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Chapter 37

One day, I got sick of sitting and feeling sorry for myself, so I simply got up, stole my clean uniform and sword and took Tanjiro with me.

"Where are we going? Should you even be up and moving?"
He worried.

"I'll be fine. There's something I need to do that I can't put off anymore."
Looking up at the fence, Rengoku's crow sat and waited for us patiently, merely beginning to fly at a slow pace once we arrived.

"Where are we going, then?"

"To Rengoku's home."

Following Rengoku's crow, who guided us based on his last wishes, we approached the large house, noticing a small boy that looked similar to Rengoku, his small face saddened as he swept the front step with slow movements.

"Y/N, are you sure you're okay? You're breathing heavily..."

"Tanjiro, I'm fine. Don't worry."

I took a deep breath and approached the boy.
"You must be Senjuro."

He seemed startled, staring up at me, and Tanjiro and I bow politely.

"Have you heard the news of Kyojuro Rengoku? He entrusted us with messages for his brother and father."
I continue.

Tanjiro nodded, the boy taken aback.
"From my brother...? I heard what happened to him, but... Miss, are you alright? You're incredibly pale."

Before I can answer, a rough, male voice called out. Turning my attention towards the sound, I see an older man in the doorway, who bore the same golden hair, and yet his demeanor was cold and aggressive, a gourd of what I presumed to be liquor in his hand.

"Stop! I bet his last words were worthless! He didn't have much talent but he somehow became a swordsman anyway. That's why he died! What a worthless and stupid son he was."

I felt my blood boil, clenching my fists and ready to speak up, Tanjiro simply grabbing my hand to stop me.

"A person's capabilities and limits are set at birth. A rare few enter this world with talent. The rest are just rabble! They're dust with no value! That's how it was with Kyojuro! Worthless! Of course he died, he had no talent!"

Senjuro looked down at the ground, his face nothing short of ashamed and sad.

The gruff voice called out again.
"Senjuro! The funeral is over! Stop looking so miserable!"

"Hey!"
I cut in.
"What a horrible thing to say! Especially about your own son!"

"Who are you, anyway?! Go away! Don't darken my doorstep!"

"We're in the Demon Slayer Corps."
Tanjiro added, the two of us startled as the man smashed the gourd on the ground.

"You... Oh, you're..."
His momentary surprise grew into a sudden burst of shouting again.

"You practice the art of Sun Breathing! You do, don't you?!"
He harshly pointed a finger at Tanjiro.

"And you're a Sky Breathing user, aren't you?! I've seen those beads before!"
His finger moved my way, pointing at my hip where the wooden beads that stuck out from the belt of my uniform were.