"Mitsuyo-sama, I remember you once said that the Breath of the Forest is extremely difficult to master and that most Moriki descendants ultimately choose to practice other auxiliary breathing techniques instead. Why are you so certain that Lord Shinichi will succeed?"
Under the eaves, Ryukawa Chinatsu asked Elder Moriki with some confusion.
Elder Moriki gazed into the distance and after a moment of silence, spoke slowly.
"Because this boy Shinichi resembles our ancestor too much—yet he possesses even greater perseverance. Our ancestor admitted that after falling into demonhood, he committed countless atrocities, which was why he chose to end his own life."
"But Shinichi... even after becoming a demon, this child has never harmed a single human. That's why I firmly believe he will truly inherit our ancestor Breath of the Forest—perhaps even master its final form, which even our ancestor himself never achieved!"
After hearing this, Ryukawa Chinatsu nodded solemnly and said.
"I understand."
Elder Moriki seemed to recall something else. Turning back to look at Ryukawa Chinatsu with a trace of reluctance in his eyes, he said.
"The Moriki family century-old duty has been to slay evil demons. This means every member of the Moriki family may face danger. But you, Chinatsu, are different. You have your own name, you're not a Moriki descendant, nor do you bear any obligation to stake your life for this family."
"Child, my earlier promise still stands. The Moriki family current foundation exists entirely because of you. You may take all of our assets whenever you wish—this is the reward you deserve."
Hearing this, Ryukawa Chinatsu usually calm expression tensed instantly. She suddenly dropped to her knees and kowtowed fervently, exclaiming emotionally.
"Mitsuyo-sama! Please don't say such things! If not for you rescuing Chinatsu from Nigurimachi back then, I would have long become a wandering child in the wilderness."
"From the moment you brought me into the Moriki family, I—Chinatsu—have feared no sacrifice! I'm willing to dedicate everything to the Moriki family demon-slaying duty! Please, Mitsuyo-sama don't drive Chinatsu away!"
Thud!
The girl forcefully struck her forehead against the floorboards.
"Ah..." Elder Moriki hurriedly helped Ryukawa Chinatsu up, his gaze complicated.
He truly felt guilty toward this child.
Though Chinatsu always carried herself as a servant, in Elder Moriki heart, she was like a granddaughter.
If possible, he would gladly pass the Moriki legacy to her, making her Moriki Chinatsu.
Yet neither the Moriki family demon-slaying duty nor Ryukawa Chinatsu herself would allow it.
To Chinatsu, the surname Ryukawa held equal importance—it carried her memories of parents who had cherished her beyond measure.
During those famine years, they would go days without food to save their last morsels for their child.
*****
Behind the door, a figure listened clearly to every word exchanged under the eaves. It was still daytime, so he couldn't step outside.
Shinichi stroked Maru-ni, who lay curled on his lap, while gripping a cooled dorayaki in his other hand.
As the conversation outside reached him, his expression remained unchanged.
Instead, he opened his mouth and took a large bite of the dorayaki, chewing vigorously.
Though he didn't know how Elder Moriki had managed it, Shinichi could now eat again—though only dorayaki.
Perhaps because he was still a demon, all other foods, whether meat or noodles, tasted like bland wall plaster to him.
While he could swallow them, it was an excruciating ordeal.
Dorayaki was different.
Whether due to lingering effects from the past, Shinichi could detect a faint sweetness in them—just the slightest hint, but it was enough.
It had been so long since he had tasted anything at all.
So, at Shinichi request, the dorayaki he held were specially made.
A single bite would likely overwhelm an ordinary person with sweetness.
The batter was mixed with high-concentration sugar water, the red bean paste was half sugar and it was drenched in a lethally sweet honey.
Yet Shinichi devoured this sugary calorie bomb in large bites, even complaining it wasn't sweet enough as he prepared to sprinkle more sugar on top.
Honestly, Shinichi found everything a bit surreal.
He had actually agreed to learn Elder Moriki Breath of the Forest.
It was unbelievable.
He couldn't figure out why he had agreed—was it because the old man had given him back the ability to eat?
But Elder Moriki had made it clear: he couldn't turn Shinichi back into a human.
Though it was disappointing, Shinichi also felt a strange relief.
If the old man had claimed he could restore his humanity, Shinichi might have hesitated.
Becoming a demon was shameful, but he couldn't deny that it had granted him immense power.
Both his enhanced physical abilities and formidable Blood Demon Art had transformed Shinichi from a weak, ordinary beggar into someone capable of fighting the powerful Twelve Kizuki.
He wasn't sure if training in Breath Styles as a human would ever give him strength like this.
He never considered himself a genius.
This was fine for now.
He'd give it a try.
Even if he couldn't master the Breath of the Forest, at least it would repay Elder Moriki for saving Maru-ni and letting him taste food again.
With that thought, Shinichi stuffed the last large piece of dorayaki into his mouth, then clenched his fist, feeling the steadily reviving and strengthening power within him.
After absorbing the life force of Lower Moon Four, Rokuro, he could clearly sense that both his body and strength had grown significantly.
If he measured his progress based on the first demon he'd encountered, Karasuma, Shinichi strength before fighting Rokuro—when using Raging Blood—had been equivalent to eight or nine Karasuma.
Now, he was roughly as strong as over twenty Karasuma!
But Shinichi didn't feel excited.
Instead, he relaxed his fist, his expression turning grave.
He had grown stronger, but in truth, he still wasn't a match for Rokuro at full power.
Lower Moon Four, Rokuro—his strength was likely equal to fifty Karasuma. If not for Rokuro carelessness, along with Elder Moriki and the Demon Slayers' desperate efforts to wear him down, they might never have been able to kill himthat night.
If just a Lower Moon Four possesses such strength, how much more powerful must Three, Two, and One above him be? And then there are the Upper Moons who stand above even the Lower Moons—their power is beyond imagination.
And at the very top, the progenitor of all demons, Muzan Kibutsuji—just how far does his strength reach?
Shinichi mouth twisted open slightly, his once softened features visibly contorting into something vicious.
Sharp fangs protruded from his lips, and his claws extended just a fraction longer.
"Muzan... I swear, I'll kill you!"