Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

"Yes! Then I wish Young Master Yansheng will also... eh?!"

Upon hearing Yan Sheng's words, which were completely different from what he had expected, A-Ming immediately let out a loud "Hey!"

What did Young Master Yan Sheng just say?

More than a hundred years ago? During the Warring States period? Him and Mitsuha?

Seeing Ah Ming's shocked and somewhat bewildered expression, Yan Sheng continued in his usual calm tone:

"The past that Mitsuha once told you is all true. My brother and I were both children of a daimyo during the Warring States period."

About ninety years ago, Mitsuha and I, for different reasons, chose to become demons and have lived on ever since.

(It seems like most people are against Yan Sheng and Nakime, even though I feel like two people who have both had failed marriages might actually be a good match~)

(Then I'll just change Yan Sheng's later plot. Don't worry, after all, Yan Sheng's personal plot is only a small side story, so even if I change it, it won't affect anything. At most, it'll just change his final ending, meow~)

Chapter 87 Mitsuha, very gratified

"Evil... evil spirit?"

"That's right, it's a demon that can only appear at night and feeds on humans."

As he spoke, Yan Sheng raised his hand and, under A Ming's incredulous gaze, conjured a blade in his palm using his own flesh and blood.

Seeing this scene, Ah Ming was shocked, and countless minute details that she had deliberately ignored over the past period of time also rushed into her mind at this moment.

Why is it that Young Master Yan Sheng, who appears perfectly normal, always claims to suffer from a strange illness and never walks in the sunlight...?

Why is it that Young Master Yan Sheng never eats or dine in front of anyone, no matter the occasion...?

Why is it that, on some nights, Young Master Yan Sheng would quietly leave alone, only to return again before dawn...?

So that's how it is. If that's the case, then all the anomalies in the past seem to make sense now?

"For the past few decades, I have lived alone in a mountain cave, diligently studying swordsmanship."

That night, I followed that person's advice and decided to go to the brothel to find Mitsuha, who was investigating something there at the time..."

"That night..."

A-Ming was startled and his eyes widened as he instantly realized which night Yan Sheng was referring to.

Wait a minute, so that means that before that night, Young Master Yan Sheng... was actually all in disguise by Sister Mitsuha?!

"And then, by some twist of fate, under Mitsuha's influence, I inexplicably got involved in your affairs, Miss A-Ming, and inexplicably ended up living in this town with you."

Although none of this was my original intention, to be honest, the people in this town have given me an experience I've never had before during my time here...

For the first time during my stay here, I felt truly alive.

This is something I have never experienced in the past hundred years.

The blade in his hand vanished, and Yan Sheng looked up at A-Ming again, saying earnestly:

“Ah Ming, I am very grateful to San Ye for arranging all of this for me, very grateful to the warm-hearted people in this town, and very grateful to you for your company during this time…”

I think perhaps I can try, like Mitsuha said, to start anew for myself...

However, I, this worthless man, am ultimately unable to be like Mitsuha, able to conceal my identity from those around me as if nothing were amiss...

So, I've thought about this for a long time these past few days, and I still don't want to hide it from you anymore. I want to tell you the truth, and ask if you'd be willing to become a demon like me…?

At that very moment, the second round of fireworks for the night rose up just in time, illuminating the night sky above the two of them.

Ah Ming subconsciously raised her hand to cover her mouth. She looked up and stared blankly at the man in front of her who had saved her life and pulled her out of the mire.

Tears welled in her eyes, and as Yan Sheng waited, she nodded heavily without hesitation.

"Yes, I do."

A fireworks display is indeed a perfect night for confessing your feelings.

"Miha-nee! Please marry me!"

"Little rascal, the confession you make at the fireworks festival should be reserved for someone you truly like when you grow up, understand?"

"But the person I like the most is you, Mitsuha-nee!"

"Stop with the nonsense. Here, take this rattle-drum and go home to sleep. If you keep talking, I'll make you do extra training tomorrow at the dojo!"

The fireworks display was about to end, and she waved goodbye to that brat who confessed his love to her several times a day.

Mitsuha stretched and, together with Violet, who was covering her mouth and chuckling beside her, followed the flow of people on their way home.

"Mitsuha, that child seems to really like you..."

"What does a little kid like him, who's only a few years old, know about love and romance?"

It's just that he saw a pretty woman with a nice personality and liked to approach her... Come on, we should probably head back now."

"Hey? Aren't you going to wait for Mitsuha, your brother?"

"I ask you in confusion," Butterfly Violet asked.

She hadn't seen Mitsuha's older brother, Yan Sheng, at all tonight. She had assumed that the two siblings would go back together after the fireworks festival...

"We can't wait any longer. My elder brother and the others have already gone back ahead of us."

When Violet asked about this, Mitsuha's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Oh my, after all these years, I never thought my rigid older brother would finally have his moment of 'old tree blossoming'!"

"Hmm, it was all worth all the hard work I put into planning this..."

