Demon Slayer: Muzan, will you dance too?

Let's not compete in reaction time, let's compete in strength!

Kiyokawa Izumi quickly picked up the cups on the table and placed them all on the ground.

Without giving the person in front of him time to refuse, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth and placed his right arm on the table, assuming an arm-wrestling stance.

In terms of reaction speed, he was indeed far inferior to the person in front of him.

Therefore, he chose to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.

Not only that, but he also wore his signature smile and looked at Shinobu Kocho with expectant and eager eyes.

Veins throbbed slightly on Shinobu's fair forehead, and her warm, sunny smile was about to crumble.

I really didn't expect Kiyokawa Izumi to be so shameless.

Unlike ordinary swordsmen, this one was not so reserved or respectful in front of her, who was a Pillar.

It would seem much more unrestrained.

"Can't we do strength training first?"

Kiyokawa Izumi feigned confusion and said, puzzled.

"Without sufficient strength, one cannot sever the neck of an evil spirit... I learned this the hard way during the final selection."

What evil thoughts could a mere swordsman like me possibly have?

I just genuinely feel that my strength is indeed insufficient.

Shinobu Kocho glanced at Kanao beside her, but before she could speak, Izumi Kiyokawa quickly interrupted.

"Lord Insect Pillar?"

Although the address was respectful, the tone implied a sense of urging.

Kiyokawa Izumi isn't stupid, and Kanao, though a woman, is quite strong.

If we really got into an arm-wrestling match, I wouldn't be confident I could win.

Faced with Kiyokawa Izumi's relentless advance, Shinobu Kocho hesitated slightly before extending her right hand.

Her arms were very slender, and her right hand was small, making one wonder if she could even hold the hilt of a Nichirin sword.

Beneath her delicate, fair skin, faint blue veins were faintly visible. Her knuckles were not prominent, and her rounded nails were trimmed short and neat, with a healthy pink hue.

Kiyokawa Izumi grasped her right hand, feeling only a slight coolness. Before he could think further, the girl had already exerted her strength. Her muscles were taut, but her breathing was not disordered. Beneath her fair skin, the veins were even more prominent.

"!!"

At the same time, Kiyokawa Izumi also entered a state of complete concentration on water breathing.

If things go wrong like this, it would be incredibly embarrassing.

Sufficient oxygen was inhaled into the abdomen and spread throughout the body with the flow of blood. The foundation that the original owner had built up over many years of hard training was actually not bad, as evidenced by the calluses left on his palms from years of wielding the knife.

After a brief standoff, Kiyokawa Izumi could tell that the person in front of him had used all his strength.

He hesitated slightly, then pretended to be weak, his right arm slowly falling to his left.

"I give up!"

Kiyokawa Izumi quickly called out.

For him, winning or losing is not important.

"How enviable!"

After a moment of silence, Shinobu Kocho suddenly spoke softly.

"Of all the pillars, my strength is the weakest, so weak that I cannot even sever the neck of the demon."

The hand hidden under the sleeve clenched slightly, and the signature smile gradually disappeared.

What is she envying?

What are you still unwilling to accept?

"So what if it's not enough to sever the neck of a demon? Even the sharpest blade can't cut through everything."

Is it because the knife is weak?

I think it's just that the right method wasn't used.

"Let's continue with the reaction training!"

Shinobu Kocho said softly.

"?"

Kiyokawa Izumi had a bad feeling about this.

It seems like we're doomed.

The brief outpouring of genuine emotion was caused by him.

But this is not enough to show that Shinobu Kocho has opened her heart to him.

He made two mistakes.

The first mistake was disrespect.

Kiyokawa Izumi didn't go all out during the arm wrestling match, and only realized it later.

The woman sitting across from me was not the kind of ordinary woman who needed pity or sympathy, and empty platitudes were of no use whatsoever.

Because that's not what she needs.

His second mistake was that he underestimated the man's vengefulness.

Fortunately, he did not violate any taboos that were absolutely forbidden.

"start!"

"start!"

As Kanzaki Aoi's voice fell again and again, Kiyokawa Izumi was enduring the girl's small revenge.

The already cooled medicine was splashed on his face again and again.

There was no time to react, and no way to anticipate what was happening, so I could only reach out and grab any cup at random.

Perhaps because his actions were too obvious, he always chose the wrong answer.

"towel!"

In a daze, a clean towel was handed to me.

Kiyokawa Izumi took the towel with a wry smile and wiped the remaining medicine off his face.

"People need reasons to motivate them, whether it's fighting or training."

"What are you talking about?"

Kanzaki Aoi looked at him, who was muttering to himself, with some confusion.

"It's nothing."

Kiyokawa Izumi casually brushed it off, though he was actually very clear about the problems he was facing.

Once the thought of quitting arises, there is no reason to fight, no reason to train, and once these reasons are gone, it is difficult to devote oneself wholeheartedly and to have the mentality of giving it one's all.

Having a way out, he could no longer find the do-or-die mentality he had when participating in the final selection.

With nowhere to retreat, he had no choice but to draw his sword and fight to the death... After several days of rest, his strength might not be as good as before.