Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

"Little Sanye, everyone in this world is free. There is no law or order that dictates that we are born to sacrifice ourselves for someone else, and you are no exception."

Even if you truly wanted to contribute to your country, you could have done so in other ways, not through this self-destructive method.

"But if I don't stay here, the country will..."

"So this isn't your problem at all! Why can't your rigid little brain figure it out?"

Grabbing Mitsuha's shoulders again, Kocho said in a tone of disappointment:

"Mitsuha, you need to understand that the main reason your country has developed to this point is because of your two willful and reckless older brothers!"

They simply failed to fulfill their responsibilities and casually abandoned the entire family, which is why you, who shouldn't have been in this position, were pushed into it.

Given the country's current predicament, why it has fallen to the point of letting a girl take the position of head of the family is something that has absolutely nothing to do with you!

Even worse! You are still a victim of your two older brothers' willful and reckless behavior! Do you understand?!

After Butterfly finished speaking, Mitsuha fell silent.

She lowered her head and frowned. After a brief silence, the night her mother, Zhu Nai, passed away came back to her mind.

She recalled the words Zhu Nai had said to her before he died.

"But, Mother, she..."

"Mother? My mother wanted me to marry a man I'd never even met. Did you hear me?"

Cutting Mitsuha off before she could finish speaking, Butterfly shrugged and said nonchalantly:

"Mitsuha, don't let those rigid tutors control your mind."

Our own destiny should be in our own hands.

As human beings, we live only a few short decades. We should do what we truly want to do and live a happy and fulfilling life.

Instead of becoming a victim of others' willful and reckless behavior under those restrictions, or even hypnotizing oneself to accept it willingly.

This isn't a human at all, but a puppet in human skin, devoid of any thought..."

With a hint of helplessness in her voice, Butterfly sat back down beside Mitsuha. Turning to look at the silent Mitsuha beside her, she spoke softly in an incredibly sincere tone:

"But Mitsuha, as a friend, I hope you can become a human being, not a doll."

At least, in these final moments.

Butterfly couldn't say those last words aloud; she just murmured them in her heart.

Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore~

Seeing that Mitsuha remained silent and did not respond, Butterfly took the initiative to change the subject, and she suddenly asked with a smile:

"Speaking of which, I'm quite curious. What your brother told you about the Demon Slayer Corps and demons—is it true or false?"

In all my years of practicing medicine, I've never even heard of it.

“My elder brother wouldn’t lie to me on such a matter.”

Obediently following the butterfly's lead, Mitsuha began to explain:

"If he says it exists, then it must exist, it's just that most people rarely see it..."

"So, those markings that can make people very strong, and those breathing techniques that can strengthen the body, also exist?"

"should be."

Nodding thoughtfully, as if suddenly remembering something, Butterfly immediately gave Mitsuha a very bright smile.

"Oh dear, I wonder if our Miss Mitsuha has mastered any breathing techniques that could open her friend's eyes?"

"Unfortunately, I don't."

She immediately shook her head, looked at the butterfly with a puzzled expression, and asked:

"What's wrong, butterfly? Do you want to learn?"

"It's less about wanting to learn and more about wanting to research..."

Touching her chin, Butterfly explained with a face full of curiosity:

"Think about it, Mitsuha. Without any medication, you can significantly enhance a person's physical abilities simply by using some special breathing techniques and moves."

This kind of technique, which seems to exist only in mythology, would surely make any normal doctor want to learn how to use it, right?

"That does sound like it."

"Right, right? Even if we can't perfectly replicate its effects, as long as we can develop a modified version that's suitable for the general public and can easily improve health."

This is a great thing for ordinary people around the world.

“In that case, when Brother Yoriichi comes back next time, I will ask him to prepare a copy for you.”

Mitsuha offered the suggestion.

To be honest, she wasn't particularly interested in benefiting the common people; she was only willing to help because her only friend seemed so interested in it.

"Huh? Is this okay?"

The butterfly was taken aback by these words and instinctively asked in return:

"Shouldn't these breathing techniques be the Demon Slayer Corps's exclusive secret techniques?"

"No, the breathing technique was developed by Yoriichi's older brother, but he just taught it to the Demon Slayer Corps."

If Yoriichi's brother is willing, he can also pass on the knowledge to others.

Mitsuha explained.

Speaking of Yoriichi, Mitsuha often can't help but wonder if her second brother is really the reincarnation of some god in heaven.

Born with those unique markings, with eyes that can see through people, and unparalleled swordsmanship and breathing techniques that can only be described as divine...

If that's true, then why did the gods create such a powerful physical body?

Peerless swordsmanship, breathing techniques, markings, the Transparent World...

The gods bestowed upon them all so completely that they were born standing at the pinnacle of human potential.

But the gifts of fate are never free.

The gods in heaven bestowed upon Yoriichi abilities that ordinary people might never be able to obtain even after a lifetime of hard work. What goal did they want him to achieve?

