Since Mitsuko made Ishikakuyama his home.
Within three years.
Mitsuko's more than twenty companions worked together to build many wooden houses, forming a small village.
People grow vegetables and raise animals, and are now able to be self-sufficient.
They could even sell some vegetables or poultry to villages and towns at the foot of the mountain before dawn to earn money, and their lives gradually stabilized.
Upon learning that Junpei Ogiya had hunted a wild boar, everyone worked together to slaughter it and cook it in a pot.
"Dinner is ready, everyone come and eat!"
As the youngest member, Emi Matsuo, shouted, everyone sat around a large round table.
Although Mitsuko doesn't need to eat, as the backbone of this place, whenever they are at Ishikakuyama, Mitsuko will eat with everyone and enjoy this hard-won atmosphere of happiness.
The twenty-odd people here come from twenty-odd families.
They were bound together by the same tragedy and lived together.
Watching his twenty-odd companions chatting and laughing together during the meal, Mitsuko felt a surge of happiness and a sense of accomplishment.
Although the path between humans and demons is not easy, at least we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This is their home, their place in this world.
Mitsuko picked up the sake cup that Ogiya Junpei had filled and drank the sake in one gulp.
After a few rounds of drinks, Mitsuko said, "I'll be leaving for a while tomorrow night. We're running low on blood, so I'll go collect some and also look for my companions who are in dire straits and waiting for rescue."
Upon hearing Mitsuko's words, everyone present froze, and their smiles vanished instantly.
Daiki Nakado, who had been a chef in his human days, forced a smile and said, "Mitsuko, there's no need to be in such a hurry. Isn't there still some blood left?"
Doctor Asuka Izaka chimed in, "Yes, Mitsuko. My clinic can collect a portion of blood every day now, so we don't have to leave immediately."
Emi Matsuo, who was standing next to Mitsuko, tugged at Mitsuko's sleeve and looked at him with wide eyes, pleading, "Brother Mitsuko, please don't go, okay?"
Mitsuko rubbed Emi Matsuo's head, then shook her head and said, "Asuka, although your clinic can collect blood, it's not enough for everyone to use together. If we wait until we run out before collecting more, it will be too late."
Everyone's expression froze, their hands clenched into fists.
There's a reason for everyone's expressions.
Everyone present was transformed into a half-human, half-demon by Mitsuko's blood. Mitsuko could connect with them, and they could connect with Mitsuko in turn.
Every time Mitsuko left, they would occasionally feel inexplicable pain in their bodies.
One or two cases may be isolated incidents, but it's abnormal for everyone to feel pain in the same place.
These pains are not severe, they are very subtle, and you may not even feel them if you don't pay close attention.
Everyone understood that this pain was caused by Mitsuko, the pain he suffered from injuries sustained in battle, and that the pain had been greatly reduced.
The worst time was when everyone felt a piercing pain, as if their hearts were about to burst.
If the pain, even after it has been reduced, is still so intense, then how much pain must Mitsuko, the person directly involved, be in?
However, every time Mitsuko returned, he had a calm and nonchalant expression, as if nothing had happened, and told them that everything had gone very smoothly.
Everyone understood that Mitsuko didn't want them to worry, so they all tacitly pretended not to know.
It was only five days since Mitsuko last returned that he had to leave again, which was hard for them to accept.
Why should such a heavy burden be borne by a boy who is only fifteen years old?
Everyone feels that they are able to live happily here entirely because of Mitsuko's success.
Rintarō Iwakiri, a carpenter, slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Mitsuko, let's all go and collect blood together, so you won't have to work so hard!"
Rintarō Iwakiri's suggestion was immediately approved by everyone.
"That's right, Mitsuko, let's go together. We don't have anything to do tonight anyway, so we can go collect blood."
"Yes, there's strength in numbers. If we collect blood together, maybe Mitsuko won't have to leave anymore and can live with us forever."
...
Everyone was discussing it animatedly, hoping that Mitsuko would stay.
Mitsuko smiled helplessly, feeling a warmth in his heart.
But reality is often cruel. Mitsuko's expression turned serious, and he held up one finger: "First of all, and most importantly, what if you encounter the Demon Slayer Corps or demons while collecting blood?"
The Demon Slayer Corps doesn't care whether we're demons or not. If they encounter us, they won't listen to any of our explanations and will just draw their swords.
There are also demons. The things I've done have already attracted their attention. They can easily identify us because we have both the scent of demons and the scent of humans. They will attack us without mercy when they encounter us.
You have no fighting ability whatsoever. How will you escape from these two forces?
Rintarō Iwakiri muttered under his breath, "We just need to be careful."
Mitsuko shook his head and said, "Even if we are very careful, there is still a risk of encountering danger. If anything happens to any of you, I will take responsibility for it because I failed to protect you."
Everyone was immediately speechless.
Mitsuko held up a second finger: "Secondly, your activity area is limited to the town at the foot of the mountain, and the amount of blood you can collect is extremely limited. If you go too far away, you won't be able to come back before dawn. What if you can't find a place to avoid the sunlight by then?"
Mitsuko extended his third finger again: "Thirdly, besides us, there are many kind people who are trapped in the quagmire called 'demons' and cannot extricate themselves. The path I have chosen is to save these people, so even if I don't need to collect blood, I must leave."
Everyone lowered their heads in remorse.
Yūsuke Ueno, who is about the same age as Junpei Ogiya, said excitedly, "Why, why do you have to suffer like this, Mitsuko? We're all the same, aren't we? You rescued us, but we can't help you. Instead, we have to take care of you all the time. How can we bear this?!"
Mitsuko comforted him, "Alright, don't be so discouraged. This is the path I chose, not yours. As long as you live happily here, it means that the path I've taken has been successful, and that has already helped me. That would make me very happy."
Ueno Yūsuke wanted to say something more, but Ogiya Junpei stopped him, saying, "Alright! Since Mitsuko has already made his decision, we just need to support it. Mitsuko said he would come back safely, and he has never broken his promise. He never did before, he doesn't now, and he won't do it in the future. Mitsuko, don't you think so?"
Junpei Ogiya stared intently at Mitsuko, hoping for a positive answer.
Mitsuko smiled and nodded, "Yes, I mean what I say!"