Listening to Nezuko recount what Mizuki had just said, Mizuki herself sat up straight and rigid.
Knowing there was danger, snatching a child from a mother's hands and placing that child in harm's way was not something anyone could easily say out loud.
Although Nezuko was the one who said it, Mizuki was still too nervous to look at Kie Kamado's expression.
After hearing Nezuko's words, Kie Kamado looked worried: "Nezuko..."
Nezuko said with a solemn expression, "This is my own will. I want to help Yuko-san!"
...Kie Kamado nodded helplessly, "I understand. If this is what Nezuko wants..."
Mizuki couldn't help but look up: "Madam..."
"You don't have to..." Kie Kamado smiled, looked at Mizuki, and replied first, "I believe Miss Mizuki will definitely be able to protect Nezuko, won't you?"
Mizuki opened her mouth, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, I will protect Nezuko."
Kie Kamado and Nezuko both smiled... "Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, listen to your mother while we're out, understood?"
After packing their things, Nezuko waved goodbye to everyone in the hallway.
Takeo asked doubtfully, "Mom, why isn't Big Sister leaving with us?"
Kie Kamado didn't know how to explain it to him, so she just gave a vague answer: "Because your sister still has things to do."
Takeo frowned, looked at the figure leading the way ahead, and couldn't help but ask his mother, "Mom, will there really be Demons attacking us?"
"Aren't Demons just something to scare kids with?"
Kie Kamado chuckled, "Aren't you a child, Takeo?"
Hanako and Shigeru chimed in, "Exactly, Big Brother Takeo is clearly a child too."
Takeo's face turned red with anger: "Who's a child!"
Mizuki walked casually ahead, clearing a path through the snow for everyone, but her mind was preoccupied with other matters.
There was actually something she was very concerned about.
Was the tragedy that befell the Tanjirou family just a coincidence of Muzan passing by, or... did Muzan discover something?
The anime didn't seem to show that scene, otherwise she should have remembered and recorded it back then.
Because Mizuki was unsure of the facts, she hesitated about whether or not to let Nezuko stay behind.
Fortunately, Nezuko and Kie were both very understanding, or else she definitely wouldn't have been able to say it.
Tonight, she would know the answer... When she brought the Tanjirou family to the town, it was midday, and the streets were mostly empty, which made it easier for Mizuki to settle them in.
Mizuki pushed open the main door and led them inside.
"Wow~ What a big house~"
As soon as they entered, the two children's eyes lit up and they ran around everywhere.
Takeo curled his lip and muttered silently.
Immature.
Kie Kamado quickly stopped them: "Alright, stop running around everywhere."
Mizuki shook her head: "It's fine, I live here alone."
Kie Kamado's eyes widened slightly: "Eh? You live here all by yourself?"
"Huh?"
"I thought you were already married."
Mizuki's mouth twitched slightly. Her current body was fixed to her appearance before death, which was that of a twenty-five-year-old.
In this era, it was indeed rare for someone twenty-five years old to not yet be married.
Mizuki didn't want to chat idly about this topic, so she changed the subject: "I think everyone must be hungry. Madam, let me take you to the kitchen first."
"Ah, okay."
Although Mizuki didn't need to eat human food, she still took the time to greet a vegetable farmer and ask him to deliver vegetables to her house every week, just to avoid attracting attention from the townspeople.
So there was fresh food stocked in the kitchen.
After showing Kie Kamado the kitchen, Mizuki said, "I have to leave now. I'll leave this place in your care, Madam."
"Please don't be formal, Madam. Just treat this as your own home. You can arrange the rooms however you like."
Before Kie Kamado could speak, Hanako's eyes sparkled: "Really? Can I choose my own room?"
Mizuki laughed lightly, squatted down, and patted her head: "It's true. Just treat it like your own home. As long as you don't hurt yourselves, you can play however you want."
"Big Sister is so nice~" Hanako jumped up, kissed her, and then dashed away.
Kie said helplessly, "You are too kind."
Mizuki smiled: "It's me who should say that. It's been a long time since the house was this lively. Please, Madam, don't feel constrained."
Kie Kamado was a little touched: "I'm older than you. Just call me Sister Kie."
Mizuki paused for a moment, then smiled: "Alright, Sister Kie."
..."Please lock the doors and windows tonight. I've planted wisteria flower all around the residence. Demons fear this stuff the most and won't dare enter the house."
Kie Kamado nodded seriously: "I understand."
Mizuki nodded slightly, preparing to leave.
"Please wait a moment." Kie suddenly called out, "I have another child named Tanjirou, who sells charcoal in town."
"I don't know where he is at this time. If Miss Mizuki sees him, please look after him for me."
"That child looks very much like Takeo."
The town wasn't huge, but it certainly wasn't small enough to traverse quickly.
Thinking that Kie Kamado might go out looking for Tanjirou, Mizuki hesitated briefly, then explained to Kie that she should stay home and relax; Mizuki would bring him back with her tomorrow.
Kie Kamado chuckled softly: "Knowing Mizuki is here puts my mind at ease."
Mizuki stopped just two steps outside the door.
She felt it necessary to explain the situation clearly to a mother, no matter how difficult it was to say.
Mizuki took a deep breath and turned around.
Kie Kamado looked at her doubtfully.
"Nezuko... might possess a special aptitude..."
"A special aptitude?"
"The aptitude to maintain sanity after turning into a Demon."
Kie Kamado was momentarily stunned. Her reaction wasn't slow; she understood just by looking at Mizuki's hesitant manner.
"So... you want Nezuko to become a Demon?"
Fearing misunderstanding, Mizuki quickly said, "Nezuko becoming a Demon might be a great help in eliminating the Demon King."
Her explanation sounded very crude, something difficult for an ordinary person to understand.
But Kie Kamado got the answer she wanted from Mizuki's uneasy expression.
Kie Kamado forced a small smile: "I trust Mizuki, because Mizuki is very kind."
Mizuki opened her mouth: "...Thank you."
...Leaving the house, Mizuki quickly rushed toward the mountain.
At her speed, she quickly returned to Tanjirou's house.
Nezuko was finishing cleaning the kitchen after eating, and she looked surprised to see Mizuki: "Did Yuko-san eat?"
"I have." Mizuki shook her head, and after helping Nezuko tidy up the kitchen, she went to the back of the house.
She cleared out a pile of weeds. The grave mound from hundreds of years ago was no longer recognizable.
Nezuko asked doubtfully: "What is this?"
"...The grave of my older brother and sister-in-law."
Nezuko's expression became more serious, but she was also puzzled.
This place looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a long time, so how could Yuko-san's older brother and sister-in-law be buried here?
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
👉 patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!