Demons are terrifying creatures that fill their bellies with human flesh.
Therefore, they are beings that wear human fear and hatred all over their bodies.
I know.
Lord Muzan and Mother both live by catching and eating someone's precious person.
The people precious to me stand on top of someone's sorrow.
So, when I learned that fact, how happy I was.
Mother no longer eats people. She can live without harming anyone, mingling among people and helping them.
Mother's heart, which has regained its beautiful benevolence and tender maternity just as before, was undoubtedly human.
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Now, then, time for reflection!
Mother is living hard, freed from the shackles of being a demon, but what on earth am I doing, you foolish child! You haven't done anything, you idiot!!
There's no progress in medicine research, so I can't turn Mother back into a human, and I just snivel like a lost three-year-old looking for Mother.
Hey, me! Where did your usual optimistic attitude go?
Shut up, me! When an optimistic person can't be optimistic, that's the most dangerous. It's loss of identity and character collapse!
Moreover, what changes by crying? It's useless, so crying is minus ten billion points. Deducted until the next life.
"Don't cry, it's unsightly." That's what Master and the previous Shabana said. But my brain, which forgets things so easily, must have goldfish specs. Is it the chick specification that forgets after three steps?
No progress since the Sengoku period. Just start over from plankton. Be decomposed in Mother's sea!
In the end, in the subsequent battle, I even passed out unintentionally!
I really did something sorry to Lord Shōjuro and to Mother.
"That demon could be defeated with your mother's help."
It was Lord Shōjuro who told me that.
I was scared wondering how he recognized Mother, but he said he witnessed me sniveling while looking for Mother.
Ugh, no, embarrassing. I wish there was a hole to hide in. No, rather, I'll dig it myself, so bury me.
Lord Shōjuro said he didn't cut Mother and didn't chase after her when she ran away. Honestly, I was relieved but even more flustered.
He had declared that demons must be cut, so what change of heart was there?
"Actually, I thought about cutting her."
On the way back after completing the mission. Lord Shōjuro, walking beside me, spoke haltingly. As if apologetic, he hesitated a little before opening his mouth.
"Even if she is your mother, even if you would resent me, I thought about cutting her."
"Then why did you let her escape?"
"……I felt that if I cut her, I would become a demon myself."
According to Lord Shōjuro's explanation, the demon that attacked the village said strange words just before dying. The demon under Mother's demon art said it was the smell of the demon protecting the village. That demon could only be my mother.
"I cut demons to protect weak people who are threatened. So, if I cut someone who protects people, the meaning of the sword would fade—that's how I felt."
Demons are beings that cannot be forgiven. They attack people, catch and eat people, harm people—evil ones. Therefore, they must be exterminated. For that purpose, the Demon Slayer Corps swings their swords.
Whether woman or man, child or adult, it doesn't matter. As long as a demon is a demon, the demon-slaying sword is aimed equally.
"Your mother was different from ordinary demons. Her heart, her eyes… were not those of an ugly demon."
But Lord Shōjuro sheathed his sword. Looking at the individual called Mother, not the species called demon.
He must have noticed too. The fact that Mother, who can use demon art, has eaten that many people. He could have cut her to atone for that sin.
Nevertheless, he tilted the scales toward her present, not her past. He turned his gaze to the goodness of living now, not the sins accumulated in the past. He allowed her to live.
Someone might say that as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, that was the wrong choice. But right or wrong didn't matter. I felt his kindness warmer than anything.
"……Thank you, Lord Shōjuro."
In any era, the people of the Rengoku family are warm. The person from the Sengoku period and the child from the Edo period both had the same warmth. There was light that illuminates people's hearts.
"Thanks are words I should say. That this incident ended with minimal damage is thanks to your mother protecting the village. ……But truly, a mother's love is great. She could have shaken off our pursuit and escaped, but she came back to help you."
"No, but I had my face and hair covered. Mother wouldn't have noticed."
"No."
Lord Shōjuro stopped walking, looked at me, and slowly shook his head. Then, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth and smiled. His flame-like eyes softened.
"She noticed. Probably from the beginning, that person knew you were her child."
Instantly, my breath and heartbeat stopped.
"About you, a little mischievous and troublemaker but a good child who thinks of others. That's what she said."
With a beat late, thoughts started to return.
"How is it, isn't that you?"
Lord Shōjuro narrowing his eyes gently. I couldn't say anything. Forgetting even words, just quietly crying inside the mask. I couldn't say any words.
