"Take your imperial examination my foot! With your appearance of turning to ash the moment sunlight touches you, you can even come up with this kind of excuse?"
"Weren't you the one who told me to study properly? What? Annoying woman, now you want to hinder my progress?"
"Stop babbling with me! Tell me the truth—will you teach these two children or not?"
"I'm busy! Not teaching!"
"Really not teaching?"
"As a gentleman, neither riches nor honors can corrupt me, neither poverty nor lowliness can make me swerve, neither might nor force can bend me! I would rather die than submit!"
"Alright, then that's how it will be."
"I said I absolutely will not subm... huh?"
Akaza, who had thought he would definitely be tortured some more, was completely stunned upon hearing Mitsuba's sudden abandonment.
The hand on his neck loosened. He looked up at Mitsuba, who stood up and was about to leave, and asked in confusion:
"Annoying woman, you're giving up just like that?"
According to past conventions, shouldn't you force me a bit more? Why did you let me off so easily this time?
"Sigh, no helping it. Who made me a kind-hearted good person..."
Regarding Akaza's confusion, Mitsuba simply deliberately sighed and spread her hands.
"As your guardian, since you've expressed unwillingness, how could I force you further... Knight Doma, and you two little ones, let's go."
This isn't right, something is wrong...
This annoying woman is absolutely not this kind of character. There's definitely something fishy here!
Could it be...
Not fooled by Mitsuba's acting at all, Akaza—who had long thoroughly understood her true character—only needed a few seconds of confusion before he thought of the answer.
"You actually have other backup candidates?!"
Akaza immediately asked.
Yes, this annoying woman was not the type to give up easily.
On the contrary, perhaps due to her unique Blood Demon Art, she actually had a very strong desire for control, always liking to plan everything according to her own ideas.
Therefore, the only possible reason for Mitsuba to give up so easily with him was—
She actually had other, more suitable candidates in her heart!
"So smart~"
Immediately expressing admiration for Akaza, Mitsuba smiled and snapped her fingers, inviting him:
"How about it, do you have time to visit Elder Brother with me?"
That's right.
The most suitable candidate in Mitsuba's heart was actually her elder brother—
Tsugikuni Michikatsu.
"So that's how it is."
Late at night, in a dojo of a certain town, Kokushibo sat properly within the dojo. Looking at the large group of demons who came to visit, he slowly nodded.
"So Mitsuba, you mean that you hope I will properly guide this sibling pair in martial arts?"
His gaze then turned to the Gyutaro siblings behind Mitsuba.
"Ugh!"
Feeling Kokushibo's gaze, the siblings instantly straightened their backs, not even daring to breathe heavily.
Especially Ume—she straightened her back so much her chest was nearly touching the ceiling.
[S-so scary...]
[Is this Miss Mitsuba's elder brother?]
[The aura feels completely different, totally unlike Miss Mitsuba...]
"Exactly like that. What does Elder Brother think? I feel these two children have considerable potential."
Mitsuba said with a smile.
Kokushibo also nodded in recognition of this.
"Yes, the potential is indeed there. I can take them in. However, several conditions must be met."
Saying this, he looked at the Gyutaro siblings and slowly spoke:
"First, my dojo normally has many human disciples as well. You siblings living here must absolutely not harm them, nor reveal your identities before them.
Otherwise, I will immediately expel you. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes..."
"Second, since you've entered my dojo, you are my disciples. Daily behavior and conduct must follow my rules. No laziness, and absolutely no slacking. Can you do this?"
"N-no problem! My elder brother is very good at enduring hardship!"
Ume nodded forcefully and replied loudly.
"Third, since you must properly learn martial arts, those messy weapons from the past—do not use them anymore."
His gaze falling on the twin sickles at Gyutaro's waist, Kokushibo spoke in a deep voice:
"From today onward, Gyutaro, you will wear blades with me. As for Ume... I will slowly select suitable weapons for you according to your combat habits."
As Kokushibo's words fell, from the adjacent room, Nakime walked out holding two samurai blades and placed them before Gyutaro.
"Um, Lord Kokushibo..."
Looking down at the two blades before him, Gyutaro immediately tentatively raised his hand and said sheepishly:
"I-I've only ever used sickles since I was young..."
Iron implements had always been expensive.
For the human Gyutaro, that rusty sickle accidentally left behind by a guest was the best weapon he could scavenge from childhood.
It was also what he used most skillfully.
To this, Kokushibo simply said indifferently:
"No matter. You are still young. Combat habits can still be changed at this age."
"Yes..."
From this day on, the Gyutaro siblings officially moved into Kokushibo's dojo, becoming two of his many disciples.
Following Kokushibo's arrangements, Gyutaro from then on abandoned his beloved twin sickles. Instead, at Kokushibo's request, he took up two samurai blades and began practicing "Dual-Wielding Style."
Although because he himself lacked talent for Breathing Styles, he couldn't use them.
But relying on the combination of pure martial arts and his own Blood Demon Art, this training still greatly raised Gyutaro's ceiling.
At the very least, it was stronger than him randomly waving his sickles around.
As for Ume, regarding her Blood Demon Art, after long and hard contemplation, Kokushibo finally thought of a suitable weapon for her—
The long whip.
This special weapon, full of resilience and infinite flexibility, perfectly matched the characteristics of her own Blood Demon Art. For Ume, it could be called extremely handy.
If she could use it well, when fighting against Demon Slayers who generally used Nichirin Blades, perhaps she could also gain quite an advantage.
Even if Ume's talent was somewhat inferior, it didn't matter. Even a fool, practicing the same thing repeatedly for a hundred years, could somehow produce something.
Moreover, Kokushibo was quite confident in his ability to teach others.
In short—begin training! Young boys and girls!