Chapter 99: If You Work Hard.
Inside the dojo.
"Meow."
The kitten called out softly, its golden eyes looking at Tanjuro who was squatting down, it sat down on the spot and looked at Tanjuro.
Tanjuro recognized this cat.
Its name was Chachamaru.
It was a cat raised by Tamayo.
Chachamaru sat obediently on the spot, licking its own paw, allowing Tanjuro to open the small bag on its back and take out the items inside.
The small package that was brought contained a letter and three syringes.
The light green liquid in the syringe refracted the sunlight leaking from outside the dojo, making it incredibly clear.
"Good boy."
After casually rubbing Chachamaru's head, Tanjuro opened the letter and scanned the content.
The neat handwriting written with a fountain pen came into view:
"To Tanjuro-san."
"First of all, we sincerely thank you for providing blood, as well as the blood of Upper Rank One."
[The following are all the results we have achieved so far.]
...
Tanjuro, holding the letter, slowly got up and walked outside the dojo.
As for the Hashira inside the dojo.
Training in the Transparent World is not just about talking, it's more about them experiencing and understanding it themselves.
And...
Tanjuro walked to the eaves, extended the letter out of the eaves, and looked at the words on the letter under the sunlight -
- [We successfully turned a demon back into a human through a potion].
He was deeply moved.
He rolled up the letter, put away the three green potions, looked up at the courtyard, where several children were practicing swordsmanship.
Under the sunlight, the children were learning to swing the wooden swords in their hands.
"That's great..."
Tanjuro murmured to himself, his eyes gradually firming, his dark red pupils reflecting the courtyard in the sunlight:
"...Muzan."
In the courtyard.
Bang!
The wooden swords swung by Takeo and Shigeru collided, making a sound that was neither dull nor crisp.
...
Inside the Infinite Castle.
Muzan, who was squatting in a corner, contacting Doma, suddenly shivered.
"...What is it." He quickly turned his head, carefully scanned the surroundings, and sniffed:
"...Cold?"
After coming back to his senses, he continued to calm down and communicate with Doma in his heart.
...
Dojo.
"...This."
Shinazugawa Sanemi frowned, his eyes fixed on the cat, Chachamaru, who was licking its fur in place, his face changing.
To be honest, compared to petting cats, he prefers dogs...
No, now is not the time to think about these things.
After a moment of silence, he turned his head to look at Iguro Obanai, who was sitting quietly on the side.
Although Obanai was a newly promoted Hashira last year, his personality was very compatible with his own, and many things could be understood with a glance.
At this moment.
Obanai was sitting quietly with his legs crossed, not caring at all about the other Hashira whose mentality had already become chaotic.
Kaburomaru, a snake around his neck, hissed out a bright red letter, as if telling something.
"Mm... Mm... I see." Obanai nodded, his eyes closed, murmuring softly in his mouth: "So that's how it is."
As a snake, Kaburomaru's perception ability is stronger than humans.
Through conversation with Kaburomaru, Obanai understood the key process of the fight between Tanjuro and Shinazugawa just now.
This helps him understand
What exactly is the Transparent World.
On the side.
Looking at Obanai talking to the snake.
Shinazugawa's expression was choked, he slightly opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
And when he turned his head back and looked at the cat in front of him again.
"Meow."
Chachamaru let out a soft meow.
Then.
Under Shinazugawa's gaze.
The paper hanging around its neck glowed faintly blue, and Chachamaru's figure instantly disappeared in place.
.....?
Sanemi was stunned in place.
...
After a while.
Because they really couldn't figure out how to start training in the Transparent World.
At the recommendation of the Hashira.
Rengoku Shinjuro, with a helpless face, came to the courtyard and found Tanjuro, expressing his predicament.
"...It's still not clear enough to understand."
Tanjuro listened to Shinjuro's words, he nodded slightly.
- He thought he had explained it clearly enough.
- In the past, when he had not been to the Lone Wolf, he also explained the Transparent World to Tanjiro in this way.
- He thought that the Hashira, who are stronger than Tanjiro, would understand the Transparent World more easily.
Thinking about this, after pondering for a while, Tanjuro realized - perhaps, he is not a good teacher.
As he slowly turned around.
Several Hashira had already arrived in the yard, standing in a circle, watching this way.
Tanjuro's gaze swept over a few people, then casually pointed:
"...Tomioka."
Tomioka Giyu, who was suddenly named, was slightly taken aback, he looked at Tanjuro with confusion.
"Attack me with your sword technique."
Tanjuro pointed at himself, picked up a bamboo sword from the side, weighed it in his hand, then turned back to look at the others:
"I will demonstrate the use of the Transparent World in actual combat, watch carefully."
Letting them experience the Transparent World firsthand, this could be considered Tanjuro's apology for using Tomioka Giyu's name last time.
Tomioka Giyu felt confused.
—Is this really okay?
This kind of training should not have been participated by him.
However, under Oyakata-sama's insistence.
Even Tomioka Giyu, who did not want to participate in this training, had to stay here.
...
Soon.
In the yard.
Swish! Swish!
White steam overflowed from the corner of Tomioka Giyu's mouth, he held the wooden sword, the sword rolled up blue waves like ukiyo-e.
His arm was tense, constantly attacking Tanjuro.
Clack!
Tanjuro blocked Tomioka Giyu's attack again with the side of his sword.
The sound of the wooden swords colliding kept ringing.
Tomioka Giyu took a small step back, he was a bit confused—since just now, none of his attacks could break through Tanjuro's defense.
After seeing this.
"Don't give up!" Tanjuro shouted in between defenses:
"Keep thinking!"
"Feel the opening and closing of your blood vessels and muscles in your body!"
Clack!
The wooden swords collided again.
"By the movement of the muscles, the expansion of the blood vessels in the lungs"
"So as to predict the enemy's actions in advance!"
Tanjuro sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a vertical chop.
Click.
He put the wooden sword on Tomioka Giyu's neck:
"That is the Transparent World."
On the side.
Uzui Tengen, who was carefully observing, was slightly stunned.
In his mind, it seemed like something was connected, and it opened with a pop.
...
After it ended.
"Do you feel it?"
Tanjuro held the wooden sword, his gaze moved away from Tomioka Giyu in front of him, and looked at the Hashira on the side.
"...It's a pity." Shinjuro shook his head, then closed his eyes, sighed heavily.
He picked up a teapot from the side and took a big gulp.
At this time.
Also standing in the yard, Tokito Muichiro, who was training on his own on the other side, was looking this way with bright eyes.
tap tap tap!
He ran over in small steps, stood next to Tanjuro who was covering his forehead with a hopeful face, and jumped up:
"Uncle! Uncle!"
The child's voice attracted the attention of some tired Hashira, and they all looked at Muichiro.
Muichiro's light blue eyes were round, he excitedly raised his fist, looking at Tanjuro expectantly:
"That transparent..... Transparent World."
"Can I do it too?"
After saying that, he showed an expectant smile.
Tanjuro slightly bent down, he smiled, sighed, put his hand on Muichiro's head, and gently patted:
"If you work hard."
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