"A carriage…?"
Yoriichi glanced toward the sound with mild curiosity.
At the far end of the street, an obviously luxurious carriage slowly approached.
Although he didn't know the exact time, it was clearly very late. He hadn't expected anyone to still be traveling at this hour.
In Yoriichi's memories, people rarely went out at night. During the era he once lived in, Muzan had been at the height of his power.
Before Yoriichi encountered Muzan, there had never been any existence capable of threatening him.
Especially in an age dominated by cold weapons, Muzan had been even more unrestrained.
Thus, compared to the timeline of Demon Slayer, where demons had already become little more than legends, during the Warring States period demons were not myths at all. While not extremely common, they certainly weren't rare either.
That was why Yoriichi found it surprising that someone would be traveling at such a late hour.
Sayo and Ieyasu had no choice, they were strangers in a foreign city, penniless, yet physically capable.
Even if they encountered a demon with a Blood Demon Art, as long as it wasn't one of the Twelve Moons, they could at least stall and escape.
But the people inside this luxurious carriage clearly didn't look like they were forced into such circumstances.
Is this what a large city is like…?
Yoriichi sighed inwardly.
Since meeting Sayo and Ieyasu, he had already felt that many things were somewhat strange. Still, considering this was a prosperous city he had never seen before, he found the oddities acceptable.
A city with a population in the millions was bound to have unusual aspects. After all, Yoriichi had lived over eighty years in his previous life and traveled across many regions searching for Muzan.
Cities with populations exceeding ten thousand often had much better security. Demons rarely hunted in large cities.
Yoriichi was undoubtedly powerful, but humanity's foundations shouldn't be underestimated.
The Demon Slayer Corps alone had existed for over a thousand years. Even without Yoriichi's Breathing Techniques, humans still possessed ways to combat demons.
Gifted individuals like Gyomei Himejima could fight demons until sunrise through sheer strength.
Others, like Genya Shinazugawa, even possessed unique abilities such as consuming demons.
More common methods included Wisteria flowers, which repelled demons, and weapons forged from Nichirin ore that absorbed sunlight.
Yoriichi had never considered himself indispensable.
Even when his older brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, worried that his techniques might be lost, Yoriichi hadn't felt much about it.
From beginning to end, he never thought of himself as irreplaceable.
Even though, in reality, his existence was far more important than he had ever imagined.
"…Hm?"
Before Yoriichi could continue thinking, the luxurious carriage stopped directly in front of them, causing him to slightly furrow his brows.
The carriage door slowly opened.
Inside appeared a refined noble couple, both looking gentle and dignified. Standing beside them was a delicate and adorable blonde girl.
"That's so pitiful…"
"Even though summer is approaching, nights are still cold."
The blonde girl's eyes lit up when she saw Yoriichi, Sayo, and Ieyasu sitting along the roadside.
Her expression quickly filled with sympathy as she turned to her parents.
"Father, Mother… may I invite them to our home as guests?"
"Just hosting them for a few days to help them through this difficult time shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Warm candlelight from inside the luxurious carriage illuminated Yoriichi, Sayo, and Ieyasu.
The stark contrast between their situations was unmistakable.
Under normal circumstances, these two worlds would never intersect. Yet unexpectedly, the carriage had stopped—and its occupants extended a helping hand.
"Of course, there's no problem."
The elegant noblewoman smiled gently.
"Aria, you're always so kind."
"Since this is Aria's request… dear, what do you think?"
She didn't even ask Yoriichi and the others directly, instead turning toward her husband.
In her eyes, this was an opportunity beyond anything people like them could even dream of.
After all, weren't these shabby outsiders flooding into the Imperial Capital just to rise in status?
As long as they accepted the invitation, success would practically be within reach.
There was no reason for them to refuse.
"Haha, I don't mind."
The nobleman smiled as well.
"My precious daughter Aria has spoken—let's bring them home and take care of them for a few days."
"…Who are you?"
Looking at the seemingly kind family, Yoriichi slowly stood up.
He didn't quite understand the situation.
Thanks to his Demon Slayer Mark and the Transparent World, Yoriichi possessed observational abilities far beyond ordinary people.
At this moment, he could clearly sense the genuine joy in their hearts upon seeing him, Sayo, and Ieyasu.
There was no trace of deception.
As expected of a large city…
Yoriichi once again sighed inwardly.
Throughout his life, even he had rarely seen wealthy individuals willing to extend a helping hand to the destitute.
Most didn't even push people further into despair, and that alone was already rare.
Yet this family…
Seemed genuinely kind.
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