Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

Because Su Mu stopped, Shinazugawa Genya was able to rest briefly, panting heavily.

The heavy breathing startled Su Mu, who turned his head to look at the exhausted Shinazugawa Genya.

Seeing the adult's gaze fall on him, Shinazugawa Genya immediately puffed out his chest, tried his best to hold his breath, and pretended that everything was easy.

"Can you still keep going physically?"

Su Mu asked gently.

"It's still possible."

The answer was given almost without hesitation.

But Genya Shinazugawa's rapid breathing betrayed his answer.

Seeing this, Su Mu understood the situation and said, "I'll carry you on my back."

"No need for adults, I can keep up with you."

Shinazugawa Genya gritted his teeth; he didn't want to disappoint his master.

“I’m not being considerate of you, but because if you really encounter a ghost, in your current state, you won’t be able to face it, let alone fight it.”

"I……"

Shinazugawa Genya was momentarily ashamed and didn't know what to say.

"Get on, I'll carry you."

Su Mu said calmly again.

Looking at the adult's broad back, Shinazugawa Genya almost recalled his childhood when he was very young, when he was also carried on his brother's back.

After a slight hesitation, Genya Shinazugawa decided not to insist any further.

…………

Walking in the dead of night.

Because we only know the approximate location, we have to keep searching.

Being carried on the back of an adult, like a useless piece of trash, initially filled Genya Shinazugawa with shame.

The adults and Kanao moved very fast, covering a great distance in the process of walking and jumping.

The night wind blew against Shinazugawa Genya's face as he walked quickly, and in a daze, Shinazugawa Genya seemed to have returned to the past.

…………

When was that...?

When her father was still alive, she was never held in his arms, nor was he ever to smile at her. He was always drunk and would even beat her and her mother.

He didn't crave being held in his father's arms; he only hoped to take care of his younger siblings with his older brother, and that would be enough for him.

This was supposed to be his responsibility as the second oldest boy in the family.

The memory is becoming clearer, as if I have returned to that unforgettable day.

He made a mistake and thought he had hidden somewhere he wouldn't be found, but his brother still found him.

"Xuanmi, you really are here."

"Brother...Brother..."

He looked at his brother Sanemi, who had found him, with a sense of dejection, and then reluctantly followed his brother home.

It takes a long time to get to the house where I live.

"It won't be dark for long, let's go home. Mother isn't angry with you."

Hearing this made me really happy. I was really anxious before, so I was really happy that my brother came to pick me up.

But it's not something a man should do to be so happy that he almost wags his tail and follows his brother home.

So I pretended to be silent, probably because of my pride at the time. I always felt that I could take on more responsibilities than my brother, but in fact, my brother always had more responsibilities at home than I did.

"Xuanmi, the reason you hit the landlord's son was because your sister was mocked for her beauty, right? Because he said poor people love to have children, right?"

His brother's words made him nod, because when he saw his sister, Shoumei, almost crying after being scolded by the landlord's son, many things had left his mind blank...

So he gave the landlord's son a good beating.

This is also why he went into hiding; he made a very serious mistake, and because of this mistake, his family might be evicted by the landlord.

What should we do then?

Only after he had beaten someone did he suddenly realize what had happened, and feeling a sense of panic, he hid away.

At that time, he thought that his older brother must be getting annoyed with his younger brother who did things without considering the consequences.

Are you annoyed by your younger brother who never considers the consequences of his actions?

“Since it was the landlord’s son who first mocked his sister, Shoumei, then you did nothing wrong and don’t need to hide.”

His brother's gentle words made him raise his head.

“Xuanmi, you have protected your sister very well as an older brother, so why do you feel that you have made a mistake? You did a good job, Xuanmi.”

"elder brother……"

He looked at his older brother and saw his brother smile at him. Although his brother rarely smiled, when he did, it was a very gentle smile, just like their mother's. Everyone, including himself, his younger brother, and his younger sister, loved his brother's smile.

"Let's go home, your mother is worried about you."

Only then did he feel completely at ease and follow his brother on the way home.

I still remember that it was before dark, and the sunset glow dyed everything around us red, including my brother's back.

Then, he, who always tried to be a man, looked at his brother's back and, unusually, wanted to act spoiled, like a child. After all, he rarely acted spoiled. As the second oldest child in the family, he was always responsible for taking care of his younger brother and sister at home, and rarely acted spoiled towards his tired mother.

"Brother...carry me on your back."

He stopped, which was unusual for him, and made a request to his brother.

His brother stopped, looked at him, and even squatted down to touch his thigh, as if worried that he was hurt.

He blushed at his brother's actions. After all, he wasn't injured, and he, who was always a man, was acting like a child, letting his brother carry him. This made him very embarrassed, so he hurriedly tried to run away.

"Come here."

His brother called out to him as he ran away, then bent down with his back to him, his voice gentler than the warm sun: "Only for today."

At that moment, watching his brother bend over with his back to him, he felt incredibly ashamed and embarrassed. As a man, he was acting like a child, acting like a spoiled child towards his brother, feeling that he was even less than a girl.

But deep down I was really... happy, so I climbed onto my brother's back.

My brother's back was very broad, and it was the first time I had ever experienced that. Since then, I have never felt like I've been carried on someone's back again.

"Mom made lots of delicious food today."

The voice of her older brother came from behind her back.

"really?"

He was somewhat happy.

"Really, they did a lot. Sadako and Kotobuki both helped."

"That's why my brother smells delicious."

"It tastes delicious."

"Is there?"

"Mmm, I feel so hungry!"

At that moment, he lay on his brother's back, happily chatting with him about everyday life.

And gradually

Suddenly, a question came to mind.

Because I am the younger brother, I can act spoiled with my older brother, but who can the older brother act spoiled with?

The older brother is the mother's biggest support. Although he is still a child, he works hard and takes care of his troublesome younger brother and sister.

Although I have a father, he is not someone I can rely on.

Who can the older brother actually act cute with?

elder brother……

The wind blew across his face, lashing against Shinazugawa Genya's cheeks. Feeling being carried, just like when his older brother used to carry him, Shinazugawa Genya unknowingly shed tears.

A few tears fell, landing on the back of the adult carrying him, making Shinazugawa Genya's face turn red with embarrassment.

And at this very moment.

The adult stopped and then put Shinazugawa Genya down.

Genya Shinazugawa vigorously wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

"You cried?"

Su Mu frowned as he looked at the crying Shinazugawa Genya. The boy had left a deep impression on him when they first met. He was almost covered in blood but hadn't uttered a sound. Why was he so scared that he was about to cry when he encountered a ghost?

"We've already discovered traces of the ghost. If you're scared now, then let's just leave it at that."

Su Mu looked at Shinazugawa Genya, whose eyes were red.

The boy's face flushed bright red at that moment, and he was almost gritting his teeth. He knew that he had been misunderstood by the adults, and he was extremely ashamed.

"No, sir, I am not afraid."

He defended himself almost immediately.

Su Mu looked at Shinazugawa Genya several times before confirming that the boy wasn't lying, and then nodded slightly. But he still asked again, "Are you really ready to hunt demons?"

"Ah."

"Even if it means dying on this road, are you willing to risk it?"

"Ah."

A very firm answer.

Su Mu carefully observed Shinazugawa Genya's eyes, but Shinazugawa Genya did not back down. Seeing this, Su Mu nodded, stepped forward, patted the boy's shoulder, and pointed ahead: "There's a demon up ahead. You should have figured out how to deal with it by now, right?"