Back at home, the Butterfly sisters remained silent. The good mood from the Fireworks Festival had completely vanished.
Butterfly Shinobu drooped her head, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Master, Shota's father clearly didn't want to hurt anyone… so why did Shota ignore his father's wishes and harm others?"
Yosuke patted Shinobu on the head and said,
"Shota believed that his actions could move his father. In reality, the only one he moved was himself.
His sense of duty toward his father gradually turned twisted, so he chose to hurt others to fill the emptiness in his own heart. In the end, all it brought him was failure."
"I don't understand, Master."
Yosuke let out a long sigh.
"You'll understand one day. In this life of ours, there are actually very few things we can truly decide for ourselves. More often than not, we envy the lives of others. I myself sometimes envy them greatly. But in truth, no one's life is worth envying—you can only live your own well."
Shinobu nodded vaguely, still not fully understanding. Yosuke chuckled lightly and patted her head once more.
In the days that followed, Butterfly Kanae and Butterfly Shinobu trained even harder.
Kanae finally managed to derive and create her own style—the Flower Breathing—from the Water Breathing technique.
Shinobu, though still unable to master Water Breathing's Tenth Form: Constant Flux, drew inspiration from Kanae's Flower Breathing to develop her own—Insect Breathing.
Unlike other Breath Styles, which named their techniques as "Forms," Shinobu named hers as "Dances." When performed, her swordplay resembled a graceful dance.
Time flew quickly, and another year passed.
Under Yosuke's careful instruction, the Butterfly sisters had already grown to possess strength on par with the Hashira.
But Shinobu's impulsive and competitive nature had yet to change.
One evening in March, Shinobu went to find Yosuke and Kanae, who were inside drinking tea.
"Master, Sister, today in town I heard about some sect called the Eternal Paradise Faith. They were recruiting people there."
Kanae was dismissive.
"It's probably just some religion. It's common for religions to gather followers."
Yosuke's hand froze mid-sip. Eternal Paradise Faith… wasn't that the cult of Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki, Dōma?
Shinobu continued,
"Yeah, it sounded like a religion. I heard the sect leader can hear the voice of God, and that he can free people from this world and guide them to bliss."
Kanae frowned.
"That sounds like a cult. Shinobu, don't get involved with something like that."
"I didn't get involved, I was just curious. Master, Sister, why don't we go investigate? If it really is a cult, we can wipe them out. That would count as a good deed, wouldn't it?" Shinobu's strong sense of justice immediately ignited her eagerness.
Kanae didn't answer, instead turning her gaze toward Yosuke.
Yosuke leisurely took another sip of tea before saying,
"Since you want to go, then treat it as a training exercise. But this time, I won't be going with you. The two of you will act alone. Let me see what you've learned over the years."
"No problem, Master! My sister and I won't let you down!"
Shinobu replied with full confidence, then quickly tugged at Kanae.
"Sis, let's head out right away. We might lose track of them otherwise!"
Kanae had no choice but to be pulled along by her impatient younger sister.
Once the sisters had gone, Yosuke summoned a kasugai crow.
"Go. Inform Hakuji,Koyuki, Gyutaro, and Ume. It's time they met their junior disciples."
With their help, the Butterfly sisters should be safe even against Upper Rank Two.
Like a chess player, Yosuke appeared to have everything under control.
But inwardly, he was not as calm as he seemed.
"It should be fine. It's just Upper Rank Two. Hakuji and the others each have strength rivaling an Upper Rank—they should crush him easily.
But… Kanae and Shinobu are still human. What if they get caught in the crossfire…?"
His teacup was already empty, yet he unconsciously raised it to his lips again.
"…Forget it. I'd better follow them, just in case. Better safe than sorry. I won't intervene, but I'll keep watch."
Having decided, Yosuke set down the empty cup and quietly slipped out after the Butterfly sisters.
Meanwhile, the two had already arrived in town, where members of the Eternal Paradise Faith were preaching their doctrine.
"Our leader was born with rainbow-colored eyes and can hear the voice of God! If you pour out your troubles to him, he will grant you salvation, free you from suffering, and lead you into eternal paradise!
Now such a chance lies before you. Don't miss it—join the Eternal Paradise Faith and become one of our leader's faithful followers!"
Many people raised their hands, including the Butterfly sisters.
The cultists selected only young and beautiful women, and the sisters' striking looks ensured they were chosen at once.
About ten people in total were picked and loaded into a carriage.
Shinobu asked one of the cultists with curiosity,
"Excuse me, what kind of person is your sect leader?"
The cultist's face shone with fervor.
"Our leader is filled with compassion for the suffering of all beings. His voice is calm and gentle, freeing us from pain and worldly worries so that we may live happily in this world! And he can lead us to eternal life—that is a power only a god could possess!"
Kanae frowned.
"Eternal life… That sounds as though your sect leader is a demon."
Shinobu was about to speak, but Kanae quickly cut her off.
"We'll wait until we reach the destination before deciding what to do."
After a day's journey by carriage, they finally arrived.
Kanae stopped a cultist and asked,
"When will we be able to meet the leader?"
The cultist's eyes were filled with longing.
"Every evening, during the communal meal, the leader will appear and choose one follower. He will listen to her troubles, and then release her from suffering, guiding her into the world of paradise."
Kanae and Shinobu withdrew to a secluded corner.
"Sis, this leader really does sound like a demon. But since we didn't bring our Nichirin blades… what should we do?"
Kanae looked troubled as well. She had assumed this was just an ordinary cult, so to blend in, they had not carried their swords. She hadn't expected demons to be involved.
Kanae warned her firmly,
"We'll just have to take it one step at a time. Shinobu, no matter what happens, don't leave my side, understood?"
Shinobu nodded obediently, then followed Kanae as they stepped into the Eternal Paradise Faith.
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