Although Izumi Kiyokazu didn't know exactly what a demon was supposed to smell like, the cloying, heavy scent of blood—utterly different from the normal humans around him—stood out like a beacon in the dead of night.
It was a strange odor, like an incredibly dense floral fragrance that had been compressed until it turned foul.
The powerful respiratory capacity granted to him by the Sun Breathing made the stench so unbearable that Kiyokazu felt as though he were suffocating.
However, he did not panic. He glanced up at the sky; the sun was still fairly high and wouldn't be setting for some time. If that peace officer truly was a demon, he wouldn't dare make a move in broad daylight.
Kiyokazu didn't linger. After purchasing his staple food, he headed toward a stall selling pickles. Rations alone weren't enough; he needed to supplement his intake with basic salts and vegetables. Pickles were the perfect choice—they were cheap and provided both.
Feeling a piercing gaze burning into his back, Kiyokazu instinctively quickened his pace. Fortunately, his previous successful transaction with the farmwoman had eased the suspicions of the other vendors, and he was able to buy what he needed much faster.
The moment the vendor handed him several pieces of pickled vegetables wrapped in leaves, Kiyokazu turned and left without a second thought.
His money was almost entirely spent, yet the amount of food he had managed to buy was still pitifully small. He estimated it would only last the three of them for less than two days. Moreover, he could feel that whenever he utilized Sun Breathing, his body's energy consumption would instantly skyrocket.
The old saying that "the path of the scholar is for the poor, but the path of the warrior is for the rich" seemed to hold true no matter where one went.
But just as Kiyokazu was about to leave the street, the peace officer who reeked of blood suddenly shouted at him from a distance.
"Hey! You there, the one with no shirt! Get over here!"
Initially, Kiyokazu had no intention of stopping. But seeing two other officers already standing further ahead, he thought for a moment and decided against trying to force his way through.
His physical condition was poor. Even if he escaped these two, he wouldn't last long, and provoking the local authorities was never a wise move. He would stay put and answer a few questions; if they actually tried to arrest him, then he would commit to a breakout.
Having mapped out his plan in an instant, Kiyokazu stopped and turned toward the officer sitting in the shadows of the building. His expression was a carefully crafted mask of fear and unease.
The officer stared at Kiyokazu. Looking at his wound-covered torso and sensing the delicious, high-quality scent of human flesh emanating from him—so different from the common rabble—the demon's saliva almost began to leak.
"What are you dawdling for? Get over here, now!"
The officer's voice was gravelly, and perhaps because of the excess saliva, every word was accompanied by a wet, unsettling swallowing sound. Once Kiyokazu was in front of him, he barked, "Why aren't you wearing a shirt? And what's the deal with those wounds?!"
As the officer questioned him, his eyes roved greedily over Kiyokazu's body. The fragrance coming off the boy made it almost impossible for the demon to restrain his deep-seated bloodlust.
Kiyokazu hunched his shoulders slightly, doing his best to act like a normal, terrified civilian. His posture was humble and frantic, his voice laced with exhaustion and pain.
"Sir..."
While he spoke, Kiyokazu scanned his surroundings, ready to bolt the moment things went south.
"I'm a laborer recruited by the Naya over there. While I was clearing trees this morning, I was hit by a falling trunk. I tried to dodge, but I ended up getting sliced by a hatchet. My clothes were shredded, so I had to toss them. I only bought food because I didn't have enough money for both medicine and a meal. I figured I'd try to eat something and see if I could recover... otherwise, I'll just have to die on a full stomach..."
By the time he finished, Kiyokazu's voice was thick with despair and sorrow. Several nearby merchants couldn't help but sigh in sympathy.
Another officer standing not far behind Kiyokazu confirmed the story. "Sir, he's right. The Fujita Storehouse has been hiring people to clear trees lately. Those wounds on his back do look like they have wood splinters in them. He shouldn't be lying."
Hearing this, the demon officer licked his dry lips. He had originally planned to drag Kiyokazu to the dungeon to eat him in secret, but doing so now might draw too much attention.
Forget it, he thought. Looking at the state of his injuries, he probably won't live until morning anyway. His flesh smells so rich... I'll just find some time tonight to track him down and finish him off.
He had eaten quite a few people lately. If he caused another scene now and attracted the attention of the Demon Slayer Corps, things would get complicated.
After weighing his options, he flashed a predatory smile at Kiyokazu and nodded. "If that's the case, then get lost. The market is closing; don't loiter here and be an eyesore."
As soon as the officer finished speaking, Kiyokazu blurted out his thanks and turned to disappear into the thinning crowd.
But with every step he took, he could feel a cold, greasy gaze fixed on his back—the sickening sensation of being locked onto by a wild beast. That feeling only vanished once he rounded a street corner.
The instant the sensation faded, Kiyokazu broke into a sprint.
Time! Time! What he lacked most right now was time. He needed time to eat, time for his wounds to heal, and time to recover his stamina. More importantly, he needed time to take Ume and Gyutaro to a safer location to avoid the thugs who could return at any moment.
He had originally thought that because he had been reborn into an era before the main storyline began, things wouldn't be quite so dangerous.
He was wrong. This era was far more perilous than the one Tanjiro lived in! It wasn't just the demons; the humans who were just as monstrous as demons exerted an immense pressure on his survival.
As he walked, Kiyokazu forced himself to swallow some of the food, replenishing his energy in case a fight broke out.
Fortunately, his luck held. He encountered no further trouble on his way back to the shack.
When Kiyokazu pushed open the wooden door, he found Ume with red-rimmed eyes. She stared at him, and before she could even speak, tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"What happened?" Kiyokazu asked urgently. "Did your brother's condition take a turn for the worse?!"
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