Chapter 34: Seeking Lodging
Tanjuro withdrew his gaze.
He turned his head to look at the nervous Tanjiro.
"Tanjiro,"
Tanjuro said softly,
"Go open the door."
Tanjiro looked at his father in surprise: "But, Father, it's so late..."
"It's alright."
Tanjuro waved his hand gently.
"A visitor is a guest.
Besides, I don't sense any ill intent from them."
Since his father had said so, Tanjiro naturally would not disobey.
In this house, his father's words were the absolute truth,
not just because of his father's authority, but because of the wisdom that always allowed him to see through everything.
"Yes, Father."
Tanjiro stood up, straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and walked toward the door.
His hand rested on the door bolt, and his nostrils twitched slightly.
As someone with an extraordinary sense of smell, Tanjiro was used to judging things by their scent.
Before the door even opened, two complex scents drifted through the cracks and into his nose.
First was a faint fragrance of wisteria.
Following that was a slightly cold chill, the scent of the mountain forest at night.
But among these scents, there was also a strange smell mixed in.
It seemed to be... hunger.
Tanjiro slowly pulled open the wooden door.
"Squeak—"
Tanjiro subconsciously narrowed his eyes and, by the light from inside the house, saw the two people outside the door.
Standing on the left was a young man.
His skin was somewhat pale, looking particularly prominent under the moonlight,
but those eyes were bright and spirited, looking at him with a hint of apology.
And on the right was a woman so beautiful that one couldn't look away.
She wore a Haori with a butterfly pattern, her long hair fell like a waterfall, and a gentle smile hung on the corners of her mouth.
Her aura was like a flower blooming in spring, making one instinctively want to be near her.
Tanjiro froze for a moment, then immediately snapped back to his senses and bowed politely:
"Um... good evening.
May I ask if there's something you need?"
Kanae Kocho looked at the boy with the scar on his forehead and couldn't help but marvel in her heart.
What a pure child; his eyes are like a clear spring that hasn't been polluted by any dust.
She bowed slightly in a standard etiquette and said in a soft voice:
"Good evening, little brother.
I'm truly sorry for disturbing you so late.
We are passing travelers who accidentally missed the time to head down the mountain because we were too engrossed in the scenery.
I wonder if we could stay at your home for a few days?
We will provide appropriate compensation."
Tatsu stood to the side without speaking, just quietly observing Tanjiro.
Is this the protagonist from the original story?
The boy who possesses a heart gentler than anyone else's,
yet has to shoulder a fate heavier than anyone else's.
Looking at Tanjiro's clear eyes,
Tatsu couldn't help but feel emotional; if it weren't for that guy Muzan,
this boy might have lived a happy life as an ordinary charcoal seller.
Hearing Kanae's words, a troubled look appeared on Tanjiro's face.
"Seeking lodging..."
He scratched his head and glanced back at his father inside the house.
"It's not that it's inconvenient for our family,
it's just that the conditions are quite humble, and I'm afraid of neglecting our guests.
And..."
He paused, and his nose twitched again.
He still felt that the man's scent was very strange.
Although he didn't sense any ill intent, he instinctively felt that this man was different from ordinary people.
That feeling was like facing some unknown creature in the mountains;
even though it wasn't aggressive now, you couldn't ignore its presence.
Just as Tanjiro was hesitating, Tanjuro's calm and gentle voice came from inside.
"Tanjiro, let them in."
"The wind is strong outside; don't let the guests stand at the door."
Hearing his father's words, Tanjiro immediately set aside his concerns.
Since his father agreed, then it must be fine.
He stepped aside, making a path, and a sincere smile appeared on his face:
"Since Father has said so, then please come in.
The house is quite humble, so please don't mind it."
"Not at all, we are the ones intruding."
Kanae smiled and nodded, then glanced at Tatsu beside her.
Tatsu nodded slightly and said to Tanjiro:
"Thank you."
The two walked into the house, and the wooden door behind them slowly closed.
Inside, Tanjuro had already sat up straight, his gaze calmly fixed on the two who entered.
