"Don't mess around! Don't be so rude! You have to be polite!"
Their trip from the train was smooth, and no random demon was found on the train where they stayed.
Probably, the demon decided to stay low for a while after Doma, Akaza, Gyutaro, and Daki were all slain.
Yes, Isao was powerful, but if he didn't meet a demon, then would he be able to kill them?
Moreover, knowing the breathing style that he mastered, Muzan and Kokushibo also lost their interest in him.
Still, on this trip to the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kanae didn't follow them since Isao told her to rest in the Butterly Manor.
However, even if Kanae didn't follow him, Shinobu followed him and stayed by his side. Why? If there was a reason, it was because of Amane, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma. While she didn't think that Amane would do anything to Isao, the three widows of Tengen had always made her feel suspicious since she could tell that they tried to seduce her brother-in-law.
Shinobu had discussed this problem with Kanae, but Kanae only laughed and thought of it as nothing.
Yet, how could she accept it?
While it was true that Isao was a bastard, it was impossible for her to give him away to Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma!
'Those slutty widows...'
If possible, Shinobu wanted to shoo them away, but she couldn't, especially when the three were so pitiful. Not only had they lost their husbands, but the money of their husbands was all taken by their families. They had practically nothing, and as shinobi, their fate could only become the mistress of others or become prostitutes after they lost their husbands.
Even if Shinobu tried to be hard on them, she couldn't, and in the end, she felt sorry and let them help Isao, especially when there were many things he needed to do at his house.
Moreover, Isao also decided to move to a bigger house, which made Shinobu speechless. However, when she saw the scale of his business, she could only say inwardly that her brother-in-law was amazing.
Still, even if he was amazing, unlike them, this guy didn't have much respect for Kagaya, so Shinobu knew that she needed to supervise him, or else he might mess around!
Yet, she knew that inwardly, she didn't think so, but she just couldn't be honest with her feelings, especially when she knew even if Isao appeared like this, he was so gentle.
"As long as they won't make trouble for me, then I won't do anything."
"I will make sure that nothing will happen to you," Amane said solemnly so her husband and the others wouldn't mess around.
Shinobu looked at Amane, who seemed to be in a good relationship with Isao and sighed helplessly. Hanatsuru, Makio, and Suma were also pretty close to Isao, which made her feel helpless and slightly jealous. Still, her attention quickly attracted Demon Slayer Mark to his neck.
Unlike before, his Demon Slayer Mark had changed as a centipede mark appeared between the red spider lily mark on his neck.
Frankly, this centipede was like a stain on the beautiful red spider lily mark, yet strangely enough, they suited each other together.
If one saw it, they would be unable to look away from it, as it was strangely beautiful yet grotesque.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Isao asked curiously.
"You shouldn't learn my breathing technique, you know? It gives you that creepy centipede mark," Shinobu said helplessly, feeling guilty, as she was the cause of the centipede mark on his beautiful red spider lily mark.
"Really? I like it, though."
Isao felt like he was too perfect, and he was afraid that he would make others unable to get close to him. Moreover, he could hide those marks, so it wasn't a problem.
"Yeah, that centipede mark is hot~!" Suma nodded.
"I agree! It's like a scar and kind of handsome!" Makio nodded.
"I like it too." Hinatsuru also nodded.
"...there is no need for him to be liked by the three of you! He is my sister's husband!" Shinobu looked at the three with a threatening expression.
Only the three of them laughed and didn't take Shinobu's reaction seriously, especially when they had gotten Kanae's permission. Isao's needs in that area were high, and Kanae was pregnant. Instead of letting him play around with the random women they didn't know where they came from, they thought they had to take care of him!
Isao didn't know that, and if he had, he could only say that he didn't choose the wrong wife in this world.
Anyway, their group came to the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, a place hidden deep in the forest and located hidden among the mountains.
It was located in this place because, in the past, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was killed, so to prevent similar things from happening, they kept their place hidden.
Unfortunately, with Isao's creatures, which he created a month ago, he found this place and many gatherings for the demons. At this moment, the only one that he hadn't found was the home of the protagonist, which made him helpless.
After all, as long as he got the DNA of the protagonist and friends of the protagonist, everything would be okay.
As he was about to enter, he saw many members of the Demon Slayer Corps gathered, seemingly ready to protect Kagaya anytime, yet at the same time, he could feel the hostility from them, which made him helpless.
Yet, as a good guy, he decided to ignore them, but he knew a good guy would appear like a pushover, and when they would always think that he didn't do anything because he was pressured by them.
As expected, one person suddenly stood before him and said, "I won't forgive you!"
"....."
When those words fell, while Isao was okay, Shinobu, Amane, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma, who came with him, were shocked.
"It was all because of you... if you helped us, then my friends wouldn't die! If you killed those demons, then I would still be with my friends! I... I had lost someone important to me! If you had decided to join and fight those demons, then he—"
Slap.
