Hearing that voice, Horitake turned his head with a pleasant surprise.
It was Shinobu Kocho, who had walked out from the inn's entrance and approached, looking at Horitake surrounded by several hunters, asking the previous question with a smile.
Perhaps because she was staying at the inn, Sister Shinobu, though still wearing her butterfly haori, wasn't in her Demon Slayer Corps uniform underneath, but rather in casual clothes.
Sister Shinobu in casual clothes seemed even more charming than usual, causing Horitake's heart to flutter.
Horitake said in surprise:
"Sister Shinobu? I didn't expect to run into you here."
The hunters also looked at Shinobu Kocho.
However, because Shinobu Kocho was too beautiful and posed no threat, the hunters didn't regard her as dangerous and continued to point their guns at Horitake.
Horitake couldn't help but ask:
"How come Sister Shinobu is here?"
Shinobu Kocho answered with a smile:
"This is a gathering place for herb collectors in the mountains. I often come here to buy raw medicinal herbs; the supply here is very abundant.
So, Horitake-san, what about you?
What brings you here?"
Horitake spread his hands:
"I don't believe, Sister Shinobu, that you haven't heard about the man-eating bear. That's why I came here."
"But it seems you've been mistaken for a strange person, being pointed at by so many guns. How does that feel?"
"I have to admit, it's truly the first time experiencing this."
"Horitake-san, why on earth are you being treated this way?"
When Shinobu Kocho asked this question, Horitake immediately looked crestfallen:
"It's all because of that scoundrel Tomioka Giyuu! He's the one who implicated me! It's all because of him that I'm being misunderstood!"
"Oh?" Shinobu Kocho was genuinely puzzled: "How does this concern Tomioka-san?"
"It's a complicated situation, I can't explain it all at once. Please wait a moment, Sister Shinobu, I'll deal with my trouble first!"
After saying that, Horitake scratched his head, organized his thoughts, and explained with great difficulty to the surrounding hunters:
"Everyone, I'm really not some strange person, much less a murderer or a criminal.
Although I don't have anything to prove my identity, you should be able to tell from my attire.
I have no weapons on me, only a sword at my waist.
But all of you are pointing guns at me. If I were a murderer or a criminal, would I be stupid or crazy enough to come here? To be pointed at by your guns?"
These words still held some persuasive power.
The era of cold weapons had long passed, and compared to Horitake's sword at his waist, the hunters' rifles certainly had more deterrent power.
Of course, the前提 was that these hunters didn't know Horitake's true strength.
If they knew Horitake's strength, they certainly wouldn't be comfortable with the hunting rifles in their hands, nor would they be gradually persuaded by Horitake's words.
Seeing that the hunters were no longer as wary, Horitake continued to explain:
"As I said before, my job in Sukuzu is to kill demons.
And as for the fate of the charcoal-selling family on the mountain, it has nothing to do with us.
My colleague happened to pass by at the time; the charcoal-selling family was not harmed by him.
Not only was it not his doing, but my colleague at the time also rescued the only remaining pair from that charcoal-selling family and settled them elsewhere.
What I'm saying is true. I am quite familiar with that family, and I also know the only remaining pair from that family.
The family living by selling charcoal over there is the Kamado family.
The two survivors rescued by my colleague are the eldest son and eldest daughter of the Kamado family, named Kamado Tanjirou and Kamado Nezuko.
To be honest, I have a good relationship with Kamado Tanjirou. Tanjirou is my little brother, and Nezuko is my fiance—
Fian—Fian—Fian—"
Horitake originally intended to say "fiancée."
But he suddenly realized that Shinobu Kocho was right beside him!
So the word "fiancée" got stuck, and he could only stammer "fian—fian—fian—."
Shinobu Kocho, over there, seemed to sense something and asked Horitake with a smile:
"That girl, Nezuko, is your fian—what?"
"Fian—Fian—Fian—" Horitake thought for a long time, and could only say: "My future adopted sister!"
"That's right! Tanjirou is my little brother, so his sister Nezuko, isn't she my future adopted sister!"
Shinobu Kocho looked deeply at Horitake, unconvinced:
"Is that really so?"
What Shinobu Kocho was thinking, let's set aside for now.
The several hunters gathered around Horitake, seeing him speak in such detail, even stating the family's surname and the names of the two survivors clearly, began to gradually believe Horitake.
As the leading hunter was the first to lower his hunting rifle, the other hunters also lowered their guns one after another.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Oh, my dear uncle!
Why would I lie to you? What good would lying to you do me?
If I were truly a colleague of a murderer, why would I travel all this way to come here?
To walk right into a trap?"
"That makes sense..."
The hunter uncle scratched his head, muttering:
"Then... what you said about killing demons, is that also true?"
"That's also true. I'm a Demon Slayer, and my job is specifically to kill demons.
Of course, none of you have witnessed such things firsthand, so you certainly won't believe it.
We don't expect ordinary citizens to believe us, so we usually act in the shadows, killing demons in secret.
I also received information earlier, and I felt that this man-eating bear was very likely a man-eating demon, which is why I traveled all this way to come and slay it."
At this point, Horitake looked at Yae, who had been hiding to the side:
"Sister Yae, I feel like you seem to know the situation of this demon, which is why I stopped you just now to ask for information.
So, could you tell me what you know?"
Now, everyone's gaze gathered on Yae again.
Yae, being watched by everyone, immediately became nervous:
"I... I don't know anything! You strange person, don't ask me!"
After saying that, Yae took her dog and turned to leave.
Horitake, of course, wanted to stop her:
"Sister Yae! Sister Yae!"
Shinobu Kocho also walked over, rolling her eyes at Horitake:
"You're so familiar! You just met her and you're already calling her 'sister.' Could it be that you've also taken a fancy to this hunter girl, Yae?"
Horitake couldn't help but smile wryly:
"Sister Shinobu, you're joking. I'm just trying to get on her good side."
"Never mind, you don't speak for now. When talking to children, it's more convenient for me, also a child, to do so. I'll go and try talking to her."
Saying that, Shinobu Kocho chased after Yae.
But to everyone's surprise, Yae, who was walking quickly forward, suddenly stumbled, then swayed, and completely fainted to the ground!
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