"Can't you even do simple errands!"
This doctor is absurd. The Kinoe who boasts sturdy legs was convinced.
"I told you to bring medicinal herbs, when did I tell you to bring poisonous herbs?! I even showed you a sample, how did you get this wrong? Look. The leaf count and root shape are different. Huh? You think they're similar? How?? This isn't a mistake at the level of night sweet potatoes and pumpkin sweet potatoes, it's a mistake at the level of sweet potatoes and carrots. It's easier than children's errands, are you worse than children? Can't you be more serious? People's lives are at stake. Do you want to kill the great elder?"
"Of coursse I don't wannnt to…"
"Yeah yeah, no time for crying, what a pitiful sight for a grown adult. Quickly go gather medicinal herbs. You're at two strikes. If you get it wrong next time, batter change, your turn at bat will never come again, you brat!"
The Demon Slayer Corps' foremost martial artist, the Wind Hashira, is crying. His heart is being torn apart by verbal gales. And very cruelly. What is that guy? A user of Verbal Abuse Breathing?
Everyone present shuddered watching the Wind Hashira run out for his third medicinal herb procurement while scattering tears.
'Everyone, will you cooperate with me to help that person?'
The first words shouted by the doctor after coming out of the great elder's room. With the words being to save their lord, there was no one in the Demon Slayer Corps who would shout no. Everyone unanimously nodded resolutely.
No one here still suspected the doctor was a demon anymore. The reason for hiding his face was also understood. Watching the doctor's hair and eye color while he gave precise instructions from the shaded veranda, Kakushi nodded alone.
──Since when, demons began targeting white-haired, red-eyed children.
Since this information was grasped entirely by coincidence, the specific reason such children were targeted hadn't been revealed.
Whether they possessed properties similar to rare blood, or were disadvantageous beings to demons, and the meaning of limiting to children - mystery calling mystery, no proper answer had been revealed yet.
That white-haired, red-eyed doctor knowing about Nichirin Blades and demon hunters' existence was clearly because when targeted by demons due to his appearance, he was saved by someone among the demon hunters.
Judging by his reaction to the Flame Hashira's face, perhaps his life was saved by the previous Flame Hashira.
Yes, that doctor isn't a demon.
But in another sense, he was an ogre.
"Aah───!! What do you mean the materials still aren't all gathered with this many people?! Did I make such difficult requests? I didn't, right? We're barely maintaining stability with the current medicine, but temporary measures won't work forever! Haa, really, this guy and that guy… Ah, not Rengoku-kun. Thank you for bringing lots of tree fruits as requested. Here, have some candy as a reward."
"Thank you! But Dr. Shabana, when did I tell you my name!"
"You didn't say it, but it's a Rengoku face."
"Indeed, I understand!"
Why are you accepting that flimsy logic? If the other wasn't a Hashira, everyone would have made that retort.
The doctor was gentle toward the younger Flame Hashira. Toward the older Wind Hashira, he poured verbal abuse that made listeners want to plead "Stop it!"
"Brought it Shabana! You said this, right?! This time it must be correct, right?!"
"Congratulations, complete miss!! It's a weed, you idiot, start over from the Paleolithic era!! Anyone with quick feet! Is there anyone who can go to Shabana's house and bring our disciple and his sister together! At this rate, the gathering speed can't keep up with preparation and the great elder will pass away!! Mainly because of this scary person, because of this person who can't even do children's errands!!"
"Stop it! Don't gouge out my heart! I'm trying desperately too!!"
"Hah? Does 'I tried but failed' work? Produce results, results. This isn't child's play. Are you looking down on my medical field?"
A glaring gaze. The red eyes emitting cold air were like frozen blood, making not only ordinary members but even the reversed Hashira shrink back.
This doctor shouldn't be underestimated as just a simple doctor. As someone responsible for people's lives, he had considerable experience.
When the doctor entered the room to prepare medicine, the Wind Hashira finally placed his limbs on the ground and began crying like a man. The Water Hashira fidgeted while stroking the Wind Hashira's back. The Flame Hashira flusteredly offered candy.
