Chapter 17: Very cool.

Infinite Castle.

The light was still gentle, the destroyed houses were slowly self-repairing.

Nakime, who was unconscious on the high platform, her fingers twitched slightly.

"...You don't know?"

Muzan's tone returned to calm again, but it was terrifyingly cold.

Kokushibo hung his head, not speaking, lstening to Muzan's words.

He knew that what Muzan was asking was definitely not how this kind of wound was caused.

What Muzan was asking was...

—Why are there still people who can cause such wounds to this day.

Kokushibo—indeed did not know.

Then, Muzan slowly paced, he stepped on several dark red blood footprints on the wooden floor, the veins uncontrollably bulged from his neck to his temples:

"Then..."

"Your younger brother, Tsugikuni Yoriichi."

Muzan walked to Kokushibo's side, glanced over, his eyes staring at him like a blood-colored lycoris:

"He's really dead, isn't he?"

Upon hearing this.

Kokushibo's emotionless expression could no longer be maintained, he was slightly stunned, and then the memories in his mind couldn't stop tumbling.

Creak...

He tightly gripped his black hakama, his six eyes stared at the floor in front of him, and the flesh and blood katana around his waist began to twist grotesquely.

After a while, he answered as calmly as before, but with a hint of impatience:

"He's dead."

"...Died at the age of 81."

Muzan seemed to have expected Kokushibo's answer, he lightly nodded his head, supporting his broken right hand, and continued to walk behind Kokushibo.

Suddenly, he turned his head, his tone did not change, as if specifically to stimulate Kokushibo:

"Then what if I tell you."

"Tsugikuni Yoriichi, he's not dead."

"He's alive and well."

He slowly walked towards Kokushibo, finally stopping behind him, his voice came from above Kokushibo's head:

"What do you think?"

"..."

Kokushibo was silent for a moment, he answered the thoughts in his heart when he saw the old Yoriichi three hundred years ago:

"I..."

He choked a bit.

"...Can't believe it."

Kokushibo calmed his heart. He was about to respond as usual when he suddenly remembered the wounds on Muzan's body.

Those wounds were identical to the ones he saw on Muzan three hundred years ago, when he had just become a demon and found Muzan reduced to a mere head by Yoriichi.

— They were exactly the same.

— Could it be...

His emotions stirred slightly.

His mind was filled with countless thoughts.

"...I personally cut his body in half."

Kokushibo's breathing became slightly hurried.

If Upper Rank Two were here, he would surely tease him. Even someone as composed as Kokushibo could have such a flustered moment.

"If he could survive in that condition..." After Kokushibo finished this sentence, he fell silent and stopped speaking.

The meaning of his words was self-evident.

Muzan's attitude towards Kokushibo seemed much more tolerant than towards other demons.

If any other demon spoke in such a negative tone, they would surely be whipped by Muzan.

"You don't believe it?" Muzan casually waved his intact left hand, and Nakime, who was unconscious on the high platform, woke up.

"That's good."

He walked towards the deeper part of the Infinite Castle, 

His voice filled with impatience and hidden extreme anger:

"Go and see for yourself."

Upon hearing Muzan's words, Kokushibo immediately looked up, his six eyes slightly startled.

Just as he was about to turn around and say something to Muzan's retreating figure:

"Muzan-sama!"

"Dang!"

With a crisp sound of a lute echoing in the Infinite Castle.

Upper Rank One, Kokushibo's figure, disappeared without a trace.

He didn't even have time to say the last half of his sentence.

Nakime, who was sitting on the high platform, was holding the hand that had just plucked the strings, her whole body trembling slightly.

...

...

On the other side.

Outside.

The snow was driven away by the sunlight, the snow on the mountain top slowly melted, turning into a stream flowing down the mountain stream.

On the mountain top.

The Kamado house.

"Be careful, Tanjiro." Goto sat in front of Tanjiro.

Michikazu helped Tanjiro up, and the two were preparing to carry Tanjiro and move their position first.

After being attacked by a demon, if they did not successfully kill the demon, the possibility of the demon attacking again on the second night was very high.

Tomioka Giyu could not possibly guard here all night, he would have to go elsewhere to carry out tasks.

So, they must move Tanjiro and Tanjuro to a safe place before dark.

"Heave-ho." Goto carried Tanjiro on his back, he stood up, stabilizing his center of gravity - he was good at this.

Turning his head, Goto looked at Tanjuro and Michikazu.

Michikazu muttered under his breath:

"Tsk!"

He pursed his lips, his face full of reluctance as he approached Tanjuro.

Michikazu walked in front of Tanjuro, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, as if he had made up his mind, closed his eyes, and shouted at Tanjuro:

"Come on!!"

He closed his eyes and opened his arms to Tanjuro:

"I'll carry you!"

Tanjuro looked at Michikazu who was facing him, he shook his head slightly, then slowly stood up:

"No need." His tone was calm, as if he had done something trivial, he nodded at Michikazu:

"I can probably walk on my own."

But this understated sentence, like a heavy hammer, hit Michikazu's heart.

"Ah..." Michikazu stared blankly at Tanjuro bypassing him and walking straight past, he stood still, not moving for a long time.

"Ah..."

...

At the same time.

Outside the door.

Creak...

Tanjuro pushed open the door, turned sideways, and let Goto carry the sleeping Tanjiro out of the door.

And Tomioka Giyu, at this moment, was holding his own Nichirin Sword, his arms crossed, leaning against the house, his eyes cold.

Seeing Tanjuro walk out the door.

"Kamado Tanjuro."

Tomioka Giyu turned around straightforwardly and called out to him:

"How is it?"

Tanjuro was taken aback, he turned his head, looked up and down at the posture of Tomioka Giyu standing, somewhat puzzled.

—?

This sentence without any preface made Tanjuro completely confused.

But after seeing the other party staring straight at him, Kamado Tanjuro hesitated and made eye contact with Tomioka Giyu:

"...Very cool."

"...?"

Tomioka Giyu didn't seem to expect such an answer, he slightly lowered his eyes and thought for a while.

—This is probably an expression of agreement.

After understanding this, he nodded at Kamado Tanjuro:

"That's good."

Tomioka Giyu tied the Nichirin Sword he was holding to his waist, he turned his head and looked at Tanjuro, his tone was flat:

"The location of this mission is in the northern snow mountain."

As Tomioka Giyu spoke, he released his own crow, preparing to let the crow lead the way:

"It's not too late."

He turned his head and signaled Tanjuro to keep up.

"...What do you mean?" Tanjuro frowned, he found that chatting with Tomioka Giyu was not as easy as he imagined.

"The mission of the Demon Slayer Corps." Tomioka Giyu answered with a blank expression:

"As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, you should complete the mission with me."

Tanjuro frowned slightly, his tone was somewhat doubtful, even he, a person with a quiet temperament, couldn't help but question Tomioka Giyu:

"...Me?"

"Hmm." Tomioka Giyu nodded.

"A member?"

"Hmm."

"When?"

"Just now."

"...What did you say?"

"Very cool."

"?"

-----

GIve me your power stones guys,

For Every 200 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapters

read up to 20++ advanced chapters on patreon.com/GMadman