Their Respective Choices

There was no animosity between Hanada Shizuka and the Demon, and her thoughts were simple and pure.

Although her master and the people around her had always told Hanada Shizuka through their words and actions that the Demon Slayer Corps fought against Demons to protect humanity, sacrificing countless lives, and were an organization on the side of justice, and Hanada Shizuka would laugh and chime in agreement, she had a true thought that she had never told anyone, because it sounded somewhat rebellious.

That thought was that she didn't care what justice was; she only cared who would uphold justice for her.

"Senior Disciple, as long as you don't think about eating me, it's fine."

"I smell so good, my meat must be delicious. If you get hungry, you have to hold back, or you'll lose your adorable junior sister." Hanada Shizuka giggled, making a face again.

Hearing this, Kurozawa's expression softened considerably, and his mood lightened. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, little Shizuka, I'm afraid eating you would make me stupid."

Looking at the other three he considered his younger siblings, Kurozawa quietly waited for their answers.

Iguro Obanai took a step forward, reached out, and slowly untied the scarf wrapped around his face.

Instantly, a somewhat terrifying face was exposed to the air.

The upper part of Iguro Obanai's face was no different from that of a normal young man, except that his beautiful heterochromatic eyes were a little too gloomy. But looking down, one would find ugly and hideous scars.

On both sides of his mouth, there were large scars extending towards his ears, like two thick centipedes crawling on his cheeks, winding and twisted.

From the look of it, his mouth had been cut open with a knife and then stitched up with coarse threads.

"I always thought that perhaps my entire life would be spent in a dungeon, and then one day, I would be eaten alive by that snake."

"I made countless wishes, hoping for an angel to descend and lead me to escape."

"The angel never came, but you did."

"So, no matter what you are, Senior Disciple, I don't care."

In Iguro Obanai's eyes, no matter how cold Kurozawa's sun was, its light was always brilliant and dazzling, worth following.

After speaking, he wrapped the scarf back around his face and stood silently to the side, saying nothing more. Only the small white snake Kaburamaru beside his neck flicked its tongue, hissing.

Given his personality, it was likely the last time Iguro Obanai would say so much at once.

It wasn't in vain that I saved him from despair; he is capable of remembering kindness. Kurozawa nodded slightly.

Immediately, Kurozawa turned his gaze to the remaining two, saying softly, "Sabito, Makomo."

"I know your situations, so I won't force anything."

"But I want to know your stance."

The two remained silent, their fists unconsciously clenched, their eyes filled with mixed emotions.

Both Sabito and Makomo had once had complete and happy families, but in an instant, those homes were shattered by Demon attacks, and they were the only survivors of their respective families.

Therefore, unlike Hanada Shizuka and Iguro Obanai, their hatred for Demons was more intense.

Among the disciples of Mount Sagiri, regardless of their personalities, the experiences of the others were similar to Sabito and Makomo; they were basically people with deep-seated hatred for Demons.

Therefore, Kurozawa would not force them to stand by his side.

"Senior Disciple," Sabito raised his head, looking directly at Kurozawa, and spoke firmly.

"I have always respected and loved you. In my heart, I have always treated you as my family, my elder brother."

"Raise my sword against you? I cannot do it."

"But betray the Demon Slayer Corps and choose you? I cannot do that either!"

"I saw them devour my parents bite by bite, while I could only cover my mouth under the bed, not even daring to cry."

"This hatred, I cannot let it go!"

Beside Sabito, Makomo's face was clouded with sadness, seemingly recalling her similar past. Similarly, she also remembered Kurozawa's thoughtful care; without Kurozawa, she would not have been able to move on from that painful memory.

But now, her beloved Senior Disciple had become one of the same kind she hated.

She clenched her teeth, and after a long while, she said word by word, "I am the same as Sabito." The words were short but powerful.

Kurozawa was silent, the veins on the back of his hand faintly visible.

At this moment, Hanada Shizuka said anxiously, "Senior Brother Sabito, Senior Sister Makomo, think, think about how Senior Disciple treated us? Even if Senior Disciple becomes a Demon, so what? He won't hurt us, you..."

"Alright, don't say any more." Kurozawa waved his hand, stopping Hanada Shizuka's words.

This junior sister was simple-minded; she hadn't considered that Sabito and Makomo were different from her and couldn't easily choose to stand by a Demon's side.

Looking at these two junior disciples with conflicted expressions, Kurozawa took a deep breath and then said seriously, "Sabito, Makomo, I expected your choice, so I won't be disappointed. On the contrary, I am happy for you."

"If you could forget your hatred so easily, then you wouldn't be the Sabito and Makomo I know."

"One day in the future, perhaps you will go to the battlefield and meet me."

"At that time, don't hesitate to strike. Your Senior Disciple is still very strong."

Kurozawa already knew their stance and could accept it. Similarly, Kurozawa would still regard them as his younger siblings and would not deliver fatal blows. Kurozawa knew that these two could also not raise their swords against him.

In his Fighting Spirit perception, Kurozawa felt numerous emotional fluctuations: confusion, struggle, pain, unwillingness to believe... but no hostility, not even a trace of it.

Well, there was some towards Hongyue, but considering the difference in strength between them, Hongyue wouldn't care either.

"Alright, let's go."

There was no point in staying on Mount Sagiri any longer. Kurozawa turned and left, with Hongyue walking beside him.

Hanada Shizuka and Iguro Obanai exchanged glances. Seeing Kurozawa beckon, they quickly followed behind him.

"Senior Disciple," Makomo couldn't help but call out, taking a few steps forward before being pulled back by Sabito.

Kurozawa waved his hand without looking back and continued heading down the mountain.

Night shrouded the forest, like an invisible, dark curtain. The rustling of insects and the friction of wind through leaves occasionally drifted through the air.

Two walked in front, two behind, the few of them silently walking together in the dark.

Hongyue could sense that Kurozawa was a little down, so she didn't speak to disturb him, simply holding his hand tightly.

Before long, at a fork in the mountain path, Kurozawa stopped, and the others stopped with him.

He turned to look at Hanada Shizuka and Iguro Obanai, mused for a moment, and said, "Let's split up here."

"Hongyue and I still have things to do. You two go to Asakusa. I'll join you there before long."

He still needed to go to the Kamado Family to look for traces of Sun Breathing before planning to go to Asakusa.

However, Hongyue glanced at Kurozawa and suddenly said, "I'll take them. I have quite a few subordinates in Asakusa, and for them two, well, it's too dangerous." Most of the Demons in Asakusa were elite-level, making it no different from a dragon's den and tiger's lair for a rookie Swordsman and a reserve Swordsman.

Kurozawa thought about it carefully and indeed felt a little uneasy.

He nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll go to the Kamado Family by myself. If nothing unexpected happens, it probably won't take long. You two go to Asakusa and wait for me first." He paused, then looked at Hongyue's clear eyes and said softly, "Although I don't really like formalities, that is, after all, a once-in-a-lifetime event."

"When I get back to Asakusa, let's have a proper wedding."

Hongyue froze, then bloomed into a bright smile like a cereus flower, saying, "Okay, I'll be waiting for you."

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