I, the spiritual mentor of beautiful girls from all over the world

It was so fast that, in his perception, it felt as if dozens of Shinobu Kocho were launching deadly attacks at him simultaneously from different angles!

"Uh……"

The sick leaf opened its mouth wide, but couldn't even utter a complete scream.

next second.

boom--!

An irresistible, terrifying energy, filled with extreme hatred and deadly poison, erupted within his body, centered on those dozens of wounds!

His entire body looked like an ice sculpture that had been submerged in aqua regia.

From the inside out, it was rapidly and thoroughly melted, decomposed, and evaporated by that cold, toxic substance!

Amidst endless pain and extreme fear of that purple figure, Lower Moon Three, Byakuya, couldn't even leave behind a decent last word before turning into a handful of ashes and dissipating in the night wind.

The battle is over.

From start to finish, it didn't even take a minute.

Shinobu Kocho slowly sheathed her sword and stood quietly in place.

Looking at the masterpiece she had created, at the Nichirin Blade that remained spotless and unstained by a single drop of blood, she felt no surge of vengeful pleasure.

No.

Not at all.

Killing a Lower Moon is like completing a simple pop quiz for her now.

Inside her heart, there was only an unprecedented peace, and a stronger, almost greedy, desire for something else.

That was a thirst for "knowledge".

It is a thirst for "power".

It was also a longing for the man who had given her all of this.

She slowly raised her head, her cold purple eyes gazing at the pale moon, as if they could pierce through the endless night sky to see that eternally peaceful safe haven where she would forever await her return.

I saw that godlike man who always wore a slightly lazy smile.

On her frozen, beautiful face, a faint yet infinitely devout smile slowly appeared.

Those amethyst-like eyes were filled with an unyielding, burning trust and affection.

She murmured softly, in a voice only she could hear.

"teacher."

"I have finished your assignment."

"But..."

"That's far from enough."

Chapter 26: Instantly Killing a Lower Moon! The Demon Slayer Corps' Worldview Collapses!

When Giyu Tomioka stepped into this forest, even with his usually calm and collected demeanor, he couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.

The air was thick with the nauseating, bloody stench of evil spirits, so strong it was almost tangible, clinging stickily to every single leaf.

The members of the "hidden" unit following behind him were even paler than before, some of them even covering their mouths to suppress the urge to vomit.

The scene was like a hellish abyss.

Several mutilated corpses of Demon Slayer Corps members lay scattered on the ground in extremely distorted positions, as if they had been gnawed by wild beasts, their blood staining the black soil a dark red.

But the most bizarre thing is not the bloody scene.

Rather, it was the traces of battle at the scene.

Too little.

So few, almost none.

Apart from some strange black pits on the ground that looked like they had been corroded by strong acid, the surrounding trees were all intact.

This doesn't resemble a fierce battle against the Lower Moon of the Twelve Demon Moons at all.

It was more like a... one-sided, cruel execution.

“Reporting to Lord Water Pillar! No remains of the demon were found…” a member of “Hidden” reported in a trembling voice, “Only… only in the central area were these ashes found.”

Giyu Tomioka's gaze fell on that area.

A small handful of fine, wind-blown ashes.

This is the only trace left after the evil spirit was completely destroyed.

There wasn't even the slightest sign of struggle.

A slight ripple stirred within Giyu Tomioka's heart.

The "pillars" that came to provide support to this extent must be of extraordinary strength.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze searching through the woods.

Then, he saw it.

Not far away, a petite figure stood quietly on a treetop, letting the night breeze flutter her butterfly-patterned haori.

It's Shinobu Kocho.

Seeing that she was safe and sound, Yoshiyuki Tomioka felt a sense of relief.

But the next second, a strange chill crept up his spine.

Not right.

Something's very wrong with Shinobu Kocho in front of me.

She simply stood there quietly, not looking at anyone, her beautiful purple eyes calmly gazing at the cold, clear moon on the horizon.

The gentle smile that she used to forcefully imitate her sister was gone from her face.

The lingering, unyielding sorrow that always clung to her brow after losing a loved one was also gone.

Instead, there is an extreme, chilling coldness and deathly stillness that makes one's soul tremble.

