Chapter 124: Sorry, What is the Teaching of All Ages?

Soon.

Himejima's residence.

"That's great, Sayo."

Senjuro sat on the doorstep, he smiled and looked at Sayo standing beside him, looking into the distance:

"Himejima-san is indeed a gentle person."

Beside him.

"Yes." Sayo looked into the distance, she took a deep breath, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, she lowered her head.

She smiled and looked at Senjuro:

"Thank you."

Upon hearing this.

Senjuro was taken aback, slowly withdrew his gaze, he lowered his head, slowly shook his head, speaking to himself in a voice only he could hear:

"No... I should thank you."

After helping Sayo, witnessing Himejima and Sayo hugging and crying, their emotions intertwined.

Senjuro, who was only twelve years old, finally completely walked out of the shadow of his mother's early death and his father's decadence.

——Even if he doesn't have the ability to become a swordsman, he can still help others.

I, did it.

His fist slowly clenched.

After really doing it, the surging emotions in his heart are indescribable.

"Eh? Did you say something?"

Sayo tilted her head in confusion, she didn't hear clearly, she bent down, her hair fell down, slightly covering Senjuro.

"Nothing."

Senjuro answered with a soft smile.

After talking with Sayo for a long time, the melancholy and doubt in Himejima's heart gradually dissipated.

Above the eaves, a few wisps of clouds floated in the blue sky.

In the quaint house, styled like a temple.

"Namu."

Himejima turned his back to the door, his robust body squatted on the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks, his voice full of sorrow:

"Ah...ah...I'm sorry..."

His thick hand was kneading the food, mixed with water preparing the cat's meal:

"The one who truly judges others by his own standards... is me..."

He put his hands together, holding the prayer beads, and just sat quietly in front of the cat food for a while.

The flowing tears were about to soak his clothes.

After repenting for his past malicious prejudice about the children, he looked to the side and called out in a low voice:

"Meow...it's time to eat..."

But after calling for a while, the white cat still didn't appear.

Just as Himejima was looking at the white cat in confusion.

His movement paused.

His clear vision unconsciously opened up.

A strange-looking cat, invisible to ordinary people, was now lying in the white cat's house, comfortably snoring.

And the white cat was cowering in the corner, looking at its nest with unopened eyes.

There's clearly nothing in the house, but it gets scratched when it goes there.

This is too strange!

The little white cat's head couldn't comprehend such a question.

Upon seeing this, Himejima was taken aback.

At this moment.

In his transparent vision.

The unfamiliar cat named "Chachamaru" got up, stretched lazily, then began to sniff the ground and walk leisurely towards him.

Under Himejima's gaze, Chachamaru had a casual demeanor.

When it slowly approached the food bowl.

Plop!

He reached out and abruptly scooped it up from the ground!

"Meow!!" Chachamaru's eyes widened in fright, the paper tag around its neck desperately glowing, but to no avail.

It was clearly in stealth mode!

Not until Himejima lifted it up, their pale eyes met.

Chachamaru was somewhat dazed.

"...The scent of a demon, blood demon art...?" Himejima held Chachamaru up with both hands, carefully sensing the aura on it.

He was incredibly puzzled.

—What kind of demon... would cast a blood demon art on a cat.

Then.

In Chachamaru's gradually terrified eyes,

Crackle!

Himejima reached out and directly tore off the paper tag around its neck!

Chachamaru was stunned, its eyes wide open, it struggled to stretch out its claws, and for the first time, it let out a miserable cry:

"Meow——!!"

That was given by Yushiro, a medium that allowed this cat, Chachamaru, to perform blood demon art.

Without this paper, Chachamaru, no matter how smart, is just an ordinary cat.

Crackle, crackle.

Only after completely tearing up the paper and ensuring that there was no demon aura on it, did Himejima feel relieved to put Chachamaru down.

Chachamaru landed on the ground, motionless.

It just stared blankly at the scraps of paper on the ground.

—A cat's life without hope.

"Let's eat..."

Himejima's broad hand gently rubbed its head, then he began to chant in a deep voice.

He noticed the small bag behind Chachamaru, but there was no demon aura in it.

Just two test tubes and a piece of paper.

"Meow." The white cat cautiously approached, finding that Chachamaru had no reaction.

Then it rubbed its head against Chachamaru's neck in a pleasing manner.

In Chachamaru's eyes, which were gradually filled with regret and despair.

Plop.

The fragrant cat food was placed in front of it.

...

"...Does Himejima-sensei keep two cats?"

Sayo curiously peeked into the house.

She looked at Chachamaru and the white cat, who were eating their food.