The scene was in chaos, and for that reason, the Kinoe still hadn't revealed the fact that this crazy doctor had defeated Lower Rank 6.
The crow tilted its head on the Kinoe's shoulder as if troubled. Now only the crow was his sole comfort.
・
・
・
What welcomed Kyūtarō and Ume who came to the Ubuyashiki mansion was a man with a pot overturned on his head.
"Hello, you two. Sorry, but could you help with material procurement right aw…"
"Who are you!! A suspicious guy wearing a pot or something!"
"Ume, are you serious about that? You're joking, right…"
"Wait, I'm Tsukuru?! Mr. Tsukuru from the Shabana house?!"
"I won't be fooled! Tsukuru wears a hood! Not something like a pot! Right, brother!"
"No… well, that's true… what you say is correct but…"
"The hood got dirty so the maid Yae-san took it to wash! But hey, Ume, is my impression to you just the hood? Kyūtarō, can I cry for a moment?"
"How do you know my name and brother's name?! What did you do to Tsukuru! If you don't tell, I won't leave you alone!"
"Dr. Shabana! I've brought additional materials for confirmation… Who are you, suspicious pot monster!"
"Et tu, Brute."
Ume threatening the mysterious pot man who speaks familiarly. Kyūtarō pressing his temples firmly at his sister's stupidity of not realizing the pot man's identity. The pot man tearing up inside the pot, hurt by the fact that facial recognition = hood.
And the Rengoku boy appearing in the already chaotic space and making the situation more complicated. Hey wait. Don't draw your Nichirin Blade. This is before the lord.
Leaving the task of clearing Ume's misunderstanding to Kyūtarō, the pot man—that is, Shabana Tsukuru—lifted the pot slightly toward the Rengoku boy.
"Rengoku-kun, it's me, me."
"My, excuse me Dr. Shabana! But why are you wearing something like a pot? Even if you don't hide, demons can't come this far!"
"No, this isn't demon countermeasures. Earlier I had no choice but to reveal myself, but I prefer not to show my face if possible. I don't like people finding it creepy and being afraid."
"Creepy? I think it's beautiful. Isn't it an auspicious color!"
"This warm and gentle sense of relief, definitely feels like Rengoku-san's lineage~"
Thankful for the amazing heat retention continuing from the Sengoku era to the Edo era, the pot head placed several packets of candy in the Rengoku boy's hand. The Rengoku boy's eyes sparkled as he stuffed the packets into his sleeve while giving thanks.
This candy is very delicious. When I return to the mansion, I should share it with my younger brother. He'll surely be happy!
"Thanks for the materials. I'll go check right away."
"Hmm, the Water Hashira who went gathering should be returning soon."
"I see. How's the wind person's condition?"
The Wind Hashira who showed desperate discernment with five consecutive gathering failures was currently, after twists and turns, helping with preparation groundwork, handling the chore of finely chopping large amounts of materials. Only Dr. Shabana doesn't know that the chant "You bastard, Shabanaaaa!!" follows him.
Recalling the Wind Hashira's murderous appearance, the Rengoku boy nodded greatly.
"He's diligently devoted to the work, with the third form."
"Third form?"
Could he be using a Nichirin Blade? Is he using Breathing to chop?
Though he wanted to ask that, in this world, there are things better left unasked.
Seeing off the Rengoku boy who went gathering again, the pot head looked at his own house children. Hostility had disappeared from Ume's face. Kyūtarō must have cleared the misunderstanding well.
But for some reason, both were glaring at the pot head with faces filled with more intense anger than hostility.
Before asking the reason what's wrong, Kyūtarō subtly points his index finger toward the floor.
It was the Shabana house specialty, formal seating instruction.
・
・
・
──The Shabana siblings don't know Tsukuru's face.
Hair length, eye shape, what face he smiles with, nothing.
Having lived together for over three years now, he had never taken off his hood in front of the siblings even once.
They were of course interested in Tsukuru's face who wears a hood all day, all seasons. Both siblings were overflowing with interest. It bothered them enough to try secretly lifting the hood at midnight.
But since Tsukuru was awake, the hood lifting failed. Moreover, since he himself firmly stated he absolutely doesn't want to show it, they still don't know the contents.
