Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

Kanao lay obediently on the coat covered with hay, her little hands tucked inside the clothes, her beautiful eyes watching her uncle picking up sticks all over the cave.

Actually, she wanted to help her uncle, but he wouldn't let her. He said that evil spirits don't feel tired, but she was different; she was too weak and should just stay by his side.

"If only I were as healthy as my uncle, I wouldn't feel so tired."

Watching her busy uncle, Kanao silently thought to herself, "This way, I can help my uncle."

After gathering more firewood, Su Mu began preparing to start a fire next to Kanao, but since he didn't have any flint, he could only use the simplest method of rubbing sticks together to start a fire.

Actually, starting a fire by rubbing sticks together is not so easy. It is difficult for an ordinary person to start a fire by rubbing a stick together with their hands. After all, people always get tired, and their arms will ache after a long time of doing a certain action, but ghosts do not feel tired.

Kanao quietly stayed by her side, watching her uncle busy himself, watching the smoke rise, watching the tiny flames bloom from it, and seeing how flustered he became as the flames rose.

The girl's beautiful purple eyes reflected the man's image, and even though the smoke drifted over and stung her eyes, she refused to close them.

But immediately, his little head was hit hard.

"The smoke was right in front of him, and he still didn't close his eyes. He looked like a fool."

When his uncle's voice reached his ears, he almost immediately lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"The firewood is a little damp, but once it starts burning, there won't be much smoke. It'll be fine in a bit."

Su Mu tapped Kanao once, and only after seeing the girl close her eyes did he say something before continuing with his work.

As more firewood was added, the campfire grew larger and larger, and the warmth from the flames dispelled the chill deep within the cave.

The warm feeling made Kanao even more drowsy, and sleepiness crept in without her realizing it, so she gradually closed her eyes.

As Su Mu added firewood to the campfire, he turned around, intending to tell Kanao that it was almost done and there shouldn't be any more smoke, but he found that the girl had already fallen asleep.

The girl's breathing was even, and the flickering firelight illuminated her serene face, revealing a sweet smile.

Su Mu watched for a while before smiling and continuing to add firewood to the campfire, but with a gentler touch.

The flames of the campfire burned, reflecting in Su Mu's scarlet eyes.

He stared blankly at the flames, lost in thought, the scene from the previous night inexplicably resurfacing in his mind—his first real act of murder.

It's not about killing some heinous villain.

When killing, there was no nausea, it was just calm, just like when I cut the neck of the demon with my Nichirin Blade. However, the human head was obviously not as hard as the demon's head, and it was even easier to cut it.

When I was killing, I didn't feel anything, but after it was over and I felt a little calmer, the scene kept replaying in my mind.

She thought of how the other person desperately protected the child at the last moment, she thought of how she had ruthlessly slashed the child, and she thought of how Kanao had seen it all...

The thought that he had personally beheaded the hero who protected humanity, and that he himself had become the evil villain, the wicked executioner, filled him with a sense of dread.

I felt a strange, indescribable feeling in my heart, a feeling that was very oppressive and heavy.

He doesn't regret what he did back then, and if he had to do it again, he would definitely do the same thing.

But in the end...

I feel very uncomfortable.

Su Mu added another piece of firewood to the campfire, turned around, and looked at Kanao, who was sleeping soundly. He thought about how Kanao had seen everything he did last night, and wondered if it would have any impact on her.

…………

Hiroshi Furukawa did not give up the pursuit. He led his squad of swordsmen to search for the demon's trail. Everyone was silent, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

What mountain is ahead?

Hiroshi Furukawa, wanting to break the ice and prevent the atmosphere from becoming too tense, pointed to the mountains ahead and asked, trying to find a topic of conversation.

"Saagiri Mountain."

One of the swordsmen thought for a moment and then spoke.

"It seems that Lord Urokodaki, the 'Water Pillar,' is living in seclusion here?"

"Yes, I heard that Lord Urokodaki's disciple also participated in this year's 'Fujikasayama' swordsman examination."

"Then you should pass the test and become a swordsman like us, right?"

One of the swordsmen smiled and exclaimed, "That's a disciple personally taught by Lord 'Uroku'!"

"Not always."

Beside him, a swordsman shook his head: "Of all the disciples that Lord Urokodaki has taught over the years, I've never heard of one who has successfully passed the 'Fujikata Mountain' test, let alone survived it."

"That's unlikely, isn't it?"

Some swordsmen, who were not familiar with these matters, found it hard to believe upon hearing this. After all, it was the work of the 'Water Pillar' himself, and even the worst of his disciples would not be so bad as to be unable to survive.

"it is true."

The swordsman who first answered the question about the mountain range's name spoke softly: "'Rin'taki' may be powerful as a 'Pillar,' but as a 'Nurturer,' he may not be so good at teaching and imparting skills."

"That's true. If I were that good at teaching disciples, I wouldn't have failed the swordsman assessment at 'Mount Fujikashi'."

The swordsman beside him nodded in agreement.

"However, since we've arrived near 'Mount Kyoku,' we might as well ask Lord Urokodaki for help. Lord Urokodaki is extremely skilled at searching for demons. With his help, killing an ordinary demon would be a piece of cake."

