Meanwhile, outside the dance hall, on the streets illuminated by dim yellow streetlights, Kanae walked while looking down at the business card in her hand, deep in thought.
The scenes that had unfolded in the dance hall earlier replayed continuously in her mind.
As if finally confirming certain things, Kanae's footsteps gradually stopped.
"Mother, I found her."
In this deserted cold night, she suddenly spoke, her gaze firm.
"I found that existence I must kill, and only I can kill."
"..."
Years ago, at the Butterfly Mansion of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Having just passed the Final Selection, Kanae hurriedly returned here.
On the sickbed inside the room, her mother who had been fine just days ago was now at her final moments.
Kanae's mother was named Butterfly Shizuka.
For Kanae, although she could feel her mother's love for her and her sister, she had actually never truly understood her mother's heart.
This sounded somewhat unbelievable, but it was indeed the case.
Kanae had heard her mother mention that their family was originally a clan with many years of heritage.
But when she was young, her mother who was already pregnant at the time cut off relations with her grandmother and left this clan with her.
Kanae didn't understand why her mother did this, and her mother never explained it to her.
When she was thirteen, her mother joined the Demon Slayer Corps at a Demon Slayer's invitation.
Clearly neither lacking money nor having any hatred toward demons, yet she made such a dangerous choice... Kanae didn't understand this either.
What made her even less able to understand was that after joining the Demon Slayer Corps, Kanae's mother not only didn't want her to study medicine well and inherit the Butterfly Mansion.
Instead, she had always encouraged her to work hard at learning Breathing Techniques, to become a true Demon Slayer.
This was truly somewhat incredible.
The path of the Demon Slayer was an extremely dangerous one.
Without deep hatred toward demons, as a mother, would she truly hope for, and even encourage, her own child to walk such a path?
Although filled with doubts in her heart, as an obedient and sensible child since young, Kanae never asked about these things, only silently advancing according to her mother's expectations...
Until today.
"Kanae, there are some things I must tell you..."
"Mother?"
"This is about... our family's past..."
Before the sickbed, the critically ill Butterfly Shizuka tremblingly extended her hand and grasped Kanae's hand by the bedside.
With that weak voice, she slowly spoke, revealing those secrets of her clan that Kanae had never heard before.
"Our Butterfly clan's ancestors once colluded with a demon named Tsugikuni Mitsuba..."
"Tsugikuni Mitsuba?"
This name surprised Kanae.
Because there was also a "Tsugikuni Mitsuba" in the Demon Slayer Corps.
It was said this was a senior who had been active over a decade ago. This person had the identity of a descendant of the original Breathing Style swordsman and possessed exceptional talent.
Not only did she improve numerous Breathing Styles within the Demon Slayer Corps, but she also together with the current Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, led many of the current reforms in the Demon Slayer Corps.
Even the Flower Breathing that Kanae currently learned had once been improved by her.
But such an outstanding senior later died early under the attack of two Upper Rank demons...
Presumably, this should merely be an accidental case of the same name.
After all, this Tsugikuni Mitsuba of the Demon Slayer Corps was a true human being.
"In the Sengoku period hundreds of years ago, our Butterfly clan's ancestors colluded with this demon, secretly cultivating and searching for the Blue Spider Lily for her, continuing until today..."
"Mother, when you said continuing until today, could it be that Grandmother also..."
"Mm..."
Nodding lightly, confirming her daughter's inner guess, Butterfly Shizuka continued:
"But, Kanae, this is wrong. Humans cannot collude with demons. That is why Mother left the clan with you...
And this, too, was the will of God..."
"God?"
Kanae didn't quite understand.
The will of God, what did that mean?
Why did the topic suddenly turn to God?
"Kanae, you must remember—God exists in this world!"
Amidst Kanae's confusion, her mother's grip on her hand suddenly tightened.
Those emaciated five fingers tightly grasped her palm, even causing her a hint of pain.
"God certainly exists!"
Opening her eyes wide, staring dead at her daughter before her, Butterfly Shizuka's breathing gradually quickened, her chest heaving violently.
"Kanae, listen well! That Tsugikuni Mitsuba, Upper Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki, her strength far exceeds the imagination of the world!
She is the usurper, the demon who has stolen God's authority! Ordinary Demon Slayers absolutely have no possibility of defeating her!
But, but you are different!"
"Mother! Please don't speak anymore! I'll get your medicine right away..."
"We, no... you and little Shinobu!"
Grasping Kanae who wanted to get up, Butterfly Shizuka spoke urgently:
"You sisters are the existence God left behind to deal with her! Tsugikuni Mitsuba is not without weakness! Her weakness is us!
Within our bodies flows the bloodline of that ancestor—we are all her descendants.
If there truly exists someone in this world who can slay Tsugikuni Mitsuba, it must... be us! It must be you and your sister!"
"Me... and little Shinobu?"
"Yes, you sisters are the only existence capable of killing Tsugikuni Mitsuba. Upon you, you bear God's deepest expectations...
Kanae, my daughter, this is what God wants us to do, the opportunity He has given our clan to redeem our sins, do you understand..."
[We are the only ones...]
[The opportunity to redeem our sins...]
[What God wants us to do...]
The tear tracks on her face gradually solidified. Listening to her mother's final words, Kanae was stunned.
"Mother, you..."
She seemed to faintly realize something, but before she could open her mouth to ask, she saw her mother before her gradually loosen her hand.
"Kanae, you must think more."
Her eyes gazing at the ceiling above, Butterfly Shizuka's originally urgent breathing gradually weakened.
With that final strength, she slowly spoke:
"Think well why Mother left the clan, why I joined the Demon Slayer Corps...
Why, I wanted you to walk... the path of the Demon Slayer... You must... think more..."
"..."
"Mother, I have already understood your meaning."
Time returned to Tokyo. Under the dim yellow streetlight, Kanae walked alone toward the direction of the clock tower.
On these deserted streets, as if speaking to someone, she spoke to herself:
"You were right. Tsugikuni Mitsuba is not an opponent that ordinary Demon Slayers can defeat.
And we, as the only humans in this world who can form a connection with her, and simultaneously the only existence capable of slaying her.
If even we fail, then in this world, there will no longer be any human capable of defeating her.
Therefore, we are the key, the most important key.
Whether we can kill Tsugikuni Mitsuba is deeply related to whether God can thoroughly eradicate the existence of demons.
This is the mission God has given us, and also the opportunity for our clan to redeem our sins for the past several hundred years.
Of course, this matter cannot be rushed."
Slowly putting away the business card Mitsuba gave her into her clothes, Kanae's face had already recovered her usual smile.
She continued speaking to herself:
"As Upper Rank One, as a terrifying demon who has survived for hundreds of years, her strength must far exceed imagination.
Therefore, I cannot rush. This is a special enemy. Tonight was a very good beginning. I need to take it slowly.
Let me think... In any case, to avoid alerting the enemy, I should temporarily conceal this from the Master for now.
Let me first try to get closer to this demon, learn more useful intelligence from her mouth. After I have clear progress, then I will report to the Master.
Mm, yes, that's right... Alright, the time is about right. Now I should go back to meet up with Giyuu."
With these words, as if completing some kind of report, Kanae spoke no more, walking straight toward the direction of the clock tower.
Her footsteps were quite light.
...
(Hehehe, I'm going to torment the big butterfly, meow~)
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This story has ended in chapter 315, you can read on patreon.com/dzeref887 for faster access or wait until August to read on WebNovel until the story ends.