Demon Slayer: Muzan, will you dance too?

The abrupt and vague words startled Shinobu Kocho. She wanted to ask, "Why did you say that?"

Kiyokawa Izumi said bluntly, not giving her that chance.

"The anger is about to burst out, and this state is really worrying."

Shinobu's pupils contracted slightly.

Not long ago, she had confided some of her feelings to Kanao.

I admire Kiyokawa Izumi's talent and Mr. Gyomei's physique.

Without these qualities, can she truly achieve revenge?

In her training against the Pillars, whether it was the Water Pillar, the Flame Pillar, the Wind Pillar, or the Serpent Pillar, none of them were opponents she could defeat even with her best efforts.

There is a clear difference between her and these pillars.

Just then, news arrived that Kiyokawa Izumi and Uzui Tengen had defeated the Upper Moon Six, making her realize that even the lowest Upper Moon Six required the combined efforts of two Pillars to defeat.

She knew exactly how strong Kiyokawa Izumi was—in a half-joking exchange one night, even without taking it seriously, that guy had easily subdued her.

Not to mention, in daily training, Kiyokawa Izumi, who always fights two opponents at once, holds his own against the combined attacks of the two Pillars without worrying about physical exertion.

This guy's strength has far surpassed mine.

Knowing his strength clearly made Shinobu Kocho realize just how troublesome the Upper Moons were.

The news that came not long ago also indirectly prompted her to make up her mind.

Even someone as strong as Kiyokawa Izumi would be defeated when fighting Upper Moon Three.

How can someone far weaker than him possibly carry out his revenge?

No matter how hard you try, you can't do something if you can't do it.

The power just wouldn't increase; it just wouldn't be able to sever the demon's neck.

A rough plan began to take shape in my mind.

This was a desperate act of revenge born of boundless rage.

To her utter surprise, the person in front of her saw right through her true emotions, which she thought she had hidden well.

Why?

I was shocked and somewhat puzzled.

She had never mentioned her plan to anyone, so Kiyokawa Izumi would never know.

But why would he say such a thing?

It was as if it was a pointed reference.

Believe it?

Having already made up her mind, she naturally wouldn't give up on her idea just because of these empty words.

Sometimes, the girl's persistence gave Kiyokawa Izumi a lot of headaches—with such a determination to pay any price, how could she be persuaded by just a few simple words?

Originally, I was thinking that once I was strong enough, I could use the Demon Slayer Corps' connections to search for Doma's location.

This one is different from the sixth grader. Kiyokawa Izumi really didn't know where this one was exactly—it wasn't even during the second grader period, but he had just met Gyutaro and Ume in Yoshiwara.

It doesn't have a fixed base, so finding it would definitely be time-consuming and laborious.

Kiyokawa Izumi wanted to try to solve it.

The plan hadn't been finalized yet, and their strength was lacking. Unexpectedly, Shinobu's mood seemed a bit off.

He truly hadn't expected that his disappearance would have such a profound impact on this person.

This indirectly prompted her to make up her mind to carry out that plan—to inject herself with the toxins of wisteria flowers, turning herself into a deadly poison.

This process cannot be completed with just one or two injections.

It will take at least a year to prepare.

The amount of pain one has to endure during the body transformation is unimaginable.

"The demon that killed the flower pillar is called Doma, and he is the second Upper Moon."

The atmosphere became somewhat heavy when this taboo and sensitive topic was brought up, and Shinobu Kocho remained silent for a long time, perhaps because she had already guessed it.

They may not know the other party's specific abilities or details, but they have some guesses about the Upper Moon's identity.

"I don't think it's an invincible force."

They didn't think it was an enemy that required the sacrifice of anyone to overcome with difficulty.

Can't we have a little more expectation and a little more trust?

Why go to such lengths?

With no change in expression on her calm face, Kiyokawa Izumi hesitated slightly before answering Shinobu Kocho's soft question.

"I am the pillar, it is the demon. Do I need a reason to fight it?"

This is a somewhat cunning answer.

"Since it's Upper Moon Two... what's wrong with giving it your all and fighting with everything you have to defeat it?"

Shinobu Kocho, unwilling to involve Kiyokawa Izumi, asked the question very seriously.

"You have your plans, and I have my ideas. How about we each take a step back?"

I'd like to try hunting the Upper Moon in reverse for six months... Your plan ultimately requires the assistance of others, so why not spend six months cooperating with my plan first?

What do you think?

Facing the silent Shinobu Kocho, Izumi Kiyokawa suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance and staring intently into her eyes. "It's only been six months. As fellow Pillars, don't you even have this much trust?"

"Or is it that, having fought so many Upper Moons, I'm not worth keeping that expectation in mind?"

"I clearly have a better plan, so why won't I cooperate?"

As a mature pillar, one cannot let emotions cloud one's judgment!