Ubuyashiki discussed the recent incident at length with Yoriichi and Hiru, finalizing what would be said at the next Hashira eting. During that ti, Hiru also took the opportunity to cleanse Ubuyashiki of Blood Demon Art once more.
“This growth rate isn’t right…”
Hiru stared at the cherry-pink stone, now roughly the size of a grain of rice.
“It’s only been half a month—how has it accumulated this much already?”
“It seems Muzan is also growing stronger.”
Yoriichi frowned slightly.
“How did the blood I shared with you last ti absorb?”
“Hm? I absorbed it all back then.”
Hiru froze for a mont, then quickly caught on.
“Brother, are you saying Muzan Kibutsuji didn’t fully absorb the blood?”
“Yes. If my elder brother intended to break free, he would have prepared in advance by separating all of it. In that case, the amount of blood split off would not have been small.”
Yoriichi lowered his eyes, falling silent for a mont before continuing.
“Although I still don’t understand how my elder brother is restraining Muzan Kibutsuji, you must remain cautious. I will separate the accumulated blood and give it to you as soon as possible.”
“…Alright. But you should also be prepared to be exposed.”
Hiru nodded.
“After all, last ti, Eldest Brother already revealed my information to Muzan. There’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.”
“Mm. I understand.”
Ubuyashiki noticed the change in Hiru’s deanor and shifted his gaze slightly.
“It seems Hiru’s knot of the heart has been untied.”
“Yeah. More or less.”
Hiru didn’t deny it, nor did he elaborate.
“But why did you co out with only Mikazuki? The Kakushi must be worried sick.”
“There is no need to fear.”
Ubuyashiki smiled faintly.
“After all, the strongest swordsman is here, isn’t he?”
Following his gaze, Hiru looked toward Yoriichi, who wore a helpless expression.
“That’s true… but, brother.”
“Hmm?”
“I just rembered—didn’t you promise that during this Hashira eting, you’d wander around with ?”
Hiru narrowed his eyes at Yoriichi’s montarily blank expression.
“Why did you take on a jurisdiction again?”
“…Brother, you forgot, didn’t you?”
After a brief silence, Yoriichi turned to Ubuyashiki.
“Um… may I ask if it’s still possible to change jurisdictions?”
Receiving Yoriichi’s silent plea for help, Ubuyashiki covered his stomach and sighed.
“Please allow so ti to think.”
“Or you could help plan a travel route instead.”
Hiru stroked his chin.
“I just want to relax and spend so ti with my brother.”
“That would indeed allow us to inspect more areas…”
Yoriichi considered it briefly.
“However, the route planning itself should be handled by—”
“It’s no trouble. I can handle sothing this small.”
Ubuyashiki interrupted gently.
“Though I wonder if it would be possible to add a few more regions. As you know, the Wind Hashira’s condition does not allow him to continue fighting.”
“That’s fine. Please arrange it as you see fit.”
Yoriichi showed no objection.
“This was my oversight to begin with. And you needn’t worry about the two of us—demons do not require much rest. If any troubleso matters arise, simply leave them to us.”
Hiru raised a hand.
“Please include Wakayama. I haven’t been there in over a decade, and I have business to attend to this ti.”
【It’s far too easy to forget that they’re demons.】
Ubuyashiki felt his stomach ache again.
“…Very well. I will give you both an answer before we depart.”
“Then I’ll go check on Aoba’s injuries.”
Hiru stood up.
“Take your ti, brother.”
Yoriichi watched Hiru leave, then turned his gaze back to Ubuyashiki.
“I would like to discuss my elder brother’s strength with you in more detail…”
“Very well. Please wait a mont while I fetch paper and ink.”
“Allow to do it.”
“My apologies for troubling you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Watching Yoriichi put on his mask and leave, Ubuyashiki sighed softly.
“Truly, these are troubled tis…”
Elsewhere, Mikazuki Reima was venting his dissatisfaction at Hiru.
“You little brat. Fine—you kept that rare dicine from . But this prosthetic?” Mikazuki snapped. “We’ve known each other for so long, and you didn’t even tell you knew about this technique?”
