"But isn't this religion's doctrine about protecting women and children?"
Kanae picked up the intelligence report again.
"Even if Hiru has a kind face, he's still a tall man… If he joins under those circumstances, wouldn't that just make them more wary?"
"Just pay them. There are always a few high-ranking believers who'll help for money," Hiru replied. "What's with those looks?"
"Hiru, you can be painfully realistic sometimes…" Makomo covered her mouth. "No matter what, anyone who manages to climb the ranks of a church should at least have some faith, right? How can you talk like that?"
"They join for the benefits. Why else would they?" Hiru bit down on the small fork he'd been using for dessert, his expression openly disdainful. "Do you really think they're all driven by faith? How many people are that naïve and pure?"
"You really are a pessimist, Hiru…"
"When Yoriichi was still around, you were always so well-behaved and never said things this hurtful…"
"…Anyway, that's enough. Don't try to talk me out of it," Hiru said as he put away the empty food box. "I won't change my mind. Even setting my constitution aside, the fact that I don't rely on weapons alone already makes me far more suitable than either of you."
"…All right, then we'll do it your way, Hiru," Kanae sighed softly. "But are you really planning to infiltrate by pretending to be a believer? If that leader really is a demon, how will you deal with it? Or worse—if the leader tries to eat you and orders the followers to attack you, what then?"
Hiru: …
"Since Kanae and I are both here, let us help you check things over," Makomo said, pressing her hands together. "At the very least, Hiru has to look like a harmless believer!"
"She's right. Hiru's height alone is pretty intimidating," Kanae added. "So clothing will be very important. If it looks too sharp, it'll make them suspicious right away. That limits the colors we can use, and we'll have to be careful with patterns too…"
"It might be a little disrespectful, but if you could look as sickly as the lord, the enemy would definitely let their guard down," Makomo continued. "So how about you put on a bit of makeup, Hiru?"
"…That's not a bad idea," Kanae murmured.
"…There's really no need to go that far," Hiru said flatly.
"Do you have a better plan, then?" Makomo asked.
"I can use demonization to shrink myself," Hiru said, taking out a small vial. "I'll pretend to be an abandoned child seeking shelter."
Makomo recalled everything Sabito had once told her, then carefully studied Hiru's obedient, harmless-looking face. Smiling, she leaned in closer.
"Hey, I just thought of a really great idea. Want to try it?"
Seeing the light gleaming in Makomo's eyes, Hiru silently shifted one step to the side.
"…What idea?"
"Hiru, how about trying cross-dressing?"
Hiru: …?
...
Akiwa was someone who had failed the swordsman assessment, yet harbored a deep, bitter hatred toward demons.
After failing three times, Akiwa finally accepted his lack of talent, abandoned the path of the swordsman, and joined the Kakushi instead.
Gathering intelligence, handling post-demon-slaying cleanup, rescuing the wounded—these were all duties of the Kakushi.
The structure of the Demon Slayer Corps consisted of less than ten percent swordsmen, roughly thirty percent members of the Wisteria House, and a vast number of Kakushi.
In that sense, the Kakushi formed the very foundation of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Because of this, Akiwa had always taken pride in his work.
That said, the work was monotonous. Compared to the swordsmen, the Kakushi were far weaker, and every mission left them on edge.
To relieve that pressure, the Kakushi often shared gossip among themselves, with rumors about the Hashira being the most popular topic. Akiwa was no exception.
Unfortunately, his frequent field assignments meant he rarely encountered the Hashira. He had even missed the handshake event held after a Hashira was shrunk by a Blood Demon Art, all because he was on a mission. That regret still lingered.
But this time, according to his colleagues, a full three Hashira had arrived here to carry out a mission.
A task important enough to require three Hashira was bound to be significant—and in situations like that, the Hashira often chose ordinary swordsmen and Kakushi to accompany them.
Maybe I can catch a glimpse of the Hashira before they head out on the mission, Akiwa thought. If I'm lucky, I might even get chosen to work with them.
With that in mind, he quickened his pace toward the Wisteria House. But as he passed the town's sweets shop, the figure standing at the entrance made him stop without realizing it.
It was a slender young girl, dressed in a pale green kimono patterned with pine motifs. Her features were clean and unadorned, free of any makeup, and her medium-length black hair fell loosely and smoothly over her shoulders. Bathed in the morning sunlight, she seemed wrapped in a hazy, dreamlike beauty.
She stood quietly by the roadside with her eyes lowered. Though her appearance was gentle and harmless, her composed demeanor instead inspired a subtle sense of awe.
What an air about her… Is she the daughter of some prominent family? You don't see that often these days.
As if sensing Akiwa's gaze, the girl turned her head toward him, tilting it slightly with a puzzled expression. Her voice was gentle and clear, yet carried an androgynous quality.
"Um… were you looking at me?"
The instant Akiwa met her pitch-black eyes, he spun around as if struck by lightning and bolted toward the Wisteria House. A flush spread across his face in an instant.
What am I doing, staring at someone first thing in the morning?! That's so rude! She must think I'm some kind of creep!
Watching the Kakushi flee, the girl's gaze drifted back to the entrance of the sweets shop. She frowned slightly.
"I thought I'd been recognized… honestly. What a terrible idea, Makomo."
This "girl" was none other than Hiru, who had followed Makomo's suggestion and dressed in women's clothing.
In the end, Hiru hadn't been able to withstand Makomo's twisted logic. Under her and Kanae's relentless persuasion, he shrank his body and put on female attire.
The moment he gave in, it was as if they'd flipped some strange switch. Not only did they haul over a huge pile of clothes from the Kakushi, they even tried to apply makeup to his face.
For the first time in his four-hundred-plus years of existence, Hiru experienced the terror of being dominated by women.
Every time he refused, they would look wounded and bring up the fact that he insisted on acting alone, over and over again. In the end, Makomo even tried stuffing fruit into his chest to create the impression of a maiden just beginning to bloom, all so that the cult leader—whether human or demon—would notice him at a single glance.
If Kanae hadn't finally stepped in, feeling things had gone a bit too far, the two of them would already have been hit with Hiru's amnesia Blood Demon Art.
I really need to keep my distance from people who get into things like mizuhiki, Hiru thought as he waited for the sweets shop to open, hoping to buy something to lift his mood.
They're all kind enough… yet somehow they all share the exact same brand of twisted humor.
He glanced once more toward the Wisteria House, a pensive look rising in his eyes.
Does practicing mizuhiki actually rot your brain?