"...Eh?" Senjuro also poked his head in, scratching his head in confusion.

He remembered—there was only one last time he came.

...

...

Butterfly Mansion.

In the yard,

"Is this guy a human?"

"Maybe..."

Inosuke was still lying unconscious on the ground.

"He's really badly injured, his ribs are all broken."

Several Kakushi members surrounded him, whispering to each other.

At this moment.

Behind the Kakushi members.

Bang!

"Finally..." Muichiro staggered a bit, and with a dull sound, his eyes rolled back, and he fell straight to the ground.

In front of him was the box that had finally been pushed up from the bottom of the mountain, containing the puppet named "Yoriichi Type Zero".

"...We... did it..."

Yuichiro leaned weakly against the box, he raised his hand shakily, and slowly high-fived Muichiro who was lying on the ground next to him.

Plop.

Under the morning sun, the palms of the two brothers met.

The two of them maintained this pose, like a statue.

Their father, Tadaichiro, was lying quietly in the cart, if it weren't for the gentle rise and fall of his chest, the Corps members would have thought he was going to die.

At this moment.

It seemed that because the box was stood up by Yuichiro, the vertical box door slowly opened.

Creak——

The appearance of the puppet inside was revealed.

Six Nichirin Swords were neatly arranged beside the puppet.

And this scene.

Was just seen by the Kamado family who had just come down from the second floor and looked towards the courtyard.

"Oh!" Takeo rubbed his sleepy eyes, he was stunned for a moment, then pointed at the puppet in surprise:

"It's Dad!"

"Really!" Shigeru, who was being led by Takeo, suddenly looked up at the front, his blurry eyes took a rough look.

Tanjuro, who was sitting on the porch, suddenly stumbled.

"Dad——!!" Shigeru, who had just woken up, broke free of Takeo's hand and ran towards the puppet with his arms outstretched.

While running, he jumped off the porch, passed through the corridor, and his trained body agilely twisted.

But as he got closer and closer to the puppet, his just-awakened brain gradually became clear.

When he got close enough.

To the point where he could see the damaged face of the puppet and the gap between the neck:

"Dad——uh!"

Shigeru's tone and complexion changed drastically, he abruptly stopped, blinked his eyes, looked at the puppet with a pale face.

His arms that almost didn't stop in time flailed a couple of times to maintain balance.

The gap between the joints, only half a face left with eyeballs...

"...Eh." He incredulously took a half step back, feeling a chill in his heart.

——Is this Dad?

At this moment.

Tanjuro, who had been sitting on the porch, slowly came over and reached out to pick up the frightened Shigeru.

He let him sit on his own shoulder and comforted him:

"Don't worry."

Tanjuro gently patted Shigeru's head:

"It's just a puppet."

Upon hearing this.

Shigeru was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look at Tanjuro: "Dad?"

Then looked at the puppet.

His mind was a bit confused for a moment.

Step step step.

At this moment, Takeo and Nezuko also rushed over.

After hearing Tanjuro's explanation, they all curiously looked at the puppet.

"...If you look closely, only some features are similar, it's not Dad's face at all."

Hanako carefully looked at the puppet, she crossed her arms, puffed up her face and said somewhat angrily:

"Who made this puppet, it doesn't look like it at all!"

"Exactly, exactly." Shigeru echoed on the side, seemingly trying to regain his composure from being scared just now.

"Ah, ah." Kie, holding Hanako's hand, looked surprised, looking at Yoriichi Type Zero from left to right:

"Amazing."

From time to time, she also looked back at Tanjuro, as if making some comparison.

"It's not a puppet of me."

Tanjuro smiled helplessly, his gaze slowly moved to the Tokito brothers who were lying down on Rui.

——Yoriichi Type Zero was moved here.

From the new location of the Swordsmith Village to here, the time required is definitely longer than one night.

Not to mention, carrying such a heavy object.

After pondering for a moment, Tanjuro came to a conclusion,

——Was it done by Tsugikuni Michikatsu?

Just then.

"Caw! Caw!"

A crow flapped its wings and flew, it cawed loudly, then landed in front of Tanjuro:

"Caw! Kamado-san!"

It shook its head: "I am the resident crow of the Swordsmith Village, this time I came to deliver Tecchin's message!"

Saying that, the crow imitated an extremely sad and angry tone:

"Kamado-san! Do you remember the [Yoriichi Type Zero] from last time!"

It gritted its teeth and imitated, even a tear seemed to flash in its eyes:

"This time someone actually stole it!"

"That's my family heirloom!!"

"I've asked everyone in the village, no one admitted!"

"Kamado-san, my power is too weak, if you have time, please come to the Swordsmith Village."

