Kato POV Two months later…
I sigh, as the Knight and I walked through an endless forest.
'To think I was so determined just two months ago when I got the sword. For some reason, my companion was very insistent on leaving the trail and cutting through the forest, almost as if he wanted to eliminate any chance of someone following us.'
'If he wanted to cover our tracks, he succeeded, because even I lost track of where we were. As the saying goes, to confuse the enemy, you have to confuse yourself first, or something like that…'
These past few months have revealed our shortcomings when it comes to gathering intelligence. The Demon Hunters have their crows, and I think Muzan can see through other demons—or that one-eyed demoness.
All I have are my legs, eyes, and ears…
One might think that such a system isn't really necessary, given that demons seem to be everywhere in the story, but the reality is that they aren't; I haven't even seen many humans, just the occasional animal.
I'm interrupted by the Knight, who stops and points in a certain direction. Realizing what he wants, I use "Detect Life" and look in that direction.
Thank God, finally, another person!!! I say as the white light fades from view. Following the direction I was heading, we came across a dirt road, which led us to a village, but before rushing off to town, I decide to take a quick look around
It won't hurt me to see how people behave; I'd hate to stand out because of my mannerisms.
I stand at the edge of the forest, letting the shadows envelop me. And I begin to watch the people. Although I can see the way they walk and move, I can't really make out what they're saying; it's just noise.
And that's when something catches my eye—a small light—but there's something about it that makes me extremely uneasy.
It's about the size of a child's, but its intensity... it has a fragility similar to that of the bedridden woman, or that girl... but it isn't fading... if she's not injured or sick, why is it so weak?
After asking the gentleman to stand guard, I made my way toward the light. Along the way, I couldn't stop wondering why; I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I unconsciously ignored my surroundings.
As I round the corner of one of the houses, I see it.
Or rather, I see her.
The image that unfolds before my eyes stirs something deep inside me—not just because of what I see in that moment, but because what I see isn't something that happens overnight.
It is the result of years.
Years of neglect.
Years of hunger.
Years of being treated as though she simply existed.
Just like the bedridden woman, I can make out the outline of her bones beneath her skin, as though flesh itself had become little more than a thin veil. The sickly pallor of her skin catches my attention, but above all, it's her eyes that resemble those of the fallen little girl—the same absence of sparkle... of life.
She doesn't look at the people passing by.
She doesn't beg.
She doesn't cry.
She simply waits.
"Kanao…"
'From what I can tell, she doesn't know the sisters yet; she doesn't look to be more than 3 years old, but given how malnourished she is, she might be older…'
'I don't really have to do anything, do I? She survives, meets the sisters.'
'She'll have a family.'
'So what exactly am I saving her from?'
'I know she's going to face more hardships, but eventually, in the end, she'll find happiness. Which, realistically speaking, isn't something I can guarantee.'
'I haven't tried going back to the base; I don't know if there's a time delay there or if I can bring others along.'
'How am I supposed to raise a child in a world I barely understand myself?'
As I kept finding reasons to not get involved, a man approached the door where she was leaning, and without saying a word, kicked her out of his way.
He didn't shout.
Didn't insult her.
Didn't even look at her.
And somehow that didn't make a scene—as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Kanao not only didn't complain—she didn't even make a sound.
Every argument I made so far lost its weight , I just don't have the heart to look at that and go on with my life.
'Because if I walked away now, I wouldn't just be choosing her future.'
'I'd be choosing her present, too.'
I know I can't take in every person in need, but today I'm going to be selfish, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to make your future brighter than what was meant to be…
Somewhere else.
Where three constellations meet, each one adorned in blue, red, and green. A slight change can be seen in the red constellation; although it has no eyes, one can say with certainty that something or someone has caught its interest, as its nonexistent gaze follows the object of its interest with anticipation and patience.
Back with Kato.
He approaches the house, glances briefly at Kanao, and goes inside.
Inside, the house is in disrepair; dust and cobwebs cover the surroundings. In the middle, a man is seen lighting a sort of campfire.
Kato catches a brief glimpse of the man's back. 'I consider myself a civilized person, someone who doesn't resort to violence easily, but this guy really makes the idea appealing…'
'Yeah'
'Violence it is.'
Kato grabs the sword sheath and, with a bit too much force, swings it horizontally, striking the side of the guy's head; ...prods him a couple of times with the sheath before deciding he won't be waking up anytime soon. , and once satisfied, he kicks him in the tailbone as a parting shot. Then he walks back to Kanao.
Kato Pov:
"It might not make sense to tell you this now, but from now on, you're in my care." I say this as I bend down to pick her up.
"Good grief, you're not supposed to be this light."
She offers no resistance.
Not because of trust.
But because she no longer expects anything from anyone.