It's lonely that they're family but don't know his face. But if they force it and make Tsukuru hate them, that would be sadder.
Thinking that, the Shabana siblings suppressed their curiosity, but.
"Why do you show your face to other guys!!"
Truly agreeing, Kyūtarō nodded repeatedly at his sister's shout.
"We've never seen it, you never showed us! Why do you show it to that bug-eyed, bushy-eyebrowed guy?!"
"That was due to unavoidable circumstances so I had no choice…"
"We want to see too! We want to see Tsukuru's faaaaace!"
It seemed Ume's foot-stomping, recently sealed away, would relapse. But he had no intention of stopping her. Rather, go all out. Kyūtarō cheered for his sister in his heart.
The foster father with the pot on his head didn't easily nod despite Ume's fierce attack. Seems he really doesn't want to show it.
But he showed it willingly to the boy older than Kyūtarō who just came and went. Both Kyūtarō and Ume found that point most unforgivable. Even they as family don't know, yet being overtaken by a complete stranger was frustrating and unbearable.
Tsukuru in formal seating state stubbornly refused to remove the pot, and facing such a foster father, Ume subtly became expressionless.
Do you know that a beauty's expressionlessness is most frightening? The surrounding air freezes and everyone straightens their backs. Tsukuru was no exception, flinching "eek" inside the pot and shrinking his shoulders.
With a cold, transparent voice like flicking an icicle, Ume spoke.
"If you don't show us, I'll throw a tantrum."
Her pupils were burning with resolve.
"If Tsukuru intends that, I'll go all out too. Right now, here!!"
Flopping down lying on the floor, crossing her arms, breathing roughly while declaring—the beautiful girl. The word 'dignity' doesn't exist in her dictionary. She's serious. If Tsukuru doesn't remove the pot here, it was clear Ume would throw a tantrum with her whole body.
"Wait 3 seconds! Ready, three─, two─, one─...!"
"I'll show I'll show, so get up, don't throw a tantrum, Ume you're already ten so stop it, calm down!"
The result was the foster father's surrender. The moment the white flag rose, immediately springing up saying I did it! and proudly giving her brother a high-five—Ume.
But to the two soaked in victory's joy, Tsukuru poured cold water.
"Since there's an urgent patient now, after that person's condition stabilizes."
＊
…Saying that to the two was an excuse to buy time.
To be honest, mental preparation was needed.
That's because it's an appearance that was despised as creepy by this life's mother, and cursed as a monster by previous life's parents. To the extent that even biological parents hated it, showing my face required resolve.
Those who didn't dislike my appearance were predecessor Shabana-sensei, the Leader who also had unusual coloring, the goddess with a bodhisattva's heart—my life-before-last's mother & father, and the Sengoku era demon hunter people.
No, about Sengoku era people, it's somewhat微妙. Since combined with the fact of being hated by sunlight, at first I was suspected of being a demon.
If Yoriichi-san hadn't declared "It must be that constitution," and Michikatsu-san hadn't protected me, who knows what would have happened. Though everyone treated me normally as if accustomed after three days.
I believe Kyūtarō and Ume are good kids, so they wouldn't change their attitude upon seeing my appearance now.
...I want to believe, but I'm a little scared.
So I set the deadline as "pending until the patient's condition stabilizes," but.
"With you devoting your heart so sincerely like this, I truly don't know what words to express my gratitude."
The great elder's recovery is too fast~~~~~!
No, it's a joyous matter. But still, you wouldn't think it would improve in just one night, right? I was prepared for about a week of long-term battle, but to think it would be a one-night revival.
I had an indescribable feeling toward the great elder deeply bowing his head on the futon.
For reference, I'm currently in bare-faced state without the pot. When I tried to examine the great elder with the pot on, I was pointed at by the scary guy (called Wind Hashira) saying "How rude!!" and had the pot taken away.
It's fortunate Ume and Kyūtarō weren't nearby—thinking "How will you take responsibility for this, you brat!" is a secret.
Fortunately, the great elder wasn't surprised seeing my white hair and red eyes and accepted it as natural.
