On the way up the mountain.

Ichiro withdrew his gaze from the trees on either side of the mountain road, and vaguely focused his gaze on Tanjiro's shoulder, who was carrying a few bags of rice in front of him, and his thoughts flashed back to the past, back to a time when he rarely remembered, and many times did not want to think about it.

At that time, the family lived in the thin well forest of Ashina, and like Tanjiro, who sold charcoal, he brought animal skins to nearby villages and towns in exchange for food.

At that time, his younger siblings did not have any teeth and could not help much, and his father was worried that he would be robbed by the rebels when he went out, so he never allowed Koichiro to act alone.

But in order to have some food for the family to swallow easily, Genichiro often used the excuse of going out to practice bows and arrows to explore a steeper, but more convenient path in the mountains, and when he had the opportunity, he would sneak out while his father was hunting and exchange for some coarse grains.

At the beginning of each month, he would hide in a tree branch near the main road and wait. If he was lucky, he would shoot his bow and arrow far through the large pockets on the grain trucks of the Inner Palace, allowing the rice to flow out of the breach, looking like a golden spring in the sun. When the car is far away, Genichiro will take off his clothes, put up the spilled food, and bring it home excitedly, even if he is scolded by his father, it doesn't matter, and he has also developed a cold-resistant physique that can be shirtless in winter.

In those war-torn times, a mouthful of rice was so precious that it was an unimaginable luxury for a family like them.

To risk being killed or frozen to death to steal the supplies of the Samurai of the Inner House for the sake of such a superfluous pleasure was too reckless in the eyes of Genichiro's father.

Regardless, Koichiro still enjoys the expectant look in his younger siblings when he returns from the harvest — at least today, when they don't have to eat their parents' chewed meat. A meal of gruel with a sweet taste can make them happy for days.

"Brother, I'll get you a bag."

You bean looked at Tanjiro's sweaty appearance and whispered.

This time, the two of them went down the mountain, in addition to going to the ghost killing team for help, but also because the mayor suddenly brought guests over, and there was really no extra food at home, so Tanjiro needed to go down the mountain to buy. As for Youdouzi, she was worried that her brother was too bored while waiting for the arrival of the Ghost Slayer team, so she came with her.

And if she doesn't come along, some people in the town will inevitably take advantage of her brother's kindness to let him do this and that for nothing, although my brother doesn't care, but You Douzi hates those people very much.

"No, I'm fine. My brother's strength is great. ”

Tanjiro smiled reliably at his sister, but his increasingly pronounced gasp didn't think so.

That's a load of almost a dozen kilograms. Climbing with such a heavy weight is a bit difficult even for Tanjiro, who works a lot.

"But I'm also very good, didn't I tear you up when I played your brain melon before? Even mom can't do that! ”

You Douzi spoke amazingly, and bent his arms to show off his muscles, "So give me some, brother." ”

Tanjiro was a little upset when he heard this, but he was worried that his sister's middle finger would be broken by his head, but he didn't expect it to hurt unexpectedly. It's really a thing to a thing.

"But don't tell outsiders about this experience!" After saying that, Tanjiro also turned his head to Ichiro and Miss Shinobu and emphasized very seriously: "You bean is a very gentle girl!" Never hit someone for no reason. ”

Obviously, he was worried that his sister would leave a barbaric impression on outsiders, after all, no matter what era it is, everyone likes girls like Nadeshiko.

What he didn't know was that even the Butterfly Shinobi, who had the smallest strength among the pillars, had the strength to lift a twenty-kilogram weight with one hand.

And with Ichiro's current physical fitness, he can easily flip a train car to the ground, and if he becomes a ghost, he can do it with one hand.

"I'll help you."

Ichiro shook his head and was about to reach for the rice bag on Tanjiro's shoulder, but the latter hurriedly dodged him.

"How can you trouble the guests! That's too much to say! ”

Tanjiro shook his head with a serious face, "However, thank you big brother for your kindness." ”

"Haha! Big brother~"

Butterfly couldn't hold back, and suddenly laughed, causing Tanjiro and You Douzi to look at each other and be confused.

"Sister Shinobi, why are you laughing? Did my brother say something ridiculous? ”

You bean asked, tilting her head.

