Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

"Could it be Lord 'Flower Pillar' who made the move?"

Looking at the traces left at the scene, Hiroshi Furukawa murmured softly.

"I think it must have been Lord 'Flower Pillar' who did it. After all, ordinary people can't kill those damned demons."

A swordsman nearby chuckled softly.

"If you want to kill a demon, you can only use the Nichirin Blade, which is specially made by our Demon Slayer Corps. No one else can possess a Nichirin Blade except for us Demon Slayer Corps members."

Another swordsman added.

Everyone thought the ghost-hunting mission was over. There was one more ghost than expected, and they thought they would have to go through a bloody battle, but it turned out to be so easy.

Although Hiroshi Furukawa also felt that it was probably the demon that the passing "Flower Pillar" had killed, he hesitated for a moment, then put his hand to his lips and whistled.

As the whistle sounded, soon after, 'crows' flapped their wings and came running.

Hiroshi Furukawa found paper and pen, wrote a letter about the situation, and put it into the small metal tube tied to the leg of the 'Katsura'.

The raven flapped its wings and flew away, carrying the letter far away.

"We'll wait here for a few more days while I inquire with my superiors and wait for news to come back."

As Hiroshi Furukawa watched the Kasugai Raven fly away, he spoke to his companion beside him.

"Boss, isn't this a bit too much trouble?"

A swordsman gave a wry smile.

"Now that the ghost is dead, the mission is over."

Swordsmen also complained.

"Boss, you're still being too cautious."

Another swordsman was left helpless.

Hiroshi Furukawa stroked the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, looking at his companion beside him: "When dealing with demons, you can never be too cautious."

As he spoke, he looked at the bustling crowd in the distance: "If we let the evil spirit escape because of our carelessness, who knows how many people will be eaten by this evil spirit, and how many people's happiness will be destroyed. This is absolutely unacceptable."

The other swordsmen were also startled upon hearing this.

Hiroshi Furukawa realized he'd gone a bit too far. In truth, he also suspected the demon had been slain by the passing Flower Pillar. However, he inexplicably recalled the Nichirin Blade a few days prior, lost when a teammate was killed by a demon. The blade hadn't been recovered; the Hermit had said they'd searched many areas without success. If the demon had taken it…

Just thinking about that possibility made Hiroshi Furukawa shake his head, feeling that he was overthinking things. How could a demon use a Nichirin Blade? You see, the Nichirin Blade contains the "sunlight" that can kill demons, which is what all demons fear and hate. Over the years, countless swordsmen have been killed by demons, but not a single demon has ever picked up a Nichirin Blade.

…………

Small hotel, second floor

Su Mu stood by the window, slightly opening it a crack, and peered through the crack at the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, including Hiroshi Furukawa, in the distance.

These people explored the place where he slew the demon for quite a while, and seemed to be arguing quite a bit. They even used the "Katsura" (a type of kasugai) that the Demon Slayer Corps used for communication, which made him feel a little uneasy, thinking that they had discovered his whereabouts.

However, after releasing the 'crows', these people returned without any intention of searching the vicinity, which relieved him slightly.

He didn't want to face off against these Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen right now.

Fortunately, they seem to have escaped a calamity; these people must have been misled by the Nichirin Blade he used to slay the demons.

With the window closed slightly, the room was pitch black, but what came into view were his bright, pinkish-purple eyes looking at him in the darkness.

Kanao stood quietly to the side, watching him silently.

"Did I scare you today?"

Su Mu reached out and ruffled Kanae's little head.

Kanao tilted her head, blinked, and looked puzzled.

"It's good that you weren't scared."

Looking at Kanao's expression, Su Mu couldn't help but smile. Clearly, Kanao, who was rather reserved emotionally, was not easily pleased by interesting things in the outside world, nor was she frightened by the horrific scene of the demon's tragic death.

He picked up Kanao, carried her downstairs, and returned to the room.

The room was pitch black. Su Mu lit the oil lamp in the room, and the darkness was dispelled by the light, becoming bright.

Su Mu put down Kanao, whom he was holding.

Even though she was put down, Kanao didn't leave; instead, she stayed obediently by his side.

"Go and get some rest."

He patted Kanao's head and pointed to the bed next to him.

Kanao was very obedient and walked to the bed, lying down on the soft mattress, but her body was half-turned, and her pair of pink and purple eyes were quietly looking at him.

"Go to sleep."

He said it again.

"Um."

Kanao obediently closed her eyes.

Su Mu turned around, sat down at the table, and silently looked at the lit oil lamp on the table. The flickering light reflected in his scarlet eyes.

"uncle……"

A faint sound came from inside.

"Um."

Su Mu turned around and saw the girl lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her hands interlaced and resting quietly on her lower abdomen.

"Uncle, why did that person just say I was your food?"

The girl kept her eyes closed, but seemed to be filled with some curiosity.

Su Mu didn't know how to answer.

This is destined to be a difficult question to answer.

"I can tell that Uncle is very hungry."

Kanao whispered, "I would be very happy if Uncle could eat me."

Su Mu didn't look at Kanao anymore, but stared at the lit oil lamp on the table, and said calmly, "My food will not be yours."

His tone was calm and firm. If one day he could no longer control his desire to devour 'flesh and blood,' then there would be no need for him to continue living.

At this moment, he inexplicably thought of the evil spirit he had just slain.

A creature that needs to eat constantly, a creature that gradually forgets its former self, until it dies and suddenly realizes what it did as a ghost.

He could sense the pain and sorrow the ghost felt as it recalled its past in its dying moments.

If you can't maintain your true self

Alive

It would be better to die.

"I really hope my uncle won't go hungry."

Kanao said softly, with a hint of sadness in her voice, "It's very uncomfortable to be hungry, and I don't want Uncle to go hungry."

Su Mu turned around and looked at the girl lying on the bed with her eyes closed. His scarlet gaze softened slightly.

"It won't be long before I can endure this hunger anymore."

He smiled gently, saying that once he found Tanjiro Kamado's place and the legendary blue spider lily, he could make up for the flaws of becoming a demon.

"That's... wonderful."

The girl was very happy, her voice filled with anticipation: "I really hope it comes soon."