──The medicine used this time is a Shabana secret special medicine requiring not only massive amounts of materials to the extent that only daimyo class could prepare it, but enormous manpower and effort.
But even considering that, this recovery speed is abnormal. It's already beyond miraculous, at an abnormal level.
The current great elder has such good complexion it's hard to believe he was near death moments ago. Though the smell of disease still lingers, that thick smell of death had faded.
Since the person himself who returned alive from death's threshold is most surprised, it probably isn't due to him.
Could it be because I completed the medicine's final preparation in the bamboo grove? Because the great elder's condition was poor, with the feeling of grasping at straws, I prayed to Take-tori Inkan—could that be why. It's a place where just hearing the name 'thousand-year bamboo grove' makes you expect efficacy.
But though I understood the bamboo grove buff applied to medicine for demons, this is the first time it affected medicine for humans. What exactly is happening?
"I should be the one expressing gratitude. My medicine was merely the trigger. It's life that could be grasped because you firmly held the will to live. So please raise your head. ..."
Come to think of it, I don't know this person's name. The Demon Slayer Corps people called him great elder, but that's not a surname. It's probably a position name like manager.
When hearing great elder, am I the only one who imagines CV Hoshi ○ichiro's passionate guy shouting "OYAKATA-SAMAAA!!" and the muscular tiger KAI shouting "YUKIMURAAA!!" while fighting?
For reference, my favorite character in that game is the left arm man. Isn't Extinction great? The way he sheathes the sword in his mouth after drawing it pierced this boy's heart. I want to try it. As a Moon Breathing user, I itch to reproduce his BASARA technique. But the sad reality that he's a combined character with higher affinity for Thunder Breathing.
"...? What's wrong?"
Perhaps it looked strange that I stopped while trying to say something, the great elder shows concern. Half his face is terribly discolored, but the remaining half is beautiful.
The more I look, the more he resembles Muzan-kun. If his hair were glossy straight rather than curly perm, I'd definitely mistake him for Muzan-kun.
"No, um… may I call you great elder?"
Anyway, the other is the Demon Slayer Corps' highest rank. If he's someone who can't casually reveal his name, even asking might be rude.
"Ahh, come to think of it, I haven't given my name. Sorry. I've caused inconvenience."
It's a gentle voice. Listening to it gives a floating, light-headed feeling. It's so soft and overflowing with acceptance that even though we're almost the same age, it feels like talking with an elder.
Correcting his posture on the futon, leisurely and mildly, he introduced his name.
"My introduction is too late. I am Kagaya, Ubuyashiki Kagaya."
"...…Kagaya?"
"Huhu. For a man, the delicate bamboo princess's name doesn't suit, does it?"
"No, I'm convinced."
"Convinced?"
Indeed. Worthy of receiving Take-tori Inkan's protection.
Because of course you wouldn't want to let her return to the moon!!She's Princess Kagaya!!
・
・
・
"Heh~ Kagaya-kun is nineteen. Same age as me."
"I thought Tsukuru was older than me."
"Huh, do I look that old?"
"No, because you're knowledgeable and reliable. By the way, this tea has deep flavor. A taste I'm drinking for the first time."
"It's called Shabana tea. Good to drink when you have no appetite. It's nutritious too. It's not that hard to make, want me to teach you how?"
"Is that okay? Thank you, I'll gratefully drink it."
What are you doing?It's an examination named casual conversation.
Dozens of minutes after starting conversation, I had become close with Kagaya-kun as if we were friends of ten years.
No, strictly speaking, because Kagaya-kun resembled Muzan-kun so much,
"The tea is hot so be careful drinking… please!"
"Don't lie saying it's only here that hurts. I know your stomach is also bad… sorry, take 2 okay?"
"Come to think of it, the Mist Hashira brought pears as a get-well gift, want me to peel them, Muza, mmm~♪(humming to obscure)"
…like that, because I made tremendous mistakes in succession, Kagaya-kun permitted me to speak as I pleased.
Gratefully accepting that consideration and treating him familiarly like with Muzan-kun, but I only feel like I'd get hit if caught by the Wind Hashira.
