Separating from a happy Nezuko, Tanjiro heightened his senses and located Shinobu's presence in the laboratory.
Earlier, she had been present at the gathering to celebrate everyone's arrival at the mansion, yet she hadn't stayed long and left shortly after.
'She's really giving her all, huh… What a dedicated girl.' He praised her.
The sunlight had almost vanished, and a cold wind had begun to flow under the twilight, making the atmosphere chilly for the residents.
Though he felt nothing despite wearing only a single robe.
He arrived at the laboratory and entered directly this time.
His gaze immediately caught Kanae's ghost hovering while Shinobu cleaned the table.
She noticed him and said softly with a smile. "Did the Sun Hashira have a good sleep, hmm?"
Moving forward, he replied casually. "Yes, I slept like a baby. It wasn't so bad."
'While I was asleep, my height grew a few more centimetres for some reason… Perhaps the Explosive Growth reward wasn't fully used up and resumed when my body was stationary, while I wasn't conscious. That would explain the dizziness I felt… Otherwise, in my current state, I could go two or three weeks without food or water… I have a feeling it's complete now. My height has likely crossed 170 centimetres by far, from what I can perceive…'
Hearing his answer, Shinobu could only chuckle with sparkling eyes. "Like a baby, hē… Oh well, that seems to be true."
Tanjiro noticed Kanae disappear through the roof, causing him to sigh inwardly. She was the next objective for tonight, it seemed.
Next, he helped her clean up the mess on the table.
Only then did Shinobu relax into the chair and address the issue he had come for. "So I have good news and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?" she said calmly.
He leaned against the rack and replied in his usual voice. "Let's go with the good news first."
Shinobu nodded. "From the notes, I found a way through which Kie-san could have a chance of returning to human form."
His eyes flickered with surprise for a moment.
'Oh, a chance, she says… That was fast, but the way she phrased it doesn't sound very reliable.'
Looking at her serious expression, he could only ask. "And the bad news? I don't think that's all there is to it…"
Shinobu leaned back in the chair and let out her heavy words with a sigh. "It's a painstaking, long process… Hah, with all the free time I could currently have, I'm worried it might take years to complete the research even if I invest hours each day. And even then, I'm not sure we could succeed on the first try…" Releasing a deep sigh, she added. "Sadly, what we're lacking most is manpower. There's no other researcher in the organization besides myself. That's really frustrating."
Tanjiro remained impassive, nodding.
He had a hunch it would turn out like this.
Given that Nezuko had gone through a metamorphosis in her sleep for two years after rejecting human flesh or blood, it was possible to treat her that quickly under the capable hands of Tamayo—a demon alive for centuries who had been researching alone.
Compared to her, Shinobu was still an infant, to be honest.
Showing a hopeful look anyway, he assured her. "Even if there's only a slim chance and it may take years, as long as it's possible, I'm willing to take it. Of course, if Shinobu-san is okay with it…"
She heard him and clicked her tongue lightly. "Don't be silly. I promised, so obviously I'll do everything I can to help Kie-san."
"Thanks." He gave her a thankful and bright smile.
When she saw his kind, almost glowing smile, her heartbeat unknowingly quickened for a moment.
'What's wrong with this weak body? It behaves as if I'm… attracted to him… Ah, curse this female body…' She shrieked mentally, ashamed of herself.
However, Shinobu wasn't some weak-willed child. She stabilized herself almost instantly and smiled back with her eyes closed, not because she didn't want to see his face, but because it had become a habit. "Um, rest assured. I'll do my best."
She then stood up and fetched a tube-like device from the drawer, handing it over to him.
"Use this to extract some blood from Kie-san for me, please. I'll require it for the research. This device is easy to use. All you have to do is push that pin in…"
She explained how to use the device, yet his gaze remained focused on her pale face and nape the entire time.
After they were done, he left hurriedly.
Maybe it was because his body had grown too fast or his senses had become monstrous, his body was simply too honest with him.
Just a quick glance at these women or catching their aroused scent was strong enough to give him a damn boner.
After he left, Shinobu's face blushed as she touched her nape in embarrassment and pressed her lips together tightly.
'He was staring… That brat was staring at my nape… Was he…'
The more she thought about it, the more aroused she felt.
Her Onee-chan's last words – to live a long life until she was old – rang in her brain like an alarm clock.
At that instant, her purple eyes softened drastically.
Her mind, devoid of anger for the first time in years, slipped into a calmness she had never felt since that certain moment.
'Onee-sama… I'm so confused…'
....
Looking around, Tanjiro located a lonely ghost on the roof of the mansion.
He put some strength into his foot and jumped off, easily reaching a height of several meters.
Arriving beside her silently, he said softly. "Hey, Kanae, why so sad? Do you really think I'm planning on dying so early? Hm?"
He showed a teasing smile.
Hearing his confident yet ridiculing voice, she puffed her cheeks and mumbled sadly. "Don't try to fool me… That Mark is going to burn your life. I saw your body visibly grow earlier while you were asleep… It's clearly affecting your health and lifespan."
'…Haa?'
A chuckle immediately left his mouth involuntarily.
"Why are you laughing… This is not funny!" She seemed mad, but that only worked to accentuate her already lethal beauty.
Tanjiro spoke after flashing a warm smile. "Kanae, say, do you not trust me?"
A weird look appeared on her face. "I do, but—"
He cut her off and interrupted. "Then believe me. I won't die."
Remembering something from the morning, he added. "Can you feel my life fading away like Oyakata's with your ghost senses?"
Kanae raised an eyebrow. She tried to sense his body, but after a few seconds tilted her head in bafflement. "Ehhh… It's normal…?"
Tanjiro released a sigh with a slight smile. "See? Now stop worrying. You're already dead, for God's sake."
A bit taken aback, Kanae stared at his relieved and confident gaze, not really sure what to say.
'Is he even human?' a thought suddenly appeared in her mind.
....
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