Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

Chapter 105 The Long Silence (1/4)

"Mrs. Kuizhi, may I now invite you into the house?"

Su Mu stood in the sunlight, his voice gentle and his gaze kind.

Despite the man's seemingly gentle demeanor, Kamado Aoi's delicate body trembled involuntarily. She had a thousand reasons to refuse him, and she dared not let a ghost into her home.

But facing a ghost, a cruel ghost, how could she have the courage to refuse? She could only turn to the side, place her small hands on her lower abdomen, and bow respectfully: "M--sir, please."

Although the woman was very afraid, her manners were very proper and appropriate.

Su Mu smiled and nodded. He wasn't used to the habit of bending over in this place, so he naturally didn't bend over to it. He simply walked past the stove and into the kitchen.

It looked like a small thatched hut, which required him to bend down quite laboriously due to his height.

I lifted the heavy curtain woven from straw and went inside.

The door opened to reveal a large hall. Near the window was a hearth surrounded by stones, with a small pot on top. The ground was all mud, but it was firmly packed and very dry.

In the very center of the living room was a straw mat with several low tables on it.

Su Mu sat down naturally in the main seat, and Zaomen Kuizhi followed in, but she lowered her head and knelt on the mud floor near the door.

Su Mu glanced at it. Having been in this world for so long, he naturally knew the customs. It seemed there was something called "doza" and "doma". The general idea was that noble people sat on "doza", while people of lower status had to kneel on the ground in the mud, which was "doma".

In this place, the concept of hierarchy is very strong. For example, even if the Demon Slayer Corps leader, Ubuyashiki, is completely powerless, a powerful Pillar will kneel down in his presence.

Of course, he sits here not because of his noble status, but because he is a fearsome ghost.

He didn't seem to care much about that, looking at Kamado Aoi, who still barely dared to look up: "Lady Aoi seems quite afraid of me?"

"No—I wouldn't dare."

Kamado Aoi's face was pale, and her voice was stammering. No one could have much courage in the face of a cruel demon, let alone a weak woman.

If it weren't for the child behind her, she would probably have collapsed to the ground by now.

"Then sit here, you're sitting too far away from me."

Su Mu pointed to the mat not far from him.

Kamado Aoi didn't dare to refuse. She almost trembled as she got up and then took small steps over.

Su Mu glanced around and noticed that the women in this area seemed to always place their hands on their lower abdomen and lower their heads when walking at home, giving off a rather indescribable feeling.

Previously, as a ghost who could not bask in the sunlight, Su Mu rarely entered other people's homes and had little experience of the local customs and culture. Now, however, he was seeing something quite unusual.

Kamado Aoi knelt beside her, her small hands on her abdomen, her head bowed, looking delicate and frail.

Su Mu didn't pay any attention and looked around the room. It was indeed a very dilapidated dwelling, but it was very clean and tidy, showing the diligence of the lady of the house.

Generally speaking, a house with so many children would be very messy, but that's not the case at all. Clearly, Kamado Aoi is a very good homemaker.

No wonder they were able to raise such good sons and daughters as Nezuko and Tanjiro.

Sometimes, good family education from a young age can have a very good, subtle influence.

Kanao had somehow arrived beside her uncle, looking around with the same curiosity. However, while her uncle paid more attention to the room, Kanao was more focused on the relationship between Kamado Aoi and her child.

Compared to her own parents, Kamado Aoi, who was her mother, seemed quite different. So, the girl tilted her head and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Once the kitchen mound was kneeling and seated properly, Su Mu continued, "I brought some gifts with me on my way here."

At this moment, Mi Douzi also poked his head out from outside, hurriedly carrying a large pile of things over.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation, I hope you won't refuse."

He smiled as he watched as Ni Douzi put down a huge pile of things.

Looking at the pile of gifts, many of which were quite valuable, Kamado Hime could not feel happy at all. If she accepted them, her family's life would surely improve.

After all, the evil spirit brought so many things; its intentions were quite obvious.

However, she didn't dare to show that she was unhappy, so she could only force a smile.

"Oh, right, there are still many beans inside for the children. You can take some out and share them with your younger siblings."

Su Mu said something to Ni Douzi, who was also kneeling to the side.

Ni Douzi lowered his head, but dared not touch those things.

Upon seeing this, Su Mu walked over and picked through the pile of items, while having Mi Douzi carry them: "Alright, that's all for now. Next time we come, we'll buy some more."

"Next time—I'll pay—"

Ni Douzi's heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?"

Su Mu frowned, looking at Mi Douzi: "You don't welcome me?"

"No—no, no—"

Ni Douzi hurriedly shook his head.

Kamado Aoi, who was standing nearby, also thought that her daughter had angered the demon, so she hurriedly stepped forward and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Su Mu rubbed his forehead, looking at the two trembling figures, and said helplessly, "Madam, you really don't need to be so afraid of me."

"No—I wouldn't dare."

The sunflower branches by the stove bowed their heads.

"Perfect timing, I also bought a dress for Madam."

Su Mu picked out a skirt from the items and handed it to Zaomen Kuizhi.

Kamado Aoi looked at the clothes, lowered her head, and took them with some fear. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the clothes; the style was very nice, and as someone who often knitted clothes, she knew very well that the price was very expensive.

Even when her husband was alive, he had never bought her such expensive clothes, and he had almost never given her any gifts. It was a demon who was giving her something, which made Kamado Aoi feel strange.

"Alright, Mizuko, give the things to the younger brothers and sisters outside."

Su Mu spoke with a smile.

Mi Douzi glanced at the ghost worriedly, but seeing that the ghost's expression was gentle and that it had no intention of harming her family, she lowered her head and walked out with her things in her arms.

The girl isn't actually very tall, but she already has a great figure.

Su Mu sat back down and silently watched the girl's graceful figure as she left.

She is undoubtedly more beautiful and more adorable in real life than she appears on screen.

Kamado Aoi had been secretly observing the demon's situation, and saw that the demon was staring at her daughter's back, her gentle face full of sorrow.

I could even picture my daughter with disheveled clothes, tears in her eyes, and bruises all over her body, as if she had been tormented by a ghost.

But thinking about it, the sorrow in her heart welled up, and she could no longer bear the torment of her emotions. She immediately bowed her head to the ghost and cried out, "My lord, what can I do to let Douzi go? Please, my lord, let my daughter go!"

Su Mu was watching Mi Douzi's back with great interest, and was about to take a sip of tea when he saw Zaomen Kuizhi kneeling and begging.

He was also in a bad mood, and his tone became colder: "Get up, I didn't ask you to kneel."

Kamado Aoi felt the coldness in the demon's words, her body trembled, and she dared not disobey the demon's will. She stood up shakily, her eyes filled with sorrow, and when she looked at the demon, she also showed a pitiful expression.

Seeing the way the kitchen radiance was, Su Mu was speechless and too lazy to bother with her anymore. He sat down on the mat and closed his eyes.

Kanao glanced at Kamado Aoi, then obediently stayed by her uncle's side, her beautiful eyes continuing to scrutinize Kamado Aoi.

Kamado Aoi, who had just gotten up, felt as if she were facing a resting beast, and that after a brief moment of calm, she would be met with a storm of fury.

The room suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of breathing barely audible.

And this long silence seems to be going on for a very, very long time.