Chapter 54: The Crow.

I am scum.

People born in a scum family, naturally—become scum.

Iguro Obanai has always thought so after being rescued from the mouth of a demon by the former Flame Hashira.

In his memory.

A girl with a blood-stained face, tears in her eyes, sobbed and yelled at him:

"If you hadn't run away—then everyone in the clan, sisters, aunts, wouldn't have been killed by the snake demon, it's all your fault!"

"Just because you ran away! A mere living sacrifice, wouldn't it be good if you were eaten obediently!!"

"Why! Why isn't it you who died!"

The cousin who was also rescued by the Flame Hashira once cried and scolded him like this when he was young.

Is it wrong —— to want to survive...?

This irrational sentence brought a deep impact to the young Iguro Obanai's heart.

From then on, he lived in a dark and narrow corner of his heart.

He never thought about what would happen to his clan after he ran away.

Even though —— before that, his life was spent in a dark cage.

—— Just to be eaten by a demon someday.

To survive, he still ran away.

He, who carried the lives of his entire clan, had committed too many sins and could no longer tread on the path of a normal life.

He could only pour all his negative emotions into killing demons.

Kill demons —— kill demons —— kill demons ——

This kind of behavior, like madness, not caring about his life, allowed him to successfully become a Hashira, and also turned him into a walking corpse that only lived to kill demons.

Living blindly, just to die on the road of killing demons someday.

Until ——

In the forest.

That girl, with the sunlight, ran towards him.

"Ah, hello! Nice to meet you!"

"My name is Kanroji Mitsuri!"

Kanroji Mitsuri stopped Iguro Obanai who wanted to leave, her face showed the joy of finally finding someone, so her tone was very cheerful and lively:

"Excuse me ——!"

She waved her hand, the pink three-strand braid slightly swayed behind her due to the movement, her face was full of excited joy.

—— Great! Finally found someone to talk to!

The surprised expression of Iguro Obanai was reflected in her light green eyes.

—— Bandages on the face! So unique!

—— What's that on the neck? A snake?

Kanroji Mitsuri clenched her hand, couldn't help but wave it slightly.

—— So cool!

"Excuse me! You are also a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, right?"

Kanroji Mitsuri smiled at Iguro Obanai with a sunny smile, she blinked her eyes, suddenly reacted, and pointed at herself:

"Ah! Me!"

"I am Rengoku-san's disciple, that is, Rengoku Kyojuro!"

After stopping Iguro Obanai, Kanroji Mitsuri slightly lowered her eyes, twisted her fingers, and started to explain from the beginning:

"No, now it should be colleagues...!"

She explained to herself:

"Rengoku-san also said that..."

Iguro Obanai stared blankly at the talkative Kanroji in front of him, he was slightly stunned.

—— What's going on with this person...

Her cheerful and lively demeanor, like the dazzling sunlight that can't be looked directly at, stood in front of him.

This personality, which is completely opposite to his, gave him a strong shock.

It made Iguro feel a bit dizzy for a moment, creating a dizzy feeling.

Rengoku-san...

Iguro Obanai was slightly surprised.

—— Is it the son of the Flame Hashira?

I see...

Kanroji Mitsuri was explaining quickly, she put her hands together, blinked her eyes, and quietly looked at Iguro Obanai:

"So, that's it!"

"I accidentally got lost in the forest."

When she mentioned getting lost, Kanroji's expression was a bit embarrassed, as if she felt a bit stupid, two blushes rose, she scratched her face:

"So..., do you know the way to the Butterfly Mansion?"

After waiting for a while with her hands together and not getting a response.

She carefully opened one eye.

—— Is he in a daze?

Kanroji leaned her face towards Iguro Obanai, her long eyelashes shone in the sunlight, her clear and transparent light green eyes stared at Iguro Obanai:

"...Hello?"

A hesitant voice sounded.

"...!"

Iguro Obanai's eyes reflected Kanroji's figure, he only felt a buzz in his head.

At this moment.

"Hiss ——!"

Kaburomaru curled around his neck, its coiled body suddenly sprang up, and a crimson pupil was spat out from its mouth.

"Ch!" 

Kaburomaru bit down on Kanroji Mitsuri's face.

Iguro Obanai stared blankly at Kanroji Mitsuri, not minding Kaburomaru biting him.

His originally tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and a tangled complex emotion welled up in his heart.

—What...

—This kind of emotion...

It's like a stone that has been suppressed at the bottom of his heart, a corner has been pried open, allowing it to relax.

Everything hidden under the stone is eager to pour out.

"It bit!" 

Kanroji Mitsuri saw this and exclaimed in surprise: "Are you okay?!"

"No... I'm fine."

Iguro Obanai took a half step back, his dizzy head was somewhat difficult to move:

"I know the way to the Butterfly Mansion..."

Hearing this, Kanroji Mitsuri's face showed a surprised smile, she took a step forward, held Kaburomaru's hand, unconsciously clasping their hands together:

"Ah! That's great!"

As she spoke, she also wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, her flustered tone calmed down:

"I'm saved...! Thank you...!"

"By the way!"

As if reacting, she asked:

"I still don't know, what is your name,...?"

"...Iguro Obanai."

"Iguro-san! Thank you!"

...

"Speaking of which, Iguro-san's eyes are different colors!"

"Green and gold!"

"They're so beautiful!"

"I have four cats at home, and one of them also has different colored eyes... It's really cute!"

"Its name is..."

...

"By the way, another cat also really likes..."

As the two gradually moved away, Kanroji Mitsuri's voice also gradually drifted away.

About ten minutes later.

Iguro Obanai knew everything about the personnel situation in Kanroji Mitsuri's family, the character names and fur colors of the cats she raised.

—He knew it all too well.

Although he didn't deliberately inquire about it.

...

...

On the other side.

Ubuyashiki Mansion.

"...Cough, cough!"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya sat on the sunny veranda, squinting slightly, coughing lightly, enjoying the long-lost clean sunlight.

The purple scars on his face were still spreading.

"Caw! Caw!"

The pitch-black crow flapped its wings, shouting loudly, hovering over the Ubuyashiki Mansion.

Then it folded its wings and dived down quickly.

As the crow approached the floor of the corridor, it suddenly spread its wings and landed smoothly:

"Oyakata-sama! Amane-sama"

"Kinoe Rank member—Rengoku Kyojuro, has written the report of the last battle!"

"And a letter to Oyakata-sama!"

The crow stepped forward, occasionally flapping its wings, heading towards the veranda:

"Please review it!"

-----

read up to 20++ advanced chapters on patreon.com/GMadman