Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

For some reason, the moment he asked the question, Yoriichi felt a slight relief from the inexplicable anxiety in his heart.

"It's just a minor illness."

When Yoriichi asked her question, Mitsuha remained calm and immediately countered with her own question:

"Brother Yoriichi, how is Brother Mikuro doing in the Demon Slayer Corps?"

"Yes, my elder brother is doing well."

Unaware that his younger sister was deliberately changing the subject, Yoriichi quickly started talking as soon as Yan Sheng was mentioned.

"A few months ago, my elder brother not only successfully awakened his mark, but also independently developed his own Moon Breathing technique without my help."

Even within the entire Demon Slayer Corps, this is a unique talent. My brother is indeed very powerful..."

"Spots? Moon Breathing?"

"It's this spot on my forehead."

Pointing to the flame-shaped mark on his left forehead, Yoriichi patiently explained:

"I always thought it was just an ordinary birthmark."

It wasn't until later, when I joined the Demon Slayer Corps and taught the Breathing Technique to my fellow members, that I saw similar markings appear on their faces, that I realized it wasn't just a simple birthmark.

Rather, it is a gift that can greatly enhance our basic physical qualities, allowing highly skilled demon hunters to further improve their abilities.

Of course, we don't know much about markings yet.

As for breathing techniques, these are special breathing skills that can strengthen cardiopulmonary function, allowing the blood in our body to absorb a large amount of oxygen in a short period of time, accelerating blood circulation and heartbeat, thereby temporarily giving the user physical qualities comparable to a demon.

"Currently, in the Demon Slayer Corps, besides the Sun Breathing I use and my brother's Moon Breathing, there are also five other breathing techniques: Flame, Rock, Wind, Water, and Lightning. Of these… sorry, Mitsuha, I seem to have gone a bit too far."

Suddenly realizing that he had been rambling on and on since the beginning, Yoriichi immediately stopped, his face full of apology.

"It's ok."

To this, Mitsuha, who had been listening quietly the whole time, simply smiled and shook her head, then said as if sighing:

"On the contrary, from what you said, Yoriichi-nii-san, I can sense that you really like that place called the Demon Slayer Corps..."

This was the first time she had ever seen her taciturn brother speak so much in one breath.

Yoriichi nodded in agreement without hesitation, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Although everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps has a very different personality, they are all like-minded comrades who can trust each other."

And our lord, Mitsuha, you don't know, our lord he..."

Suddenly realizing that he was about to steer the conversation back to the same topic, Yoriichi stopped again and forcefully changed the subject.

"By the way, how are your wife and children doing lately, elder brother?"

"Of course, they should be resting in the next room right now. Would you like to go and check on them, Yoriichi-nii?"

"It's better not to. If they find out, it will become very troublesome..."

As Yoriichi finished speaking, the siblings fell silent once again.

This silence, however, stirred up Yoriichi's inexplicable anxiety once again.

So he asked again.

"And what about you, Mitsuha?"

"So, Mitsuha, how have you been lately...?"

Yoriichi was trying hard to organize his thoughts.

Even Yoriichi himself didn't understand why he kept asking Mitsuha about her situation.

He had a vague feeling that he had to do it, that if he did it, the inexplicable anxiety in his heart would dissipate...

Seemingly surprised that Yoriichi would ask this question, Mitsuha was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her head in thought, and finally raised her head and gave him a standard smile.

"Of course I'm doing very well."

Just hearing Mitsuha's answer made Yoriichi feel the inexplicable anxiety that had been nagging at him ease considerably.

"Is that so? In that case, I'm relieved..."

As if a heavy burden had finally been lifted, Yuan unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Enveloped in this relaxed atmosphere, Yoriichi was completely unaware of the subtle change in his younger sister's expression that had occurred just moments before...

Chapter 16 Who doesn't have dreams?

"Speaking of which, Brother Yoriichi."

Instinctively covering her left hand with her robe, Mitsuha remained composed and asked in a curious tone:

"From the moment we left until now, haven't you looked at me with those special eyes of yours at all?"

"Special eyes? Mitsuha, do you mean the Transparent World?"

Realizing what Mitsuha meant, a deep sadness suddenly surfaced in Yoriichi's eyes. He lowered his head and replied with a soft laugh:

"Since meeting Shi, except when I'm fighting, I've stopped using the Transparent World to observe others..."

Mitsuha keenly realized that the "poem" Yorimitsu mentioned must be someone very important to him, and very likely no longer alive...

However, she did not ask any further questions, but instead deliberately avoided this topic that might make Yoriichi feel sad.

"Is it because Yoriichi no longer wants to see a bunch of flesh and bones walking around him?"

Smiling, Yoriichi accepted his younger sister's teasing and nodded gently, replying earnestly:

"I also want to look at the people around me with normal eyes."

"That's it..."

Having finally understood everything, Mitsuha also smiled.

So that explains it. No wonder I didn't notice anything wrong with her health.

However, this is fine.

After all, she didn't want to cause trouble for her two older brothers in the end...

