If there were no demons, this world would become a better place.
Every demon slayer has a painful past. The backgrounds of the Upper and Lower Moons are indeed tragic, but the moment they become demons, they transform from victims into perpetrators.
By the time Nezuko came out of the house, ten minutes had already passed.
With a faint smile, Nezuko said to Roa, "Well then, let me take you to meet my brother."
Roa nodded gently.
Walking along the morning path, the leaves and branches underfoot crackled, and the vibrant greenery around made Roa feel a bit emotional.
When he used to wander the mountains at night, his mind was solely focused on hunting demons. Coupled with the late hour, one wouldn't think of beauty; listening to the chirping of insects and feeling the cool night breeze, most people would think it was a horror movie scene.
He never expected that during the day, there would be such a different scenery.
Seeing Roa lost in thought, Nezuko curiously asked, "Is this your first time coming to the mountains, Brother Roa?"
Roa smiled and shook his head, replying, "Not really; I used to come here every night."
Nezuko tilted her head, seemingly not understanding what Roa meant. She asked curiously, "At night?"
Roa nodded, saying, "At night, there are monsters that eat people. Those monsters cruelly devour humans, and my duty—no, our duty—is to protect people by killing these monsters and preventing them from being eaten."
Nezuko smiled slightly and teased, "Just like the wild beasts in the forest? There are some in the mountains, but it's not as exaggerated as you say, Brother Roa. As long as it's a place where humans live, they won't come near. Moreover…"
Roa didn't pay much attention to her earlier words, but when he heard the hint of a twist in Nezuko's statement, he looked at her in confusion and asked, "Moreover?"
Nezuko revealed a mysterious smile and said, "You don't know, right? When I was very little, a wild boar came to our house!"
Roa showed a surprised expression. He locked eyes with Nezuko and noticed that her face was filled with pride as she continued, "At that time, my father wasn't home; he had gone to chop wood. There was no one at home to stand up to it, and that wild boar charged right into the house. I was so scared, but at that moment, my mother stood up!"
Roa paused his steps slightly, continuing to listen to her recount her past.
Nezuko proudly said, "My mother directly chased that wild boar away with her head! So, my mother is really amazing."
Roa's mouth twitched; he felt like he had just heard an incredible story.
So Tanjiro's mother was so fierce that she chased away a beast with her head?
No wonder Tanjiro could withstand the Upper Moons; it must be inherited from Kamado Kie's genes!
However, Roa really couldn't imagine a seemingly gentle woman unleashing such terrifying strength.
Before he could finish his thoughts, Nezuko continued, "Even with those man-eating beasts, my mother has her ways. Besides, even if my mother weren't there, my brother would stand in front. And even if my brother weren't there, I would protect my family."
Hearing this, Roa fell silent.
He remembered that in the original story, the Kamado family fell one by one.
In the end, even the surviving Nezuko turned into a demon, leaving only Tanjiro alive outside.
Roa looked at the pretty girl in front of him, her face as beautiful as a Yamato Nadeshiko. When she smiled, her eyebrows always curved, and her mouth would lift, revealing two lovely dimples.
Roa didn't say much; he simply said, "So don't worry. As long as I'm here, those beasts will never be able to harm you. Don't be fooled by my appearance; I'm actually quite strong."
After saying that, he smiled and patted the Nichirin Sword at his waist.
Nezuko raised an eyebrow and curiously asked, "Are you a swordsman, Brother Roa? You don't look like a practicing swordsman."
Nezuko remained skeptical, and Roa laughed, "Oh, little girl, are you doubting me? Want to see a trick?"
Nezuko puffed up her cheeks, slightly displeased with the "little girl" title, and continued to look at Roa, saying nonchalantly, "Show me if you can."
Roa didn't draw his sword; he simply said, "Then you better watch closely."
Nezuko's face still bore an indifferent expression, but the next moment, her eyes widened slightly.
