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[ 30+ Advance chapter in Patreon]
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We stared at each other for a long time, until Genya, who was hiding behind his brother, tugged on Sanemi's sleeve. He slowly peeked his head out and spoke quietly.
"Not far to the rightā¦ there's an inn."
Hearing this, I looked at Sanemi with a sharp smile.
"See? Look how honest your little brother is. And youāwhen I ask a simple question, you act like I murdered your whole family."
Sanemi glared at me. "Bastardā¦ what's that supposed to mean?"
I didn't give him a chance to continue.
"So, what are you planning to do now? Stay here forever?"
They both lowered their heads. Their hands picked at the mud on their clothes, and their eyes shifted around without focus.
I knew their story well. Sanemi once killed his own mother to stop her after she turned into a demonābut Genya thought Sanemi had killed her on purpose. To protect Genya from the truth, Sanemi later chose to leave, hunting demons on his own. Eventually, he met Masachika Kumeno, learned Wind Breathing, and became a Demon Slayer.
"ā¦How about this," I said. "You guide me, and I'll take you somewhere better than rotting here."
Sanemi shot me a disgusted look, thinking it over. His eyes went to Genya, who was clinging tightly to him, and after a pause he gave a reluctant nod.
"This is it."
We stood before the inn. Lanterns hung under the eaves, glowing white against the wood. The building was three stories tall, plain but sturdy.
"ā¦Figures. I'm one of the richest demons alive, and yet I'm staying in a dump like this. Pathetic."
"Let's go in."
I grabbed Genya's hand with my left and hoisted Sanemi over my shoulder with my right. No matter how much Sanemi kicked and cursed, I didn't budge and carried him straight inside.
A fat man with a greasy face hurried toward us the moment we entered.
"Y-youā¦"
His eyes went wide at Sanemi struggling on my shoulder. He turned as if to run and call for helpāuntil I stopped him by flashing a silver token.
The instant he saw it, his panic melted away. His shoulders dropped and he exhaled nervously.
"Soā¦ you serve that master."
(This silver token was something I had made. With the wealth I control, half the inns and businesses within a hundred miles exist because of me. They trust me without question. Tokens came in bronze, silver, and goldāsigns of rank. Kokushibo carried a gold one. I kept a jade token for myself.)
I set a gold piece on the table with a soft clink.
"I'm their elder brother. Prepare a room for three. Private bath. Three meals a day. Extra snacks. And bring autumn pancakes and watermelon."
The innkeeper's eyes lit up at the sight of gold. He bowed again and again, spouting words of respect, before personally leading us upstairs. I entered the room and shut the window to block the light.
Once inside, I tossed Sanemi onto a hard bench. Genya immediately rushed to his brother's side, glaring at me with wide eyes.
I glanced around. The room wasn't luxurious, but it would do. Sitting down in a chair, I looked at Sanemi's furious expressionāhis eyes burning like he wanted to cut me down where I sat.
"Take off your clothes. Both of you."
Sanemi froze, then stepped in front of Genya protectively, eyes sharp as blades.
"What the hell are you planning?!"
I rolled my eyes. "Relax. Wash yourselves. You're covered in mud, and your faces are smeared with blood. What will people think if they see you like that?"
Even after I explained, they didn't moveāstill tense, still wary.
I sighed, grabbed them both without effort, and tossed them straight into the bathroom. My voice turned harsh, edged with command.
"If you want to stay here in peace, you'll do exactly as I say. Otherwiseā¦" My gaze sharpened. "ā¦I'll kill you both right now."
"Wash up properly. If you don't, you won't be eating tonight."
The brothers stayed inside for about ten minutes. The only sound was running waterāquiet, almost eerie, like they might have drowned.
Soon, they stepped out. Their clothes were filthy, so they wore the plain bathrobes provided by the inn.
I looked them over. Clean, they almost looked like normal kids. Sanemi's sharp eyes were still cold, like he was carrying the weight of something heavy, while Genya stayed close to him.
Sanemi noticed my gaze and immediately stepped in front of his brother.
"Tch. Bastard, what are you staring at?!"
"Relax," I said. "I'm not going to eat you. Comeālet's eat."
The table was packed with food: rice balls, grilled meat, vegetables, snacks, autumn cakes, watermelon, sakura mochiā¦ even noodles simmering in a pot.
Sanemi narrowed his eyes at me like I was some kind of fool. "You really don't have an ounce of manners."
I smirked and let them sit across from me. "Manners don't fill your stomach. Eating does. That's all that matters."
Sanemi didn't answer. Maybe he was just tired of arguing, because he finally sat down with Genya.
I picked up my chopsticks to start eatingāwhen suddenly, both brothers pressed their hands together, closed their eyes, and shouted:
"Itadakimasu!"
The sound was so loud I almost dropped my chopsticks.
ā¦They actually remembered their manners.
Right after, Sanemi tore into his food like a starving wolf. Genya, on the other hand, quietly reached for a piece of watermelon first before starting his meal, moving more cautiously.
I sampled the dishes, but they were blandābarely any salt. Disappointed, I tossed the chopsticks aside and took a piece of watermelon instead.
That's when I realized I hadn't asked their names yet. Of course, I already knew themābut asking would feel more natural. I leaned back with a smile.
"My name's Muzan Kibutsuji. What about you two? What should I call you?"
Sanemi froze mid-bite, his eyes narrowing when he heard "Demon Slayer Corps."
After a pause, he pointed to himself with his thumb, then to his brother. "Hmph. I'm Shinazugawa Sanemi. This one's my little brother, Genya. Now tell meāwhat kind of name is that?"
I chuckled. His arrogance was natural, almost noble in its own way. "Doesn't matter why. Names are just names. Now that we've shared them, that makes usā¦ acquainted, at least."
"Hmph. Whatever."
The two ate like a storm, finishing almost everything in less than half an hour.
Sanemi leaned back, satisfied, picking his teeth with a splinter of wood. Genya, however, glanced at me and frowned.
"ā¦Why aren't you eating?"
"I ate earlier. Not hungry," I replied.
The boys were exhausted. After all, they'd barely slept the night before, had been terrified by demons, and drained themselves in the fight. I told them to rest. The moment their heads hit the pillows, they were asleep.
I pulled out a small bottle from inside my robe. It looked like a flask, but instead of wine, it held blood. Leaning against the wall, I drank slowly, lost in thought.
"ā¦Should I keep building trust with these two? Or just toss them straight to the Corps?"
I finished the bottle in silenceāwhen suddenly, loud noises broke out.
Snoreā¦ grind, grindā¦ snoreā¦
My temple throbbed. I turned to look at them.
"ā¦Snoring and grinding teeth? Together? Is this hell?"
I stalked over, pinched their mouths shut, and forced them into quiet. Finally, I sat back in the rocking chair, closing my eyes.
"There are still years before Kanae's path crosses Douma'sā¦ and Tokito Muichiro won't appear for at least three or four more. Until thenā¦ what should I do with this time?"