outing.
Yet after she had run some distance and was walking alone beneath the moon, those crafty eyes of hers shifted again.
"What's that supposed to mean? There must be something good there! That old man must be planning to sneak off and enjoy it himself!"
"La la la, I'd better go take a look. So what if it's Lower Five's territory? I'm Lower Four!"