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The Butterfly Mansion had quite a few cutting-edge devices imported from the West. Looked extremely precise and expensive.
Like a country bumpkin who'd never seen the world, I looked here, glanced there, felt their equipment was more complete than Tamayo's place.
Made sense. With the Ubuyashikis' financial resources and connections supporting them, buying these rare gadgets would indeed be much more convenient than for Tamayo.
I'd also done regular checkups before. But Kanae said doctors in the past could only analyze symptoms from pulse and external appearance. Couldn't conduct deeper research.
So I cooperated with them, redid a checkup at the Butterfly Mansion.
On the way to the examination room following Kanae, I even saw a little girl sitting in the corridor, staring blankly at the sky.
That appearance reminded me of Ritsuka. Couldn't help looking a few more times.
Kanae noticed, beckoned the girl over, said to me: "This is Kanao. A child Shinobu and I brought back recently. She's not very good at talking. Come, Kanao, say hello to Miss Chihaya, okay?"
Kanao wore a side ponytail, a butterfly hairpin similar to the sisters' clipped in her hair. A pair of large eyes stared at me fixedly for a moment, then she lowered her head and fumbled in her pocket.
She found a coin, tossed it up then caught it in her palm. Only after seeing the result did she say to me: "Hello."
I patted her head. Could tell she was very shy. After placing a small bag of candy in her hand, I left.
Shinobu seemed worried I'd blame them. On the way, she explained: "That child came from a bad background, very severely malnourished, was abused by her family, so her personality is rather introverted. Please don't take offense."
I nodded lightly, followed her into the examination room, sat down to watch her prepare the necessary tools.
After a short while, Kanae also followed in.
They didn't do anything special. After taking my blood, Shinobu turned around and began some operations with instruments I couldn't understand.
While Kanae continued examining my facial features, measuring heartbeat and pulse, chatting with me.
Speaking of Ume and Gyutaro, she couldn't help pondering: "In other words, these two received both your blood and Muzan's blood? Could you please ask them to also come for an examination? I think their blood state should differ from yours."
The Kocho sisters were very beautiful. Ume probably wouldn't reject associating with them... but Shinobu's wariness and dislike were too obvious. Gyutaro would definitely be unhappy.
He originally didn't like the Demon Slayer Corps either. Even his relationship with Kagaya was very ordinary. If they quarreled, that wouldn't be good.
I tactfully explained this point to Kanae. She nodded understandingly: "You can ask their opinions. If they're willing to visit, I'll definitely receive them well. As for Shinobu, I won't let her appear. Please rest assured."
Shinobu busied herself with her work, didn't make a sound. Probably tacitly approved her sister's arrangement.
But Kanae fell into thought again, as if muttering to herself: "If they didn't receive Muzan's blood, demons directly transformed by you—what state would they be in? Where would the differences between the two lie? If only we could obtain samples... Otherwise, why don't you turn me into a demon to see?"
I opened my mouth, didn't know how to answer. Shinobu, who'd seemed deaf just now, angrily turned around and shouted: "Sister! What are you saying!"
Seeing she seemed truly angry, Kanae quickly softened her tone: "Okay, okay, I'm joking, Shinobu..."
Shinobu grew even angrier: "How can you joke about such things! Whether they eat humans or not, demons are demons!"
"Shinobu!" Kanae's tone suddenly became stern. "Don't say such things. You're being too rude!"
Shinobu immediately fell silent, looked at me with a vexed expression. Her momentum also weakened: "I'm sorry..."
Only then did I belatedly react. Gently waved my hand: "It's fine, it's fine. This is nothing. What she said wasn't excessive at all."
Kanae still looked apologetic: "It's my failure in discipline. I'm very sorry she said discourteous words to you. But please believe—we absolutely have no intention of viewing you and those two demon companions as existences like Muzan."
This type of topic was probably a sensitive issue within the Demon Slayer Corps. I didn't care about others' opinions... but Ume and Gyutaro indeed shouldn't suffer such prejudice.
So I accepted Kanae's apology.
The blood analysis results would take some time to come out. I took my leave first.
Before leaving, Shinobu followed Kanae to see me off. I thought about it and still said to her: "I'll ask Ume and Taro's opinions. If they're willing to cooperate with the experiments, when they come to the Butterfly Mansion next time, please treat them as normal people."
At least, if Shinobu didn't change this attitude, I couldn't send Koyuki here.
Kanae nodded seriously: "Yes, if we can't do this, I won't shamelessly trouble you again either."
Shinobu's expression fell. Obviously after I left, she'd still have to face a "storm."
When gentle people lose their temper, it's quite terrifying.
Therefore, after returning to the Ubuyashiki estate, I felt somewhat guilty seeing Kagaya.
Kagaya was somewhat unwell. After taking medicine, he'd been resting in bed.
But he still keenly looked in my direction, smiled: "Lady Chihaya, is there something you want to tell me?"
Oh well, forget it. Worst case, just write another self-criticism!
I dawdled over to the bedside, gently poked the back of his hand: "Are you alright? Is your body very uncomfortable?"
Before, I'd never accompanied an Ubuyashiki child growing up like this, never seen how their bodies deteriorated day by day.
"It's fine. You needn't worry too much about me." Kagaya lowered his head to glance at the cord on his wrist, joked with me: "My body can still hold on. Please rest assured—no matter what you want to tell me, I won't faint."
Why so perceptive! Give me some face!
Since he said that, naturally I still haltingly confessed what I'd done.
I said I'd sent a spy to Muzan's side—Upper Rank Three. Also said I'd created another demon who hadn't received Muzan's blood.
Kagaya listened silently. The expression on his face never changed from beginning to end.
Only after I finished did he nod: "Your considerations are very thorough. Lord Akaza, correct? Without certainty of victory, indeed we cannot use his power. Only you and I know this matter. Please don't reveal it further."
Meaning even Amane and the Nine Pillars must be kept in the dark. I agreed.
"You suddenly told me this matter because you experienced something at the Butterfly Mansion, right?"
"Kanae wants to do blood comparison experiments." I said. "The only demon who's received only my blood is Koyuki. I don't want to create a new demon for this. But I can't easily let her come out."
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