It was like a peerless, deadly blade that had just drunk its fill of blood, been wiped clean, and sheathed again.

He concealed all his sharpness, but also subsided all his killing intent.

"Butterfly……"

Just as Yoshiyuki Tomioka was about to speak.

Shinobu Kocho seemed to sense his gaze and gracefully drifted down from the treetop, her movements silent and still, like a purple leaf falling.

She walked up to Yoshiyuki Tomioka, nodded slightly, and spoke in a flat tone devoid of any emotion.

"Lord Water Column".

"Mission accomplished. Lower Moon Three, Disease Leaf, confirmed kill."

"Time taken: 47 seconds."

"The demon's regenerative ability failed to activate, and I interrupted the Blood Demon Art at its initial stage. Its physical strength is lower than expected, and its toxin resistance is almost zero. The combat data has been recorded, and I will submit a detailed report."

Her voice was cool, flat, and full of logic.

It's like a researcher stating the results of an ordinary experiment.

Giyu Tomioka was completely stunned.

He looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar delicate face before him, at those calm, abyss-like purple eyes, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Is this really... Shinobu Kocho, who, because of her lack of strength, had to rely on poison and couldn't even sever a demon's neck?

This chilling aura...

This terrifying rationality that completely quantifies combat...

What exactly happened to her?

……

Three days later, at the Ubuyashiki residence.

An informal, emergency "pillar meeting" is underway.

Those present were the true core fighting force of the Demon Slayer Corps.

The Wind Pillar, Sanemi Shinazugawa. His chest was exposed, and his scarred face was filled with arrogance and disdain.

Flame Pillar, Rengoku Kyojuro. He sat upright with his arms crossed, and an inextinguishable flame burned in his bright eyes.

Sound Pillar, Yuzui Tengen. He rested his chin on his hand, his posture flamboyant, his makeup and jeweled headband gleaming in the sunlight, exuding extreme ostentation.

And then there's Giyu Tomioka, the Water Column who just returned from the mission site, still wearing that asymmetrical haori.

In the courtyard, a figure was kneeling.

The falling chestnut blossoms are so fragrant.

When the messenger, "Yin," read out the outrageous battle report word by word...

An eerie silence filled the entire courtyard.

"what?!"

The first to break the silence was the hot-tempered Sanemi Shinazugawa.

He suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead, his fierce face filled with an expression that said, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"What did you say? That little girl from the Butterfly family? She single-handedly defeated Lower Moon Three? In less than a minute?!"

"What a joke!"

He grabbed the "hidden" by the collar, spitting almost onto the other man's face.

"Do you even know what a Lower Moon demon is?! That little girl can't even cut the neck of an ordinary demon, how is she going to kill a Lower Moon?! With that needle-like knife of hers?!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa's voice was so violent it sounded like he wanted to devour someone.

He admitted that Shinobu Kocho was very fast and had a great talent for using poison.

But her lack of actual skill is her biggest weakness!

It's not something that can be made up for by sheer willpower.

Instantly defeating the lower moon?

This record is so impressive, even the King of Hell would give you a thumbs up and then ask you how much you drank last night.

"Hmm!" Rengoku Kyojuro's loud voice rang out, as he maintained his upright posture, his eyes filled with sincere admiration.

"This is truly remarkable! The growth of the Butterfly Girl is truly gratifying! This must be the result of her tireless efforts and courageous sword-wielding!"

He tried to explain it using his own passionate logic.

But as he talked, even he himself felt that something was wrong.

Work hard? Who doesn't work hard?

Can hard work really boost your fighting power like a rocket in just a few days, allowing you to instantly defeat the lower moon?

What's the point of having these "pillars" then? Everyone should just go home and work hard in seclusion.

"Oh?"

Yuzui Tengen stroked his smooth chin, his wine-red eyes sparkling with interest, his tone both ornate and flamboyant.

"This doesn't sound glamorous at all."

"Did it suddenly transform from an elegant butterfly fluttering among the flowers into a deadly queen bee that stings without leaving a trace?"

"Hmm... although the process was simple and unpretentious, the result was quite spectacular."

"I'm starting to get interested in her. How did she manage such a glamorous transformation?"

Just then, Giyu Tomioka, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

His voice remained deep, yet carried an undeniable weight.