There wasn't even a decent piece of furniture in the room.
Kochou Shinobu actually helped furnish it, but Mizuki didn't like how it looked and had it moved out.
Fortunately, the custom here is to sit kneeling, so it didn't make much difference.
"Sit."
"Excuse me for intruding."
Mizuki sat opposite Nezuko. Mizuki had never liked sitting formally like this.
It was too proper, making Mizuki feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
But she had to be serious about this matter.
Mizuki secretly took a deep breath, looked at Nezuko, and was about to speak when her lips parted slightly.
Nezuko, however, seemed to sense something, hesitating and speaking first, "Um... actually..."
Nezuko stopped herself mid-sentence.
Mizuki's eyes lifted slightly, and seeing the worry in Nezuko's gaze, she understood.
Mizuki lowered her eyelids slightly, shook her head, and said, "Although I know Nezuko won't blame me, I feel I should apologize."
"I'm sorry, because of me, you were harmed..."
"No!" Nezuko's agitated voice interrupted Mizuki. "Yuko-san did nothing wrong."
Mizuki's lips moved, "No... Nezuko shouldn't have been hurt at all..."
Nezuko shook her head, leaned forward slightly, reached out and took Mizuki's hands, her voice somewhat agitated as she said:
"This was my own choice. I wanted to help Yuko-san."
"If it weren't for Yuko-san, everyone might have died..." Nezuko looked at Mizuki earnestly with her red eyes.
"Thank you." Mizuki closed her eyes slightly, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
Mizuki wasn't surprised at all that Nezuko would say such a thing.
Or rather, no one in the kamado family had ever blamed her.
Kie Kamado, having received her assurance, felt relieved after seeing Nezuko's condition later.
Her daughter was fine; although she couldn't speak, she was even cuter than before.
That was probably her thought process.
It was just Mizuki herself who couldn't get over it, which made her appear timid and indecisive.
In fact, even now, Mizuki wasn't sure if what she did was right or wrong.
She wasn't sure if, in the original story, Nezuko had played a crucial role in the battle against Muzan.
She didn't know if changing the kamado family's tragedy would lead to things going in a worse direction.
That's why she chose to put Nezuko in danger at that time, allowing the story to return to a realm she was somewhat familiar with.
But to be honest, when Kochou Shinobu injected the human transformation medicine into Nezuko that day, Mizuki's heavy heart felt much lighter instead.
Because no matter what, the fact that Nezuko played a role in the final battle had been implicitly erased by her. The rest... was up to them.
Nezuko squeezed Mizuki's hand: "So... please don't blame yourself."
Mizuki returned a reassuring smile: "Mm, because Nezuko is very gentle."
Nezuko smiled brightly.
Behind the door, Kochou Shinobu also showed a gentle smile, then quietly left... Late at night, Mizuki stood alone in the Butterfly Mansion courtyard, the cold moonlight reflecting off the asura sword tightly gripped in her hands.
Cold white mist escaped her lips, and as her wrists flickered, rounds of snow-colored sword dances leaped, like dancing sprites under the silver moon, appearing exceptionally sacred under the clear moonlight.
Snow Breathing, Thirteenth Form: Peak-faced Silver Slash!
Sharp sword energy cut through the sky, creating no ripples and not disturbing the peaceful late night.
Mizuki sheathed her sword and sighed softly.
The newly developed Twelfth and Thirteenth Forms, pure Sword Forms of Snow Breathing, didn't bring Mizuki much improvement.
There was nothing to say about the Twelfth's defensive move, but the Thirteenth Form's sword energy... essentially, it was just an ordinary long-range consumption method.
It was too monotonous.
It didn't give her that 'aha!' moment.
After returning from other Breathing Techniques to pure Breathing Technique Sword Forms, her Sword Forms actually showed signs of regression.
It seemed impossible to make progress in Sword Forms anymore.
It was as if she had hit a bottleneck, her mind completely muddled.
But seeking other ways to become stronger wasn't realistic... "Did I disturb you?" A cool yet gentle voice drifted into her ears with the evening breeze.
Mizuki looked back to see Kochou Shinobu emerging from the shadows of the corridor, carrying a tea tray and late-night snacks.
The bright moonlight fell upon her, adding a touch of beauty.
Mizuki shook her head, went over, and sat beside Kochou Shinobu.
"Please." Kochou Shinobu handed the tea to Mizuki.
The two sat and watched the moon for a while. It wasn't until the pastries on the tea tray were completely eaten and Kochou Shinobu had finished her tea that she spoke:
"Is something on your mind, Mizuki?"
Mizuki gazed at the moon: "I'm just thinking about Sword Forms."
Kochou Shinobu turned her head: "Sword Forms? Are they newly developed forms?"
If she remembered correctly, Mizuki's Snow Breathing had a total of eleven forms.
Especially the last two forms, they looked very dazzling.
It's just that they didn't feel much like Snow Breathing.
Mizuki sighed, a little troubled: "They're newly developed, but I think I've hit a bottleneck."
Kochou Shinobu gave a wry smile: "Developing Sword Forms isn't supposed to be easy, is it?"
Otherwise, over hundreds of years in the Demon Slayer Corps, even the Five Great Breathing Styles, which are hailed as foundational Breathing Techniques, generally have fewer than ten Sword Forms.
Mizuki said helplessly: "To fight Muzan, it's necessary."
Kochou Shinobu was speechless for a moment.
Mizuki must be under a lot of pressure, right?
After all, even now, very few in the Demon Slayer Corps can face an Upper Rank alone.
Moreover, even Hashira who have awakened their Demon Slayer Marks can only contend with Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, when dealing with the remaining Upper Ranks.
The remaining Kokushibou and Douma are not opponents that can be defeated by a single person.
One is a demon swordsman who inherently masters Breathing Techniques and possesses supreme swordsmanship.
The other has a Blood Demon Art that naturally counters Breathing Techniques.
However, speaking of Upper Rank Two, Douma, Mizuki had mentioned him early on, and she and Tamayo had already developed an antidote for the ice poison that causes lung alveoli to necrotize.
If that guy had no other abilities, then his threat could be said to be the weakest among the remaining demons.
But since he could firmly hold the position of Upper Rank Two, he probably had other methods.
Kochou Shinobu pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought: "Mizuki, your Breathing Technique Sword Forms probably weren't fully developed back then, were they?"
Mizuki nodded slightly: "Yes, at that time, the Hashira had just found Breathing Techniques suitable for themselves under Yoriichi's guidance."
Kochou Shinobu smiled: "Then Mizuki, why don't you talk to the other Hashira about their Sword Forms and find some inspiration from them?"
"For example, Mr. Rengoku developed the Flame Breathing, Ninth Form."
Mizuki's brows furrowed slightly. Wasn't this telling her to return to square one?
After all, the initial forms of Snow Breathing came about this way.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!