A swordsman suddenly made a suggestion.

Involuntarily, everyone's eyes turned to the leader, 'Hiroshi Furukawa'.

Although this ghost-hunting mission belonged to their team, asking for help from their superiors would be somewhat embarrassing, but slaying the evil spirits was undoubtedly more important than losing face.

"Row."

Almost without hesitation, Hiroshi Furukawa nodded immediately.

The ghost still had the blood of their companions on its hands. No matter what, they had to kill the ghost first and avenge their companions.

Chapter 45 That ghost... appeared.

Hiroshi Furukawa left his companions behind to continue searching for the demon's trail, choosing instead to head alone to Mt. Sagiri.

Mt. Sagiri is not very high, but some parts are quite steep. In addition, it is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, making it difficult for ordinary people to climb Mt. Sagiri. However, it was not too difficult for Hiroshi Furukawa.

After a long trek, we soon arrived at a relatively gentle slope halfway up the mountain, where a few simple houses came into view.

Without any hesitation, Hiroshi Furukawa immediately stepped forward, but the surrounding doors were tightly closed, and he did not find any trace of Lord Urokodaki, which made Hiroshi Furukawa feel somewhat disappointed.

"What is this gentleman looking for?"

A light, ethereal, and pleasant voice suddenly came from behind him, startling 'Hiroshi Furukawa'. He turned around abruptly and discovered that a girl had appeared behind him at some point.

The girl had medium-length black hair, wore a short kimono with plum blossom patterns, and a smiling fox mask with blue flower patterns. Although her face could not be seen because of the mask, one could imagine what kind of girl was behind the mask just by listening to her voice.

"I'm here to see Lord Urokodaki."

Hiroshi Furukawa's expression also turned solemn.

"So you're looking for a master!"

The girl nodded, her beautiful eyes beneath the fox mask showing a hint of confusion. 'Hiroshi Furukawa': 'I wonder what business you have with my master?'

Hiroshi Furukawa hesitated for a moment, then, remembering that the other party was a disciple of Lord Urokodaki, replied, "There are some things that require Lord Urokodaki's help with; they concern matters related to demons."

The girl looked at 'Hiroshi Furukawa', especially at his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, before nodding gently: "Wait a moment, I'll go ask my master."

"it is good."

Hiroshi Furukawa smiled easily and was about to thank him when he realized that the person in front of him had disappeared without him noticing, leaving only a gust of wind behind.

"So fast."

Hiroshi Furukawa was somewhat shocked. Wasn't it said that Lord Urokodaki wasn't doing well as a trainer? Not a single disciple had even passed Fujikasayama's test yet.

Why does this disciple seem so powerful?

I feel like even as a formal swordsman, I'm not as fast as my opponent. Could it be that he's practicing 'Wind Breathing'? But that doesn't make sense. Lord Urokodaki practices 'Water Breathing'. How could he teach 'Wind Breathing'?

…………

The girl wearing a smiling fox mask nimbly leaped through the jungle like a graceful bird, and soon she reached the top of Mount Sagiri.

At this moment, an old man wearing a celestial dog mask sat alone on a blue stone atop the mountain, his back view appearing very lonely, like an old tree about to wither and die...

The girl landed silently.

Watching her master's retreating figure, the girl behind the mask bit her lip slightly. A few days ago, after her master received the letter brought by 'Crow', he had been sitting on this mountaintop.

"Even my junior brother failed?"

The girl's eyes darkened slightly, and she was very unwilling to believe the result. Except for speed, her junior brother Sabito was better than her in almost every other aspect. She was unwilling to believe that her junior brother would die in 'Mount Fujiki'.

But given her master's current state and Sabito's continued absence from Mount Sagiri, she had no choice but to face reality, no matter how unwilling she was to believe it.

The girl lowered her head and clenched her teeth. She thought of her master, whom she regarded as a father, who had been training new recruits for the Demon Slayer Corps all these years, watching his disciples set off confidently towards 'Mount Fujikasane' year after year.

Every year, the craftsman would make a custom-made warding-off-misfortune mask for each of them.

We are full of confidence every year.

But... in the end, what awaited us was...

Instead, they were simple letters delivered by the 'Crow', along with familiar names on the letters, and... senior and junior brothers who could never return.

At that moment, Makomo felt a tightness in her chest.

"Makomo, what brings you here?"

A slightly hoarse voice came from beside me.

Wearing a tengu mask, Urokodaki Sakonji appeared in front of the girl at some unknown time.

“A swordsman from the Demon Slayer Corps has come to pay his respects to his master.”

Makomo lowered her head and said in a very low voice, "Moreover, Master hasn't eaten for two days since receiving the letter. If this continues, his body won't be able to take it."

Urokodaki Sakonji remained silent for a moment. He opened his mouth, wanting to tell Makomo about the outcome of Sabito's trip to 'Fujisakuyama', but... in the end, he didn't have the courage to speak.

"know."

He spoke in a low voice, walking down the mountain with some doubt: "Why would a swordsman from the Demon Slayer Corps personally visit an old man like me?"

"It seems to be about evil spirits."

"It's a ghost again!"