"Clang, clang!"
"Clang, clang!"
Haruto's eye twitched as his gaze swept over his two disciples, who were vigorously trying to chop a boulder with their swords.
"Hahahahaha... It's very noisy, isn't it?" Sabito couldn't help but laugh, "We were just as noisy back then. Giyuu and I were clanging away at the rock at the entrance, and Mr. Urokodaki finally couldn't stand it and dragged the rock into the mountains."
"Makomo didn't really chop much. She seemed to ponder for a long time, and then split the rock with a single stroke."
"So Makomo is a smart child, isn't she..."
Sabito smiled as he watched Genya and Tanjirou, who were drenched in sweat, a look of nostalgia in his eyes.
"What are you back for this time?" Haruto turned to him, "Surely not to play with two swordsmen who haven't even joined the Demon Slayer Corps yet?"
Sabito nodded, "Indeed, I have something to convey to you.
Reportedly, the Shichi-Go-San Festival will be held in Tokyo Prefecture on November 15th, and at that time, many children will appear on the streets.
In the past few years, dozens of children went missing during the Shichi-Go-San Festival. The police department thought there were human traffickers involved and investigated for a long time without any results.
Headquarters has determined that a powerful demon might specifically appear on this holiday, so this year Master has assigned you and me to go to Tokyo Prefecture on November 15th to assist Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku in slaying the demon and maintaining order in Tokyo Prefecture."
The Shichi-Go-San Festival is a traditional Japanese holiday. Every year on November 15th, boys aged 3 and 5, and girls aged 3 and 7, will wear haori or kimonos to visit shrines and worship the gods.
The most prosperous Tokyo Prefecture also holds a large celebration festival on this day every year, and by then, the entire Tokyo Prefecture will become a sea of joy.
On such a day of family celebration for children, a demon is actually hiding in the shadows, quietly devouring these children... It's absolutely infuriating.
However, the number of people Kagaya assigned made Haruto wonder, "Three Pillars going together... Could that demon be an Upper Moon demon?"
"I'm not sure, maybe it's just because Tokyo Prefecture is really too big, and the maintenance work is difficult... It's probably to prevent incidents like when Kyoujurou slew the Lower Moon Two last time, and the demon buried bombs all over Tokyo Prefecture."
Sabito also didn't quite understand, so the two of them didn't delve deeper.
Whether it's a Lower Moon or an Upper Moon, the only thing they can do is make ample preparations for the battle.
Haruto and Sabito immediately set off for Tokyo Prefecture and met with Kyoujurou before the Shichi-Go-San Festival on the fifteenth.
"Mr. Haruto!" Kyoujurou looked very energetic—of course, he was energetic every day—since being promoted to a Pillar, he had put on Shinjuro's original haori, and his demeanor was even more composed. At a glance, he looked exactly like Mr. Shinjuro from ten years ago.
Kanroji Mitsuri was still by his side, a sweet smile on her face.
But what was with those green striped long socks? Had she already put them on?
"Good evening, Mr. Haruto, Mr. Sabito, I'm so happy to be working with you!"
As she spoke, she hummed, "Prince, oh Prince, what is that fluttering before your noble steed?"
What was this now?
Haruto and Sabito exchanged glances, both seeing the amusement in the other's eyes.
In the Demon Slayer Corps... there really are a lot of amazing people!
"Then let's split up now!" Kyoujurou said loudly, "Let's find the demon hiding in the shadows as soon as possible and let the children of Tokyo Prefecture go home safely!"
..."Kaoru—Kaoru—we need to go back!"
The five-year-old boy broke free from his mother's hand, weaving through the crowd, and in a flash, left his anxious parents behind.
It was really too lively!
Various lanterns, fireworks, and neon lights illuminated everyone's faces, making them rosy.
He saw many children on the road, and like him, they were all wearing new clothes and had innocent smiles on their faces.
This is so much fun... Someone is even making wagashi up ahead!
Kaoru pattered over, craning his neck to watch the pastry chef make wagashi.
Also craning her neck was a girl with very strange hair color. So adults are also so greedy, huh?
Kanroji Mitsuri turned her gaze to the child beside her, "Eh? Little brother, are you alone?"
Such a small child, in such a chaotic environment... she might have gotten separated from her adults.
Unexpectedly, the child looked at her warily, turned around, and ran off, "Don't come near me, you weird-haired woman! My mom and dad are right behind me!"
Kanroji Mitsuri: QAQ How can you say that to a girl!
Kaoru, stooping low, squeezed through the dense crowd, running outwards, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Sure enough, Mama was right, there are too many dangerous people in the world.
That woman just now was very strange, inexplicably coming up to talk, and she even had such strange hair!
He was lost in thought, and when he tried to go back to find his mother, his parents were no longer in sight.
"Dad... Mom?" He walked a few steps forward, trying to spot familiar faces among the various tourists coming and going, but found nothing.
Maybe they're waiting for me at the street corner, let's walk over to the side.
Kaoru's heart was a little flustered, so he could only cheer himself on internally.
He walked along the street, successfully leaving the bustling crowd.
The bluestone street had several diverging alleys, which were dark, and only strange sounds could be heard coming from some of them.
Hmm... very similar to the sounds his mom and dad made at night when he and his brother were asleep.
Kaoru stood on the street for a while, but still didn't see his family.
He looked around and saw a floating... big fat goldfish next to an alley in the distance?
The goldfish was bright red, like a lantern, illuminating everything around it.
So beautiful, I want to go and touch it.
Kaoru turned around and slowly walked towards it.
That fish was still alive, blowing bubbles with its mouth, looking absolutely adorable.
Although he didn't know why there would be a goldfish on land, such a cute creature shouldn't be able to harm him.
He slowly approached, extending his small hand to touch the goldfish.
Suddenly, as if startled, the fish shook its tail and quickly swam away, moving into the alley, keeping a moderate distance.
Kaoru looked back, still not seeing his mom and dad, so he tentatively took two steps into the alley.
Enticed and led on, Kaoru walked further and further in, until the goldfish's tail flickered, and the entire fish disappeared before his eyes like the moon in a mirror.
"Eh?" Kaoru's eyes widened, at a loss.
At this moment, all that remained before him was a beautiful Gyokko placed on the ground.
"Whose discarded item is this?"
The disappearance of the goldfish didn't cause this five-year-old child to feel any sense of danger. He squatted down to examine the Gyokko: "It doesn't look cheap, does it? Who lost this?"
The person who lost it must be very anxious, but who would have thought it would be in such a deep alley?
Kaoru reached out, wanting to take the Gyokko to the main street to find its owner.
What he didn't expect was that as soon as he touched the surface of the pot, he immediately fell headfirst into the Gyokko.
The small child couldn't even utter a word before being swallowed by the dark, gaping mouth of the pot.
A moment later, the Gyokko trembled, and a sharp voice came from its mouth:
"Hehehehe, so much fun, so much fun!"