If they kept talking like this, she really would end up being pitied.
So Yuko decisively shifted the topic.
"Right—Shinobu, earlier you asked how to awaken the mark. Are you planning to try it yourself?"
Shinobu's expression changed. Her exhaustion vanished instantly as she nodded seriously.
"Yes."
"Of course you can, Shinobu."
"I can…?" Shinobu's eyes flickered with a faint light.
Yuko asked intentionally, "Why do you want to awaken the mark? Is it because of Doma?"
Realizing that Yuko was referring to the Upper Rank Two demon who nearly killed her sister, Shinobu's fingers curled tightly.
Looking down at her clenched fist, Shinobu murmured, "Not entirely… As a Hashira, I also want to contribute to defeating Muzan."
"Aren't you already doing your best?"
Yuko turned her head slightly. She didn't know Shinobu well on a personal level—only that she appeared in the anime and left a strong impression. She had only memorized her because of that.
As for Shinobu's actual background, Yuko knew little.
But from her breathing style, sword techniques, and that unusual Nichirin blade, Yuko had already guessed a few things.
Shinobu resorted to using poisons because she lacked the physical strength to cut down demons directly.
After all, she was tiny—even among women, she was small, barely over 150 centimeters.
Sure enough, after a moment of silence, Shinobu spoke in a faint, discouraged voice:
"…Because my strength is weak. I'm not as physically strong as the other Hashira."
Shinobu likely believed the mark required talent—something only certain people could awaken. But that wasn't entirely true. The mark was closer to an amplifier—a method that magnified whatever physical capacity one already had.
In other words…
If your base physical ability was low, awakening the mark wouldn't change much.
"Although this may sound harsh, Shinobu…" Yuko hesitated. "Even if you awaken the mark, you probably still can't fight an Upper Rank head-on."
Shinobu was undeniably the weakest Hashira—the only one who needed external tools to kill demons.
Her physical condition was simply too poor.
Even with the mark, the improvement would be limited.
The gap between Upper and Lower Ranks was a chasm—and the gap between the bottom and top of Upper Rank was just as vast.
If Shinobu wanted the mark simply to get stronger, that was fine.
But if she thought the mark could erase her fundamental weakness, that was impossible.
Even Yuko herself hadn't been able to activate a Red Blade through grip strength after awakening the mark. She only accomplished it after becoming a demon and having her physical strength boosted.
The girl's frail body trembled slightly. Her hands, clenched atop her knees, were beginning to shake.
"Even so… I still want to do something."
Yuko sighed helplessly.
"Relax. Before the final battle with Muzan, I already planned to help all the Hashira awaken their marks."
Awakening the mark meant dying before twenty-five.
But if that price could increase their strength—if it could help slay Muzan—ninety-nine percent of the Demon Slayer Corps would choose it.
Love faded, but hatred didn't.
These people had long accepted death.
Yuko herself had lasted this long only through her desire for revenge.
"…Thank you."
Shinobu's clenched fists finally loosened.
Of course she knew she was weak.
She had none of Mitsuri's raw strength.
None of her sister Kanae's height or physical gifts.
Even her breathing style was an imperfect offshoot of Flower Breathing—a flawed derivative among flawed techniques.
In every sense, she lacked innate talent.
…
A gentle knock came from behind them. The two turned.
Tamayo stood at the doorway with a soft smile.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all."
Yuko asked, "Did it succeed?"
Tamayo nodded. "It went quite well. But it will take time for him to stabilize."
Yae was still inside watching over her father.
Yuko suggested, "Tamayo, why not stay with the Demon Slayer Corps for now? I actually have something I want your and Shinobu's help with."
Yushiro, unusually, did not jump up to protest this time.
"Of course. I had the same thought," Tamayo said. With Yuko speaking so earnestly, how could she refuse?
The battle with Muzan would surely begin soon.
Shinobu looked puzzled. "What is it, Yuko?"
Yuko answered plainly, "It's about the Upper Rank Two, Doma. I want to ask the two of you to develop a medicine that counters his frost poison."
Information on the Upper Ranks existed precisely for this purpose—to prepare for everything they could.
As for Michikatsu…
He would need to be defeated head-on.
Tricks and schemes would mean nothing.
Shinobu blinked in surprise. "Frost poison? Lord Ubuyashiki actually ordered me to develop an antidote already, but without a sample, progress has been slow."
After receiving Yuko's information, Ubuyashiki immediately distributed it to the Hashira, instructing the Butterfly estate to work on an antidote.
And Shinobu, who had a personal vendetta against Doma, was more than willing.
"With Lady Tamayo here, I'm sure we'll be able to solve it," Shinobu said.
After last night's surgery, her admiration for Tamayo's medical skill had skyrocketed.
A doctor who had lived for centuries was in a league entirely her own.
Tamayo smiled softly. "You flatter me. Miss Shinobu is an excellent physician as well."
Yuko cut off their mutual compliments. "The sun is about to rise. Tamayo, you should find a room to stay out of the sunlight for now."
Shinobu realized this and got up quickly. "Ah—my apologies, I lost track of time…"
Whether from lack of sleep or the intense concentration she'd maintained all night, the moment she stood, her vision blurred and she stumbled.
Yuko caught her before she fell. "You okay?"
"…I'm fine."
Shinobu's face flushed slightly.
Tamayo said, "I'll ask Miss Aoi to help us find shelter from the sun. Yuko, please take Miss Shinobu to rest."
"I understand."
Yuko turned to Shinobu. "Come on—let's get you back to your room."
Shinobu whispered, "Sorry for the trouble…"
"It's no trouble."
After seeing her to bed, Yuko finally stepped outside.
---
Currently at chapter 423 for advance chapters
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