Patting my back, Lord Shōjuro swore to me that he wouldn't tell anyone else about my mother being a demon. He said that a corps member having a demon in the family is something never tolerated.
Honestly, letting a demon go is similarly not tolerated, but still, in front of Lord Shōjuro who sent Mother away, I really couldn't raise my head.
By the way, how did Mother recognize me?
Is it love? Is it love after all? Does love win in the end?
……No, let's think seriously. Probably because of the medicine smell. Only me, Mother, and Kyūtarō know how to make sunscreen.
To think the day would come when this unique smell helps. Life is truly unpredictable.
Anyway, Mother recognized me even though I had my face covered. And now that she's not a demon, rational conversation is possible.
I don't know the reason she doesn't have to eat people, but it's probably either she made such medicine or manipulated her body. Then, Mother must know well about the demon body. Perhaps she's also researching medicine to turn demons back into humans.
Good, let's set the goals for this life again.
First, become a Pillar to secure budget and proceed with research on medicine to turn demons back into humans.
If I become strong, when the hideout of Kibutsuji Muzan, the leader of demons, is revealed, I can stand at the forefront, and children who want to become disciples will come, so I can find a successor for Moon Breathing. Not killing two birds with one stone, but three birds with one stone.
And add reuniting with Mother to the goals. If we exchange research results, some path might open, and perhaps Mother, and even Lord Muzan, can be turned back into humans.
Even if the medicine isn't completed, if I learn from Mother how to live without eating human flesh, I might be able to free Lord Muzan from the shackles of cannibalism.
……Something started to look bright. Mother's halo is dazzling.
Now, and one lesson learned from this incident.
Even if the plan order gets messed up or unexpected situations arise, next time I won't cry. SAN points fixed.
If something sad enough to make me cry happens, let's walk looking up, engraving Master's words deeply in my heart, okay?
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A few days later. Around 2 PM, I visited the Rengoku residence. To apologize and express thanks for the last mission, and to share the mountain vegetables I gathered in the nearby mountains.
The familiar Rengoku residence. The last time I came was in the Edo period when "Father hurt his back!!" and I was invited by Lord Rengoku.
"Excuse me~"
The one who greeted me calling toward the gate, no different from the Edo period, was a beautiful lady. She was Lord Shōjuro's mother.
Without any suspicion toward a suspicious corps member wearing a black fox mask, welcoming with a bright smile—that generosity is indeed the Rengoku family. Warm. Probably Lord Shōjuro had told her in advance about my mask or attire.
In my previous life, it was a hood, but in this life, my face recognition seems to be this mask.
I planned to give the mountain vegetables, say a simple greeting, and leave, but when she offered, "Come in and have some tea," I gratefully accepted.
"I'll call Shōjuro, so please wait comfortably."
"Thank you."
Not only tea but sweets came out too. I examined the tea in the porcelain cup. This transparent light green is definitely high-grade gyokuro. Examining the sweets beside it. The temptation of smooth, glossy red bean paste, definitely high-quality yōkan.
What is this treatment? Mountain vegetables don't match this level.
"……Next time, I should bring bamboo shoots."
Bamboo shoots from the thousand-year bamboo forest are beyond imagination, so they'll surely be pleased. In the Edo period, even Pillars had bloody battles over them.
I felt sorry receiving such high-grade sweets, but I'm of the principle to never leave food served. I'll eat it gratefully! Taking off the bothersome mask——
"Wow."
A thrilled voice was heard. Turning my head, Rengoku-colored eyes were peeking through the sliding door gap.
Meeting my eyes, a young boy who says "Uwaa…" surprised. Probably Lord Shōjuro's younger brother. His name must be……
"Lord Shinjuro?"
"Yes, I'm Rengoku Shinjuro! I'm sorry for peeking!"
"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Urokodaki Rei. No, I don't really mind… is something wrong?"
"Um, that…… Rei's eyes……"
"Eyes?"
Lord Shinjuro nodded slightly.
Eyes that seem anxious about getting scolded, sneaking glances at my eyes.
"Pretty red color, Brother and Father praised…… so I wanted to see."
"Oh, that's embarrassing~ want to see up close?"
"……Really, is that okay?"
"Yes, of course. If this is okay, as much as you want."
At my gesture, Lord Shinjuro awkwardly entered the room and sat beside me, neatly folding his knees. A polite child.
His gaze that looks up hesitantly, looking at me and down, repeating several times, the looking time gradually lengthened, and finally, he started staring intently.
I also looked straight at his golden iris like rice ears. The child's eyes full of curiosity, sparkling, somehow overlapped with Rui in my memory.
