"Ha... So you actually joined the Demon Slayer Corps for this reason?"
After patiently listening to Mitsuri Kanroji's lengthy explanation, the corner of Shinobu Kocho's eye suddenly twitched.
She had seen many reasons—bearing grudges against demons, having no home to return to.
But this was the first time she had heard of someone joining the Demon Slayer Corps because they wanted a sense of belonging and to find a husband...
"Eh?!"
Being looked down upon by Shinobu, Mitsuri Kanroji immediately blushed and loudly defended herself:
"Shinobu! This is very important! You know, before joining the Demon Slayer Corps, I didn't have a single male friend around me!
"From childhood to adulthood, I haven't even had a single romance. I would even be rejected during matchmaking..."
"Uh, what I mean is, if it's just for this reason, Mitsuri, you could have completely gone to live abroad. There was no need to join the Demon Slayer Corps at all..."
"Eh? Go abroad?"
Meeting Mitsuri Kanroji's puzzled gaze, Shinobu sighed and explained:
"Not all countries in this world are like our country.
"Since the people here admire petite, cute girls who like to act spoiled, and exclude bold girls like you, then why don't you just go live in another country?
"It's not the period of national isolation anymore. Why insist on staying here and finding a man here?"
"Uh, this..."
"Seriously, Mitsuri, look at you—you're so beautiful, have such a good personality, and your figure is so outstanding.
"If you just changed countries, there would definitely be many boys chasing after you every day wanting to date you..."
"R-really..."
After being analyzed by Shinobu like this, Mitsuri Kanroji only felt somewhat dizzy, her brain unable to process it all.
So that's how it was...
So the real problem wasn't actually with her, but with the traditions that this country had admired since ancient times?
So if she just went abroad and changed places to live, she could actually live very happily?
Looking at her still in a daze, Shinobu sighed again and continued:
"Although it might be somewhat inappropriate for me to say this, I always feel that you were tricked by that demon slayer who called you to join the Demon Slayer Corps back then..."
"T-tricked? What do you mean?"
"I reckon he just saw that you had great strength, a sturdy body, and were very suitable to be a demon slayer, so he tried every possible way to get you to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Otherwise, I really can't figure out how someone could want a girl with a happy family to join the Demon Slayer Corps..."
Due to the Demon Slayer Corps' principle of external secrecy, ordinary people actually had great difficulty contacting demon slayers.
Those situations where contact was possible were usually either related to demons or truly coincidental encounters.
And Mitsuri Kanroji was the latter—she coincidentally came into contact with a certain demon slayer, and under his persuasion, decided to join the Demon Slayer Corps for various reasons...
Her family, the relatives around her—none had encountered demons. She had a very happy and fulfilling family.
Theoretically speaking, someone like her should not have been invited to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
After all, the mortality rate for demon slayers below Hashira rank had always been high. Unless one possessed strength comparable to a Hashira, basically they would die within a few years of joining.
Persuading a young girl with a happy family, both parents alive, and no grudge against demons to become a demon slayer, only to be killed by a demon a few years later—this was simply heinous!
"If you ask me, Mitsuri, you are actually the one who should leave the Demon Slayer Corps the most."
Looking at the contemplative Mitsuri Kanroji, Shinobu continued:
"You are different from Mr. Shinazugawa and the others. Your joining the Demon Slayer Corps was itself a very coincidental matter.
"Fortunately, you have great talent, so you've safely survived until today.
"But those Upper Ranks are not enemies that can be defeated by talent alone... Before them, the bit of talent you possess is simply insufficient to continue guaranteeing your safety.
"Right now, the greatest crisis is approaching. In the near future, many of us will very likely die.
"In the Demon Slayer Corps, you have never owed anyone anything, so you actually have no obligation to continue staying here and die together with everyone else, right?"
Shinobu's meaning was clear.
In the current Demon Slayer Corps, there were those like Sanemi Shinazugawa who, because of their hatred toward demons, were determined to stay until the end.
There were also those like Gyomei Himejima who, because of their loyalty to Ubuyashiki, decided to stay until the end.
But Mitsuri Kanroji had neither.
Compared to others in the Corps, she was even more like an "outsider"—the "outsider" who least should have appeared here.
"But... everyone is here now..."
Of course understanding Shinobu's meaning, Mitsuri Kanroji's expression was conflicted and pained.
"Everyone is here, how could I leave by myself..."
She of course knew that leaving at this moment was the choice she should make.
But with everyone deciding to stay here, the matter of her leaving alone... she simply couldn't do it.
Seeing her appearance, Shinobu only shook her head and sighed softly.
"Anyway, Mitsuri, think about it carefully yourself."
Standing up, Shinobu dusted off the back of her clothes and spoke no more.
"I still have some urgent matters and need to return to Tokyo first. If you need anything, you can come find me anytime."
"Mm..."
"..."
"Tanji, how's the situation?"
On the other side, at the Butterfly Mansion in the headquarters, Tanjiro had immediately rushed to visit Zenitsu, who was still lying in bed, after the meeting ended.
"The situation is very bad..."
Sitting on the chair beside the bed, Tanjiro sighed softly.
"According to Miss Tamayo, Tsugikuni Mitsuba's strength may be far stronger than we imagined.
"We... perhaps truly cannot win against her..."
"...Eh?"
This was the first time Zenitsu had heard such discouraging words from this close friend of his.
This was sufficient to illustrate just how desperate a situation the Demon Slayer Corps currently faced.
"Will we all die?"
He subconsciously asked.
"Mm, this is indeed very likely to be our final outcome."
"Eek?! T-then is it still too late for me to quit the Demon Slayer Corps now?!"
Facing Zenitsu's habitually spineless cowardly words, if it were the past Tanjiro, he would definitely have seriously corrected him at this moment.
But this time, he did not.
In his mind, he suddenly recalled Master's words during the meeting, letting everyone decide for themselves whether to stay or leave.
Tanjiro looked at the heavily injured Zenitsu before him and actually nodded gently.
"Sure, after this I'll submit an application to Master on your behalf to let you leave as soon as possible."
...
(The apocalypse approaches, and people's hearts begin to change...)