Chapter 41: Thank You for Your Hard Work
"Thank you for your hard work, carrying me for so long."
Ryuji took off his blindfold and pulled up Murai, who was lying on the ground panting like an ox, speaking with some embarrassment.
"No, it's no trouble..."
Murai raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
"Huff... huff..."
Murai forced his back straight, but his gasping breath, like a worn-out bellows, betrayed him ruthlessly.
Shinobu looked at him curiously, then at Ryuji, and whispered to her sister, "Sister, is Mr. Ryuji very heavy? Look at this uncle, his face has turned pale."
Murai squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying. "It's not heavy, I'm just naturally pale..."
A thought surged in his mind like never before.
Carrying people is too exhausting.
Maybe... I should switch careers and make clothes instead.
Designing uniforms for those beautiful female members should be much easier.
"Uh..."
Ryuji watched Murai acting tough in front of the beauties, and his lips twitched.
Fine, with beauties around, even if you can't do it, you have to.
Understandable.
"I'll leave you here. Next, some colleagues will come to guide you."
Murai said this and left with the other Kakushi Members.
"Wow! This place is huge!"
As soon as she stepped into the Headquarters, Shinobu was like a curious little sparrow, her purple eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked around.
Meanwhile, Kocho Jiro let out a shrill scream.
"My microscope!! My precious glassware!"
Looking at the medical instruments shattered by the bumpy journey, he felt as if a piece of his heart had been gouged out, letting out a sharp shriek.
The Shinobi leading the way all shrank their heads; it wasn't their fault.
"Kanao, is Mr. Kochō all right?"
Ryuji leaned closer to Kocho Kanae and asked softly, looking at Kocho Jiro weeping over the pile of fragments, "Should we comfort him? By the way, if these things are reported to the Master, they can be repurchased..."
"It's all right, Father is just like that. He places great importance on these medical things."
Kanao shook her head and spoke softly.
Under the Master's prior arrangement, the Kochou family was brought to a large courtyard that had been vacant for a long time but was cleaned spotlessly; it was originally the medical facility of the Headquarters.
"From today on, this Infirmary will be under the full charge of Mr. Jiro."
The Shinobi who came to deliver the message said respectfully.
After settling in, Ryuji didn't stop to rest, helping the Kochou family unpack their luggage and move the surviving medical instruments.
"Infirmary? That name sounds so bad."
Shinobu pinched her nose with a look of disdain, "It's not cute at all."
"Shinobu!"
Kocho Kanae reached out and lightly flicked her sister's forehead, "Don't be so rude, this is the Master's arrangement."
"But it really doesn't sound good," Shinobu pouted.
"I think Shinobu is right."
Ryuji chimed in with a smile, "Calling such a beautiful place an 'Infirmary' is indeed a bit stiff. How about... calling it the 'Butterfly Mansion'?"
"Butterfly Mansion?"
Shinobu's eyes lit up instantly.
"This is great! You can tell it's our place just by the name!"
She jumped up happily, then looked at her sister mischievously and said loudly on purpose, "And Sister loves butterflies the most, right?"
Kocho Kanae's face flushed red instantly. She was both embarrassed and annoyed, scolding, "Shinobu, you're talking nonsense again!"
With that, she stepped forward, making a move to chase and hit Shinobu.
"Bleh, bleh, bleh, I hit the nail on the head, didn't I!"
Shinobu stuck out her tongue with a laugh and ran away lightly in the courtyard like a real butterfly.
The sisters' playful bickering, Kocho Jiro looking at the remaining medical instruments with a pained expression, and the gentle and quiet Mrs. Kochou standing nearby.
Ryuji, standing to the side, took it all in.
It's so nice.
The Kochou family will no longer have that tragic ending... This was one of the goals he wanted to achieve.
Sabito's fate, the Kochou family's fate... Good, he had already changed so much, and next, he would change all those tragedies!
While Ryuji was thinking, a Shinobi walked up quickly and bowed respectfully to him.
"Lord Ryuji, the Master requests your presence."
He said to the Kakushi Member, "Alright, I'm coming."
The Kakushi Member bowed slightly, his eyes filled with reverence as he said, "Alright. First, let me congratulate Lord Ryuji on your promotion. We will surely achieve the final victory!"
"Yes! That's for sure!"
Ryuji said firmly, waving goodbye to Kocho Jiro, who was studying the new environment.
Then he followed the Kakushi Member quickly to the Oyakata Residence.
Passing through the winding corridors and arriving at the familiar courtyard, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was sitting quietly under the porch, a warm smile like a spring breeze on his face.
"Ryuji pays his respects to the Master." Ryuji knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully.
"Rise, my child."
The Master's voice was as smooth as jade, seemingly possessing the power to soothe the soul. "You did an outstanding job on this mission."
"It was my duty."
Ryuji responded softly.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya shook his head slightly. "It's not like that. You slew a Lower Rank, protected your companions when encountering an Upper Rank, and brought back vital intelligence..."
He stood up and walked to Ryuji's side, looking at Ryuji, who was about the same height as himself, his eyes full of relief.
"I'm just glad you returned safely. Thank you for your hard work."
Ryuji looked into Ubuyashiki Kagaya's sincere eyes and felt a warmth in his heart; this was the Master.
His words were always so gentle and heartwarming.
"And then..."
The Master's tone became even gentler.
"How is your body? I heard from Gyomei that you were seriously injured. Although you look healthy now, you must be careful not to leave any hidden injuries..."
Hearing Ubuyashiki Kagaya's caring tone, Ryuji once again experienced what it felt like to be charmed.
Not asking about the mission or anything else, only about his health... this meticulous care really made one feel like risking their life for him.
"Thank you for your concern, Master. They were just superficial wounds and have mostly healed."
Ryuji said softly, looking at Ubuyashiki Kagaya, "A few more days of rest and I'll be fully recovered."
"No."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's tone carried a rare hint of unquestionable severity, even though his voice remained gentle.
"I've learned the full details of the mission. If it hadn't been for Mr. Kochō's medical skills, you might not have made it back."
He patted Ryuji's shoulder gently. "It can't be just a few days. I order you to rest completely for half a month."
"Until you receive confirmation from Mr. Kochō, you are forbidden from performing any missions."
Just as he finished speaking, two figures appeared in the courtyard.
"Yo! What a flashy record! Taking down a Lower Rank alone and coming back alive from Upper Rank Two! Not bad, kid!"
Sound Hashira Uzui Tengen carried his twin blades, a signature flashy smile on his face.
"namu amida butsu... To survive is the greatest fortune."
Stone Hashira Himejima Gyomei pressed his hands together, tears falling silently.
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