"Can I feed this child something?" Kanroji Mitsuri held a piece of pastry, eagerly extending her hand to Nezuko, who sat beside her.
Nezuko looked at Mizuki with a blank expression.
Mizuki's mouth twitched: "You can, but..."
"Ah, so cute~ She's eating~" A blush rose on Kanroji Mitsuri's cheeks, and she dotingly poked Nezuko's puffed-up cheek.
Mizuki: What exactly do you think she is?!
Kochou Shinobu gracefully wiped her mouth and asked elegantly, "By the way, Mitsuri, why did you come to Swordsmith Village?"
Kanroji Mitsuri, still poking Nezuko with a doting expression, replied, "Ah, I came to get my Nichirin Blade maintained."
Mizuki: "Just like Shinobu."
But then again, coming to Swordsmith Village could only be for a Nichirin Blade; it couldn't possibly be just for fun, could it?
"Eh? Little Shinobu too?" Kanroji Mitsuri turned back in surprise.
Kochou Shinobu instinctively touched the Nichirin Blade at her waist, her gaze a little evasive: "...I guess so."
Kanroji Mitsuri patted her perfectly flat stomach and stretched contentedly: "Ah~ I'm full, I'm full~"
"My stomach feels so good~"
How terrifying.
She ate so much, yet her stomach showed no change at all.
Mizuki withdrew her scrutinizing gaze.
At this moment, Zenitsu's indignant voice came from outside.
"Seriously, who does that guy think he is? He didn't even give us the time of day."
"Tanjirou! Sometimes you need to show your authority as a Hashira!"
"Zenitsu... stop talking..." Tanjirou's embarrassed voice followed.
Inosuke: "Ah! How annoying!"
Mizuki:...What happened now?
These people really argue wherever they go, they can't stay quiet for a moment... Boom!!
With a bang, the kitchen door was violently pulled open by Inosuke, startling the nearby Swordsmith Village residents, who nearly dropped their plates.
Kochou Shinobu saw this and smiled, saying, "You shouldn't make a loud ruckus in the dining hall."
"Oh..." Inosuke scratched his head.
But soon, his attention was drawn to the food in front of him, and he instantly forgot Kochou Shinobu's warning.
"Woohoo~ Dinner time, dinner time!!!"
Inosuke jumped around the room.
Kochou Shinobu's gentle smile froze, and a vein throbbed on her temple.
"Alright, Inosuke, quiet down." Although Inosuke didn't notice the change in Kochou Shinobu's expression, Tanjirou keenly sensed it and quickly pulled Inosuke back.
When the three of them sat down with their food, Mizuki curiously asked, "Who were you talking about just now?"
As expected, the person who made Zenitsu and Inosuke furious was the same guy Kanroji Mitsuri had encountered.
Tanjirou scratched his head: "That... that's Shinazugawa Genya, who joined at the same time as us."
"Don't even mention that guy! He makes me so angry!" Zenitsu channeled his anger into his meal, eating furiously.
Shinazugawa... "Is he the Wind Hashira's?" Mizuki turned to ask Kochou Shinobu.
Kochou Shinobu nodded lightly: "Shinazugawa-san's younger brother, right? Mizuki-san should have seen him before, too?"
"Hmph, he's that big guy who was treated at Butterfly Mansion, with the same scar on his face as Shinazugawa-san."
With Kochou Shinobu's explanation, Mizuki did recall him somewhat.
He looked very similar to Shinazugawa, and his aura was a bit strange, but she hadn't paid much attention at the time.
As for Tanjirou mentioning they joined at the same time, she had no recollection of that at all. Was this person even in the plot?
His sudden appearance here gave her an ominous feeling.
Mizuki frowned slightly.
"Eh? But Shinazugawa-san said he doesn't have a younger brother. Are they not on good terms?" Kanroji Mitsuri looked at Kochou Shinobu in surprise, "Where did Little Shinobu hear that?"
Kochou Shinobu smiled: "Ah, my older sister told me."
Kanroji Mitsuri put her index finger to her lips: "Kanae-nee... Speaking of which, Shinazugawa-san always secretly watched her..."
"Could it be that he likes Kanae-nee?" A suspicious blush rose on Kanroji Mitsuri's face.
Kochou Shinobu's eye twitched, unable to refute.
That Shinazugawa fellow certainly seemed to have feelings for her older sister.
However, although Shinazugawa appeared to have a disagreeable personality, he was actually cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Since her sister didn't reject him, she, as a younger sister, couldn't say much.
Mizuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ho~ So that's how it is~ Interesting information obtained~
The wicked Shinazugawa Brothers, she would get them sooner or later... Ah, speaking of which, there's also that gloomy snake boy... Mizuki held grudges; she remembered everything.
Tanjirou ate his meal, looking outside: "Genya hasn't come yet. It would be good if I could say a few words to him in person."
Kanroji Mitsuri, while giggling and hugging the miniaturized Nezuko, said, "That child doesn't seem to be coming. The villagers say he doesn't eat at all. Did he bring his own food?"
Kochou Shinobu watched her intimate interaction with the smaller Nezuko, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over Mizuki a few times.
Mizuki didn't mind Kochou Shinobu's strange gaze, tapping the table with her finger in confusion.
Doesn't eat?
And that strange aura... Could it be... Tanjirou said with some concern, "Is he alright? Should I bring him some rice balls?"
Zenitsu ate his meal indignantly: "Tanjirou, you're too kind. Why bother with someone like that?"
Mizuki suddenly wondered what Shinazugawa Genya had done to anger him so much. Could he also have three wives?
Tanjirou casually asked, "By the way, Miss Kanroji, why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
What else could it be? She must have been harmed by a demon.
Mizuki ate her food carelessly.
Kanroji Mitsuri suddenly blushed: "Hmm? Me? This is a bit embarrassing to talk about~"
Huh?
What's with that expression, young lady?
"Eh, what should I do, what should I do? Do you want to hear it?"
Your expression doesn't look troubled at all.
Mizuki's mouth twitched imperceptibly.
Kanroji Mitsuri cupped her face, saying shyly, "Actually, I joined to find a husband I can grow old with!!"
Everyone:...To be honest, that's a bit too shocking.
So much so that everyone present, except for Kochou Shinobu who already knew, was dumbfounded.
"Isn't it better for a girl to find someone stronger than herself?"
"I want to be protected, you know? Boys probably don't understand this feeling." Kanroji Mitsuri mumbled, "But Miss Mizuki and Little Shinobu must understand, right?"
Mizuki's brain was crashing.
No... she doesn't understand!
Joining the Demon Slayer Corps for something like this?
No, this child won't do.
Without the resolve to match her strength, she wouldn't be able to defeat strong enemies.
"Um, how about me?" At this moment, Zenitsu shyly and blushingly looked at Kanroji Mitsuri.
Tanjirou nearly spat blood; he had completely forgotten.
There was also a guy here looking for a wife!!!
Tanjirou still remembered when he first met Zenitsu, he was pestering a young girl, wanting to marry her.
---------------------------------
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!