" Mitsuba, was that thing in the newspaper recently your doing?"
Late at night, in a nameless deep mountain, recalling the newspaper article he had accidentally seen during the day, Shinjuro finally couldn't help but ask this question.
"Of course."
Treading through the snow as she ventured deeper into the mountain forest, hearing Shinjuro's inquiry, Mitsuba nodded in admission.
"The day after I left that family, I slipped the anonymous letter into the mailbox at the door of that Tsugikuni congressman's house. I didn't expect him to act so quickly—he had those people arrested that very night... Speaking of which, this Congressman Tsugikuni actually shares the same surname as me. Could it be that we were family hundreds of years ago?"
This final sentence was obviously spoken deliberately by Mitsuba.
After all, her current human puppet body was being constantly observed by the gods above. The slightest abnormal movement would immediately be detected.
Therefore, her performance had to be completely thorough.
She had to express confusion where confusion was due, curiosity where curiosity was due—in short, she had to act well and absolutely must not drop her disguise.
Honestly, this feeling of performing right under the gods' noses was quite thrilling...
"But the Master previously said that Demon Slayers, aside from killing demons, are not allowed to get involved in human disputes..."
Chasing after Mitsuba's footsteps, Shinjuro couldn't help but remind her.
"So, Shinjuro, do you think what I did was wrong?"
Mitsuba stopped walking and turned back to look at him curiously.
"I don't really mean that..."
Being stared at by those beautiful eyes of hers, Shinjuro somewhat embarrassedly lowered his head.
To be honest, he actually felt that Mitsuba had done quite the right thing.
After all, the people of that family had indeed committed many evil deeds, their hands stained with the blood of too many innocents.
To simply let them go without any punishment—his conscience couldn't accept that either.
But the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps were rules. Since the Master had said they couldn't interfere with such matters, then they absolutely must not...
"Shinjuro, it would be better if you followed your own heart's voice more."
As if seeing through his inner turmoil with a single glance, Mitsuba smiled and shook her head, turning to continue walking forward.
"True justice has never existed in those rules and regulations—it has always been in that place where your heart beats. Don't let those rigid constraints extinguish the flame within your heart.
My teammate, when you truly understand this one day, perhaps your mastery of Flame Breathing will also reach a higher level..."
Her voice drifted over from the wind and snow, causing Shinjuro to subconsciously stop in his tracks.
[True justice has always existed within my heart...]
His heart seeming to gain some enlightenment, Shinjuro lowered his head and subconsciously clenched his fists.
Before long, he quickly rushed forward, catching up to Mitsuba who had already walked quite far ahead.
"Mitsuba, thank you!"
"Hmm?"
"I mean, for what you just said to me..."
"Oh, you're welcome. Because you're an interesting person, Shinjuro, I find you quite fascinating."
"Eh?! M-me?!"
"Yes, exactly. In the entire Demon Slayer Corps today, aside from our little Master, you are the only one who can make me feel interested.
I'm truly curious about your future. I really wish I could jump straight to the future and see what you all will look like then..."
At this time, the young Shinjuro still didn't understand the true meaning of Mitsuba's final words...
After this, the two walked in silence.
The two who were searching for demon traces in this area continued along the mountain path, eventually discovering a household deep in the mountains.
This was a very strange household. They didn't live with the townspeople in the town at the foot of the mountain, but instead lived alone in this remote deep mountain, quite reclusive.
From the marks of felled trees around and the large furnace placed outside the house, this family seemed to make their living by logging and charcoal burning.
The house wasn't large and looked quite aged.
In the not-too-distant woods, there seemed to stand a mottled tombstone. In the pitch-black night, Mitsuba's human puppet body couldn't clearly see the name on the tombstone.
For some reason, the moment she approached this household, Mitsuba's heart suddenly rose with a wonderful feeling that she herself didn't quite understand.
Where exactly was this place?
"I'll go over and ask about the situation."
Beside her, Shinjuro took the initiative to step forward, walking toward that house.
The two of them had come out to slay demons. Since there was a household in this deep mountain, it was perfect for inquiring about nearby information.
Mitsuba didn't respond.
Subconsciously, her gaze once again looked toward that tombstone hidden in the woods.
[Mitsuba, this is the place.]
In her mind, it seemed as if the voice of that elder brother Yoriichi, distant and already somewhat unfamiliar, suddenly echoed.
Mitsuba subconsciously lifted her leg, walking toward that mottled tombstone in the woods.
How strange...
She vaguely felt that something was wrong with this grave. Exactly who was buried inside...
"Hey! Mitsuba, where are you going? Come here quickly!"
Behind her, Shinjuro's voice suddenly rang out, calling back Mitsuba's consciousness.
"I know..."
Her footsteps pausing, that wonderful feeling in her heart instantly faded, and Mitsuba suddenly came back to her senses.
Glancing one last time with confusion at that grave in the woods, she quickly turned around and walked toward Shinjuro who was waving at her behind her.
As she expected, this household was indeed a family that made their living selling charcoal, having lived in this deep mountain for generations.
The one who had opened the door for Shinjuro earlier was the mistress of this household, a young woman named Kamado Kie.
Kie was warm and hospitable by nature. She was originally the daughter of a family in the town at the foot of the mountain, having only married here a few months ago.
And her husband—the true master of this household—was named:
Kamado Tanjuro.
That was a young man with deep red long hair, a congenital scar on his left forehead, a sallow and emaciated appearance, looking quite frail.
Stepping into the house, the moment she saw Kamado Tanjuro, Mitsuba froze on the spot, subconsciously placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.
At the same time, Kamado Tanjuro, who had originally been sitting smiling on the heated platform, also froze the moment he saw Mitsuba.
The two simultaneously looked at each other with shocked expressions, their faces disbelieving.
[Why did I completely fail to sense her/his presence just now?]
[Why is there not the slightest fighting spirit on her/his body?]
[Wait, could it be... the Transparent World?]
[This person, could she/he have also stepped into that transparent realm?!]
[In this world today, besides me and Elder Brother, there actually exists another who can enter this realm?]
Amidst the shock, Mitsuba also saw the lesions within Kamado Tanjuro's body.
[This man suffers from a chronic illness—a root sickness he was born with. His remaining lifespan will definitely not exceed twenty years.]
And Kamado Tanjuro simultaneously saw the breathing rhythm within Mitsuba's body that differed from ordinary people.
[Strange, why does this girl's breathing rhythm match the rhythm of Hinokami Kagura so closely?]
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This story has ended in chapter 315, you can read on patreon.com/dzeref887 for faster access or wait until August to read on WebNovel until the story ends.