Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

As the saying goes, it takes a hundred years of cultivation to share a boat ride and a thousand years to share a pillow; true lovers will eventually be united!

I, Komaji, will always sincerely wish you well, no matter when or where!

"Just for me! Kotoha-san, you absolutely...you really have to do your best!!"

"Mr. Komaji, please wait a moment. What do you mean by 'for you'? Also, Mr. Doma and I are not..."

"Huh? Mr. Komaji, why are you crying? Quick, quickly get a handkerchief to wipe it off!"

"Don't worry! These are... tears of joy!"

From that day on, Mitsuha successfully brought in the best teacher from this tiny island nation for Kotoha's little friend.

Akaza was exceptionally dedicated to educating Inosuke.

Not only does he always make a point of stating that he was sent by Doma each time he comes, but he also frequently speaks well of Doma to Kotoha.

That's right, Akaza is saying good things about Doma.

He went to such lengths to ensure that Doma would never have time to bother him again, which moved Mitsuha to tears...

Time began to pass again.

It must be admitted that Dr. Akaza is indeed quite skilled in education.

Unlike Mitsuha's past "violent education" of beating him at the slightest disagreement, Akaza is exceptionally patient when educating children.

Not only does he strictly limit any form of corporal punishment and prohibit excessive pampering, but he also avoids losing his temper, always communicates patiently when problems arise, and consistently leads by example, always keeping his word...

I have a feeling that this child is trying to make up for the tragedy of his original family over the past three hundred years.

Hmm, it must be my imagination...

Under Akaza's discipline, Inosuke, who used to cause trouble every day, became well-behaved in just a few months.

Not only does he greet people politely, but he can also occasionally utter a few words of classical Chinese, making him look very cultured, just like Akaza II.

I reckon he'll grow up to be a PhD candidate, and Akaza will probably be happy about that...

With Inosuke no longer a "burden," Kotoha and Doma naturally had more time to spend alone together.

With so much free time, it's only natural to find something else to do...

At first, we would stroll around the streets after dinner, and then occasionally we would meet up to go to the cinema or a dance hall to relax.

Then comes the monthly sightseeing tours to tourist destinations, culminating in a seven-day island-hopping cruise vacation…

The two of them were spending more and more time alone together, and going out together more and more often...

These days, it's become the norm for me to be away from home for several days in a row.

At first, the two of them would always ask Mitsuha, the middleman, to go with them, taking her with them wherever they went.

Of course, this is not a good experience.

On the contrary, Mitsuha always felt superfluous during these times.

Chapter 150 Aunt Mitsuba, you're not human, are you? (Bonus Chapter)

For example, when watching movies, Mitsuha would always sit alone on the side, listening to the two people next to her whispering to each other.

And when they went to the nightclub, the two of them would subconsciously leave her aside, dancing on their own.

When they go on trips, the two of them are always walking together, and sometimes they don't even realize when they accidentally get separated from each other...

It's so strange. It's a trip for three people, so why does she always feel so lonely?

Ultimately, why did she choose to go out with these two in-laws?

Fortunately, this situation did not last long.

At some point, without anyone knowing, Doma and Kotoha stopped asking Mitsuha to go out and play together.

Instead, they officially enter "solo mode," frequently going out together for days on end, disappearing without a trace...

Kotoha, under Doma's influence, even gradually began to get involved in the film production industry, and it's said that she's currently working as Doma's assistant on set...

On a typical weekend day, Akaza returned to the University of Tokyo early today because of an unexpected meeting at the university.

Mitsuha was left alone in the large villa in Doma, supervising ten-year-old Inosuke as he did his homework.

As for Kotoha and Doma?

Is there any need to ask?

The couple went on another trip together a few days ago, apparently to experience some kind of snow resort in Hokkaido...

Seriously, what kind of parent would leave their child with someone else and go out to play?

That's simply outrageous.

Mitsuha clearly remembered that when she first met Kotoha a few years ago, she was such a family-oriented, reserved, and adorable little girl who cared so much about her child.

It's only been a few years, and I don't know who influenced it, but it's turned out like this...

In the somewhat deserted living room, Mitsuha lay sprawled on the sofa in a rather unruly manner, engrossed in reading a newly translated copy of Guy de Maupassant's "Boule de Suif".

Beside her, ten-year-old Inosuke, who had already inherited his mother's beauty, was engrossed in doing his homework at the coffee table.

"Aunt Mitsuha."

In the stillness, Inosuke suddenly called out to Mitsuha.

Mitsuha turned a page of the novel in her hand and responded casually.

"You're not human, are you?"

With her eyes wide open, Mitsuha turned her head and looked incredulously at Inosuke, who was writing furiously with his back to her.

Why would Inosuke suddenly think like that?

Mitsuha asked curiously.

His brain raced, quickly reviewing all his behavior in front of the mother and child over the past few years.

