After their sparring session ended, the two sat calmly on a massive rock, gazing at the rushing waterfall below.
"Compared to before, you've become much more composed," Urokodaki sensei said.
Aoyama nodded without denying it.
After experiencing battle after battle, he had thought deeply about many things—especially after this recent fight with an Upper Rank demon.
At that time, if he had been even a moment slower, Rengoku Kyojuro might truly have died.
Even with the regeneration potion, it might have been too late.
"I received a letter from headquarters," Urokodaki continued. "But I didn't expect you to return to Mount Sagiri in just a few days. This time… what brings you here?"
The last time Aoyama returned, it had been because his blade had suddenly become heavier.
Was he facing some new difficulty now?
Urokodaki silently speculated.
"Oh, nothing serious," Aoyama said with a grin. "I just hadn't seen you in a long time, Urokodaki-sensei, so I came back to chat with you."
Urokodaki snorted.
Standing up, he brushed the dust off his clothes and gave Aoyama a rather skeptical look.
Not even a demon would believe that excuse.
Watching his teacher walk away without believing him at all, Aoyama turned his head and shouted,
"I'm telling the truth! Why won't you believe me?"
He jumped down from the rock and quickly followed after him.
Late that night, after Urokodaki had fallen asleep, Aoyama quietly slipped out of the cabin.
He made his way to the training forest.
There, on the massive rock that had once been split in two—
Makomo sat alone, quietly gazing up at the moon.
"Makomo!"
Aoyama called out.
Makomo lowered her head.
Tears glimmered in the corners of her eyes.
"Aoyama … you're back."
Her voice sounded light and distant.
"You're sad," Aoyama said as he approached.
Makomo jumped down from the rock, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She looked up at him with clear but sorrowful eyes.
"You and Tanjiro have done so well that Urokodaki-sensei feels proud of you. But when he remembers us…"
She paused.
"We don't want him to keep feeling sad because of us."
Silence filled the air.
Aoyama raised his hand and gently placed it on Makomo's head.
"That's exactly why I came back."
"Hm?"
Makomo looked confused.
Aoyama paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts before continuing.
"I obtained something from somewhere else. It's called a Summoning Scroll."
"If you're willing to sign a contract with it, your power will be converted into mine. As I continue fighting demons, you will gradually gain a physical form, regain combat ability… and eventually achieve resurrection."
Makomo's eyes widened.
"What…? Is that really possible?"
Her face filled with shock.
Was resurrection truly possible?
"Do you not believe me?" Aoyama asked.
Returning to Mount Sagiri this time had been entirely because of the Summoning Scroll.
Makomo and the others shouldn't have had their lives end at the hands of that Hand Demon on Mount Fujikasane.
Makomo slowly recovered from her shock.
"Can I… really come back to life?"
Her voice trembled.
Aoyama nodded firmly.
Since the Demon Slaying System had given him the Summoning Scroll, it must have its purpose.
But when Aoyama took the scroll out from the system space and asked Makomo to sign the contract—
She hesitated.
Only she would be resurrected?
Seeing her hesitation, Aoyama asked,
"What's wrong?"
"Just me?"
Makomo lowered her eyes sadly.
"Sabito… he misses Urokodaki-sensei very much."
All of them missed their teacher.
All of them wished they could stand by his side again—not as spirits, but as living people.
Understanding her meaning, Aoyama sighed softly.
He had already thought about this while returning to Mount Sagiri.
At that moment—
Sabito emerged slowly from the surrounding mist.
"Makomo," he said gently. "You should sign the contract."
"Whether it's you or me, if one of us can come back to life… that's already a wonderful thing."
But seeing Sabito only strengthened Makomo's resolve.
She shook her head firmly.
She insisted that Sabito should sign the contract instead.
Aoyama sighed again.
Then he reached into the system space and took out the last remaining Summoning Scroll.
"Both of you sign it."
"Stop arguing. I only have two scrolls. There isn't a third one."
He made it absolutely clear to prevent them from insisting the other children should take their place.
Makomo and Sabito looked at each other.
Finally, they both stepped forward and signed their names on the scroll.
The moment they finished—
Their spirits were absorbed into the scroll.
At the same time, Aoyama felt a gentle stream of energy flowing into his body.
This must be the power of the Summoning Scroll transferring Makomo and Sabito's strength into him.
When Aoyama returned to the cabin and pushed open the door—
Urokodaki was standing there upright.
"Whew!"
Aoyama patted his chest dramatically.
"Urokodaki-sensei! Why are you standing here in the middle of the night? Did you wake up? Or are you going to the bathroom?"
Urokodaki asked calmly,
"Did you wake up? Or are you going to the bathroom?"
His instincts told him that Aoyama had come back to Mount Sagiri for a reason.
But the boy refused to say anything.
Sneaking out late at night only made it more suspicious.
"Neither," Aoyama replied with a grin. "I went up the mountain to train."
For now, the matter of Sabito, Makomo, and the Summoning Scroll couldn't be revealed to Urokodaki yet.
"When did you become so diligent?" Urokodaki said skeptically.
Back when Tanjiro and the others were training, Aoyama had spent most of his time lying around, fishing, catching shrimp, and doing absolutely nothing productive.
Now he suddenly wanted to train?
Impossible.
"I'm serious. I really went up the mountain."
Aoyama yawned dramatically, pretending to be sleepy.
Seeing that he clearly didn't want to explain, Urokodaki decided not to press further.
Whatever Aoyama was doing—
It wouldn't be anything outrageous.
He stepped aside, letting Aoyama pass.
Butterfly Mansion.
Shinobu Kocho examined Rengoku's body several times.
There wasn't the slightest trace of injury remaining.
"Well, Shinobu? My body is perfectly fine, right?" Rengoku asked cheerfully.
Shinobu smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Everything is perfectly normal. I heard that it was the medicine Aoyama gave you."
Rengoku nodded happily, touching his once-injured left eye.
"That's right! All thanks to Aoyama ! It's entirely his credit!"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing Rengoku's hearty laughter, Shinobu covered her mouth and laughed softly as well.
But one question lingered in her mind.
Did Aoyama also understand medicine?
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