Chapter 67: Kocho Shinobu
Shinobu had expected the boy to show at least a sliver of embarrassment or awkwardness after she "caught him in the act" with Seiko.
Instead, he didn't look flustered at all. He behaved as if everything was perfectly normal. And then, he delivered a line that was cold enough to frost over the entire station.
"Who... the hell... are you...?"
The polite, practiced smile on the girl's face froze. Her wisteria-colored eyes widened in pure shock before igniting with fury.
"I am Kocho Shinobu!"
"Kanae's younger sister!"
Her sweet voice suddenly spiked in volume, and her small hands, hidden behind her back, clenched into white-knuckled fists.
Her sister had mentioned Natsuya multiple times in her letters, treating him as a trustworthy friend. She had shared her daily life at the Butterfly Mansion and details about her missions with him. Kanae had even specifically written a letter recently mentioning that Shinobu would be passing through Yokohama, hoping Natsuya would look after her.
Not only had this man failed to reply to a single letter, but he didn't even recognize her!
Fine, you didn't recognize me, Shinobu thought. But where are your basic manners?! Even if we're strangers, shouldn't you use formal honorifics?!
Natsuya, meanwhile, performed a rapid-fire mental search.
Kanae?
Oh, right. The Flower Breathing user. The one I healed after the logging camp raid.
So this little girl was her sister? Natsuya looked her over. Yeah... she does look like a miniature version of Kanae. But the personality...
It was hard to reconcile this "Sassy Brat" energy with the gentle, serene girl he'd shared BBQ with.
"If you're Kanae's sister, what are you doing here?" Natsuya asked bluntly.
Shinobu sensed the "What's your purpose?" clinical tone in his voice, and her annoyance doubled. She whipped a flower-scented envelope out of her uniform and shoved it toward Natsuya with enough force to make the paper whistle.
"HERE! A letter from my sister!"
"Since you're apparently too busy to reply to anything, I delivered it myself. You can't claim you 'didn't receive' it this time!"
Her tone was rigid. The "sweet girl" act she'd used when she first spoke was gone, replaced by unfiltered irritation.
"I suppose Nee-san didn't need to worry about you being 'lonely' after all! Hmph!"
Natsuya took the letter.
"A letter?"
He remembered his Senior Brother occasionally handing him stacks of mail. Aside from the ones from his "Cheap Master" and the boys at Mt. Sagiri, the rest were... well, they were currently acting as a paperweight in the corner of his room.
Shinobu was sensitive enough to catch the shift in Natsuya's expression. A terrible realization dawned on her.
"You... you haven't read any of them, have you?!"
Those were letters her sister had spent hours carefully drafting during the brief gaps between her life-and-death missions!
"I've read letters," Natsuya countered defensively. Technically true. I read Seiko's and the Old Man's.
Maybe I should go back and actually look through that pile in the corner...
"So you just play 'Heartfelt Farewells' with other Slayers and push the replies to the back of your head? I see," Shinobu snapped.
She gave Natsuya one last murderous glare, turned on her heel, and marched away without looking back. She decided she'd much rather spend time with a "Reliable Adult" than this socially stunted block of wood.
Natsuya looked at the envelope in his hand. It was still warm and smelled like frustration. He opened it.
[To: Kokonoe Natsuya-kun]
I hope this letter finds you well. I apologize for writing so frequently...
Unlike the letters from the boys or Seiko, Kanae's handwriting was exceptionally elegant and precise. It radiated her natural warmth. You could almost see her sitting by a lamp, choosing her words carefully, stroke by stroke.
The letter started with a gentle greeting and a reminder for Natsuya to take care of his health while training for Total Concentration: Constant. She urged him not to be too hard on himself.
Then, she mentioned that her sister, Shinobu, would be passing through Yokohama on her way to a mission. She asked Natsuya to look after her and be patient. She warned him that Shinobu was "spirited" and could be "blunt with her words," but that she was a good child at heart who just had a bit of a temper.
