Why have I become a god?
And of all things, Tsukinokami—the Moon God.
Was it Master Ubuyashiki, or perhaps Rengoku Tenjuro?
Isn't it unbearably cheesy?
I’ve often spoken of standing in the heavens... but I never imagined it would actually come to pass.
Anyway, the Silver Unit will be arriving soon.
Once the clash between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons ends, they trail behind like shadows.
They are the ones responsible for the aftermath.
When they show up, what can I say...
It’ll be a real pain.
I’m a witness, and I’ve already crossed paths with a Fixer of the Demon Slayer Corps...
There's no doubt it'll be troublesome.
Moreover, it's a bit awkward for me, a demon, to remain here.
Having to explain whether I truly am the "Moon God" is even more bothersome.
So... is there no other way?
I waved at the Fixer.
Though blind and unable to see, he must have sensed my movement, for he flinched the moment I raised my hand.
"Then I'll entrust those children's well-being to you."
"Uh...?"
Passing the buck.
He looked stunned, as if he hadn’t expected me to dump everything onto him so abruptly.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the way his eyeless face contorted with such a variety of expressions.
And with that, I left all the follow-up work to the Fixer and bolted.
It certainly wasn’t because he had thrust a spiked iron ball at my face during our first meeting.
I do feel a bit worried about the kids, but the members of the Demon Slayer Corps will handle it.
After all, humans are far better suited for that than a demon like me.
Or so I thought.
@@@
About a fortnight passed.
I was currently laying low in a certain region, gathering funds under my identity as a troubleshooter.
One day, I heard a knock at the gate and stepped outside, thinking it might be a client.
"This is... um... oh! Is this the home of Tsukinokami?"
"......?"
Two familiar youngsters stood before the gate.
They were the same children I’d saved two weeks ago and then shoved onto the Fixer.
I thought I’d never see them again at my temporary abode, yet here they were, seeking me out.
Wait, how did they find me?
It's been a fortnight... the Silver Unit must have helped them...
"Please forgive our sudden intrusion."
The older of the two sisters bowed her head.
She had bright lavender eyes reminiscent of flower buds and a voice as gentle as cherry blossoms.
"I’m Kochou Kanae. This is my younger sister, Kochou Shinobu."
As the older girl introduced herself, the younger one gave an awkward bow.
The girl with violet eyes that called to mind wisteria blossoms.
She was the one who, without a shred of fear, had yelled for us to stop while I was fighting the demons.
Thanks to her, we were able to end the fight... and for that, I am grateful.
No, more importantly—how on earth did they find me?
"I never properly thanked you, Tsukinokami-sama, for rescuing us. I am truly sorry, and we thank you for saving my sister and me."
Kochou Kanae bowed once more, offering her gratitude.
"Thank you so much for saving my sister."
The one introduced as Kochou Shinobu also offered her thanks.
"We were able to complete our parents' funerals without issue. Their bodies weren't too badly damaged, so we could place them in their coffins intact. It's all thanks to you, Tsukinokami-sama. We are truly grateful."
I could see right into their inner world.
The beat of their hearts, the tone of their voices.
Whether gentle or brusque, both sisters' words were filled with deep, sincere gratitude.
Sorrow for their deceased parents, gratitude toward their benefactor, and affection for each other—I could feel it all.
Only a fortnight had passed; it wouldn’t be strange if they were still scarred by trauma.
Especially since they were only children.
Their emotional wounds surely hadn’t fully healed.
Yet, for children with no information to travel all this way just to say thank you was remarkable.
I had passed them off and felt a bit guilty, but it seems things were handled well after all.
No, I should correct myself—they weren't handled properly, were they?
You girls shouldn’t be here.
What is the point of children coming near demons that eat people?
"Slaying demons is my trade. I didn’t do it to receive thanks, so there’s no need to worry about it."
I deliberately replied curtly to avoid getting attached.
Then.
"Yes. The Silver Unit gave us information about the Demon Slayer Corps as well."
Kanae nodded and spoke again.
Her voice, unlike before, now held a sudden note of tension.
Hold on—those little buggers?
Why would you tell children about the Demon Slayer Corps?
Weren't you supposed to be a secret organization?
The unit that is meant to operate most covertly is out in the open, blabbing to everyone.
I pressed my hand to my forehead as if nursing a headache and sighed.
"Why is that?"
Kochou Kanae continued, her tone laced with concern at my sigh.
"It's not because of you, so it's fine."
As if that's fine...
But I'm a stranger to the Corps—why did you come to find me?
Kochou Kanae looked at her sister; the younger girl met her gaze and gave a small nod.
"We came to ask a favor today."
Interrupting her sister, Kochou Shinobu spoke up.
"Teach us how to behead demons."
Could I even do that?
I forced back the words that threatened to spring from my throat.
Their situation was undeniably pitiful.
Even more so since I could see every bit of their hearts laid bare.
I saw everything—in their eyes, their heartbeats, the tone of their voices—in that visible world.
Though the sisters spoke the same words, their true meanings were entirely different.
In the heart of the elder, Kochou Kanae, there was deep sorrow and a mournful resolve.
She reminded me of Amano Ruka, striving to carry out her noblesse oblige.
Her resolve was born of her own pain; she vowed she wouldn’t let others suffer as she had.
But the younger sister was different.
Within Kochou Shinobu burned a raging fury and hatred.
That openly displayed, blade-like rage was as if...
"He should have just died!! You filthy man!! Kibutsuji Muzan—!!!"
It reminded me of Tamayo.
A child who, had nothing happened, would be living happily in the love of her parents and sister, now held such depths of rage and hatred.
This is fucked up.
If only, five hundred years ago, I’d killed Muzan...
It’s a pointless what-if; no one can be blamed.
At that moment, we did our best; none of us would have been able to kill him.
Still, it doesn’t justify anything.
This is a burden and an emotion that only I, still alive, must bear.
But still.
"No."
I still couldn’t thrust the burden of slaying onto them.
Even if they felt the need, it would be wrong to let a momentary emotion steal their futures.
The sisters looked at me, their expressions insisting it couldn’t be so.
"Oh, why not!?"
"Tsukinokami...."
"Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
"Yes?"
No, more than that... I refuse.
Who the hell made up such a nickname?
Why did they turn a quiet demon into a god?
I haven't even died yet.
"My name is Tsugikuni Michikatsu. Not Tsukinokami."
Stop it.
Tsukinokami—don’t call me that.
Then.
"Tsukinokami."
Kochou Shinobu spoke, as if determined to keep calling me by that ridiculous name instead of my real one.
She wore an expression that said she'd found my weakness.
"If you won’t teach us how to behead demons, I’ll keep calling you Tsukinokami."
I covered my face in my hands at her bold stance.
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