Kochou Kanae left the Master's residence and headed straight for her own Butterfly Mansion.
**"Butterfly Mansion."**
This name held extraordinary significance for her and her younger sister. It was the name of the clinic their father had once run. Kochou Kanae was pleased that she had, in a way, inherited her father's legacy. She believed that her parents, watching from the heavens, would feel comforted seeing their daughter follow the same path.
—In the future, the Butterfly Mansion would become an indispensable and critically important place for the Demon Slayer Corps. All medical and logistical support for the Corps would be centralized here. Eventually, it would become the Demon Slayer Corps' hospital.
However, that was all in the future. Right now, Kochou Kanae had a more pressing matter to deal with.
Yes, meeting the Master was only the beginning. The real challenge would begin once she returned to the Butterfly Mansion.
In fact, the Butterfly Mansion wasn't too far from the Master's residence in a straight line. With Kochou Kanae's speed, it took her only a day to get there. In the future, after mastering "Total Concentration Breathing: Constant," the time could be reduced even further.
But now, Kochou Kanae wished she hadn't been so fast.
"How am I supposed to explain this to Makomo-chan and Shinobu…"
The thought of having to tell Makomo and Kochou Shinobu about Li Mo's disappearance gave her a headache. Why did Makomo-chan and Shinobu have to care so much about Li-san, just like her?
"I'll go find Makomo-chan first."
After considering their personalities, Kochou Kanae decisively chose to look for Makomo first. The building named "Butterfly Mansion" was already in sight. In truth, this place had previously been the medical department of the Demon Slayer Corps. It was only after Kochou Kanae took over that it was renamed "Butterfly Mansion."
For the other staff members, it was just a name change and a new leader. Their work remained largely the same.
Makomo was currently at the Butterfly Mansion.
It had been two or three days since the "defeat of Upper Moon Three." Through the Kasugai crows, news of the incident had reached Makomo. In the official report, Li-san was listed as "missing."
—This was only a temporary measure. Li-san had disappeared right before her and the Flame Hashira's eyes. The way he vanished was as if a god had returned to his heavenly abode.
But would Makomo believe that?
"How could he just go missing after defeating Upper Moon Three, especially with his comrades still alive?"
Kochou Kanae couldn't even convince herself.
Entering the Butterfly Mansion, she greeted the passing members with a smile and inquired about Makomo's location—the rooftop.
"Makomo-chan, the view from the Butterfly Mansion's rooftop is quite nice, isn't it? Though it's not as good as the scenery at Mount Sagiri. But the night sky here is beautiful too."
Kochou Kanae sat down beside Makomo, placing a finger on her lips as she spoke.
Makomo's expression remained cold. She asked, "How did my junior brother go missing?"
"Well… Li-san just 'poof' disappeared right before me and the Flame Hashira. It was in a way that I can't even begin to understand."
"Oh."
"Makomo-chan, do you believe me?"
Makomo gazed at the distant mountains. "Did he say he would come back?"
"He did."
"Then I have no problem with it." Makomo spoke slowly, her icy face giving away nothing.
After a pause, Kochou Kanae understood Makomo's thoughts. She was willing to believe her explanation, even if it might be false. Because that hope was better than nothing, wasn't it?
It was good that she hadn't lied.
Kochou Kanae bid farewell to Makomo, leaped down from the rooftop, and went to find her younger sister—Kochou Shinobu.
She was sitting in the side corridor of the Butterfly Mansion, staring blankly at the courtyard. Beside her was a specially made gourd, a tool used to train Breathing Techniques.
"Ara, why does Shinobu look so down? Didn't you always say you hated Li-san the most? Why are you making such a bitter face now?" Kochou Kanae crouched beside Shinobu, whispering into her ear.
Her warm breath tickled Shinobu's ear, but Shinobu kept a straight face and said, "Why can you still be so relaxed, sister?"
"Because Li-san is only missing."
"Missing right before your eyes? Sister, do you still think I'm a three-year-old?"
Shinobu looked at her sister seriously.
After fighting an Upper Moon, a monster, he just went missing? Right in front of his comrades? How could something like that even happen?
Kochou Kanae shifted from crouching to sitting beside her sister, resting her chin on her fist as she sighed. "But Li-san really did just 'poof' disappear like that."
"What about his injuries? How could they heal… I saw the preliminary medical report you wrote after you returned."
Kochou Kanae had a habit of writing detailed medical reports after every examination. This time, Li-san's report was no exception. When Shinobu read it, her heart sank.
—Could a human really survive such injuries?
"Ara, so Shinobu saw that, huh? It's okay. Li-san said he has the ability to recover like a demon. The price is just that he has to go home."
"Really?!" Shinobu was skeptical.
Could this be some kind of joke Li-san and her sister were playing on her?
Like teasing a child.
Li Mo always treated her like a little kid. She was already eleven years old…
"Does Shinobu not trust her sister? Has your sister ever lied to you about something so important?" Kochou Kanae said gently.
In the end, Shinobu remained doubtful, but she decided to trust her sister's words for now… At least, she could believe that Li-san might return.
After her sister left, leaving her alone, Shinobu picked up the gourd beside her and began to blow into it.
—Of course, it didn't burst.
This method of training Breathing Techniques was taught to her by Li Mo. And it was incredibly effective.
After practicing for a while, Shinobu touched her hair and realized it had gotten shorter…
"Should I try changing?"
Then, Shinobu used two fingers to lift the corners of her mouth into a smile.
For example, she could start by learning to smile like her sister?
Unintentionally, Shinobu recalled the conversation she had with Li-san a few days ago at Mount Sagiri.
At that time, she had said, "I might only become like my sister after you die."
So…
Did this count?
"Then, I'll try changing. If I become more like my sister, maybe I won't be treated like a child anymore…"