Kamado Asaki gave an awkward laugh: "It's nothing. I just thought of something sad."
"Is that so? Don't be sad anymore. Cherishing the present is what's most important. The night is rather cool, and wearing wet clothes, you'll get sick with a cold. Hurry and come with me."
This girl named Shinobu Kocho had strength beyond imagination, yet she was really so gentle…
"I actually wanted to hurt such a gentle girl…"
Just now, Asaki had actually been thinking about whether a sneak attack from behind could injure Shinobu Kocho, so he could take the chance to escape.
But the difference in strength made him give up that idea. Even so, just having the thought made Asaki feel a bit ashamed of himself.
Sigh, if he showed anything unusual now, it wouldn't be easy to keep hiding it. Other than obediently following along, Asaki couldn't think of any better way.
Letting out a sigh in his heart, Asaki had no choice but to follow Shinobu Kocho's steps, not daring to arouse her suspicion.
"I can only take it one step at a time. Why am I this unlucky…"
"Once we reach Shiqiao Town, I'll find a chance to slip away quietly."
Head drooping, trailing behind Shinobu, after a while, Asaki arrived at Shiqiao Town together with her.
It was very quiet here. Every household had doors and windows tightly shut, and there was no light inside.
Shinobu explained: "People in town reported that two man-eating demons seem to have appeared nearby."
"And recently, their frequency of attacking the town has been very high, causing the town to become panicked. They don't dare go out at night, and they don't even dare light lamps, afraid it will attract demons."
Asaki showed a look of hatred: "Man-eating demons should all be killed!"
This Shiqiao Town was much larger than the village at the foot of the mountain where Asaki had been, and the people in town also knew more. At the very least, they knew demons existed.
Unlike Asaki, who only learned that demons weren't just terrifying creatures in stories but truly existed in reality after his family died at demons' hands.
Shinobu reached out and patted Asaki's shoulder: "Hey, don't be so irritable. What if there are good demons too?"
These words didn't quite fit the identity of the Demon Slayer Corps, but Asaki didn't refute them because he felt Shinobu seemed to be speaking against her will. From her body, a certain indescribable scent was emanating.
"Huh? Very strange. This seems like the scent of emotional fluctuation, a bit like how Tanjiro described it to me before."
"Has my sense of smell already caught up to Tanjiro's?"
"It's just, what emotion does the scent surrounding Shinobu Kocho belong to?"
Asaki hadn't smelled a similar scent on others. Without a comparison, there was no way to confirm it.
Moreover, Shinobu's gentle expression had very strong deceptive power.
It made Asaki unable to tell what she felt right now, but in any case, she wasn't truly sympathizing with demons.
After passing three households, when they passed the door of the fourth house, Shinobu stepped forward and lightly knocked.
Before long, the door opened a small crack. Someone looked through the crack with vigilance.
When he saw that it was Shinobu Kocho, the vigilance in his eyes turned into welcome.
The door opened, revealing a stooped old man. He was holding a four or five-year-old boy and bowed to Shinobu.
"It's Lord Shinobu. What brings you to my home?"
Shinobu hurried to support the old man's shoulder, not letting him bow.
"Mr. Nagatani, what are you doing? Don't be so respectful. I can't bear it."
Old Nagatani, stooped over, tugged the child beside him: "Giyu, kneel and thank Lord Shinobu Kocho. She slew the evil demon and avenged your parents."
The little boy Giyu had been muddled, but when he heard "parents," tears immediately welled in his eyes.
He knelt down: "Thank you, big sister. Thank you. Thank you for avenging my parents…"
Seeing this scene, Shinobu sighed slightly, then pulled Giyu up and said to Old Nagatani: "Mr. Nagatani, I have a friend with nowhere to stay. Can he stay at your place for now?"
Old Nagatani nodded again and again: "Yes, yes. I'll go get a bed ready for him right away."
Asaki stepped forward to stop Old Nagatani: "No need to trouble you. I'll tidy up by myself in a bit."
It was clear Shinobu would be leaving soon, so Asaki was already thinking of slipping away.
Once Shinobu left, Asaki would sprint off, leaving this gentle but powerful girl.
Although he felt a strong fondness for Shinobu, she was a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and her strength was great—she certainly wasn't an ordinary demon hunter.
If Asaki were exposed, he wouldn't bet on whether this simple acquaintance would matter. From what he learned from Black Fang, when the Demon Slayer Corps face demons, they have only ever spoken with the Nichirin Blade.
And with Shinobu Kocho's strength, he wouldn't even have a chance to run.
But speaking of Nichirin Blades, Asaki thought of his own Scorching Feathers. Scorching Feathers seemed to have the same function as a Nichirin Blade.
He very much wanted to find another demon to test whether Scorching Feathers could still sever its head and kill it.
After explaining some safety precautions to Old Nagatani, Shinobu said to Asaki: "I've already slain one evil demon, but there should still be one more on Blue Mountain."
"Tonight, I'm planning to go to Blue Mountain and kill that demon."
"You stay here and rest. After I deal with that demon, I'll come find you tomorrow."
"Don't you want revenge on demons? With your formidable physique, joining the Demon Slayer Corps should be easy. In the Demon Slayer Corps, you can receive the most professional training, teaching you how to kill demons."
"I'll recommend that you take the Demon Slayer Corps trial. Once you pass, we'll be colleagues—ah, no, once you pass, we'll be in a superior–subordinate relationship."
Asaki: "What the hell is 'superior and subordinate'?"
But Shinobu had already disappeared on the spot like the wind.
"The demon on Blue Mountain—she must be talking about Black Fang."
"This trip of hers is destined to be in vain."
Asaki took the clothes Old Nagatani handed over, tore off his ragged old clothes with a single rip, then changed into the new ones. They fit quite well.
Old Nagatani stared blankly at Asaki, and two streams of old tears suddenly fell.
Asaki didn't understand and asked, "Mr. Nagatani? What's wrong?"
Old Nagatani's voice choked a little: "It's nothing. It's just, I'm old, and my eyes are no good. I can't see clearly."
"The way you look in these clothes is really like Nozaka."
After asking Old Nagatani, Asaki learned that Nozaka was Old Nagatani's son. A few days ago, he and his wife were killed by a demon while gathering herbs in the mountains.
A bit silent, Asaki said: "I'm planning to take a walk around Shiqiao Town, so I won't go to sleep inside yet. You two go in first."
Old Nagatani was a bit worried: "It's not safe at night. It would be bad if you met a demon. Young man, your face is so pale—at a glance, you're weak with no strength. If you encounter a demon, you certainly won't be able to outrun it…"
Asaki: "???"
"Mr. Nagatani, I'm with Shinobu. If I can follow her, how would I be afraid of demons?"
Old Nagatani thought about it and agreed. This young man probably wasn't ordinary either, so he handed Asaki a set of keys: "Come back early, don't be too late."
Asaki hesitated a little, then took the keys and replied: "Don't worry. I'll just stroll for a bit."
But these words were to deceive the old man. Asaki had already decided to leave.
This place truly wasn't somewhere to stay long.
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