"My humble home is simple, with nothing much to offer."
Tanjuro pointed to a spot by the hearth.
"Please sit and warm yourselves."
Tatsu and Kanae sat down as instructed.
"I am Tanjuro Kamado, and this is my eldest son, Tanjiro."
Tanjuro introduced himself in a flat but polite tone.
"I am Kanae Kocho."
Kanae sat elegantly on her knees, hands on her lap.
"This is Tatsu."
"Mr. Tatsu, Miss Kanae."
Tanjuro nodded, his gaze lingering on Tatsu for a moment.
"To be walking in the mountains so late, you must have important business."
"To be honest,"
Tatsu decided to be partially candid.
"We indeed came for a reason.
We heard that an... expert lives on Mount Kumotori, so we came specifically to visit."
"An expert?"
Tanjuro shook his head gently, a bitter smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.
"I am just an ordinary person who sells charcoal.
If it's to buy charcoal, Tanjiro will head down the mountain to sell it tomorrow morning."
"No, it's not for charcoal."
Tatsu looked directly into Tanjuro's eyes, his tone sincere.
"It's for... breathing."
As soon as those words were spoken, the air in the room seemed to freeze for an instant.
Tanjuro's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his calm.
He looked at Tatsu, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:
"Breathing... that is something everyone does."
"But some types of breathing can allow a person to gain power beyond their limits."
Tatsu's voice was very low.
Beside him, Kanae looked at Tatsu with some surprise.
She hadn't expected Tatsu to be so direct.
Tanjuro took a deep look at Tatsu and then suddenly smiled.
"I see."
Tanjuro coughed twice, his face appearing even paler,
but his spirit was unusually vigorous.
"It seems you know quite a lot.
But it is late tonight, so stay here for now.
We shall speak of these matters tomorrow."
Tatsu understood that a legacy like the Hinokami Kagura
could not be passed on to an outsider with just a few words.
But he wasn't in a hurry; since they were already staying, there would always be an opportunity.
"We have been presumptuous."
Tatsu lowered his head slightly in apology.
At that moment, Tanjiro came over carrying two cups of hot tea.
"Please, have some tea."
Tanjiro placed the coarse ceramic teacups in front of them and said somewhat bashfully,
"This is coarse tea we picked ourselves; it might not taste very good."
"Thank you, Tanjiro."
Kanae picked up the teacup with both hands and gently blew on the steam.
Every movement was full of the grace of a well-bred lady, making Tanjiro blush slightly.
Tatsu also picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
The hot liquid slid down his throat and into his stomach, bringing a long-lost sense of comfort.
"Tanjiro,"
Tatsu suddenly spoke, looking at the boy who was about to sit back down beside his father,
"this tea is very good; it has a... taste of family."
Tanjiro froze for a moment, then broke into a brilliant smile:
"Really? That's great!
These are tea leaves that Mother and Nezuko dried together!"
At the mention of his family, Tanjiro's eyes seemed to twinkle with stars.
"By the way, Mr. Tatsu,"
Tanjiro seemed to remember something and asked curiously,
"just now at the door, I smelled a... strange scent on you?
Are you hungry?"
Tatsu was stunned, then didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This kid's nose is too sharp, isn't it?
"Ah, yes."
Tatsu said along with it, and his stomach cooperatively let out a "growl."
As a demon who could eat human food, his digestive system was quite diligent.
"Pfft."
Beside him, Kanae couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents.
"Tatsu, it seems your stomach is more honest than you are."
Tanjiro immediately stood up and said enthusiastically:
"Then I'll go make something to eat!
Though there's only leftover rice and some pickles, if you don't mind..."
"I don't mind, of course I don't mind!"
Tatsu said hurriedly.
Eating was the best way to prove to Tanjuro that he was harmless.
What man-eating demon would crave a bowl of ochazuke?
Watching Tanjiro's busy back,
Tatsu turned to look at Tanjuro,
only to find the father looking at him with a meaningful gaze.
"A... demon that can eat human food?"