Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

Raising her hand to stroke Mitsuha's long hair, Violet gently interrupted Mitsuha before she could finish speaking.

"I can sense that you, Mitsuha, are not the type of person who would be willing to stay still for a long time, at least not now."

Therefore, instead of taking advantage of your current guilt and gratitude towards me to force a reluctant result,

It would be better to let go now and let our memories of each other remain in this most beautiful and comfortable moment for us.

This is the most suitable choice for the two of us, isn't it?

Don't worry about my future; as long as you remember me, I'm not dead.

The butterfly violet chose to let go.

From a personal emotional perspective, she naturally hoped that she could stay by Mitsuha's side forever and accompany her to the end of time.

But from a rational point of view, she cannot do that.

This was not only because she still had to cultivate and search for the blue spider lily, but more importantly, she had already noticed that Mitsuha was not the kind of person who would stay for a long time for someone.

She is naturally carefree and loves freedom. After resting and getting tired in one place, she will immediately set off for the next place.

Once they get tired of being with someone, they will immediately leave and find the next companion.

The long-term and stable companionship that the violet longs for will only be a constraint for Mitsuba, an increasingly heavy constraint.

But she was unwilling to do so, and did not want to bind Mitsuha for her own desires.

Therefore, spending a short time with Mitsuha as a human, and then parting ways at the most appropriate time, is actually the best way to get along with Mitsuha.

And this was also the original plan of the butterfly violet.

From the very beginning, she had decided that she would only be "that small fragment of memory" in Mitsuha's eternal life.

It would be enough if Mitsuha could suddenly remember her for a fleeting moment at some special time in the future...

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tightly hugged the violet in front of her. Mitsuha opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but her usually eloquent mouth was now unable to utter a single word.

Without any coercion or demands, the butterfly and her descendants have been voluntarily and silently protecting her in their own ways, without asking for anything in return.

Everything was just like the wishes those two people made for each other at that fireworks festival decades ago...

"Okay, I respect your choice."

Wiping away her tears, her pupils instantly transformed into the shape of a datura flower. Three leaves condensed into a jet-black datura flower in her palm.

"But, little butterfly, I must give you this flower."

After a few adjustments, Mitsuha handed the datura flower to the pansy in front of her and said earnestly:

"This flower is my domain. I used it to modify your karma. From now on, you must always keep it with you."

It will protect you and ensure you live to a ripe old age, shielding you from any dangers or unexpected perils, and making your future life a smooth and easy journey...

As long as you are within my domain, even a god cannot alter your karma, understand?

This might be the only way she can repay these butterflies.

Mitsuha was unwilling to forcibly change other people's lives.

Having once had her life restricted by her own parents, she couldn't bring herself to force these butterflies to let go of their obsessions and forcibly forget her.

She wouldn't forcefully stop them from doing what they genuinely wanted to do, even if she disagreed with it.

However, Mitsuha couldn't just stand by and watch them, one after another, fly towards her like moths to a flame.

Therefore, all she could do was to do everything in her power to protect their safety...

Yes, this was the only thing she could do, and the only thing she had to do.

Understanding that this was Mitsuba's intention, Violet did not refuse. Instead, she carefully accepted the datura flower and placed it close to her body inside her clothes.

Flowers created using Blood Demon Art are naturally not as fragile as ordinary flowers. As long as they are not exposed to direct sunlight, they will not be affected no matter how much pressure they are subjected to.

It can even exist like this for hundreds or thousands of years without withering.

"Alright, let's stop talking about these sad topics. Aren't we going to Mr. Keizou's daughter's wedding today?"

Let's hurry, it's already noon. Hopefully we're not too late..."

After carefully hiding the special datura flower close to her body in front of Mitsuba, Violet smiled and changed the subject.

Yes, Komaji and Koyuki's wedding is today.

This was told to the two of them by Keizo himself at the fireworks display the night before.

However, what neither Mitsuba nor Violet could have imagined was that this small wedding, which had been arranged among relatives and friends, would ultimately fail to achieve its expected perfect ending...

"Dr. Butterfly? Master Mitsuba? You're finally back!"

Mitsuha and Violet had just stepped out of the clinic when Uncle Kudo rushed over in a panic. He blocked their way and called out in a trembling voice:

"Master Qingzang and his daughter were both poisoned to death!"

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Mitsuha's pupils constricted, and she froze on the spot.

Chapter 101 Just this once, let me make a choice for you.

The incident occurred during the period when Mitsuha was recovering from a coma in the Infinite Castle.

The poisoners were the people from the sword dojo next to Keizo's house.

For the past few years, these people have been trying every means to force Keizo to hand over the luxurious Suryu Dojo.

Originally, these people would only engage in some shady tricks behind the scenes, which were disgusting but did not violate the law.

For Qingzang, it was nothing serious; he just had to endure it.

But yesterday morning, I don't know what these people were thinking.

Under the cover of dawn, they secretly infiltrated the Soryu Dojo and poisoned the well, attempting to kill Keizo, his daughter, and Komaji!

Unaware of this, Qingzang and his daughter drank the well water after getting up in the morning and soon died from the poison.

Komaji, who set off early yesterday morning to go back to his hometown to tell his father the good news of his upcoming marriage, was so rushed that he didn't drink well water and thus escaped disaster.

Initially, the neighbors were unaware of who had poisoned Qingzang and his daughter after their sudden deaths.

