After all, since they were taking away three Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, Mizuki still had Kochou Shinobu inform Ubuyashiki, and she received their permission.
Early the next morning, the three people and two demons set off toward Tanjirou's old home... It was summertime, the climate was incredibly hot, and today the sun hung even higher overhead. The air seemed to have been boiled, shimmering and distorted.
"It's so hot~" Zenitsu walked behind everyone else, hunched over and sticking out his tongue, looking utterly exhausted.
Tanjirou wiped away some sweat and comforted him, "We'll be there soon. Just hold on a little longer, Zenitsu."
Mizuki watched this scene expressionlessly. If anyone should be hot, it ought to be Tanjirou, who was carrying Nezuko on his back, or that simpleton wearing a Pig Head mask in this scorching weather.
Why is he still wearing that mask in such hot weather?
Mizuki hesitated to speak, really wanting to complain.
Yet, that idiot Inosuke, despite being miserably hot and completely wilted, still refused to take off his mask.
They really are a bunch of idiots.
Mizuki sighed, "Let's hurry up."
Just as Tanjirou said, they were close.
When they arrived in the town, despite the scorching heat, the streets were still bustling with people; busyness was the most common sight of life.
"Eh? Isn't that Tanjirou?"
This kind charcoal-selling boy was already famous in the town, so as soon as Tanjirou entered, someone called out his name.
Tanjirou recognized the person in front of him and greeted her with a smile, "Ah, Aunt Tomoe, long time no see."
"What do you mean, long time no see! You've been away from home for over two years now!" As Aunt Tomoe spoke, she noticed Mizuki standing next to Tanjirou and paused slightly.
"Eh, who are you?"
Mizuki smiled and nodded at her, then, looking at the townspeople gradually gathering by the roadside, she said, "Tanjirou, I'll take these two and go on ahead."
She wasn't very good at handling these kinds of situations; smiling and greeting them was already her limit.
Zenitsu and Inosuke also looked completely worn out, had no desire to linger here, and followed Mizuki without a word.
Tanjirou was left alone, stopped by the village head's information center, seemingly for a thorough interrogation.
Tanjirou wasn't an idiot either; he quickly placated everyone and caught up with the group.
"Ha, everyone was just too enthusiastic."
Zenitsu stared blankly ahead, unwilling to speak.
Inosuke walked like a zombie, staring vacantly at the sky, not even watching the road.
Tanjirou broke out in a sweat.
Mizuki laughed, "Doesn't that just show how popular you are?"
Tanjirou scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.
Zenitsu groaned with cracked lips, "How much longer until we get there?"
Mizuki pointed to the tall mountain on the edge of the town: "Climb that mountain, and it's about ten to twenty minutes from there."
Zenitsu stared blankly in the direction Mizuki was pointing, then collapsed onto the ground with a thump.
"Zenitsu!!!" Tanjirou rushed forward, looking panicked, to help him up.
Zenitsu grabbed Tanjirou's arm, his eyes lifeless: "Just let me die here..."
Mizuki: "..."
Creak~
Perhaps the group's noise had disturbed someone, as the front door opened, and a head peeked out from the entrance.
Hearing the sound, everyone subconsciously looked up.
The worry on Tanjirou's face turned into joy: "Hanako!"
The one who opened the door was Tanjirou's younger sister, Hanako Kamado.
After two years, Hanako had grown quite a bit taller.
The moment she saw Tanjirou, the curiosity on Hanako's face immediately turned into excitement: "Brother!"
Then, she turned and ran, as if she had made some kind of decision.
Tanjirou: "..."
"Mom! Brother! Brother is back!" Cheerful, excited shouts came from inside the house.
Zenitsu stared at the mansion gate in shock: "Tanjirou, is your house that big?"
"Shige~"
Inosuke yelped, bounced into the courtyard, looking left and right like a bandit.
Tanjirou said somewhat awkwardly, "No, this is Miss Mizuki's house. We are just staying here temporarily."
Mizuki didn't say much. To her, this was merely a place to rest, not a home.
She handed the house over to the Kamado Family to live in, partly to ensure their safety, and partly with the intention of giving the house to Kie Kamado.
But she knew that if she said that out loud, she would definitely be refused.
"Behave yourself!" Mizuki entered the courtyard and landed a big red bump on the head of Inosuke, who was looking around. "You scared the child."
Her gaze shifted to the veranda, where a child about three or four years old was hiding behind the house, secretly watching them.
Tanjirou looked at him, confused: "Rokuta?"
The sixth child of the Kamado Family, Rokuta Kamado.
When Tanjirou left home, he was just an infant carried on Nezuko's back. Over two years later, Rokuta Kamado's features had matured, to the point where Tanjirou almost didn't recognize him.
Memories from early childhood are always vague. Rokuta Kamado looked nervously at the group of suspicious people who had barged into his house.
But he vaguely felt that the people in front of him were familiar, looking very much like Brother Takeo and Brother Shigeru.
Just as the two sides were at a standstill, Hanako finally pulled Kie Kamado out.
Kie Kamado's appearance hadn't changed from two years ago. Although she was the mother of six children, she was only in her thirties, a radiant age.
Zenitsu, with cracked lips and dull eyes, said, "Um, could I please have some..."
"Tanjirou..."
"Mom..."
Seeing the mother and son embracing, Zenitsu swallowed the words he was about to say.
He felt like interrupting them at this moment would incur divine wrath.
Kie Kamado didn't forget the others. After an emotional hug with Tanjirou, she looked at Mizuki with gratitude.
"Miss Mizuki, long time no see."
Mizuki smiled and nodded: "Long time no see, Sister Kie."
Seeing that the conversation had finally returned to normal, Zenitsu quickly said, "Could I please have a drink of water?"
Kie Kamado paused for a moment, then quickly said, "Please, come in."
"Hanako, please bring some water."
"Yes!"
Tanjirou was completely unfamiliar with Mizuki's house and could only follow behind his mother.
"Ah~ I'm alive again~" After drinking the water Hanako brought, Zenitsu unceremoniously collapsed onto the tatami mat.
The moment he lay down, Mizuki, standing beside him, expressionlessly grabbed his collar and pulled him up.
Zenitsu: "..."
"Hello, Sister." He respectfully greeted Kie Kamado.
He had originally intended to call her 'Auntie,' but she was too young... She truly lives up to being Nezuko-chan's mother; she's so beautiful~
"Hello, Sister." The Pig-headed Boy mimicked him.
"Hello," Kie responded gently, though her gaze lingered on Inosuke's mask for two seconds.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!