During examination mixing casual conversation, there was one concerning point. His illness was a special one I had never seen before, nor learned about. Hearing that ancestors for generations died early from the same illness.
When I asked Kagaya-kun about that, he hesitated a little, but when I insisted I wanted to know details for treatment, he slightly opened his eyes wide and softened the corners of his mouth like flowers blooming.
Muzan-kun's laughter from memories overlaps. Muzan-kun when happy smiled with the same face as current Kagaya-kun.
"I already know the treatment method."
Bringing the teacup to smiling lips, Kagaya-kun quietly sipped tea.
"From the Heian era to current me, the Ubuyashiki clan has devoted ourselves to curing this illness… no, to breaking this terrible curse. Just for that we live."
"...Curse?"
"I can't tell details. It's related to the clan's secret. ...Still, thank you, Tsukuru. For saying you'll cure this incurable illness. Every other renowned doctor gave up just by looking. ...Just that makes me feel saved."
"By any means, can't it be cured with medicine?"
"Yes."
Is that affirmation resignation, or conviction? I pour second tea into the empty cup. Kagaya-kun accepts the new tea with thanks, stares at his sick face reflected on the surface, and murmurs low.
"Actually, living like this is already miraculous. It's not an illness that can be cured with medicine, and I certainly sensed death then."
"Ahh, yeah. I was also a bit surprised by that. Didn't think you could get up in just one day."
"Oh? Wasn't it Tsukuru who said you'd definitely save me? I trusted those words and entrusted my body to you."
"That's… because Kagaya-kun resembles my friend so much, I impulsively did that."
When I confessed honestly, Kagaya-kun showed me a faint smile.
"Then I should thank Tsukuru's friend. Thanks to that, I could preserve my life."
That friend is Kibutsuji Muzan whom you're chasing—I absolutely can't say that.
＊
Hair white as if color had drained, pupils shining redder than blood. How vivid the colors disconnected from the world.
If I hadn't been introduced as a doctor, I would certainly have believed him to be a shinigami.
Shabana Tsukuru was a mysterious doctor.
Not only did he raise his voice saying he'd definitely save me when seeing my condition that anyone would judge as already too late, but he literally saved me from the yellow springs' abyss.
The Ubuyashiki family intuition honed through generations is absolute. The death realized through that absolute intuition, the life even I was about to give up on—Tsukuru splendidly kept in this world. It feels like the world has turned upside down.
When with Tsukuru, I'm wrapped in a strange sense of relief.
Though we met for the first time today, I feel strange longing and mild comfort. As if a friend from childhood, he smoothly slips into the gaps in my heart that I can't tell anyone.
I have parents, had a wife, have a daughter, have 'children,' have supporting people, but no friend to talk with shoulder to shoulder.
Nevertheless, somehow, I deeply know in my heart that this is what a friend is. I don't know where this conviction comes from.
What suddenly comes to mind is the potters' village legend. Genetic memory. Feeling déjà vu toward things seen for the first time, or nostalgia for places never visited—such mysterious sensations all originate from ancestors' memories.
Then does this longing come from Ubuyashiki's distant ancestors? I don't know from which era. Don't know which ancestor. But surely there was a past where I laughed and spent time with a friend like Tsukuru.
In the room grown lonely with Tsukuru's exit to prepare medicine, I close my eyes.
I always dream. The dream of defeating Kibutsuji Muzan, the family's stain, being freed from the death-reaching curse, and obtaining a peaceful life.
A world where swordsmen can put down their swords, where anyone can live without fearing demons. A future where children sharing my blood grow healthily without being eroded by curse.
But today, I want to immerse in past dreams.
I want to dream the dream of ancestors' memories genetically passed to my body.
＊
"My apologies for during your rest, great elder. There's something I urgently need to report…"
"Ahh, it's fine."
"Just now received late report from the Kinoe and crow—that Shabana doctor… on the way here, used strange medicine to subjugate a demon."
"Huh?"
"Moreover, that demon was Lower Rank 6…"
"Whaaat???"
＊
Meanwhile, around that time.
Kibutsuji Muzan, peeking through Lower Rank 6's vision, shuddered.
What is that doctor, isn't he too dangerous?