Through the dialogue between the demons' consciousnesses, Mitsuha had just learned that Yan Sheng had told A-Ming their true identities and that he also wanted to turn A-Ming into a demon.

Perfect! Absolutely perfect!

Everything was unfolding exactly as she had predicted!

From the moment Yan Sheng and A Ming were arranged to live together, Mitsuha had been looking forward to this day!

Now...it has finally arrived!

Her brother, Yan Sheng, whose mind used to be filled only with "Yoriichi and the sword," is now finally trying to take the first step towards changing himself and moving towards a new life!

When she heard the news, Mitsuha was so relieved that she almost cried!

Brother Yoriichi, did you see that?

More than forty years after you left us, I have finally found an opportunity to change my brother Yan Sheng...

Brother Yan Sheng has finally stopped obsessing over catching up with you...

This is all so wonderful!

Looking back now, Mitsuha is incredibly grateful that on that night at Osaka Castle more than forty years ago, it was she who met Yoriichi's older brother.

Otherwise, if it were Yan Sheng's older brother, even if he were to survive by sheer luck under the hands of Yoriichi's older brother, who had no will to fight, he would have been able to do so.

She would inevitably be deeply pained by the enormous gap between herself and her brother Yoriichi, which was like an insurmountable chasm, and from then on, she would be completely trapped in an endless jealousy and hatred towards her brother Yoriichi, unable to extricate herself...

Yes, thankfully it was her who prevented the worst-case scenario from happening.

Fate can be so mysterious sometimes.

A small change, a chance encounter, could very well completely alter the course of the future...

In short, no matter what, things have finally started to look good for my brother.

As her younger sister, she could finally stop worrying so much.

As for the future, let your elder brother decide for himself...

Chapter 88 The "Fish" Finally Takes the Bait

"Well then, little butterfly, I'll leave you here. Go home and rest early."

Under the cover of darkness, standing by an intersection, Mitsuha smiled at the violet butterfly in front of her and said...

"Yeah, Mitsuha, you too, don't go out wandering around at night if you don't have anything to do."

"Yes Yes Yes……"

"Miss Mitsuha!"

Waving goodbye, Mitsuha was about to turn and leave when she saw a familiar porter running hurriedly towards her from the street not far away.

"Miss Mitsuha! A merchant from the next town sent me to inform you that the guest you're supposed to meet has arrived and you need to go to the usual meeting place immediately!"

【finally come. 】

"Yeah, thank you. I see."

Upon hearing the porter's message, Mitsuha's smile gradually faded.

Two months have passed since her last meeting with that mysterious tycoon, and he has finally returned with the information she wanted.

Mitsuha had a strong premonition that the incident involving the Blue Spider Lily would likely come to a complete end tonight.

She couldn't wait to meet the mysterious person behind all this commotion.

Watching the porter leave, Mitsuha turned to Violet beside her and said with a hint of apology:

"Sorry, little butterfly, it seems I'll have to go out again tonight."

If nothing unexpected happens, this should be the last one for the foreseeable future…

"It's alright, just be careful, Mitsuha."

As always, Violet showed great understanding and didn't even ask a single question about what Mitsuha was going to do.

"I understand, see you tomorrow."

Without saying anything more, Mitsuha simply nodded slightly in response to her close friend's concern, then quickly turned and left.

"Well, see you tomorrow."

Standing there, watching Mitsuha's figure disappear completely into the night, Violet turned around and slowly walked towards the clinic.

Once again, Mitsuha left so suddenly in front of her.

This situation has only happened twice since the two of them met.

The last time was more than two months ago. I remember it was that same porter who came to inform Mitsuha...

Is it all for the same thing?

For the past two months, because Mitsuha had hardly gone out at night anymore, Violet had always thought that the matter Mitsuha had been busy with had been completely resolved.

But now it seems that this is not the case?

What could be so important that it would keep Mitsuha investigating for so long?

Is it related to the Demon Slayer?

Thinking it over and over in her mind, Butterfly Violet, who had already reached the front of the clinic, instinctively took out her key, opened the front door, and went inside.

For some reason, she had a vague sense of unease.

I have a feeling that Mitsuha might encounter some danger...

The room was empty and dark, so quiet that the only sound was the creaking of her footsteps on the stairs.

No, how could this be...?

Upon reaching the second floor, the butterfly violet chuckled at the sudden worry that had welled up inside her, and immediately shook her head.

With Mitsuha's strength, how could there possibly be a demon slayer in this world who could threaten her?

Even Mitsuha, who lived through the era when the Child of God was active, survived unscathed, let alone this ordinary and mundane era.

Okay, stop thinking about it. Go to sleep early. Mitsuha won't be in any danger...

With that thought in mind, Violet picked up the basin of water, intending to wash up and rest, when she suddenly froze on the spot!

The wooden basin in her hands suddenly fell to the ground. She remained in the raised position with her hands, her eyes wide open and her pupils suddenly contracted.

Why was she so certain that Mitsuha would be safe?

How strange, she would never have thought like this before...

She would often remind herself to pay attention to this point in her training records...