The moment this thought emerged from my brain, I immediately felt somewhat restless. But quickly suppressed it.
My demon-slaying blade was broken by Yemonse. Now using an ordinary tachi Takehime gave me. Not as lethal against demons.
Of course, even tangling with two demons while not letting them harm Hisako was effortless for me.
But Uta's lesson told me—pregnant women couldn't withstand fright. Childbirth was already dangerous... I also didn't know if Hisako would be scared discovering terrible demons outside. Even less planned to add one more point of risk.
Anyway, they couldn't run far. No other households nearby. Wait for Yoriichi to return, then I'd catch them.
Didn't know if they saw I had rich demon-slaying experience. Staked outside all night. Never attempted an attack.
When dawn approached, they unwillingly retreated.
At daybreak, Yoriichi finally carried down a man with an injured leg.
He keenly glanced at the position where demons previously crouched. Seeing me acting as if nothing happened, didn't open his mouth to inquire.
Instead, the man on his back was still conscious. Somewhat anxiously asked, "Is Hisako alright?"
The bloody smell on him was quite heavy. Also a trace of rotten stench. Probably encountered demons in the mountains.
Just then, Hisako heard sounds. Put on clothes, walked out. Seeing her husband safely returned, immediately perked up.
"Sumiyoshi! Are you injured? Serious? Oh my, I fell asleep. Miss Chihaya, could you have stood guard outside all night?!"
No matter how I waved my hands saying not sleeping was no problem for me, Hisako still looked ashamed. Kept apologizing, saying she shouldn't have slept so deeply.
Sumiyoshi's leg injury wasn't serious. After Yoriichi treated the wound, could support himself with a wooden stick, limping to stand and work.
He, like Hisako, urged us to stay a few more days.
Their home was very poor. Adding our two people's rations was also no small burden.
Yoriichi originally didn't want to stay. Strongly declined. I pulled him aside, saying he was truly dumb.
Sumiyoshi now had inconvenient movement. Hisako was also pregnant. Us staying to help them work a few more days could also reduce pressure.
Moreover, today I was going into the mountains to catch demons. In the mountains, catch more game to bring back—wouldn't that offset room and board?
Yoriichi suddenly understood. Admired my cleverness. Even accepted when I called him dumb.
So we agreed—once dark, go into the mountains to catch demons.
Nothing else to do during the day. Also not good to directly stop being human before Sumiyoshi and Hisako. Yoriichi and I both napped a bit to replenish energy.
When the fragrance of Sumiyoshi's cooking wafted out, I followed fate's—no, food's—guidance to sit up.
The food he cooked was quite delicious. Heat control just right.
The four of us sat together. Ate while listening to him recount yesterday's events.
Sumiyoshi had set some traps in the mountains. Every few days, would go into the mountains to see if there was any harvest.
Yesterday, he discovered one trap was destroyed. Inside, blood traces splattered outward. So guessed some prey escaped.
Sumiyoshi followed the blood traces. Result—in the deep mountains, ran into a disheveled-looking old man. Hiding in a cave, talking to him. Said he'd fled into the mountains encountering war chaos.
He originally also believed it. Warmly shared the game he obtained with the old man. Also helped do quite a few things.
After dark, this old man used the excuse that the mountains were dangerous. Wanted to go down the mountain with him. Sumiyoshi didn't suspect. Traveled with him.
Also halfway there, Sumiyoshi felt something wrong. Had an extra eye, so the demon's ambush didn't succeed.
Three demons actually hiding in the mountains—sounded very unreasonable.
Mountain residents were sparse. Except for some demons with insufficient strength who'd choose to attack passersby in the wild, most demons would still run to cities.
Three demons squeezed together—not even enough food to share. Wouldn't they fight?
I ate while thinking. Gaze unconsciously turned toward Hisako again.
Unless these three demons felt there was high-value prey here. Would rather cooperate with several accomplices to get a share.
Mm. Once I caught them, would know the answer.
At dusk, Yoriichi and I split two routes into the mountains.
Right now, the sun hadn't completely set. Places demons could hide were also limited. Finding them would also be more convenient.
Our two speeds weren't slow. But Yoriichi didn't need to hold an umbrella. Movements more nimble than mine.
When I ran to the meeting place, he'd already caught all three demons.
Because I wanted to use them for experiments, Yoriichi only severed their feet. Guarded there waiting for me to come.
I first followed procedure, trying to interrogate them—why they only targeted Hisako and Sumiyoshi.
But these three demons refused to speak. Truly tactless.
I cut open my palm. Fed each demon some blood. Forced them to swallow.
After waiting a moment, I suddenly felt I'd established a connection with the three demons before me.
This phrasing wasn't quite pleasant. More accurately—I felt the three of them were like puppets gripped in my hand.
The process of controlling them wasn't smooth. Another existence dominated their life and death... but traces remaining in their bodies weren't deep enough. I effortlessly seized ownership into my hands.
I asked, "Why target this couple?"
Their expressions looked like they didn't plan to acknowledge me. But their mouths had their own consciousness. Honestly answered:
"That woman kept emitting a very fragrant smell. I'd previously eaten similar humans. Very high nutritional value."
Words just finished—they themselves froze. Expressions terrified, looking toward me.
I pointed at one, ordering, "You. Now go die."
That beast-like demon made grunting sounds from its throat. Then its body twisted. As if blood inside was running around chaotically. Made it rapidly swell. Finally exploded with a bang.
This time, I witnessed with my own eyes the scene Takehime described. Somewhat unsatisfied, looked toward the other two. "You're the same. Self-destruct."
When they died, still stared with disbelieving eyes. Seemed never to understand why their bodies obeyed my commands.
Yoriichi silently watched from the side. After they indeed perished, only then discussed experimental results with me.
"I heard from the Master—demons in the world are all created by the Demon Progenitor. Also controlled by him."
I nodded. This discovery was a hypothesis proposed by Ubuyashiki several generations ago. Through several battles and probes, was confirmed.
"Miss Chihaya's blood entering demons' bodies seems to cause abnormal changes in their bodies," Yoriichi said. This was a result observed using Transparent World vision.
If I had to discuss hierarchy—demons I and Muzan created would definitely have differences.
These demons were equivalent to clones he created. But I, like him, drank the doctor's medicine to become a demon.
But never expected my blood could actually seize Muzan's control over demons.
Snatching things from Muzan's hands—thinking about it was quite thrilling!
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