The grand Demon Slayer Corps training exercise began with great fanfare. Corps members scattered across the land made their way to Headquarters, summoned by the messages of their Kasugai Crows.
Besides them, the semi-retired Hashira were also summoned, such as Sakonji Urokodaki and Jigoro Kuwajima. After all, they were excellent instructors who had brought in nearly all the new blood for the Demon Slayer Corps over the years.
Shinobu Kocho buried herself in her laboratory, working alongside Lady Tamayo and Yushiro, who had been secretly brought here, to conduct deeper research on Nezuko Kamado's blood.
As for Suzuki Makoto, his responsibility was the most crucial part.
"The presence of those strange eye demons has begun to appear around Headquarters. Muzan has taken notice of this place."
Inside the sickroom were only Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Suzuki Makoto, and the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.
"Then the plan can be set in motion. Mr. Suzuki will go out and capture a demon, while Mr. Himejima will frequently come and go from here, leading Muzan's spies to this location so that he can see me as well."
Gyomei Himejima, tears streaming down his face, pressed his palms together and bowed his head in agreement.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Suzuki Makoto stood up and left. His task wasn't particularly difficult, just a bit tedious.
He left the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters on horseback, moving at a slow pace. This clearly gave the eye demons a chance to follow. Suzuki Makoto spent several days wandering the surrounding area, completely capturing Muzan Kibutsuji's attention.
"Damn it. When you don't want demons to come out and harm people, they're everywhere. Now that I want to capture a strong one alive, it's become this much trouble?"
Nakime watched the images projected by the eye demon and repeated Suzuki Makoto's words verbatim.
What does he want with a live demon? A strong one, at that. Is it for training, or something else?
Pondering this, Muzan Kibutsuji immediately had Nakime send a batch of demons to him. He directly infused them with a quantity of his blood equivalent to that of a former Lower Rank, then threw the two lucky survivors into the town where Suzuki Makoto was.
Suzuki Makoto, sensing their presence, felt a sense of certainty. As long as Muzan Kibutsuji kept his attention here, it would be fine!
He immediately sped towards the two demons, mercilessly cutting them down until only the lower halves of their bodies remained. He then injected them with a measured dose of wisteria poison and a special anesthetic to suppress their demonic activity. After that, he rushed back through the night. Along the way, the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, came to meet him, ensuring that at least one person would remain awake to watch over the two captives.
This theatrical performance was an indirect way of telling Muzan that the Demon Slayer Corps had a grand plan for these captured demons.
At the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, all the Hashira had gathered. And besides them, there were some special guests.
It was precisely these special guests that made Muzan Kibutsuji, who was peeping through the demon's eyes, light up.
"Tamayo, you traitor! I wondered where you were hiding. So you've been colluding with the Demon Slayers all along—and that little brat with the earrings, hahahaha, they're all here!"
Muzan Kibutsuji was both furious and excited. The scales in his mind began to tip towards Akaza's proposal.
Suzuki Makoto dumped the demons out. At the same time, Nezuko Kamado crawled out, staring with hostility at the two demons Suzuki was restraining, a low growl rumbling in her throat.
"La-Lady Tamayo, is what you said true? Can Nezuko's blood really resist sunlight now?"
Tanjiro Kamado asked, half nervous and half apprehensive.
What!!!!
Resist sunlight?
That little demon girl??
Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes widened. Even he held his breath, staring intently at Tamayo.
"Yes, my research has already proven this."
Tamayo said with great certainty.
"But—but we can't let Nezuko be exposed to the sun right now!"
Tanjiro Kamado would obviously never agree to let his sister risk her life to test a hypothesis.
"That's why I went through so much trouble to capture these two alive. They're likely demons on the level of a Lower Rank who haven't been assigned a number yet. At least, they have that level of strength."
Suzuki Makoto kicked the two demons as if they were livestock.
"We can use them to test exactly how demons endure damage from sunlight and find the least harmful way for Nezuko to try."
After speaking, he swung his blade cleanly, slicing off another piece from the already mangled demon and tossed it into the sunlight.
"Aaaaaaah—"
The demon wailed in agony. The complete loss of that piece of flesh had clearly dealt heavy damage to its main body, but the vigorous sound of its cries proved it hadn't suffered a fatal injury.
Tanjiro Kamado's eyes lit up instantly.
"Next, let's try with the main body."
Suzuki Makoto picked up a piece of the demon with a long spear and tested cautiously, letting only a sliver of its skin flash through the sunlight. The part that touched the light instantly turned to ash, and the disintegration even began to spread. However, it didn't die immediately either, instead wailing just as vigorously as its counterpart.
This time, Tanjiro Kamado couldn't sit still any longer. These two methods were enough to prove that if a demon only had brief contact with sunlight, it wouldn't necessarily result in complete death. This meant his sister could definitely give it a try.
"Nezuko, is it okay?"
Nezuko still looked fearfully at the sunlight outside, shrinking into a ball.
"Tanjiro, Nezuko's blood was already able to withstand the sun before."
Suzuki Makoto said earnestly. The other Hashira were also staring intently, and even the Wind Hashira, who had previously shown the most aversion to Nezuko Kamado, didn't say a word.
"Nezuko, just for a moment. Let Mr. Suzuki take you. I'm sure it'll be alright."
Tanjiro Kamado was both anxious and pained. After all, if it didn't work, Nezuko would definitely be harmed—but if Nezuko could resist the sun now, then the day his sister became human again might truly not be far off!
"Hurry up and agree!"
Don't misunderstand, this roar came from Muzan Kibutsuji inside the Infinity Castle. Perhaps he was the most anxious one of all right now.
The small demon girl looked at her brother and finally nodded.
"Come, I'll hold your hand. It'll just be for a moment, don't worry."
Suzuki Makoto smiled and took the girl's hand, walking to the edge of the corridor. It was another quick flash—and Nezuko was completely unharmed.
The girl blinked, raised her hand, and reached out again. This time, she let her hand be fully exposed to the sunlight, but once again, nothing happened.
Everyone—no, every human and demon—stared wide-eyed as Nezuko Kamado jumped into the center of the sunny courtyard, laughing and dancing happily, just like an ordinary little human girl playing in the sunlight.
____
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