“If I were to hand it over to you, that’d be using up one of my own favors,” Hiru replied, pouting slightly as he continued asuring Aoba. “You won’t even let take a few herbs from your place—so why would I help you so easily?”
“That’s not just so herb—that’s dicine!” Mikazuki shot back.
“I know,” Hiru said flatly.
“There are people lined up waiting for that dicine!” Mikazuki continued. “Do you think I can just hand it over to you?!”
“And I’ve helped you countless tis professionally!” Hiru snapped back. “Yet you’re so stingy you won’t spare a few herbs—and now you want access to the prosthetic technique too?”
He pulled an exaggerated face.“Pfft.”
“Why not give my turn to Senior Mikazuki—” Aoba began cautiously.
“Shut up!” Mikazuki and Hiru barked almost in unison. “Do you not want to recover?!”
Aoba imdiately wilted. Fine. Doctors were not people he could afford to offend.
All he could do was watch as Mikazuki and Hiru continued arguing while simultaneously finalizing his three-stage dication plan and rehabilitation schedule. This only reinforced his belief that doctors were truly untouchable.
By the end of it, Hiru even took Mikazuki’s asurents as well.
“Since I’m already spending one favor,” Hiru muttered, “I might as well spend another.”
“You make it sound miraculous,” Mikazuki said skeptically. “Is it really that reliable?”
“Of course it is,” Hiru replied. “It’s just that no one wants to learn this craft anymore.”
He paused briefly.
“If it weren’t for… my family supporting them, whether they’d even still be alive would be questionable.”
“With a skill like that, how could it possibly decline?” Mikazuki frowned.
“Let put it another way.”
Hiru looked directly at him.
“You know how so people die missing limbs, right? This craft was originally used to restore corpses so that the soul could resolve its lingering regrets and ascend.”
“Living people avoid them out of superstition. And these days, wars aren’t as frequent as they used to be. There aren’t many deaths involving severed limbs anymore.”
“With no demand, the craft naturally faded—it couldn’t sustain its practitioners.”
“Prosthetics ant for restoring corpses…” Mikazuki rubbed his chin and sucked in a sharp breath. “Can that really be trusted?”
“It can,” Hiru said calmly. “I’ve tried it myself. It’s just difficult to master.”
“You little brat, who are you trying to fool?” Mikazuki scoffed. “You’re perfectly intact.”
Hiru shrugged. “I can’t explain the reason right now. You’ll understand after the next Hashira eting.”
“Then why bring it up just to dangle it in front of ?!” Mikazuki exploded.
“You were the one who asked,” Hiru replied innocently. “Who are you blaming?”
“You little—@#￥%&!”
…
Three days later, Hiru received the [Travel Plan] from Ubuyashiki. Aoba’s condition had fully stabilized, leaving only quiet recuperation, and the Kakushi had urged Ubuyashiki several tis to return to headquarters.
With that, everyone quickly reached an agreent. After packing lightly, they set off at once.
Rengoku Shinjuro, worried about news of Ruka’s illness, apologized to Ubuyashiki midway and forcibly dragged Mikazuki along to his ho.
Yoriichi and Hiru continued with the group. After escorting Ubuyashiki and Aoba back to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters and surveying the surrounding areas, they finally departed for real.
After all, the route planned by Ubuyashiki extended beyond Yoriichi’s jurisdiction, included all the locations Hiru had ntioned, and even covered every territory previously overseen by Aoba.
In total, it listed over one hundred and fifty destinations, each carefully annotated with its distinctive scenery.
Hiru couldn’t find a single point to argue against. While marveling at how shrewd the Ubuyashiki family was, he accepted the [Travel Plan].
“Hmph~ That kid really is sharp,” Hiru said, waving the itinerary with a smile.
“Even places without scenery have local food written down. I can’t find a single flaw—it’s completely tailored to my tastes.”
“But aren’t you very happy, Hiru?”
“Yes, I am.”
Hiru smiled.
“When you find capable subordinates, you should put them to work until they’re running in circles—and make them do it willingly. That’s what makes a qualified leader.”
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