Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 63: Makomo's Request

After the selection results were announced, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, received the news immediately. At this time, his eyes were not yet fully blind, and the scars on his face were not too pronounced.

The curse's erosion of his body was not yet severe.

"This selection produced an interesting young man, one so young yet possessing such strength."

Listening to the information revealed by the Kasugai Crow, Kagaya, seated in the veranda of the courtyard, said with relief, "So, he is Gyomei's adopted son? His Stone Breathing finally has a successor. That's wonderful..."

"I hope this young man's appearance can bring some slight change to this war that has lasted for a thousand years."

The empty courtyard echoed with silence. No one responded to Kagaya Ubuyashiki's hopeful words. He said similar things after every final selection.

Before returning to the temple, Chu Yang, who had officially become a swordsman, made a stop at the Butterfly Mansion to deliver the news to Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho, who had saved his life.

However, Makomo, who had arrived at the Butterfly Mansion earlier, had already shared everything she could, leaving Kanae amazed at the entire final selection process.

"We're going to be busy now. This kid nearly wiped out all the demons in Fujikasane Mountain. We'll have to catch a new batch to put in there," Kanae said with a mix of praise and helplessness. The Butterfly Mansion was full of injured people, and she couldn't leave.

"Even though it's a place for the final selection, it's surprising that such strong demons appeared there. No wonder the survival rate was so low in the past. If we had noticed earlier, many people might have survived," young Shinobu couldn't help but complain to her sister.

"Shinobu, while this may seem cruel, it's something all Demon Slayer Corps members must experience. Once we become official members, we often have to face such brutality. It could happen to ordinary people or even to ourselves."

Kanae advised earnestly, "Even though you're an official member, you've always stayed here at the Butterfly Mansion with me and haven't experienced these things yet. But that doesn't mean you can remain so naive."

"Understood, sister." Shinobu, who had not yet faced life and death, stuck her tongue out playfully at her sister, her demeanor still lively and cheerful.

Seeing that Shinobu didn't take her words seriously, Kanae could only shake her head helplessly.

While the two sisters were talking, Chu Yang had already pushed open the door of the Butterfly Mansion. Just as he was about to greet them, an irritated Kanae ordered him to the bath to wash off the filth on his body.

This was a place for treating the wounded, and the last thing they needed was for someone like Chu Yang, covered in blood and grime, to come in and potentially cause an infection.

Chu Yang, accustomed to the smell of blood, hadn't realized this. In the past, he couldn't tolerate being dirty, but now it barely registered.

When Chu Yang emerged clean from the bath, the sun had already set quietly. As twilight descended, the aroma of dinner filled the Butterfly Mansion.

"Familiar dinnertime," Chu Yang thought.

Having stayed at the Butterfly Mansion for a week, Chu Yang was familiar with its layout and didn't need anyone to guide him to the dining hall.

Makomo, with both her legs in casts, sat alone at the dining table. When she saw Chu Yang, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Are you going to sit here?" Makomo's eyes widened as she stared at Chu Yang with a hopeful gaze.

Chu Yang clicked his tongue in slight reluctance but walked over anyway. Even though they had spent seven days together on Fujikasane Mountain, Makomo still harbored some resentment, having thought he was a pervert. That anger hadn't entirely dissipated.

In truth, the two hadn't really spent seven days together. Makomo had spent most of that time drifting in and out of sleep on Chu Yang's back, while Chu Yang was busy killing demons. They hadn't even spoken, and Makomo had felt too awkward to initiate conversation after misunderstanding Chu Yang as a bad person. As a result, they went the entire seven days without saying a word.

It wasn't until the selection ended that Makomo was brought to the Butterfly Mansion by the Kakushi.

"How are you?" Chu Yang casually sat next to her and glanced at her leg injury, thinking it seemed rather serious.

"I'm okay. Kanae-sama said that with proper treatment, I won't have any long-term issues." Having survived a near-death experience, Makomo was very happy, her eyes curving into crescents. "If you had come any later, I might have been crippled."

"That's good," Chu Yang nodded, relieved, and then asked, "How long until you fully recover?"

Makomo's smile faded slightly, but she tried hard to maintain it as she replied, "I'll be able to remove the casts in three months, but it'll take another month of rehabilitation to regain full mobility."

"To think I'll spend the first four months as an official member here at the Butterfly Mansion…"

At this point, Makomo hesitated, glancing at Chu Yang as if wanting to say something.

"You're not going to ask me to help you with something troublesome, are you?" Chu Yang asked, looking at her warily.

Makomo's face flushed bright red, her embarrassment spreading from her ears down to her neck. She quickly waved her hands, stammering, "I'm sorry, if you don't want to, it's fine."

Always one to avoid trouble, Chu Yang nodded and said, "I really don't want to."

Makomo's face turned crimson, and her voice grew softer, barely audible, as she buried her head in her arms.

"Bullying a girl is not something a man should do!" Kanae suddenly appeared beside them.

She glared at Chu Yang disdainfully and used the spoon in her hand to smack him on the head.

Though the sound was loud, Chu Yang didn't feel any pain, probably because his skin was too thick.

Shinobu, inspired by her sister, also tried to hit Chu Yang's head with a spoon, but he quickly snatched it from her and gave her a good thump on her head instead.

"Ow!" Shinobu yelped in pain, clutching her head as she tearfully glared at Chu Yang while hugging her sister.

Kanae found their childishness both amusing and exasperating.

"Why not at least listen to her request? It won't cost you anything," Shinobu grumbled, still angry as she rubbed her head.

"Fine, fine, go ahead," Chu Yang said, smiling faintly, feeling much more relaxed.

"I just wanted to ask if you could deliver a message to Urokodaki-sensei, to let him know I'm safe. And…" Makomo bit her lip and whispered, "I'm not sure if I should tell him about the Hand Demon."

Hearing this, Chu Yang's expression became serious.

Those children who had died likely weighed heavily on Sakonji Urokodaki's heart.

Kanae sighed softly. What she feared most wasn't facing powerful demons but rather Urokodaki's current situation.

If he knew that the protective masks he had lovingly given his students had turned into their death warrants, it would be devastating for anyone.

"He has the right to know. As for whether he can come to terms with it, that's up to him," Chu Yang decided to deliver the message on Makomo's behalf. After all, he wasn't in a hurry to return to the temple, and demon-slaying missions could come at any time.

Makomo then gave Chu Yang the location of Sagiri Mountain, and after finishing dinner, he decided to set out immediately, despite Kanae's efforts to stop him.

"Why is he as stubborn as a bull?" Kanae complained.

Shinobu nodded repeatedly beside her, already planning how to get back at him for the head smack.