"Wait, wait......"

Butterfly Shinobu waved his hand, brewing the secret method of ninja concentration, and it took a while to stop laughing, and then glanced at Genichiro with Half Moon Eyes, and finally revealed the puzzle.

"Ichiro ...... I'm only 10 years old this year. ”

"What?" x2。

The siblings glanced at Ichiro, who was taller than his father.

You call this ten years old?

"I'm surprised."

Butterfly Shinobu said with a smile, "But when I first met him a few months ago, he was only about the same height as you. Presumably the reason why the reed celebrities are all tall. ”

Unconsciously, Butterfly Shinobu has accepted the setting of "Ashina is big for everything", and Kotaro's height is not much different from Mataka Onita, but he is only 13 years old, but Kuro may be an outlier.

"That'...... Am I ...... It's time to call you ......"

Tanjiro looked up at Genichiro's speechless half-moon eyes, and said hesitantly, "Brother Genichiro ......"

"Bring it to me."

Without the slightest hesitation, Genichiro interrupted Tanjiro in time, his fingers tapping lightly on the latter's shoulder.

Tanjiro only felt a numbness in his muscles and bones, and his joints unconsciously buckled inward, and the rice bag hanging on his shoulders quickly slipped down.

"Huh-"

When he saw that the sack of rice was about to fall to the ground and scatter, it disappeared as if it had fallen into the water, burrowed into the dark shadow of Genichiro.

The first time I saw this kind of "supernatural event", the eyes of the Zaomen brothers and sisters were wide.

"Don't speak, hurry up, the rice will naturally be given to you when it arrives."

"Oh...... Ok ......"

"And you, don't keep laughing, or you won't go back to Hirata Manor."

"Please give me five more ...... Five seconds, and why your face is so ugly, it's so rare...... Hahaha......"

In this way, it took the four of them nearly an hour or so to walk from the town to the mountain, and this was when Tanjiro did not carry the weight.

But the demand for charcoal increases dramatically in the winter, when the snow becomes deep and thick, and the cold weather takes place for Tanjiro.

That's a hard number.

When he saw his humble wooden house, Tanjiro sniffled, and then said a little strangely, "Eh, when did that uncle who sells fireworks leave?" It seems that the mayor's grandfather is also gone. ”

"Are you the two people you said who asked about 'Kagura, the god of fire'?" Butterfly Shinobu asked.

"Well, that uncle wants to invite my dad to a fireworks festival in Tokyo and perform a dance to worship the god of fire on the day of the end of Obon."

At this point, I don't know what Tanjiro thought of, and his voice was a little low.

"It seems that Dad should have refused, there was a smell of anger in the air, not like the family would send it out, it should be left by the businessman's uncle."

Butterfly Shinobu and Ichiro glanced at each other, they had already guessed that this "Fire God Kagura" should be the sword type of the Breath of the Sun.

If Tanjiro's father really went to Tokyo to perform and accidentally attracted the attention of some ghosts, especially Onimai Tsuji, then the matter would really be a big deal.

"Tanjiro, are you back?"

A gentle female voice came from inside the house, and then Aoi Eda walked out of the door with Rokuta on her back.

She wore a headscarf and a long white apron in front of her, describing her as looking a little tired, but still unable to hide her outstanding appearance.

With her greeting, three more figures emerged from behind her, "Is my brother back?" ”

It was Tanjiro's other three younger siblings, Takeo, Shigeru and Hanako, who were also very lively children, so it can be seen that the family atmosphere has not become heavy and oppressive because of the poverty life.

However, when they saw two strangers, they still slightly restrained their excitement about seeing their brother, and looked curiously at these two outsiders whose costumes were out of place in the local area.

Especially when he saw the long scabbard on the waist of the butterfly ninja, Takeo Kamado's eyes lit up for a while.

"That's a katana! The two of you must be the swordsmen of the Ghost Slayer Team! ”

Judging from his somewhat adoring eyes, the image of the Ghost Slayer in the hearts of the local people is still very reliable.

"You can't be rude, Takeo."

Aoi Eda made a gesture to flick Takeo's head, which frightened the little ghost and quickly covered his head and retreated, causing the rest of the children to laugh.