A child's eyes are always pure and straight. Perhaps because the age is similar to Rui's, looking at Lord Shinjuro, nostalgia surged in my heart.
"Amazing! Just as Brother said, like pomegranates under sunlight!"
"Really? Lord Shōjuro used such elegant metaphors?"
"Yes! Um, hair…… is it true that hair is snow-white?"
"Ah, want to see hair too?"
"Yes!"
He must have been curious enough to lean forward. Even though it's the same hair color as old folks on the street. Unwrapping the hood and revealing my hair, Lord Shinjuro widened his eyes and made a very cute voice, "Hua~".
"It's true! Real pure white like brushed snow!"
"Your metaphors are too elegant from the start! Oh, this too, is it Lord Shōjuro?"
"No, this is from Father!"
"How far does the elegance of the Rengoku family go!"
If they pour this much praise on a man, what on earth do they do with women?
The Rengoku family… a scary family…!
"Um…… are you hiding your hair?"
"Yes, a little embarrassed. Lord Shinjuro, want some yōkan?"
"Wow, thank you!"
"Here, say ah~."
"Ah~"
"Hey, Shinjuro. You shouldn't take from a guest."
Lord Shōjuro entered. Dressed in training clothes, as if he had been practicing.
"Brother!"
Lord Shinjuro called his brother with a voice that didn't hide joy, abandoning the yōkan and running toward him. The yōkan, having lost its place, entered my mouth, pitied by me.
Smooth swallowing and faint sweetness. As expected, a luxurious taste. And the slight bitterness of the high-grade gyokuro tea drank together refreshingly washed away the sweetness in my mouth.
"Sorry, Rei. Made you wait."
"No, Lord Shinjuro kept me company, so I wasn't bored."
"Then that's good. Shinjuro, have you finished studying?"
"Yes! So please spar with me, Brother!"
"Alright. I'll spar with you later, so wait a little more."
Gently patting his brother's head, Lord Shōjuro sat across from me with the table between. Beside him, Lord Shinjuro sat neatly folding his knees.
Looking at the two sitting side by side, the strong genetics of the Rengoku family were felt at once. From bangs and eyebrows to eye shape, they closely resembled.
"Mountain vegetables, thank you really. Mother was very happy and is enthusiastic about dinner being tempura. You should eat with us too."
"No no, I can't impose for dinner after getting tea and sweets."
"Please, eat and go. Mother has already started preparations including you."
Forcing without giving a chance to refuse. Like purple imagine, didn't ask for an answer, huh.
"And when you go home, isn't there no one? Eating alone must be lonely, right?"
"Oh, how did you know Urokodaki isn't home?"
"Today is the day of the Pillar meeting. On days with meetings, Father returns late, so I thought your house would be the same."
Exactly as he said. When I went out, Urokodaki also left the mansion together for an emergency Pillar meeting. The one who told me, "So no need for dinner today," wasn't the mansion's owner Urokodaki, but for some reason, Kuwajima.
——Urokodaki said he would take care of me only until the selection ended, but after enlisting, I'm still imposing, dragging on.
Kuwajima, who didn't give up on our match in the bamboo forest, insisted, "If you go elsewhere, I'll remain defeated! Just stay!" so it ended up like this.
I try to take on household chores as much as possible, and I give a part of my salary as rent, but that money eventually comes back intact. So recently, I gave up and decided to use it for food expenses.
"……Then I'll impose."
"Good, then let's go to the dojo. Let's empty our stomachs to the limit. Our family's dining table is close to a battlefield, so it's better to be prepared."
"Huh? What's that, scary, can I just go back?"
"It's okay. Just a little harder than the last mission."
"That's quite dangerous. I passed out then, you know. Huh? We're talking about food, right? We're talking about food now, right?"
"Shinjuro, I'll lend Rei training clothes, so you go ahead and prepare."
"Don't ignore me, look at my eyes, Lord Shōjuro?! Lord Shinjuro, can you tell me what your family's dining table feels like?!"
"Yes, Mother's food is really delicious!"
"I see~~ looking forward to it~~!! (giving up)"
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Fretting before the Rengoku family's dining table, but retreat is not allowed. Wearing borrowed training clothes, I walked tap-tap along the corridor leading to the dojo.
Then, Lord Shōjuro, walking beside to guide the way, suddenly opened his mouth.
"Do you know the agenda of this Pillar meeting?"
"I don't know…… if it's an emergency meeting at this time, perhaps related to the last mission?"