The crow's head suddenly leaned in, the tone also became sinister and terrifying:

"I must make that thief pay!!"

Having said that, it withdrew its head, and its tone became normal:

"That's all."

"Tecchin misses you very much, Kamado-san."

After it finished the last sentence.

In the yard.

There was silence.

Takeo, Kie, Hanako, Tanjuro, and even Tokito Yuichiro's terrified gaze, all rested on the crow.

Tanjuro's gaze was calm, he withdrew his gaze, and slowly looked at the puppet standing in the courtyard.

The crow subconsciously followed Tanjuro's gaze.

Upon seeing the appearance of the puppet.

The crow fell silent.

...

...

At the same time.

In a town far from the Butterfly Mansion.

In front of the pharmacy.

Three girls, each wearing a Butterfly-style hair ornament, were standing here.

There was also a backpack as tall as a person on the ground.

It seemed that seeing the hilt of the sword faintly showing from the girls' waists, the passers-by looked like they had seen a ghost and quickly walked around.

"Shinobu-sama, we've gathered all the medicinal herbs you wanted to buy."

Kanzaki Aoi was checking the items in her heavy backpack, she looked up, her eyes full of admiration looking at Kocho Shinobu behind her.

In her azure eyes, Kocho Shinobu's smiling face was reflected.

—As expected of Shinobu-sama!

She had been walking for so long, but she didn't feel tired at all!

She silently lowered her head, looking at her hands full of calluses.

Even though she was not much older than herself, she could manage the huge Butterfly Mansion so freely.

Amazing!

She cheered up, encouraging herself secretly, she also wanted to become a person like Shinobu-sama in the future.

"Uh-huh."

Kocho Shinobu was watching the passers-by on the street, she smiled and nodded at Kanzaki Aoi:

"You've worked hard, running so far just for this one herb."

"Thank you."

Upon hearing this.

Kanzaki Aoi's face turned red all of a sudden, she quickly leaned back, waving her hands:

"No, no! Not at all!"

"This is what I should do!"

Noticing her own gaffe, Kanzaki Aoi quickly lowered her head and tidied up her hair.

At the same time, she also noticed Tsuyuri Kanao, who had been standing by the side but had never spoken.

She was slightly stunned.

All the way, Kanzaki Aoi also noticed this somewhat "strange" girl.

She never spoke, and only smiled simply when chatting.

Only when Shinobu spoke, would she act.

Kanzaki Aoi was watching Kanao, she blinked her eyes.

If Kocho Shinobu is the boss, then Kanao is...

—A companion?

She, whose family was killed by demons, desperately longed for the existence of companions.

At this moment.

Kanao, with her hair tied in a side ponytail, her expression was calm, even a bit dull, she just stood there, staring ahead.

In her hand, she was fiddling with a coin.

Suddenly.

Plop.

Kanzaki Aoi unconsciously walked up, reached out her hand to hold Kanao's hand, and gently held it.

In Kanao's puzzled gaze.

Kanzaki Aoi's face gradually turned red.

—Oh no! She unconsciously treated Kanao as her little sister at home!

"Yes! I'm sorry!!" She closed her eyes and bowed deeply to apologize.

Kanao didn't speak, she just smiled in response.

It seemed that it was time.

"Uh-huh, it's about time."

Kocho Shinobu smiled and glanced at the two of them, she turned her body to the side, and tiptoed slightly:

"Let's go, it's time to return to the Butterfly Mansion."

"You must be tired after being out for so long."

Upon hearing this.

Kanao was about to follow her and leave.

At this moment.

On the roadside, a bald but tall man suddenly saw the three of them, Kocho.

His squinted eyes suddenly opened.

Beautiful women—the master's request was met.

Thinking in his heart, he quickly stepped over and reached out to stop Kanao:

"Eh——wait a minute, little sister."

He bent down, with a pleasing look, and asked Kanao in a gentle tone:

"Are you interested in joining our church?"

"The Church of Eternal Paradise Faith."

"Our doctrine is [to live happily with a calm attitude, there is no need to force yourself if you are uncomfortable or in pain]"

After saying that, he put his hands together, lowered his head and smiled:

"So, are you interested or not?"

At this moment.

Plop.

A hand with bulging veins was placed on the man's shoulder, scaring him into a jolt.

A gentle tone sounded in his ear, but it seemed so sinister and terrifying:

"Eh, sorry, I didn't hear clearly."

Kocho Shinobu leaned in the man's ear, her face was gloomy, she smiled, her voice was incredibly clear:

"Could you introduce your church name again?"

Her eyes were fixed on him, word by word:

"Thank you."

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