"I'm sorry, children don't often come to outsiders, if there is any offense, please forgive me."

Aoe Kamado said to Kuichiro and Shinobu Butterfly, "You two must have come for that monster in the cellar." ”

"Uh, this, Mom'......"

Hearing his mother mention the matter in the cellar, Tanjiro's expression was slightly embarrassed, and he hurriedly told the truth of the matter.

"Oh, I really didn't expect that, so that's the case. This is a big misunderstanding. ”

Aoi Kamado covered her mouth in surprise, "Then we have to release that Mr. Ninja quickly...... I'm so sorry! ”

"I'm the one who should apologize, if I had sent him here during the day, maybe it wouldn't have been like this."

Ichiro said.

"That'...... Tanjiro? ”

"Mom." Tanjiro walked over.

"You take the two guests to open the lock on the cellar first, and bring some water to quench the thirst of Mr. Ninja by the way."

Aoi Eda looked into the house pointedly, "I'm going to get your dad up." ”

"Eh, isn't it ......?"

Tanjiro feels a little bad, his father has been sick more and more recently, otherwise he wouldn't have slept in broad daylight.

However, when he saw his mother's eyes, he did not say anything, but guided the two of them towards the cellar with heavy thoughts.

"Tanjiro?"

Butterfly Shinobu then remembered that when Tanjiro's family died tragically, his father was not among the victims, combined with what happened just now......

"Is your father unwell?"

"I'm sorry, maybe it's because I have been burning charcoal since I was a child, and my father always has a cough, so I couldn't come out to greet the two."

Tanjiro replied very simply, obviously not wanting to say more.

"Cough?" Butterfly Shinobu repeated, seeming to be a little interested: "Can you elaborate on the symptoms?" I'm a doctor for the Demon Slayer myself. ”

It is indeed a very interesting thing for a person who is suspected to be breathing in the sun to be entangled in a respiratory-related disease.

"Doctor?" Tanjiro's clear gaze was a little skeptical, after all, Butterfly Shinobu looked a few years older than him.

But by smell, the girl who had been overly kind to him didn't lie.

"If it was a ghost hunter's doctor, maybe he would be able to save my father's life......

With the attitude of giving it a try, Tanjiro Kamado elaborated, "My father started coughing two or three years ago, and although he always avoided us and pretended that he was not seriously ill, I could always smell the blood he coughed up...... In addition, he also has a unique smell of life when he dies, exactly the same as before his grandmother died. ”

As the only person in the family who really understands Tanjuro's physical condition, but he can't tell this to other family members, you can imagine how uneasy and depressed Tanjiro's heart is.

"Vomiting blood, that's not a good sign. What else? ”

Although Butterfly Shinobu was a little unbearable, he still showed the professional attitude of a doctor's diagnosis.

......, Dad didn't always cough when he was burning wood, or when he was in a very hot place, but when he did, his body would suddenly become extremely hot, just like Hanako had a fever when she was a child. But when you stop coughing, your body temperature drops suddenly. ”

“……”

After mentioning Tanjiro's description, Genichiro and Shinobu exchanged glances, and each saw the bad in each other's eyes, and naturally began to associate with each other.

Excuse me, what is the most diseased part of the body among the members of the Demon Slayer Team?

The answer is none other than the respiratory system, including the lungs! And that is also one of the most fragile body structures of the human body.

Because not every team member is suitable for the breathing method they learn, there are often combinations with poor phases, so there are often team members who practice breathing and cause overload of the body and damage to the respiratory tract. Before the team members can master Changzhong, continuous use of breathing for more than half an hour can cause a violent fever in the lungs, leading to irreversible conditions such as capillary bursting or alveolar necrosis - and the surge in body temperature is only a superficial phenomenon caused by violent changes in the body.

The most extreme of these cases occurred to the players who learned the breath of fire and the breath of rock, and it is said that some people set themselves on fire during practice!

Purgatory Maki Juro also said before that even the Breath of Fire, which is closest to the Breath of the Sun, is only less than half the power of the Breath of the Sun!

What is the burden of the breath of the sun on the user?

Therefore, if the two of them expected it to be right, Tanjiro's father's cough accompanied by a violent fever may be the result of the overload of Hino's breath.