At the very end, there was a small postscript:
[The Kasugai Crows have delivered several letters to you previously. I wonder if they arrived safely?]
Natsuya felt a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"I'll reply. Immediately," he muttered.
He realized his modern preference for "Instant Messaging" made him a terrible pen-pal in an era that relied on birds. Otherwise, he would have "Holiday Group-Chat Spammed" this girl a long time ago.
When Natsuya returned to the Igarashi estate, clutching the letter, he found Igarashi Uzen already packed and standing at the gate. Shinobu was there too, arms crossed, still looking like she wanted to kick someone.
"Senior, are we heading out?" Natsuya asked, eyeing the large travel pack.
This didn't look like a local patrol that would have them back by dinner. The Nine Hashira usually managed their own vast territories. Unless there was an emergency meeting at HQ, they only moved like this for high-priority targets.
"Did a Slayer squad get wiped out?" Natsuya pressed.
Igarashi nodded. "It's Gunma Prefecture. It should have been Lord Rengoku's responsibility, but he has some family matters to attend to..."
Igarashi trailed off, deciding the details of the Flame Hashira's personal life weren't for a junior's ears.
"Rumors of a 'Plague Demon' have surfaced in a town there. The investigative team has gone dark. Lady Kocho and I are heading there now."
"What rank were the missing Slayers?"
If it were just a group of Mizunoto or Kanoe, they wouldn't send a Hashira.
"An Otsu (Rank 2) swordsman led the team. I know the boy; he's highly capable. A standard demon—even one with a Blood Demon Art—shouldn't have been able to silence him without a trace."
Natsuya's eyes lit up with "Gamer Greed." "Is it a Twelve Kizuki?"
Igarashi nodded grimly. "We can't rule it out. The Kakushi suspect either a very unique Blood Demon Art or a Lower Moon."
Natsuya immediately raised his hand. "Uzen-senpai! Take me with you!"
He used my name correctly as soon as a Boss appeared, Igarashi noted with a wry smile.
The Hashira thought for a moment. Although Natsuya was officially a Tsuchinoe (Rank 5), his actual combat power was already superior to most Cultivators. Even if they encountered a Lower Moon, he had the stats to survive.
Actually, the demon might be the one in trouble, Igarashi thought.
Plus, the kid was a decent medic.
"Natsuya, you will come. Consider this your final exam for Constant. Your first priority is survival. And..."
He turned to the petite Shinobu. "Please look after Lady Kocho. Do not let her come to harm."
Immediately, both Natsuya and Shinobu spoke at once.
"Wait, Senior. We're bringing the midget?"
"Lord Igarashi! I don't need protection from him!"
They glared at each other. Natsuya looked skeptical; Shinobu puffed out her cheeks in fury.
Igarashi blinked. "You two... know each other?"
Natsuya: "She's... a friend's sister. I think."
Shinobu: "I don't know him! And what do you mean 'I think'?! You skirt-chaser!"
They definitely know each other, Igarashi smiled. He turned to Natsuya to explain.
"Natsuya, do not be fooled by her age. Lady Kocho is highly skilled."
"Don't look down on her."
Natsuya glanced at the girl who barely reached his shoulder. Her Power Level was 40—very high for her age, but they were going to a zone that ate Rank 2 Slayers.
Based on Dojima (Rank 4) and Nikaido (Rank 1), a demon capable of eating a Rank 2 squad would need stats of at least 180+. If it was a Twelve Kizuki...
Natsuya figured one stray shockwave from the Boss would probably delete this girl from the server.
Noticing Natsuya's doubt, Igarashi added, "She is a prodigy in Pharmacology. This mission involves potential infections and poisoning. She is the most vital member of this team."
Natsuya paused. Oh. So she's the 'Support-Spec' Elite. My bad.
Shinobu let out a tiny "Hmph!", tilted her chin up, and flashed a forced, sugary-sweet smile.
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you