Shinobu Kocho didn't scold Marcus Lee on the spot. Her delicate face showed no particular expression, as if she hadn't even heard him.
Marcus, who prided himself on reading people, had a small sense of understanding here.
He cast a sidelong glance at the Insect Pillar. There was no anger, no displeasure just a gentle instruction to obediently drink the medicine, and then she left in a hurry.
It made sense. After all, she was a Pillar. Who had time to fuss over a low-ranking member like him?
That she even personally delivered the medicine a second time was already surprising.
Once she had left, Marcus continued lying on the bed, doing absolutely nothing.
The final selection had left him mentally exhausted.
At that moment, he had no thought of practicing breathing techniques, no thought of improving his swordsmanship.
He drank the bitter medicine with a sour face and then relaxed lazily on the bed.
Sleepiness gradually crept over him, and before he knew it, he was asleep.
Time passed quickly. Five days later, Marcus had mostly recovered, yet he still lived a life of pure idleness, waiting for food and relying on others to provide.
Sometimes, he would stare at the ceiling, daydreaming. His biggest pleasure each day was recalling scenes from movies or novels he had watched before, using those memories to pass the time.
He was just bored.
Being stuck recovering left him with nothing to do.
In this era, there were no real leisure activities, and the food offered little excitement. Every day, he lay on the bed, doing absolutely nothing.
Notably, he hadn't seen the Insect Pillar in five days.
Perhaps she was out on demon-slaying missions, or busy with other matters.
The medicine was delivered by the "Three Little Ones" of the Butterfly Estate.
Even after five days, Marcus still had trouble distinguishing them they all seemed the same.
Occasionally, other Demon Slayer Corps members would arrive at the Butterfly Estate. To be sent there meant they were still salvageable, which was not a bad thing.
Among those members, one face looked familiar.
A Pillar.
No doubt the famed Wind Pillar, Murata!
As everyone knew, Demon Slayer Corps members were ranked.
The ranks were: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J.
Marcus was currently a swordsman at the very lowest rank.
Murata, from the same generation as Giyu, had only reached rank G himself.
Marcus had crossed paths with him once, hoping to secretly learn some skills.
After a brief observation, he shook his head in resignation.
Although Murata also used Water Breathing, his mastery and swordsmanship weren't far ahead.
Even with careful observation, Marcus wouldn't learn much by imitation.
"Murata, could you at least try harder!" he thought.
"What are you thinking about? How's your recovery?"
The familiar voice caught him off guard, and Marcus almost instinctively wanted to complain.
Does she always move around silently?
Shinobu appeared suddenly, smiling warmly, asking about his recovery. It surprised him to be treated so kindly.
"My external injuries have mostly healed. I guess I've recovered okay?"
He moved his shoulders slightly as he replied.
"Clap!"
Shinobu gently brought her hands together. Her smile remained unchanged, her voice gentle.
"Then we'll start training tomorrow."
"?"
Marcus' expression twisted in confusion.
Training?
What was that?
He had completed the final selection and decided to quit the Demon Slayer Corps now she was telling him to train? To endure the hardships of training?
He could not accept it!
Marcus' face betrayed obvious resistance.
"Adopting an idle attitude will get you killed by demons, you know!"
"!?"
No, it was just one sentence do you have to remember it forever?
Marcus twitched the corner of his mouth.
She was definitely doing this on purpose.
"I…"
"You cannot refuse! Obey, and go to training tomorrow, understood?"
Even though her tone didn't change, Marcus sensed the hidden threat behind it.
"Fine!"
He said it with resignation.
Under someone else's roof, eating their food, empty-pocketed and powerless, Marcus had no ground to refuse.
Satisfied, Shinobu left.
And thus, Marcus' leisurely days came to an end.
…
Early the next morning, the sun had just risen. Marcus, still half-asleep, was dragged out of his warm bed by the Three Little Ones.
Sleeping in was clearly impossible.
Marcus arrived at Shinobu's usual training ground a spacious dojo that could accommodate dozens of swordsmen training at once.
To his surprise, Shinobu was already there.
"Good morning!"
She greeted him enthusiastically.
Hearing her familiar voice fully awakened Marcus, and he replied dryly, "Good morning, Insect Pillar."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two other familiar faces rarely seen during his recovery.
One was Aoi Kanzaki, the other, naturally, was Kanaho.