Suddenly, the Roa who had been standing beside her was now three steps ahead, without making a sound. Nezuko was momentarily stunned, looking at Roa's handsome face in confusion.
At that moment, Roa was still winking at her, wearing a proud expression.
His smooth golden hair fell along his cheek, tied back in a bun, and as the breeze blew, it tousled his dazzling golden hair and the Demon Slayer Corps uniform he wore, making him look much more handsome.
A faint blush appeared on Nezuko's face.
Her first thought was, "Damn it, I've been tricked by this guy."
Roa raised an eyebrow and walked toward Nezuko, continuing to tease, "How was that?"
Nezuko snorted coldly, turning her face away. The boyish charm was completely ruined by his question.
Roa awkwardly scratched his head, thinking that Nezuko hadn't noticed his little tricks. He muttered softly, "Looks like drawing my sword is cooler."
What he had just used was merely the basic step of the First Form of Thunder Breathing. Compared to that swift movement, which almost reached the level of teleportation, Roa's speed was slightly slower. However, the advantage was that it was silent.
Like a spring breeze, without any noise, he had already appeared in front of the enemy.
If this move was combined with the Thunder Breathing's sword-drawing technique, it would produce unexpected results. The combination of sound and silence could always yield surprising outcomes.
You can imagine that the enemy's next move is thunderous and aggressive, while the following move changes to a gentle spring rain, quietly and silently. The stark contrast between the two could catch those who were used to fighting Roa off guard, and perhaps the next move could sever their head.
The distance from home to the foot of the mountain wasn't far. Nezuko pointed to the other side of the mountain and said, "That place has wild beasts; it's very dangerous. Although you're very strong, I still don't recommend you go there. After all, no one can confirm how many beasts are there."
Roa glanced in the direction Nezuko pointed. Whether there were beasts there was uncertain, but the water forest was clearly much denser than this side.
Then Nezuko pointed behind her, where the path led to her home. She proudly said, "Although a wild boar once intruded into our home, the area we chose is actually a prime location. It's not far from the place where we chop wood at the foot of the mountain, and it's also a good distance from the dangerous area. The temperatures in spring and autumn are great, and from my yard, if you stand there and look down, you can see the scenery at the foot of the mountain!"
Roa smiled and nodded, agreeing, "That sounds really nice. I must come and see it sometime."
Nezuko continued walking ahead, chatting with Roa about where was fun and where was dangerous, allowing Roa to see this guy's true nature.
Nezuko appeared to be a dignified and elegant girl, but in reality, she was very lively. She told Roa that she once climbed a tree, and in her excitement, she found herself unable to come down. In the end, her mother discovered her and rescued her, after which she received a good scolding.
Some so-called small matters became vivid stories in Nezuko's mouth, her innocent and imaginative voice echoing in Roa's ears.
Girls are naturally great storytellers, and along the way, Roa didn't feel a hint of boredom. The not-so-long journey was quickly completed.
Nezuko pointed down the mountain, sweeping her gaze around before pointing to a spot and saying, "My brother used to chop trees in that forest. He would pick up the chopped wood and put it in a bamboo basket. He would chop trees in spring and summer, then burn the wood into charcoal in autumn, and sell it at the market in winter. Of course, this process isn't fixed; it's just that the charcoal sold in winter is worth more."
Roa nodded in understanding. Nezuko paused and pointed in the direction below, saying, "Well, I won't see you off any further. You should be in that area. If you can't find it, just come back up this path, and my house is right up there. I need to go back and help my mother."
Roa nodded, preparing to head down when Nezuko suddenly asked, "Brother Roa, what do you want to eat for lunch?"
Roa thought for a moment and replied, "Whatever your mother is good at cooking, just make that. I'm fine with anything. Oh, by the way, I have a big appetite. Is there enough food at your house?"
Nezuko cautiously asked, "Brother Roa, how big is your appetite?"
Roa thought for a moment and said, "Usually, I eat until I'm about 60% full, and for lunch, I eat about 70%."
Nezuko fell into thought, silently contemplating.