"Yes. I only heard fragments from the Kasugai Crow reporting to Father, but——"
Lord Shōjuro came close to my shoulder and whispered in a low voice.
"It seems research books were found in your mother's house."
"……The contents?"
"Not that far."
If an emergency Pillar meeting is held, it must be very important.
Something about demon bodies? Or records of medicine or poison?
"Should I ask to tell you the contents?"
"Difficult, right? If it were content to be known to general corps members, there wouldn't be a Pillar meeting."
That must be it. Now that it's like this, I have no choice but to become a Pillar and read it myself. Another reason to become a Pillar increased.
'Good, let's do my best!' pumping myself up, Lord Shōjuro looked at me as if resolved.
"……Someday, I will succeed Father and become the Flame Pillar. Even for me, the whole content would be difficult, but I should be able to convey the gist. So, please wait until then for the research book's content."
"No, it's okay. I'll become a Pillar myself and read it."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
What's with that reaction.
We stopped in the middle of the corridor.
Facing each other. Staring eyes. Flowing silence.
"……Are you thinking it's impossible for me to become a Pillar?"
"No way. If it's you, you can do it. ……But I'm a little worried. The path to becoming a Pillar is rugged."
"I know, so I'll try with all my might."
"I don't know. That 'with all my might' is what worries me."
"It's just an idiom. Meaning desperately without dying."
"That point is the problem."
"What point?"
"You already tend to overdo it. Rushing for achievements shouldn't lead to big trouble. ……I'll also aim for Pillar inauguration as soon as possible, so you calmly accumulate achievements."
"Lord Shōjuro, you be calm. My heart is happy, but don't rush, don't overdo it."
"No, but."
"And I think I'll become a Pillar first."
"Hah?"
"Hah??"
What on earth is that reaction.
A fierce glare pierces me. I also got annoyed and put sharp force in my eyes. At that moment sparks fly, a bell sound echoes in my mind.
We bumped shoulders and ran in the same direction as if promised.
"Lord Shōjuro will become the Flame Pillar, right? But Lord Rengoku is still active and healthy, so~! I think I'll be first~!"
"Hmph, if I become stronger than Father, it'll be done. It won't take that long, so I'll be faster than you."
"No, really really re~~~ally I'll be first. I'll defeat 50 demons right away."
"Rei, Pillar is not a position that can be easily achieved. Even if you achieve 50, without corresponding skill, it's a rank you can't reach."
"Then I'll defeat a Twelve Kizuki, aiming for Upper Moon 2, so me!"
"Oho~ Upper Moon. Upper Moon 2…… aiming for the second from the top, oho~ that's something to look forward to. I hope it doesn't end with just words."
"Look forward as much as you want. On the day I become a Pillar, suck your fingers and watch well, Lord Shōjuro of the Rengoku family!"
"Is that so. I'll become a Pillar one step ahead and watch you follow from above, Lord Rei of the Urokodaki family?"
"No no no!"
"No no no no!"
The endless argument eventually decided to settle with swordsmanship. Arriving at the dojo, we grabbed wooden swords and banged clang clash, mixing breaths, had a big fight. Saying I'm first, no I'm first, we attacked without holding back.
By the way, Lord Shinjuro cheered with sparkling eyes, "Brother, do your best!" At those words, Lord Shōjuro made a triumphant expression, which annoyed me, so in a fit of anger, I tied him with Flame Moon, purely on impulse. In return, I received the Ninth Form: Purgatory.
Damn, unfair! If I had Rui, he would cheer "Brother, do your best!" In previous lives, with Kyūtarō and Ume, they would have cheered too!
1 win 1 loss, evenly matched, about to enter the third match, when Rengoku's mother came to call, "Before eating, come take a bath."
"Mother, just one more match!" "We're about to decide the match!" Ignoring that, we clashed sword strikes, and Rengoku's mother's smile widened.
A smile deepening without words.
Sound effect is go go go go go.
A ghost behind the back, peek-a-boo.
What is that tightly clenched fist?
The steel-like smile was too similar to Mother when scolding me. Sensing this is dangerous, I threw the wooden sword and immediately surrendered. Lord Shōjuro was doing the same thing.
Where did the earlier momentum go, face pale, Lord Shōjuro. By the way, on my side, cold sweat won't stop.
It wasn't time to fight. Immediately reconciled, I, Lord Shōjuro, and Lord Shinjuro, the three of us took a bath together.
Good bath, bibanonnon~ casually washing my head, I later realized firsthand.
The true meaning of Lord Shōjuro's words, "Our family's dining table is a battlefield."
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