The two walked into the village together. Fortunately, even in this small Black Water Village, there was a Wisteria House.
The so-called Wisteria House was short for "House of the Wisteria Family Crest." It was a spontaneous organization formed by those who had once been helped by the Demon Slayer Corps. To repay the members of the Corps, they displayed a special wisteria flower crest outside their homes.
Any member of the Demon Slayer Corps could stay in a Wisteria House, where the residents would provide free meals and a change of clothes.
"I didn't expect to find a Wisteria House here. Looks like we have a place to stay tonight. Shinobu, whether or not we get a steaming hot meal tonight depends on you," Ren chuckled lightly. Although he wasn't a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kocho Shinobu beside him certainly was—she was the Insect Hashira, after all.
Kocho Shinobu rolled her eyes at Ren silently, then gently knocked on the door of the Wisteria House. Soon, with a creak, the door opened. A petite and cute little girl, looking only six or seven years old, looked up and carefully scrutinized Ren and Kocho Shinobu.
Kocho Shinobu smiled gently. "Hello, little sister. We are..."
Before she could finish, the little girl saw the butterfly haori on Kocho Shinobu and burst into laughter.
"I know! Big Brother, Big Sister, you are from the Demon Slayer Corps, right? Two years ago, a brother from the Demon Slayer Corps saved me from an evil demon."
"Is that so..."
"Chinatsu, let our benefactors' companions in."
As she spoke, a kind-looking old woman suddenly walked over. Although she was advanced in years, her frame was still sturdy, and she walked with a speed that rivaled young people.
Coming before Kocho Shinobu, the old woman smiled. "Young lady, young man, you are members of the Demon Slayer Corps, correct? I guessed that your people would be arriving in the next day or two."
Speaking as she went, the old woman invited the pair into the house and instructed the girl named Chinatsu to boil water for tea.
"Is it because of the evil demon in Black Water Lake? Is that right, Grandma?" Kocho Shinobu asked.
"That is correct. Most people here in Black Water Village are fishermen who rely on catching fish in Black Water Lake for a living. Although we aren't wealthy, we could support ourselves. However, two months ago, drowning incidents began occurring frequently around the lake. Many people who fished at night fell inexplicably into the lake and vanished without a trace. Even their bodies never floated back up."
Having said so much in one breath, the old woman seemed a bit tired. Just then, Chinatsu arrived with three cups of hot tea. After taking a sip of water, the old woman continued.
"At first, everyone didn't take it to heart. They thought those people had carelessly fallen into the lake and gotten their limbs tangled in the water weeds at the bottom, leading to drowning. So, they continued to take their boats out to fish. But the drownings happened more and more frequently. In just two short months, over a hundred people died unnatural deaths, leaving everyone in the village in a state of panic. There are even rumors that because we overfished, we angered the Water God, who released a water monster into Black Water Lake to punish us. But I believe there is no water monster in this world; it must be an evil demon causing trouble!"
At this point, Chinatsu, who was standing to the side, suddenly took over the conversation, speaking softly with a look of despair. "Originally, the drownings only happened at night, so everyone went fishing during the day as usual. But in the last half-month, people have started sinking and drowning even during the day, falling into the lake and disappearing. Now, everyone is too afraid to go to the lakeside to fish!"
"People are drowning during the day too? How is that possible?" Kocho Shinobu exclaimed. "How does an evil demon dare to appear in broad daylight?"
"That's not necessarily impossible," Ren shook his head and analyzed. "Demons are only afraid of sunlight, not the daytime itself. If the lake water is deep enough to block the sunlight, they can hide underwater. They could use unknown Blood Demon Arts beneath the surface to capsize the fishing boats and cause the fishermen to drown."
"Hmm... that isn't impossible," Kocho Shinobu nodded and continued, "Regardless, we must go take a look tonight. We cannot allow any more casualties in the village."
"Of course. Slaying demons is our job, after all!"
"Hehe, well then, this old woman will go prepare dinner. I hope everything goes smoothly for the two of you tonight. Chinatsu, take good care of our two little heroes."
Saying this, the old woman stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare the meal, leaving Chinatsu to chat with the two. As they talked, the sound of choked sobbing suddenly drifted in from outside the window.
"Boo-hoo... let me go, Grandpa Village Chief! Just let me go find my brother, I beg you!"
"No! He hasn't returned for two days; your brother has surely been eaten by the water monster in the lake. I cannot let you go there!"
"That foolish boy, it's all because he didn't listen to me and insisted on fishing in the lake. That's why he was attacked by the water monster."
"No! It's not like that! Brother did it for me..."
Hearing the commotion outside the window, the three people in the room ran out in unison to check the situation.
In front of a dilapidated wooden house, an elderly man was tightly holding onto a little girl, preventing her from running away. The little girl was sobbing uncontrollably, and the people around them were whispering among themselves.
"Eh? Isn't that Keiko?" Chinatsu suddenly said. Hearing this, Ren couldn't help but ask.
"Chinatsu, do you know that child?"
"Mn! Keiko and I are very good friends. Because Keiko's family conditions aren't good, whenever my family has extra food, Grandma has me bring it to her..."
Not long after Keiko was born, her parents died from illness one after another, leaving only Keiko and her brother, Ryoichi, who was six years older. The two had depended on each other since childhood.
Although life was hard and the siblings often went hungry, they had at least managed to survive.
But two days ago, her brother Ryoichi went fishing in Black Water Lake and never returned. The villagers guessed he had been eaten by the water monster.
Some people cursed him, saying he deserved it—knowing Black Water Lake was dangerous, he still went to fish. wasn't that like an old longevity god hanging himself because he was tired of living?
"But as far as I know, Brother Ryoichi isn't that kind of person. Two days ago, I went to visit Keiko and found she was running a high fever. I think Brother Ryoichi must have risked going to Black Water Lake to catch fish and earn money to buy medicine for Keiko, hoping she would get better sooner, right? Sadly, he never came back..."
By the end, Chinatsu's expression had become despondent. Ren and Kocho Shinobu also felt a heaviness in their hearts after hearing the story.
Kocho Shinobu unconsciously clenched her fists. An expression of anger appeared on her fair face. Watching the breakdown of the weeping Keiko made her unconsciously think of herself.
When she saw her sister die back then, she had wailed in helpless despair just like Keiko. Right now, she could empathize deeply.
As for Ren, he didn't show any particular emotion, but he felt as if the heavy Nichirin Greatsword on his back had become a bit heavier.
He could now understand why the members of the Demon Slayer Corps were so obsessed with slaying evil demons.
It must be that they couldn't bear to see such tragedies happen to more people. That was why they suppressed their sorrow and pain, determined to slay the demons even if it meant the destruction of their own bodies!
Looking at the devastated Keiko, Ren wanted nothing more than to drag Muzan out into the sun right now.
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