Chapter 41 : Kanao's watery cheeks

Well for starter Haruto doesn't actually actually know where Tanjiro lives. He only knows that it should be in the vicinity of the Kumotori Mountain and if he remembers correctly in some town called okutama town. He doesn't know where it was exactly, only that it was near the place where former 'water hashira' Sakonji Urokodaki trained his disciples. He still has to look for it.

Speaking of himself due to the characteristics of demons, he was gradually feeling in love with walking in the dark. During the day, he usually finds a dark enough cave or abandoned home do that Kanao can rest since doesn't have the body of a demon like him, so she needs rest frequently. There's also a headache that Kanao doesn't ask him to rest even if she tired from walking so he had to constantly keep it in his mind.

Even after all these he did not forget his resolution to take care of Kanao. As long as he can find any nutritious or delicious food, he will make sure to get it for Kanao. As for money he usually targets the alley thugs which also helps in his battle experience although in negligible amount.

Because of it almost all the local pharmacies they passed by or the places where they had delicious food suffered. He did leave money there but still robbery is a suffering for them. And it's quite easy for him after all, no matter how well-hidden the place is or whether the more manpower is required, once a demon sets his eye on it, it's basically good as gone.

it could be said that Kanao was was living in luxury, she had good food all the time and Haruto doesn't miss opportunity to relax if he finds hot springs too. So with continued nutrition along with sufficient rest and exercise through travelling Kanao was slowly gaining weight in a good manner, her cheeks are also watery now.

So Haruto was quite happy seeing kanao regain her health and Kanao was also starting to become more relaxed than before. One time she even pointed to a blue colored Ramune to drink, it almost made Haruto cry of happiness.

...

"There is a shrine ahead, shall we go there and rest for a while?"

Haruto tilted his head and looked at the girl who was holding his hand. The girl is still like a puppet, unable to express her feelings at all but now she can express her answers in simple motion. Like for example, right now she nodded at his question slowly. She's cute like a small kitten.

After finding a clean place and letting Kanao sit down, haruto stood up and looked at the ruined shrine. It was a dilapidated ruined shrine but there was still a faint smell of campfire. Obviously, this place is not always empty of people. Haruto slowly stretched his body and started to walk toward the gate of the ruined shrine.

Since it was already nighttime, it was already quite dark where one can't see their fingers but for Haruto it didn't quite pose any problem since it was clearly visible through his golden pupils.

In the distance, he saw hand held torch illuminate some places, like the light of fireflies under the cover of the dark night. Someone should be coming to the shrine. He couldn't help but lower the hat on his head. Although he wasn't afraid of humans, revealing his identity as a demon would still bring him unnecessary trouble.

Not long after, a small noises came faintly. There were horses carrying things and everyone seemed to be carrying a heavy load. It seems that the people coming there were traveling merchants.

After about half a quarter of an hour, the team of traveling merchants appeared near the vicinity of the shrine. There were about thirty people, among them, there were some women and children. They also had some strong people among them, their waists were bulging and their hands are inadvertently pressed on their waists.

Obviously, it should be the guards of this traveling merchants. No wonder they dared to travel at night and still survive till now. Well luck should be also involved since they can't really contest against a demon if one appears. The one who seemed to be the leader of the merchants came to the gate of the shrine and his heart tightened  when he saw a young boy with bamboo hat standing at the gate of the shrine. After all seeing a person suddenly in a dark and abrupt place always makes one's heart skip.

"We are merchants who are passing by here. We are going to the town ahead. We can't travel at night. Could it be possible for us to set our camps here?"

The leader of the traveling merchant kept his posture very low. After all, although the other party looked like a young boy, it was quite ominous to appear suddenly in this wilderness alone. As traveling merchants who travel far and wide, they naturally know that people with unknown origins like this are generally not to be provoked.

Haruto just nodded slowly and spoke "I'm also passing by here, since it's an ownerless place, if you want to rest here, you don't have to worry about me."

After saying his piece, he didn't look at these people any more and just quietly walked in front of Kanao. Hearing  what Haruto said, the leader of the merchants breathed a sigh of relief and quickly thanked him. At the same time, he asked everyone to unload their belongings and set up camp in the shrine for tonight.

Almost all of them were busy unloading goods, except there were a few people who just stood in their place. Those few were all strong people with bulging waists. They should be responsible for the safety of the traveling merchants. Especially the leader, although he didn't speak, his eyes were always looking at him vigilantly, especially when he saw the blade hanging from his waist.

After all, in this era, if you dare to travel at night, if you don't have some skills, it's practically impossible especially if you have a little girl with you. This kind of company always seems very strange.

Haruto didn't care about the vigilance of these people, he had nothing to do with them and eventually they would go on the road again after Kanao had a rest. But a person on the caravan caught his attention. A unruly black-haired boy with irises a deep sapphire that fades to a lighter blue and pupils a bluish-black which are framed by thin eyebrows, seemingly busy helping everyone. The boy resembled a person Haruto saw in the anime.

Giyu Tomioka.

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