The one who talked as he wished was stunned when he was slapped.
However, this slap didn't come from Isao, but Shinobu, unexpectedly the one who stopped this man, was his sister-in-law.
"How could you say such a cruel thing."
Shinobu looked at this man in disbelief and then at the other Demon Slayers who were present. "Do you all think the same way as him? Do you think that all of those who were killed were because of Iinuma Isao? If so, then why do you become the Demon Slayers?! If you have such a wimpy thought, then go back to your hometown and be a farmer! He is a civilian! He just got into our place due to an accident! He doesn't have any obligations to help any of you! He is not a Demon Slayer! Just because he is strong, then is he obligated to help everyone? Just how selfish are you? Are you saying that his life is nothing? If any of you dare to say that, then I will kill you here!"
If it was a typical "yasashi" protagonist," they would stop Shinobu, who got emotional and angry, telling her that it was all fine.
Yet, even if Isao was a good guy, he didn't want to become a pushover, so he just let Shinobu get angry in his place. At the same time, he didn't expect that this "tsundere" little sister-in-law would get so angry in his place.
"You! You! You! If you have time to blame others, then train hard and avenge them! Why are you here and become the Demon Slayer?! Watching you all here makes me puke! I regret to say all of you here..."
If it was others, they might be able to say something, but whether it was Shinobu and Kanae had helped them so much. When they were injured, the two sisters took care of them.
If they were able to talk back to Shinobu, then what would happen if she didn't take care of them when they were hurt?
"Moreover, have you thought your action might make him refuse to join the Demon Slayer Corps?! Have you thought about how many will be killed again if he refuses to join because of you?! Can you take responsibility for those who are killed by those demons because of your hurtful words by him?!"
"I..."
Those words were enough to make anyone crumble.
Shinobu's outburst made everyone lower their heads so low that they couldn't even lift their heads.
Yes, if it was due to their hurtful words and their negative attitude that made Isao refuse to join the Demon Slayer Corps, then could they take responsibility?
Their attitude to ask for help was wrong.
It wasn't them who had the upper position, but it was Isao whether he wanted to join or not.
If Isao didn't want to join because of them and caused many to die, then could they take responsibility?
When they thought of this, they even wanted to kowtow to apologize to Isao.
Still, usually, the protagonist would do something about this situation and let them go as if their negative attitude didn't cause him trouble or affect him.
Unfortunately, even though Isao was a good guy, he wasn't proficient at it, so he thought that he needed to work harder!
"I am sorry for their rude actions and words, Iinuma-kun. Please come in. Sorry for being late and unable to welcome you as soon as you come."
When everyone was about to kowtow to apologize, Kagaya came with the help of Gyomei Himejima and his children. "Hurry up and apologize to him, everyone."
"We're sorry!"
Hearing Kagaya's words, all of them quickly apologized.
Amane looked at her husband, then looked at Isao.
Isao nodded, and Amane looked at him for a while before she walked toward her husband slowly to help Kagaya as usual. However, watching Amane's lonely back, he wondered whether she had forgotten whose wife she was to begin with. Sighing, he hoped that Amane could forget about him and focus on her family again.
"Please enter, Iinuma-kun. Let's talk inside," Kagaya said kindly.
Yet, Isao wondered whether all of this charade was Kagaya's ploy to make him feel guilty and join the Demon Slayer Corps. Naturally, this ploy failed due to Shinobu's outburst. Still, even without Shinobu, Amane, Hinatsuki, Makio, or Suma would get angry in his place, so he knew that he was okay and even if he entered the headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
While thinking so, Isao made his own decision.
Sitting in the main room, Kagaya and Isao sat face to face.
On Kagaya's side, all the Hashira that still lived sat on his back.
Amane also sat by Kagaya's side to help her husband.
Shinobu hesitated for a while before she sat next to Isao since she wanted to protect him from the three widows who decided to stay by Isao's side without hesitation.
"Once again, I am sorry for before, Iinuma-kun. I never thought that something like that would happen..." Kagaya was so apologetic for the actions of his subordinates.
Usually, Isao should say, "It's fine. It doesn't matter. I understand."
Yet, Isao didn't say anything and just stayed in silence.
"....."
Even though all the Hashira knew that this guy didn't expect their leader, they had to say this guy was extremely infuriating!
Yet, they didn't say anything since they knew that they needed Isao's power.
"Iinuma-kun?" Kagaya still has a gentle expression on his face, waiting patiently for Isao's answer.
Isao didn't plan to say anything for a while and enjoyed Amane's tea for a while until he couldn't ignore Shinobu, who nudged his waist from time to time. Knowing that he couldn't ignore Shinobu, he knew he could ignore Kagaya, so he said, "Ubuyashiki-san, I am sorry to disappoint you, but as expected, I don't plan to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
"...." Everyone.