It was only after the centenarian found the Tengu beggar who happened to be begging nearby that morning and witnessed the scene of the sword dojo climbing over into the Suryu dojo that the truth of the matter was finally learned from him.

Enraged, the centenarian immediately went to the magistrate's office, informed the officials of the matter, and demanded that they immediately arrest and sentence the person who poisoned the poison.

However, the officials of the magistrate's office, who had already been heavily bribed by the sword dojo, outwardly agreed to the centenarian's request.

But after sending him away, instead of arresting him at the sword dojo, they arrested the only eyewitness, the Tengu beggar, on the grounds of spreading rumors, beat him severely, and drove him out of the town.

Upon learning of this, the centenarian was so enraged that he fell ill immediately...

As evening approached, Komaji, who had finally returned hastily from his hometown, completely lost his mind after learning the truth. He buried the bodies of Keizo and his daughter alone and then went to the sword dojo next door.

Then, the most terrifying thing happened.

That evening, all sixty-seven disciples of the sword dojo, along with two constables from the magistrate's office who came to offer their congratulations, gathered together to celebrate.

All sixty-nine people were killed by Komaji, who came alone to seek revenge, inside the sword dojo.

That night, the entire sword dojo was covered in blood and piled with human corpses; only one maid survived.

After that, Komaji disappeared.

Late that night, it is said that someone saw him covered in blood, leaving the town alone, looking lost and distraught.

But no one knows where he ended up...

"Now everyone in town is saying that you're definitely dead, either by suicide or by wild animals, there are all sorts of rumors..."

"Luckily, I didn't believe you. I followed the thick, inescapable scent of blood emanating from you, and finally found you here."

On a mountain outside the town, Komaji, covered in congealed blood and looking utterly lost, knelt motionless before a grave mound with vacant eyes.

Without a doubt, the grave contains the remains of Qingzang and his daughter.

Behind Komaji was Mitsuha, who had come looking for him with an umbrella.

"I'm sorry, Komaji, it's all my fault."

Looking down at the mound in front of her, which didn't even have a tombstone, Mitsuha's eyes were filled with self-reproach.

"I call myself a friend, but I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I'm so sorry..."

Stepping forward, Mitsuha knelt before the grave alongside Komaji, her expression somber, and said in a deep voice:

“I remember Keizo once told me that Komaji, both your name and personality are very much like those komainu (guardian dogs) placed in front of shrines to ward off evil spirits.”

If you don't try to protect something, you won't survive.

Looking back now, his analogy was quite apt.

Unfortunately, fate has never been fair to you. First it was your father, and then it was Keizo and his daughter...

They always do this, taking away what's important to you time and time again.

I understand the pain you're going through right now, and I know you must really want to end it all.

However, I promised that old man before I came that I would take good care of you.

If we let you die like this, then the life of the boy named Komaji will truly be nothing but tragedy.

So, little one, just this once, please allow me to make a choice for you—I will let you live.

Mitsuha slowly turned her head, looking at Komaji, who remained kneeling to the side, staring blankly at the grave mound, and said, word by word:

"Komaji, I will turn you into a demon, and not only that, I will seal away all your memories up to this point."

But don't be afraid, this is only temporary.

From this day forward, everything will start anew for you. I will do my best to guide you and lead you to a completely new life.

Then, someday in the future, when you have rebuilt yourself, rediscovered the meaning of life, and truly taken that new step, when you are able to bear this tragic past, I will definitely return all these memories to you, I promise…”

When Mitsuha hurriedly returned to the Hundred-Year-Old Dojo, it was already evening.

On the bed in the room, the centenarian, who had been so enraged by the actions of the magistrate's office yesterday that he vomited blood, was now on his last breath.

"Mitsuba, have you found Komaji?"

Upon seeing Mitsuha return, he hurriedly stretched out his withered hand, trembling as he tried to grasp Mitsuha's hand.

His voice was incredibly weak. Even without seeing through the world, Mitsuha knew that this old man with a long lifespan was about to reach the end of his life.

"Don't worry, old man, I've found him."

Taking a deep breath, Mitsuha smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking the centenarian's hand in hers.

Behind her, Butterfly Violet quietly slipped out, leaving these last moments for the two people in the room.

"It's good that it's been found, it's good that it's been found..."

Upon receiving Mitsuha's reply, the centenarian finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on his wrinkled face.

“Little Mitsuha, I want to ask you for help with that child… I hope you can take good care of him… His life shouldn’t be like this… He and Keizo, father and daughter, shouldn’t be like this…”

"Old man, you really are... You're about to die, why are you still thinking about others?"

Still speaking in that unforgiving tone, looking at the old man in front of her who was clearly on his deathbed but was still entrusting others to her, Mitsuha finally showed a helpless smile.

"Old man, what do you think I left Komaji there all alone and rushed back for?"

Don't you have any wishes of your own to entrust to me?

"Isn't there anything you'd like me to do for you? Like inheriting this dojo, or taking care of those children?"

Chapter 102 Living is for Happiness

"My wish...?"

Seemingly stirred by Mitsuha's words, a trace of memory gradually surfaced in the centenarian's cloudy eyes.

"If you have any, just say so. After I get rid of this old man, I'll have to rush back to keep an eye on that brat Komaji..."

"Little Clover, have you forgotten? Didn't you already grant my wish?"

"What did you say?"