"Butterfly, I don't seem to see any Blue Spider Lily..."
In the woods near the mountain cabin, Akaza held up his umbrella and circled the weed-covered grave several times. After confirming he hadn't missed anything, he turned to look at Shinobu Kocho beside him.
"So, should we start digging now?"
As he said this, Akaza's body trembled uncontrollably.
Yes, he was afraid, but this wasn't fear of that Child of God.
If His Lordship had said these words, there might have been a chance he was being insincere, but Akaza truly wasn't.
Compared to the Child of God who had died hundreds of years ago, he feared Mitsuba, who had lived for hundreds of years, even more.
Hakuji here is really risking his life to accompany a gentleman today~
"Don't rush. It's not time yet."
Rubbing her chin as she examined the withered grave, Shinobu replied calmly.
"What do you mean?"
"According to my speculation, the Blue Spider Lily, as something of ultimate Yang nature, would only bloom during the time of year when sunlight is at its strongest. You definitely wouldn't be able to see it at other times."
"I see. So when is the period of strongest sunlight?"
Akaza asked curiously.
Although Shinobu's words had no scientific basis whatsoever, he had already grown accustomed to it.
"Based on calculations I had the geography professor next door do, it should be within these next two days."
Saying this, Shinobu turned and walked toward the dilapidated cabin nearby.
"So for the next few days, we'll need to temporarily stay here and keep constant watch over this grave... Come on, let's clean up this house first."
"W-wait! Stay here?"
Hearing this, Akaza immediately panicked.
"That's impossible! I still have to go back and teach my students!"
"Huh?"
Shinobu turned back and looked at him in disbelief.
"What time is it now, Hakuji, and you're still thinking about teaching? Have you really read yourself stupid?"
"As a teacher, how could I..."
"Please! We're looking for the Blue Spider Lily right now, okay?
This is a once-a-year opportunity! If we miss this time, we'll have to wait another whole year!
Hakuji, could you bear to let our lovely Koyuki wait another year for you?"
Koyuki?
Koyuki!
The power of love instantly dispersed the teacher's ethics from his mind. The moment he heard Koyuki's name, Akaza's expression became completely resolute.
"That's right, the top priority right now is finding the Blue Spider Lily.
Let's go, Shinobu, let's hurry up and clean the house... Also, should I go down to the town at the foot of the mountain to buy you some daily necessities?"
"Wow, you really do completely change the moment you hear Koyuki's name... Then I'll trouble you. Go early and return early."
"No problem. I'll leave the observation and research tasks to you."
Akaza nodded firmly, then strode off with determined steps toward the town at the foot of the mountain.
Watching him leave, Shinobu sighed softly.
Sitting down on a relatively flat rock nearby, she stared unblinkingly at the withered grave before her and said in a low voice:
"I hope my guess is correct..."
"..."
Time continued to pass. As the Demon Slayer Corps' two-day holiday ended, Tamayo's drug research was also completely finished.
Since the entire research process was led by her, with Kanae and Shinobu only assisting, no one in the entire Demon Slayer Corps knew exactly how many drugs she had developed targeting Muzan.
According to Tamayo, this was also a necessary precaution against Tsugikuni Mitsuba's Blood Demon Art.
Regarding this, Ubuyashiki gave her his full trust.
At the same time, with the conclusion of the drug research, it meant the Demon Slayer Corps had completed their final preparations before the decisive battle.
At this moment when every day of delay could cause another person to waver, Ubuyashiki didn't hesitate at all. Without any delay, he immediately opened the curtain on this decisive battle.
[So, Doma, you're saying you discovered the location of the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters?]
In Tokyo at night, inside a certain apartment property under the Eternal Bliss name.
Mitsuba, who hadn't gone to find Akaza and Shinobu but was instead guarding Kaigaku's transformation into a demon, suddenly received contact from Doma.
[That's right, Holy Maiden. Just these past two days, many Demon Slayers have been gathering there, not even hiding their movements. The commotion was so big it made the local newspaper headlines~]
[Do you think that Mr. Ubuyashiki might be hidden in that headquarters?]
Hearing his words, Mitsuba first blinked in confusion, then immediately smiled.
[Not might be, but definitely is.]
[Huh?]
[I see. I've been wondering all this time—after they finished their preparations, what method they would use to initiate the decisive battle against us... To think they would directly use themselves as bait?]
[As always, this is the Ubuyashiki clan I know.]
Making a jest with a smile, Mitsuba stood up from the sofa.
[Doma, go tell that pretty good son of yours to get ready. We should move... Nakime, send me back.]
As her words fell, Mitsuba no longer slowly relied on human transportation. Instead, she returned directly to Osaka Prefecture through the Infinity Castle.
It was currently night. The all-girl band that Muzan was in was about to begin another new performance.
In the backstage lounge, Mitsuba found the courtesan Muzan sitting alone in the lounge tuning her instrument strings. She got straight to the point:
"Lord Muzan, Ubuyashiki has sent us an invitation."
"Oh?"
The hand playing with the strings paused slightly. Muzan turned to look at Mitsuba.
"Explain in detail. What's the situation?"
"Doma discovered a headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps. Large numbers of Demon Slayers are gathering there.
Lord Muzan, this is without a doubt an invitation from Ubuyashiki.
He wants to use this method of actively exposing himself to attract you there, but I don't recommend you do this."
"Why?"
"Because we are very clear about the gap between Demon Slayers and ourselves, and Ubuyashiki is equally clear.
Following the Demon Slayer Corps' consistent style, they must have arranged a trap, waiting for you to step into it willingly.
Therefore, I suggest that I go to meet with Ubuyashiki in your place and initiate this decisive battle."
"Hmph... Hahahaha!"
Hearing Mitsuba's words, Muzan couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh heartily.
"Little Mitsuba, have you ever heard this saying:
When the opera reaches its finale, the protagonist must stand upon the stage."