"That's right! It's him!"
Seeing that Akaza was able to reach this conclusion through his own reasoning, Shinobu Kocho clapped her hands excitedly:
"The Child of God of the Demon Slayer Corps! The legendary first and strongest Demon Slayer! Mitsuba's elder brother! Tsugikuni Yoriichi!
He! Is absolutely the person with the most abundant Yang energy in this world!
If the Blue Spider Lily truly exists in this world, then it must be growing on top of his grave!!"
And this! Was the conclusion Shinobu had reached after careful consideration these past few days!
From the perspective of mysticism, perhaps no one would have thought that Tsugikuni Yoriichi—the enemy most feared by the Demon King Muzan—would actually be the key to overcoming sunlight?!
How wonderfully strange the world can be.
"Wait, so that means..."
His gaze shifted to the two shovels in the duffel bag on the table. Akaza asked in disbelief:
"Shinobu, you plan to dig up a grave? Dig up this Tsugikuni Yoriichi's grave?"
It wasn't that Akaza was worried this Child of God, who had been dead for hundreds of years, would suddenly jump out of his grave and beat the two of them up.
He mainly felt that, after all, this Child of God was Mitsuba's elder brother. Doing something like this seemed a bit...
"Digging up graves would definitely be the last resort~"
When asked this, Shinobu suddenly replied somewhat embarrassedly:
"Based on my speculation, the Blue Spider Lily would most likely be growing around this Child of God's grave.
If nothing unexpected happens, we shouldn't need to dig up the grave..."
"B-but what if something unexpected does happen?"
Hakuji subconsciously asked, his voice trembling slightly.
This wasn't trembling out of fear for that Child of God, but for Mitsuba.
His intuition told him that if he really dared to go with Shinobu and a shovel to dig up Tsugikuni Yoriichi's grave, he would absolutely experience the most "affectionate" care Mitsuba had ever given him in his entire demonic life.
Of course, he meant the kind of affection that involved wooden sticks.
"Hakuji, do you know?"
Still wearing a smile on her face, her eyes suddenly became pitch black, as if they could capture one's soul.
Shinobu placed her hand on her chest, leaned down slightly, and moved close to the terrified Akaza, whispering with a smile:
"I, as long as I can help Mitsuba overcome her weakness to sunlight and live happily, am willing to do anything. Do you understand?"
"O-oh, I see..."
[So heavy! Shinobu, you've suddenly become so heavy!]
For some inexplicable reason, feeling a chill down his spine, Akaza was stared at by Shinobu until he was practically shrinking into a ball on his chair.
"The location of the Child of God's grave—you should be able to ask Mitsuba about that, right?
You must have some means to communicate with Mitsuba immediately, don't you?"
"Yes, of course I do!"
Nodding like a pecking chicken, Akaza mustered his courage and raised his hand in a small voice:
"Um, Shinobu, I was just wondering... is it too late for me to back out now?"
"I'll kill you, okay?"
"Okay, let's go. We'll set off immediately."
"Excellent! Then let's not waste any time! We'll depart right away!"
Instantly returning to normal, Shinobu smiled as she hoisted the duffel bag onto her back, shoved an umbrella into Akaza's arms, and pushed open the door to leave.
[What a terrifying woman...]
Raising his hand to wipe away the nonexistent sweat on his forehead, Akaza felt an inexplicable sense of relief, as if he had survived a disaster.
Could everyone around Mitsuba be women like this?
Just thinking about it felt terrifying...
[As expected, Koyuki is the only truly good girl in this world...]
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Akaza contacted Mitsuba through their mental connection while quickly walking out the door to catch up with Shinobu.
"..."
"Strange..."
In another location, Osaka Prefecture, Mitsuba, who had been leisurely relaxing in the lounge with Muzan, suddenly furrowed her brows slightly.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Not far away, the courtesan Muzan, who was applying makeup while looking into a mirror, asked upon hearing this.
"It's nothing much. It's just that Hakuji suddenly asked me where my elder brother's grave is, but wouldn't tell me the specific reason. It feels a bit strange..."
Mitsuba replied casually, but her words made Muzan's hand holding the mirror tremble violently.
Of course she knew whose grave Mitsuba was referring to. After all, she now only had one elder brother who would need a grave.
Shaking her head to dispel that red figure from her mind, Muzan pressed further:
"Did Akaza say nothing at all?"
"Yeah, he just said he was curious and wanted to visit, but I have a feeling that boy is hiding something from me..."
More than a decade ago, after the Kamado family had moved away, Mitsuba had quietly relocated Yoriichi's grave back to that mountain cabin, placing it right next to the grave of that Tsugikuni Uta.
Relying on her parental intuition, Mitsuba had a feeling that Hakuji wanted to hide something from her and do something.
She just couldn't figure out—what could he possibly do at her elder brother Yoriichi's grave?
Surely he wasn't inexplicably planning to go dig up her elder brother Yoriichi's grave?
No, no, no, that was too absurd. It was completely impossible...
"Forget it, I'll make a temporary trip back to Tokyo."
Unable to figure it out after thinking for so long, Mitsuba decided not to think anymore and instead go back directly to see what was going on.
"That's good."
At this, Muzan nodded approvingly, not forgetting to add:
"Since you're going back this time, take care of the Demon Slayer Corps matters while you're at it before returning."
My little ancestor! I've finally been waiting for you to go back!
This time, no matter what, I have to make you finish the proper business before coming back!
"I know~ I'll pay attention to it when the time comes~
Oh, and as for the band, Your Lordship, just tell them that I have some family matters at home and need to go back for a few days.
I've also arranged the band's performances for the next while. The detailed proposal is in my drawer. Remember to take a look when the time comes."
Standing up and putting on her outer garment, Mitsuba replied casually.
She even turned around and, like a child instructing her own mother, gave Muzan instructions about the band.
"Not just pay attention to it! You must seriously take care of it!"
Muzan corrected her seriously.
At this, Mitsuba merely waved her hand and left through the door.
"Okay, okay, I know, I know~ Well then, I'll be going now. Call me anytime if you need anything..."
Today, Muzan was once again a powerless mother...
"..."
"Big brother! I want to eat that! That one!"
On the other side, on the streets of Tokyo, the blazing sun hung high in the sky.
Tanjiro, who had been given time off, brought his younger brothers and sisters along to Tokyo for fun.
For Tanjiro, who was born in the Demon Slayer Corps and grew up there, taking his siblings out to play like this was actually his first time.
Perhaps... also his last...
Thinking this, Tanjiro's eyes suddenly dimmed somewhat.
As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, of course he understood what Master Oyakata-sama's actions meant.
If nothing unexpected happened, these short two days might be his final time spent with his family...