Is it really just to slay the legendary Demon King?

Chapter 18 Is there a predetermined destiny on us?

As her thoughts began to wander and she continued to think along these lines, Mitsuha suddenly realized a detail she had never noticed before.

One detail that... sent chills down her spine.

If Yoriichi's brother was truly born to slay the Demon King, does that mean that no matter what Yoriichi's brother's identity, dreams, or the path he once walked...

Ultimately, will the gods guide him to the path of "slaying the demon king"?

Yoriichi was a human born to slay the Demon King. Just like the gifts he received, this was a path that the gods had already arranged for him, and a destiny that was predetermined from birth.

Therefore, whatever Yoriichi's dreams as a human being, whether he wanted to become a glorious samurai or simply wanted to live a peaceful life with his wife and children, he was destined to achieve great things.

Ultimately, influenced by various factors, he will choose to join the Demon Slayer Corps and embark on the predetermined path of slaying demons.

Realizing this possibility, Mitsuha felt a chill run down her spine.

If Yoriichi's destiny was predetermined by the gods long ago...

Does this mean that the gods can actually determine the fate of anyone else in this world?

With a slight tremor in her pupils, Mitsuha turned her stiff neck and slowly shifted her gaze to her left arm, which was covered in silver needles and almost completely immobile.

So, what is her destiny?

What path did the gods in heaven arrange for her?

"What's wrong, Mitsuha... Mitsuha?"

The constant calls in her ears gradually pulled Mitsuha's drifting consciousness back.

She suddenly looked up and saw the butterfly repeatedly waving its hand in front of her eyes, its face full of worry.

"What's wrong? You suddenly turned pale and seemed dazed. Is something wrong with you?"

"Sorry, I just suddenly thought of something..."

Gradually coming to her senses, forcing herself to stop thinking about those superstitious things, Mitsuha's face broke into a smile again.

"By the way, Butterfly, what did you just say to me?"

After carefully observing her best friend's complexion and confirming that she was indeed alright, Butterfly finally felt relieved. She turned around, began grinding herbs, and said:

"What I was saying was, if your brother Yoriichi is really willing to reveal his breathing technique to me, then please thank him for me."

By the way, if he needs any help from me, he can let me know. As long as it's within my ability as a doctor, I will do my best to help.

After all, I don't want to take other people's things for free...

"okay."

Mitsuha nodded gently.

However, no matter how hard she tried to suppress those thoughts that had just crossed her mind, they still seeped out uncontrollably from the depths of her mind like ink, staining her thoughts.

So, what is her destiny?

If gods truly exist in this world, and if gods can truly arrange everything.

Then why did they arrange such a fate for her?

Why would they want her to die so young?

Could it be because her soul came from another world and was not a complete person of this world, so the gods in heaven did not want her to continue to exist?

Driven by these chaotic thoughts in her mind, Mitsuha almost subconsciously asked the butterfly in front of her the question she had been intentionally avoiding.

"Butterfly, can my illness really be cured?"

The hand pounding the medicine suddenly stopped, and Butterfly's body stiffened. She slowly turned her head, and with a slightly stiff smile, asked:

"What's wrong? Are you asking this suddenly?"

As she spoke, her gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if she dared not look directly into Mitsuha's eyes.

But Mitsuha failed to notice this detail.

The moment the butterfly turned its head, she realized she had asked an "inappropriate question" and subconsciously lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with the butterfly.

"Sorry, it just suddenly came to mind..."

"Really..."

With a loud sigh, Butterfly immediately knelt down in front of Mitsuha and said with her usual lighthearted tone:

"I already told you to have faith in me! Who am I?"

That was none other than the brilliant and wise Dr. Butterfly, a self-taught physician who traveled the country curing countless difficult and complicated diseases, saving countless lives with a single acupuncture needle, capable of kicking down the door to heaven and rescuing people from the underworld—known as the 'Miracle Healer'!

After reciting such a long string of lines in one breath, Butterfly immediately raised her hand, patted her chest vigorously, and proudly declared:

"There is no disease in this world that I cannot cure if I want to!"

So, Mitsuha, don't think you're beyond help just because you feel like your condition has worsened recently. Treatment always takes time, and it's normal to have ups and downs during that process!

Moreover, your condition is more serious than that of a typical illness, making treatment more difficult...

But don't worry, I'm here, everything will definitely be alright in the end!

"Don't worry about your health, just focus on making yourself happy every day, understand?"

Looking down at the butterfly in front of her, who was chattering incessantly while unconsciously scratching her hair with one hand, Mitsuha maintained a faint smile on her face.

She had actually noticed it a long time ago.

Whenever my best friend is very nervous or wants to lie, she subconsciously raises her hand to scratch her hair.

It's always the same, without exception.

Without a doubt, Butterfly lied about her condition.

But Mitsuha did not expose this.