After confirming that she hadn't done anything that would lead people to think that way, Mitsuha felt a sense of doubt.

Why would this child suddenly ask such a question?

Could it be that Doma suddenly self-destructed at some point when she wasn't aware of it?

Or is this just a sudden whim of a young child?

"Because I have no memory of eating with you, Aunt Mitsuha."

Putting down his pencil, Inosuke turned to look at Mitsuha and said seriously:

"Yesterday, the teacher at school said that everyone in the world needs to get nutrition from food, therefore, everyone needs to eat."

But strangely, when I think about it carefully, I don't think I've ever had any memory of seeing Aunt Mitsuha eat with my own eyes.

Every time it's mealtime, Aunt Mitsuha, you either have to leave, or you say you've already eaten, or you simply say you're on a diet and don't want to eat...

Of course, the strangest thing is that I have never seen Aunt Mitsuha or any of you appear in the sun from childhood to adulthood.

Every time we go out, Aunt Mitsuha, Uncle Komaji, and that guy Doma, you always seem to intentionally or unintentionally avoid the sunlight.

They either choose to go out at night or deliberately walk in the shadows of buildings; if there's really no other way, they'll go out with an umbrella.

Although Doma often says it's a way to care for the skin, I think only my mom's dim-witted brain would believe such an obviously wrong reason.

Aside from Aunt Mitsuha and the others, I have never seen such strange humans.

So I think, Aunt Mitsuha, you guys aren't human, are you?

Wow, this kid is so perceptive...

Mitsuha felt a headache coming on when Inosuke stared at her with those emerald green eyes.

"I have a very simple way to verify this answer."

Before Mitsuha could figure out how to answer, Inosuke stood up, walked straight to the sunlight in front of the French windows not far away, and said:

"There has never been a human being in this world who has been unable to access even a sliver of sunlight."

"If you're a normal human being, Aunt Mitsuha, you probably wouldn't be afraid to stand in the sun for a while, right?"

Meeting Inosuke's gaze, Mitsuha took a deep breath, then slumped her shoulders and sighed softly.

[No, there's simply no way to refute this. This kid went straight for the kill right from the start; there's absolutely no way to counterattack...]

Are kids these days really this smart?

"Um... okay, let's assume, as you say, that I'm not human."

"Inosuke, aren't you afraid I'll kill you to silence you by saying that so directly to my face?"

Mitsuha asked curiously.

Inosuke shook his head with absolute certainty at this.

"So many years have passed, if you wanted to kill Aunt Mitsuha, you would have done so long ago, there was no need to wait until today."

I think the reason you're keeping this from us, Aunt Mitsuha, is simply because you're worried we'll be scared if we find out. That's all.

[Oh! This child's thinking is really clear!]

"Very well, let's continue to assume that what you guessed, Koinosuke, is correct."

So, what's your purpose in suddenly asking these questions? Is it simply to satisfy your own curiosity?

Mitsuha asked curiously, her interest piqued.

She was eager to know the real purpose behind this clever child's sudden revelation of all this to her today.

This child has a remarkably sharp and direct mind; it's impossible that he's simply acting out of curiosity.

"No, I wouldn't do something just out of curiosity."

Inosuke's answer perfectly matched Mitsuha's guess.

"I just wanted to give Aunt Mitsuha and you a suggestion."

"Yes, I think Aunt Mitsuha and you guys are wasting your time."

With a serious expression, Inosuke sat down next to Mitsuha, looked up at her, and said earnestly:

"If I'm not mistaken, Aunt Mitsuha and you all, besides your non-human identities, should also possess some special powers that ordinary people don't have, right?"

Just like the monsters or demons in those legends and stories.

"Given such special powers, why are you all content to live such ordinary lives, Aunt Mitsuha?"

"So, Inosuke, what you mean is..."

"It's time to let the world experience the horrors of capitalism!"

The boy in front of me suddenly started acting like a teenager.

"Aunt Mitsuha! Let's use money to conquer this world!"

Ah, so this kid wasn't cut out to be a PhD at all...

The following year, a multinational arms company called Eternal Bliss was successfully registered in the United States across the ocean.

(My catgirls, the main story begins in the next chapter. This book is about to enter the Pillar Slayer mode, so please be prepared, meow~)

Chapter 151 The Taisho Era

The Taisho era was a relatively peaceful period, a rarity for this island nation.

"Huh...huh..."

In the dead of night in Tokyo, the dim yellow of streetlights mixed with the dazzling colors of neon lights barely illuminated the darkness of the city.

A man dressed in a black tuxedo was running frantically down the deserted street.

"Help...Sir...Save me..."

The man sprinted through the streets, seemingly with a clear destination in mind. He kept running in a fixed direction while constantly looking back at the seemingly empty darkness behind him.

The man had pale skin, a slender build, light blue eyes, and medium-length black hair.

There are three strange square marks on each of his cheeks, which looks quite eerie and not like a normal human being.