"Stop!"
Shinobu lightly shouted, furrowed her brows, and used the Nichirin Blade wrapped in cloth in her hand to block Kaigaku's slapping hand.
His movement being obstructed, Kaigaku was somewhat caught off guard. He suddenly turned his head and shouted, "Who are you?! Such audacity, daring to interfere with us, the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Shinobu sneered coldly, "Kaigaku, right? Being so violent to innocent people, I don't recall the Demon Slayer Corps teaching its members like this. Who is your cultivator? I want to have a good talk with them."
Kaigaku was stunned. Cultivators are people specifically responsible for training swordsmen for the Demon Slayer Corps, such a title is usually only known to Corps members.
Although Shinobu was wearing civilian clothes, Kaigaku still withdrew his contempt. He had only just joined, and the girl in front of him with a cold smile could very well be his senior.
"Who are you?" he asked cautiously.
"Shinobu. You can also call me the Insect Hashira."
"Hashira?!" Kaigaku cried out in shock, unconsciously taking two steps back.
He never imagined that this petite girl in front of him was actually one of the highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps.
It wasn't his fault, even experienced veterans who had been in the Corps for years might never meet a Hashira, let alone a newcomer like him.
Although he hadn't seen a Hashira before, he had privately gathered information about them.
His cultivator, Jigoro Kuwajima, happened to be the former Thunder Hashira, so Kaigaku understood more about Hashira than the average swordsman.
He had heard his master mention that a petite girl, just over sixteen years old, had taken over the position of the Insect Hashira.
He had no doubts about what Shinobu said.
In an instant, he became extremely respectful, he was always like that toward the strong. Besides that, he was very skilled at protecting himself.
From Shinobu's attitude, he could see she was extremely dissatisfied with him.
Kaigaku immediately knelt on one knee to the ground, lowered his head, and explained, "Today a kasugai crow delivered a message that an evil demon was eating people in this lodging area, so I rushed over without delay."
"Lady Shinobu, it was out of eagerness to slay demons that I acted this way. Please forgive my rudeness."
Shinobu's expression softened slightly. She nodded, understanding the feeling of wanting to bring an evil demon to justice as soon as possible.
Since the other party recognized his mistake in time, she didn't plan to pursue it further.
"I can understand that feeling, but your attitude toward this girl was really too awful. I hope you can sincerely apologize to her."
'What! You want me to apologize to this weakling?'
Kaigaku looked toward Yae, who was standing to the side. The girl seemed to be out of strength, her body already swaying unsteadily.
There was no doubt, such a person, in his eyes, was just a weakling. Toward weaklings, he didn't think there was anything wrong with his attitude.
He had only said those insincere words to improve Shinobu's opinion of him.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Kaigaku hesitate, Shinobu sternly said, "You still haven't realized your mistake?"
Kaigaku gritted his teeth and stood up, forcing himself to bow ninety degrees toward Yae.
"I was wrong earlier. Please forgive me."
Yae felt her upper eyelids getting heavier and heavier and didn't want to tangle with him at all. She softly hummed in response, which counted as acknowledgment.
Shinobu nodded, raised a finger and waved it, starting to instruct Kaigaku.
"I hope you remember today's lesson. The purpose of the Demon Slayer Corps is to ensure that demons don't impact human society as much as possible. So when carrying out missions in the future, please be more discreet."
Kaigaku hadn't even straightened up yet. He bared his teeth and heavily replied, "Yes! I will remember Lady Shinobu's teachings."
Shinobu smiled and said, "It's great that you can understand."
Kaigaku straightened his body, his facial muscles twitching as he tried to look as kind as possible. His tone also lost its former irritation and became a little gentler.
"Miss Yae, please tell me, about the demon that day…"
Before he finished speaking, Yae swayed and collapsed to the ground.
"Yae!" Several hunters who had close ties with the girl shouted worriedly.
Shinobu cradled the girl in her arms, touched her burning forehead, and said, "She has a fever, we need to find a place for her to rest."
She raised her head and said to Kaigaku, "Come help, quickly."
Kaigaku acted as if he didn't hear, clenching his fists and standing still. He already felt humiliated just apologizing to this weakling. Now he had to help her? What a joke.
And this girl fainting right now, what for? Deliberately obstructing his demon-slaying, hindering his promotion?
'This b*tch!'
"What's wrong? Don't zone out!" Seeing he still wasn't moving, Shinobu urged again.
Kaigaku's knuckles had already turned white, his heart filled with inner conflict. His pride didn't allow him to do such a lowly thing, but if he didn't, he would offend Shinobu, which wouldn't help his future in the Demon Slayer Corps.
He valued this swordsman career and hoped to become a Hashira.
"I… I understand…" He spoke with difficulty.
However, during the time he hesitated, Jotaro had already walked over and picked up the fallen Yae.
"Mr. Jotaro?" Seeing who was helping, Shinobu was a little surprised.
In her heart, Jotaro not causing trouble for others was already good enough, yet he was actually helping someone?
Right beside the street was a pharmacist's house. Jotaro hadn't walked far before sending the girl in.
Seeing this, Kaigaku said to Shinobu, "Lady Shinobu, since that's the case, there's no need for me here. I still have a mission on me, so I'll take my leave."
Kaigaku acted very respectful. But Shinobu, for some reason, had an extremely uncomfortable feeling. She glanced at Kaigaku but said no more, replying faintly, "Mm."
"Farewell." With that, Kaigaku stepped forward, about to leave, but Jotaro suddenly walked out from the pharmacist's house.
"Wait a second."
Hearing that, Kaigaku stopped and turned back, confused as he looked at him.
Jotaro had both hands in his pockets, eyes closed, and said, "Earlier I wasn't paying attention and didn't watch the road, it was indeed my fault. But if you had just reminded me with words, I would've moved out of your way."
"There was no need for you to act all high and mighty, you idiot."
"What?!" Kaigaku, too, was a young man full of hot blood. Being cursed like this by Jotaro, how could he not be angry?
Besides, he had always been egotistical and never considered others. Jotaro blocking his path and being pushed away by him, he thought there was nothing wrong with that.
He stared at Jotaro defiantly, smiling without warmth as he said, "You picking a fight with me?"
"Idiot! It's so obvious, can't you tell for yourself?"
Jotaro opened his eyes, his pale green pupils carried a chilling light.
Kaigaku gritted his teeth, glanced at Shinobu, and forcibly suppressed his anger. "I've got business to handle, don't have time for you."
With that, he turned to leave. But the next second, Jotaro's fist slammed into his face.
"Then let me send you off."
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