"Mr. Su Chen, is that you?"
Kanzaki Aoi's voice came from the doorway. She pushed open the laboratory door, but after looking inside, she didn't find Su Chen. A look of confusion appeared on her face. "Strange, I clearly heard some movement from downstairs just now."
Just then, another set of footsteps echoed from the staircase. Su Chen appeared behind her.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Su Chen asked, patting her shoulder with a hint of concern.
Kanzaki Aoi turned her head in confusion and clearly froze for a moment when she saw Su Chen. Huh? Mr. Su Chen came down... after me?
Su Chen didn't give her time to react. He immediately smiled and said, "Let's go upstairs to talk. This is the laboratory, and the smell of the potions is very strong."
Kanzaki Aoi nodded. The two walked upstairs together.
As they walked, Su Chen casually asked, "Has Lady Shinobu gone on another mission?"
"She's already back," Kanzaki Aoi said after a moment's thought. "She's currently reporting the situation to Oyakata-sama."
"Is that so? Is Lady Shinobu always alone when she's out?" Su Chen asked again.
Upon hearing this, Kanzaki Aoi's expression immediately fell.
"Yes. Ever since her sister, Kanae, passed away, Lady Shinobu has been like a different person," she said sadly. "One day it was raining heavily, and Lady Shinobu was soaked when she returned from a mission. There were also many patients at the Butterfly Mansion then, so no one noticed she had returned. She went back to her room alone and quietly tidied up, then came out to help everyone. Seeing her act so strong, everyone felt heartbroken."
Kanzaki Aoi's emotions turned sorrowful as she spoke. She sighed. "If only I could help Lady Shinobu, too. It's a pity I can't even learn a Breathing Style, and I'm also afraid to face demons. If Lady Shinobu hadn't taken me in, I'd probably be homeless by now."
Su Chen smiled. "What you're doing now, isn't that helping Lady Shinobu?"
Kanzaki Aoi pursed her lips. "But..."
"There's no 'but.' I believe saving people is more important than killing demons," Su Chen said firmly. "If it weren't for you and everyone at the Butterfly Mansion, the Demon Slayer Corps might not even exist. The role you play is far greater than those half-baked slayers on the battlefield."
Kanzaki Aoi was stunned for a long while.
She finally understood why even Kanao was willing to speak. Hearing those words, she felt as if she had found salvation.
Kanzaki Aoi showed a subtle expression. "Mr. Su Chen, I understand. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Su Chen blinked and offered a smile.
Soon, the two returned to the ground floor. The sight before Su Chen immediately astonished him.
The Butterfly Mansion was filled with patients everywhere. The beds reserved for the Demon Slayer Corps members were all crowded.
Su Chen frowned and asked, "What's going on?"
Kanzaki Aoi sighed. "Demons have been appearing more frequently lately, and everyone has been a bit overwhelmed. If it were just that, it would be fine, but the demand for medicine is too great. The Butterfly Mansion's money is almost gone."
Su Chen asked with some confusion, "Isn't the Butterfly Mansion part of the Demon Slayer Corps' official departments? Didn't Oyakata-sama give the Butterfly Mansion money?"
"Mr. Su Chen, that's a long story. Since you want to know, I'll tell you everything I know." Kanzaki Aoi handed the medicine she had just taken from the basement to Kiyo, then slowly said, "The Butterfly Mansion has people who deliver the necessary medicines every month, but as for money... there isn't any. If the Butterfly Mansion needs funds, it's allocated according to the number of Hashira residing here."
Su Chen blinked. With his excellent comprehension, he immediately understood her meaning.
"You mean, the Butterfly Mansion currently only has one Hashira, Lady Shinobu, living here, so the funds are low?"
"That's roughly the idea," Kanzaki Aoi continued. "Actually, support staff like us at the Butterfly Mansion receive less compensation than regular Slayers, so our lives are a bit harder. Lady Shinobu is a Hashira, and her salary is much higher than ours. She uses part of the money for her experiments, and she distributes the rest to everyone as wages. But funding is tricky, because every Hashira has some support departments under them, and Oyakata-sama can't show favoritism."
Su Chen asked, "Does Oyakata-sama know about this?"
"No." Kanzaki Aoi shook her head. "Lady Shinobu is a very strong-willed person. Seeing Oyakata-sama working day and night, she doesn't want to trouble him."
Su Chen pressed his hand to his forehead.
Shinobu, Shinobu... you probably don't know that the Ubuyashiki family is rich, do you? The small amount of money you're trying to save isn't even a drop in the bucket for them.
Su Chen believed that the Ubuyashiki family could afford the funding. But Lady Shinobu was too proud. Su Chen couldn't just run up to her and say, "Hey, give me money!"
So, this matter became difficult.
"Mr. Su Chen, never mind that for now. Kiyo and the others are a bit overwhelmed," Kanzaki Aoi said, running off to make room for more patients. She needed to change and wash the bedding from the previous patients' beds.
In the vast Butterfly Mansion, Su Chen couldn't find anyone to talk to for a moment.
"I should practice my swordsmanship."
Su Chen found a wooden sword and then walked toward the courtyard behind the Butterfly Mansion. As he walked through the corridor, a graceful figure came into view.
Seeing Su Chen walk toward her, Kanao smiled sweetly, showing two dimples. "Mr. Su Chen."
"What's wrong?" Su Chen walked to Kanao's side.
Kanao suddenly asked, "Mr. Su Chen, you're competing with Mr. Shinazugawa tomorrow, aren't you?"
Su Chen was startled. He quickly calculated the time in his mind. It seemed that the match was indeed in the next two days.
"What about it?" Su Chen asked softly.
Kanao pursed her lips and asked nervously, "If Mr. Su Chen finishes the competition, will you... will you still stay at the Butterfly Mansion?"
"Of course. Where else would I go?" Su Chen said with a wry smile. "Live on the streets?"
Kanao hurriedly explained, "Of course not! I just... I worry that you don't like it here!"
"Well, that depends on whether Kanao welcomes me. If you don't agree, there's nothing I can do."
"I… I definitely agree." Kanao lowered her head, her face flushed. Her small hands were tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
Su Chen smiled and shook his head. This child... she blushes after just a few words.
Su Chen put his hand in his pocket. He pulled out a coin.
"Here, this is for you."
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