Thinking of this, Mitsuha completely collected her thoughts and smiled at Eiichi:

“Brother Yoriichi, it’s getting late. I think it’s about time you went back.”

It was time to see the guests off; she worried that if they lingered too long, her oblivious older brother would notice something was amiss.

"Yes, Mitsuha, you should get some rest too."

Completely unaware of what his younger sister was thinking, Yoriichi nodded slightly, stood up, and prepared to leave.

But just as he was about to climb out of the window, Yoriichi suddenly stopped.

"Brother Yoriichi?"

He turned around, and under Mitsuha's slightly nervous gaze, promised in an extremely serious tone:

"Mitsuba, when I have time later, I will come back to see you with my older brother."

Mitsuha froze again, looking into Yoriichi's incredibly serious eyes, and smiled helplessly.

"Thank you, but it's not necessary..."

The bright moonlight streamed in through the window, gently falling on Yoriichi as if draping him in a sacred silver veil.

Opposite Yoriichi, Mitsuha sat in the darkness deep inside the room, with only the faint, dim candlelight illuminating half of her face.

"Life is short. Now that you two brothers have found something you want to work hard for, then just keep moving forward in that direction."

You don't need to worry about me, or about the country. As the daughter of the country, I will handle everything..."

"So, Mitsuha, you mean one of your older brothers came to see you last night?"

On the second day at the Butterfly Clinic, Butterfly, who was performing acupuncture on Mitsuha as usual, suddenly looked up, her face full of surprise.

"Unbelievable! Mitsuha, you actually have an older brother?"

Oh no, I mean, Mitsuha, your brother is still alive?

Uh, that doesn't seem quite right... Anyway, I always thought that Mitsuha, you were all alone at home..."

Ignoring the butterfly's slip of the tongue, Mitsuha nodded gently and explained:

"I have two older brothers, but for various reasons, they have both left Tsugikuni and joined an organization called the Demon Slayer Corps..."

"Wow! He dumped all the family responsibilities on his sister and then ran off to live a carefree life without a word. How can there be such an irresponsible brother in this world?"

"Butterfly, you can't say that."

Mitsuha shook her head slightly, clearly disagreeing with her best friend's words.

"Life in the Demon Slayer Corps is extremely dangerous; it can't be described as carefree and leisurely. Compared to my two older brothers, I'm already quite..."

"Mitsuba, your thinking is wrong."

Before Mitsuha could finish speaking, Butterfly interrupted her.

She stood up, walked over to Mitsuha, grabbed her shoulders with both hands, looked directly into her eyes, and said in an extremely serious tone:

You must understand that everyone in this world is a unique individual.

If you die one day, neither your two brothers, nor I, nor anyone else can live in your place.

Stop spouting empty rhetoric about the spirit living on forever. When a person dies, they're dead. It's that simple.

So, other people have their own lives, and you should have your own life too.

Undeniably, your two older brothers may indeed be doing good deeds.

But this doesn't mean they can rightfully shift all the responsibilities they should bear onto you.

That doesn't mean you should automatically take on the responsibilities that should be theirs.

This idea is completely wrong! Utterly wrong! Do you understand?

By joining the Demon Slayer Corps and slaying evil spirits, Kokusatsu and Yoriichi were undoubtedly doing good for the world.

But that doesn't mean they can just casually say, "Mitsuha, I'm entrusting the whole country to you," and then wave their sleeves, dumping all the responsibilities that should be theirs on their younger sister and leaving gracefully.

From the butterfly's perspective, these are two completely different things.

Wanting to be a hero is fine, but please make sure you fulfill your responsibilities and arrange everything properly before you start.

Instead of focusing on his own glamorous life and pursuing his dreams while leaving all the mess behind to his sister.

Like a butterfly, she has been doing free clinics for so many years, and the medicinal materials she uses are either picked by herself in the mountains or purchased from other clinics with her own savings.

She never felt that way because I was doing free medical consultations and doing good deeds, so the government should cooperate with me and provide me with medicine at a low price or even for free.

This is ridiculous.

Butterfly was very clear-headed. In her view, it was her business to do free medical consultations, so neither the government nor other doctors in the city had any obligation to cooperate with her.

She sourced the medicinal herbs herself, and she paid for the clinic herself; she had no reason to expect others to bear these burdens for her.

Similarly, Mitsuha and her two willful older brothers are also like that.

Because he had a dream, because he wanted to be a demon-slaying hero, he left such a large family to his younger sister, letting her fight against those old retainers and other daimyo, without even caring whether she wanted to or not.

So you think you're the only ones with dreams? Who in this world doesn't have dreams?

Why should others give up their dreams and bear the burden for you?

Not to mention, Mitsuha clearly didn't have much time left to begin with...

Chapter 17 Mitsuha, You Should Be a Person, Not a Doll

“This is different, butterfly.”

Mitsuha shook her head slightly upon hearing this.

"I am the daughter of the nation, born to enjoy the riches and honors it brings, so naturally I must give back to it when it needs me..."

"Pah! I'm still the daughter of the Butterfly family! Didn't I run away from home too?"

Butterfly completely disagreed with Mitsuha's words.