Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

"The ghost should have already left."

Su Mu checked the room and saw traces of blood dripping from the eaves, indicating that the ghost had eaten the person and left with the remaining 'food'.

"Follow me, my lord."

Tanjiro raised his head, looked at Su Mu, and for the first time expressed his own opinion to the adult.

Su Mu turned around in surprise, looking at the boy's serious eyes.

"Row."

He nodded, then instructed the 'hermit' Maeda Hiroshi, who was lying on the ground, "Go back by yourself, and remember to keep the wisteria candles burning."

"Yes, my lord."

Maeda Hiroshi straightened up, trying to hold back his vomit, but he couldn't. He squatted down and vomited again. Clearly, having never encountered such a bloody scene before, Maeda Hiroshi was already experiencing physical discomfort. Perhaps, every night in the future, recalling the scene before him would make him too scared to sleep.

Su Mu ignored Maeda Hiroshi and took the lead, following the trail of the ghost as it left.

The bloodstains on the ground were still fresh; the ghost must have been hunting not long ago.

However, after walking for about ten minutes, the traces of blood disappeared.

Where the bloodstains disappeared, there was a child's fingernail with some flesh and blood still attached. Next to it was a rattle drum stained with blood.

The rattle drum, now without its owner, lay there quietly.

"The traces have disappeared here."

Su Mu squatted down, picked up the rattle drum, and glanced at it. He had once bought a rattle drum for Kanao, but it was destroyed in the cave battle with Hiroshi Furukawa, and he had never bought one since.

Tanjiro took the rattle drum and, smelling its aroma, seemed to already know what kind of person its owner was.

She was a bit mischievous, the most favored child in the family, but also the most cowardly. When attacked by a ghost, she was hidden under the bed by her older sister, trembling with fear. When the ghost was about to eat her parents, she mustered up her courage, picked up the kitchen knife, and rushed at the ghost.

As a result, he was eaten as well.

The lingering smell from the rattle drum made Tanjiro lower his head slightly. He gently wiped away the bloodstains on it, then raised his head again and quietly looked at the bright moon hanging in the sky: "My lord, I will never let this demon go."

The boy's voice was soft, yet it seemed to carry a strange sense of determination.

Su Mu looked around.

This place seems to be a wilderness, empty and devoid of any trace of the ghost's departure, making it difficult to find the ghost that has already left.

At least, Su Mu wasn't good at any tracking techniques.

Even a team of experienced ghost hunters would likely need to spend considerable effort to continue searching for ghosts, followed by a significant amount of time analyzing their tracks.

However, none of this was a problem for Tanjiro, whose nose was exceptionally sensitive.

Can you smell the ghost?

Su Mu asked in a low voice.

Tanjiro closed his eyes and exhaled softly.

The last time I put my all into smelling was when I was forced to do so under the threat of adults and for the safety of my family.

This time, however, it was Tanjiro's own desire to give it his all.

The air was filled with all sorts of smells: the scent of the wind, the scent of people, the sorrow of the dead... and a faint scent of ghosts.

"I can smell it."

After a long while, Tanjiro opened his eyes and looked in one direction.

………………

Deep mountains

The quiet wooden house stands there.

The flickering lamplight dispelled the darkness, bringing light to the silent night, and a woman in a kimono was adding firewood to the stove.

Above, there was a small pot, from which steam was rising.

Beside the woman was a boy of about ten years old, who would occasionally look up and gaze outside.

"Mom, when is Dad coming back?"

The boy turned around and looked at the woman with some expectation.

"Soon, they should be back tonight."

'Patter...'

A soft knock came at the door, and the boy's face lit up with surprise as he quickly opened the door.

A man in a suit appeared, carrying a rather heavy package. The man had an ordinary face, but his eyebrows revealed a hint of determination. He looked like many people returning home at night.

But his eyes were completely bloodshot.

"Dad, Dad, you're back."

The boy suddenly threw himself into the man's arms.

"I'm...I'm back, Kenzo. Dad made a lot of money this time and will stay home for a while."

Yusuke Yamashita reached out and gently patted his son's head: "I even bought you the rattle drum you always wanted when you were little..."

As he spoke, Yusuke Yamashita reached into his robes.

“Dad, that was when I was very young. Now I’m over ten years old, it’s impossible for me to play with a rattle like a little kid.”

"Was that something from when you were a child? Dad's memory has been getting worse lately..."

Yusuke Yamashita looked annoyed.

"However, since my father bought it for me, I will like it."

Kenzo Yamashita shook his head, but his gaze toward his father was full of expectation.

Perhaps they've passed the age of being children, but they still look forward to the gifts their fathers bring home.

Yusuke Yamashita searched his person for a long time but couldn't find it.

"Come inside, don't stand outside, it'll be cold."

The woman came out of the room, looking at her returning husband with a gentle tone.

"Ah good."

Yusuke Yamashita walked into the house with his son, searching his pockets as he said, "I remember putting the rattle drum I bought on my pocket, but I can't find it."

“It’s okay, Dad. I already didn’t like the rattle drum anymore.”

Kenzo Yamashita brought over a cup of hot water and handed it to his father, saying something very considerately.

"I remember buying it. It must have been lost. What a pity, that rattle drum was so beautiful."

Yusuke Yamashita took the hot water his son handed him, took a sip, and frowned slightly.

"Dad, is the water too hot?"

Kenzo Yamashita looked up at his father; he remembered that the water temperature shouldn't be that hot.

"Ha, I drank water on the way, so I'm not thirsty."

The real reason is that I don't really like the taste of water.

Yusuke Yamashita shook his head and pulled his son to his side: "Kenzo has grown so tall. He must be six years old by now."

"Dad, I'm already twelve years old."

Kenzo frowned slightly: "Dad's memory is getting worse and worse. Should I help him find a doctor to take a look?"

"no, I'm fine."

Yusuke Yamashita's gaze fell on his son's delicate throat, and he instinctively licked his lips.

"I've been knitting you a dress at home these past few days. Take a look and see if it fits." The woman in the kimono came over, looking at her husband with a gentle tone.

"Ha, really? It will definitely fit perfectly."

Yusuke Yamashita stood up with a smile, letting the gentle woman help him change his clothes.

"It fits perfectly, Mom. The clothes you sewed are really wonderful."

"My wife is really amazing."

Yusuke Yamashita also praised him.

"It's not as good as you all say..."

The gentle woman lowered her head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

The candlelight flickered in the room, illuminating a warm scene of the family of three. Occasionally, it would fall on the man's eyes, flashing a crimson glint.

………………

"Da da da……"

With each step they made a dull thud, everyone followed Tanjiro, moving quickly in one direction.

"The flavor is in this direction."

Tanjiro sniffed, pausing from time to time, then crouching down to sniff certain spots, before standing up again, closing his eyes, and silently inhaling.

quickly

The small house standing in the night came into view.

In the pitch-black night, the flickering lamplight and the faint silhouettes through the window revealed a warm and loving family of three.

"The flavor is in here."

Tanjiro stopped and looked at a small house standing deep in the mountains. Through the swaying shadows at the window, he seemed to see his former home.

My family's home was built deep in the mountains. My father worked hard every day, and my mother took care of the family...

"Is the ghost trying to destroy this family's happiness?"

Tanjiro reached to his waist and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his eyes growing increasingly resolute.

Su Mu also looked at the small house standing deep in the mountains, and felt the presence of his kind here.

Makomo tilted her head, looking around the hut: "There doesn't seem to be any sign of a ghost forcing its way in. The family seems to be living a good life."