Mitsuri, distracted by Horitake's explanation, listened intently. "I used Thunder Breathing—its lightning can strike underground. No other breathing style can do that."
Mitsuri blinked, realizing he was right. No other technique could hit a burrowing demon. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as the close call sank in.
Horitake added, "A Hashira could slice the ground to reach it or save you, but there's no Hashira here on Fujikasaneyama."
Mitsuri shuddered. Meeting Horitake was pure luck—no one else in the Selection could have saved her.
Relieved he'd diverted her suspicions about his stalking, Horitake checked the system. Oddly, the task remained incomplete. I saved Mitsuri. Why isn't it done? Does she need to pass the Selection? Or… do I need to kill that demon?
A nagging unease hit him. The Burrow Demon felt off—its strength and Blood Demon Art didn't belong here. "Something's wrong," he muttered, face grim.
Mitsuri, startled, asked, "What's wrong, Lord Horitake?"
"That Burrow Demon—it's too strong for Fujikasaneyama, way worse than the Hand Demon. Its Blood Demon Art is too tricky. It shouldn't be here, not in the Selection. I suspect it's not a captured demon—it came from outside."
"How?" Mitsuri protested. "The wisteria around the mountain—"
She froze, eyes widening. The demon's burrowing let it bypass the wisteria barrier, slipping in and out freely.
Horitake's thoughts raced, chilling him. "If it's an outsider, it's here to feed. Eating strong swordsmen boosts a demon's power more than civilians. If it keeps feeding, growing to Twelve Kizuki level with that Blood Demon Art and daytime mobility…"
Mitsuri paled, trembling. "It'd be unstoppable!"
She stood, urgent. "We have to stop it before it grows stronger! I need to report this to the Corps! But the Flame Hashira's unreachable during the Selection. Do I abandon it to report?"
Horitake stood, calming her. "No need to quit or leave. I've got a plan."
"What?"
"Those twins at the torii—they're running the Selection."
Mitsuri gasped. "Right! They're Corps members!"
"More than that," Horitake said slyly. "They're Kagaya Ubuyashiki's daughter and son."
"What?! The Oyakata-sama's kids? But they're both girls!"
"Nope. White hair's a girl, black hair's a boy."
"Eh?!"
"It's Ubuyashiki tradition. Their boys are frail, raised as girls until thirteen."
Mitsuri was speechless. Horitake, enjoying himself, pushed further. "Cute, right? That boy's a dead ringer for young Kagaya. Imagine Oyakata-sama in a kimono, lipstick, all dolled up—"
"Stop!" Mitsuri flushed, shaking her head, braids flying. "You're ruining Oyakata-sama's image!"
Horitake smirked. Her reaction was adorable. He had no weird hobbies—just loved teasing her and poking at Kagaya's dignity. Standing, he eyed the setting sun, serious again. "Back to business. We need to tell the Corps about the Burrow Demon. I'm heading to the torii to inform the twins."
Mitsuri nodded firmly. "I'm coming!"
Horitake raised an eyebrow. "Sure? Not just to sneak a peek at the young master to imagine Kagaya's childhood?"
"Agh! Horitake!" Mitsuri steamed, scolding him.
"Alright, my bad," he chuckled. "Let's go. Stay on the trees—avoid the ground, just in case."
He leaped between branches, racing downhill. Mitsuri, grumbling but following, muttered, "I'm not going for that!"
They reached the wisteria-lined torii platform as the sun set. The Ubuyashiki twins, lighting their lanterns, saw them and assumed they were quitting. "It's the final night. Leaving now means withdrawing from the Selection. Are you sure?"
Horitake shook his head, explaining the Burrow Demon's threat in detail.
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