Kentaro recounted the whole story to Mitsuko and Ogiya Junpei in detail.
After hearing this, Junpei Ogiya felt that Kentaro was both pitiful and brave.
It's pitiful because Ogiya Junpei, who was once a demon himself, understands that after being captured by demons for so many days, the chance of survival is almost zero.
He was brave because Kentaro was able to overcome his fear and bravely appear in front of Mitsuko to ask for her help.
Kentaro looked at Mitsuko expectantly, waiting for her reply.
Do you have any news about demons?
"I know the location of the demon, I can take you there now!"
How did you know the demon's location?
"I learned about this from the Demon Slayers back then. Will you help me find my mom and dad?" Kentaro asked hopefully.
Mitsuko did not immediately agree to Kentaro's request, but said, "Wait a moment, let me discuss it with my companion."
Mitsuko pulled Ogiya Junpei aside and asked, "Junpei, what are your thoughts on Kentaro?"
Junpei Ogiya expressed his opinion of Kentaro: "I think that child is very pitiful, but also very strong and brave."
Mitsuko shook his head: "Junpei, you've been led astray by him."
Junpei Ogiya asked, puzzled, "Huh? What do you mean?"
Mitsuko held up three fingers: "There are three suspicious points about Kentaro. The first suspicious point is that Kentaro's logic is too smooth, as if he is telling a story in the third person."
"This... I don't think so, I think it's quite normal."
"Junpei, if it were you, how would you react if your parents were taken away by a demon?"
Junpei Ogiya instinctively replied, "Of course I'm anxious!"
"That's right, he was definitely anxious, but aside from his initial flustered expression, Kentaro was too calm when recounting the whole story. Look at Kentaro's expression now."
Junpei Ogiya secretly glanced at Kentaro.
At this moment, Kentaro's expression was extremely calm.
"The second suspicious point is that he is too proactive. Kentaro looks to be only about six years old. An adult would be afraid of the unknown, but this child took the initiative to lead us to find the demon."
"The third point of doubt, and the most important point of doubt, is what convinced me that Kentaro had a problem."
Junpei Ogiya asked curiously, "What's suspicious?"
"The location of the demons! In Kentaro's story, the Demon Slayers of the Demon Slayer Corps left the village to slay demons and disappeared without a trace, but Kentaro said that he learned the location of the demons from the Demon Slayers, which is completely contradictory."
In his account, the Demon Slayer Corps members inquired about the situation and then left the village to slay the demon, indicating that the demon wasn't in the village. Furthermore, the Demon Slayers never returned, so Kentaro had no chance to obtain the demon's location from them.
Mitsuko's expression turned serious: "In conclusion, Kentaro has a big problem. He found us with a very clear purpose, then told us a story to arouse our sympathy and deliberately led us to find the demon."
Junpei Ogiya was astonished by Mitsuko's reasoning: "Mitsuko, do you even know how old you are this year?"
"Twelve years old, the New Year is almost here, and you'll be thirteen after the New Year. What's wrong?" Mitsuko looked at Ogiya Junpei with a puzzled expression.
"Twelve years old? That means you're a full five years younger than me? Mitsuko, how come you're so precocious? I always thought you just looked young, but were actually about the same age as me."
"Maturity is not determined by age, but by experience."
Upon hearing Mitsuko's answer, Ogiya Junpei fell silent.
Mature through experience...
So what exactly did Mitsuko go through?
However, regarding Kentaro's question, all of this is based on Mitsuko's speculation.
"Junpei, now it's time to verify my guess."
Junpei Ogiya asked in surprise, "Verification? How do you verify this?"
A smile appeared on Mitsuko's lips: "It's simple, just have Kentaro repeat what happened again."
Mitsuko walked up to Kentaro again and said, "Kentaro, I'm willing to help you, but just to be on the safe side, could you please tell us the whole story again?"
Without hesitation, Kentaro recounted the events to Mitsuko and Junpei Ogiya once again.
After listening, Mitsuko nodded: "Okay, I agree to your request. However, since we are facing a demon, to be on the safe side, my companion and I will discuss a plan to slay the demon."
Kentaro nodded heavily, a hint of excitement in his expression.
Mitsuko and Junpei Ogiya once again went to a corner, and Mitsuko asked, "Now you should be sure, Junpei, right?"
Junpei Ogiya's expression was grave: "Now I'm certain that Kentaro is definitely involved. His second account of the events was exactly the same as the first, even the way he punctuated the sentences was identical—it was as if he were telling someone else's story."
Mitsuko glanced at Kentaro meaningfully: "Now things are very clear. It means that Kentaro is related to the demon and is intentionally trying to lead us to the demon."
Junpei Ogiya said nervously, "Mitsuko, let's not go. This is obviously a trap."
"I want to go!"
"Huh?" Ogiya Junpei didn't understand. He knew it was a trap, so why did Mitsuko still go?
Mitsuko placed her hands on Ogiya Junpei's shoulders and said earnestly, "I have no interest in slaying demons or saving humans. Junpei, my ideal is to save people who are as kind as you but have been forced to become demons, and to build a place for us to live. That's why I travel to various places to find demons. I don't want to miss any opportunity."
Although Mitsuko had said when he saved him, "Humans have no place for us, so let's find our own place."
When Mitsuko brought up his ideals again, Junpei Ogiya was still moved and shocked.
At this moment, Ogiya Junpei only felt heartache for Mitsuko.
Back when Junpei Ogiya was twelve years old, he was still acting like a spoiled child in front of his parents.
Mitsuko, however, had already taken up his sword and was fighting for his ideals.
During the time he spent with Mitsuko, Mitsuko never showed any childlike emotions; he only remained extremely calm, which was completely inconsistent with the temperament of a twelve-year-old child.
Junpei Ogiya's gaze gradually hardened: "Alright! Let's go together!"
"No!"
Mitsuko directly rejected Ogiya Junpei.
"If it's an ordinary demon, that's fine. But if it's a demon with special abilities, I might not be able to take care of you. So Junpei, just stay in the village and wait for me to come back."