Why does the world show a health bar? !

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: A strange attack



While the Kasugai Crows often bring information, they also bring missions. A few days later, Li Mo once again set out on a journey. The crow had brought orders from the leader, and his destination was Tokyo. However, this time, he wasn't traveling alone—Kocho Kanae was accompanying him to Tokyo.

"Why did the leader send you to Tokyo, Kanae-san?"

Filled with questions, Li Mo wanted to understand the reason behind Kanae's assignment to Tokyo. He was going to replace the Flame Pillar and oversee the region, but what about Kanae? Newcomers who passed the "Final Selection" weren't usually sent to such high-risk areas.

Tokyo was densely populated, and beneath its bustling surface lay unseen darkness. Every day, people went missing in this city—whether they were eaten by demons or disappeared for other reasons remained a mystery. What was certain was that powerful demons appeared in this city every day.

The reason Tamayo-nee hadn't left Tokyo was twofold. On one hand, it was a hub for cutting-edge knowledge, allowing her to stay informed about the world. On the other hand, it was easier to find corpses here to sustain her life without eating humans. Wait… could it be that Kanae-san was going to meet Tamayo-nee?

Kocho Kanae said, "The leader instructed me to meet someone in Tokyo. He said it's that professional."

A professional? Who could be more professional than Tamayo-nee? Li Mo nodded. "I understand the leader's reasoning. If it's Kanae-san, you'll get along well with that professional. No wonder Shinobu didn't come along—she wouldn't be as suitable to meet that lady."

Kocho Kanae was a gentle person. Even when facing demons, she remained kind. It was rare to find someone in the Demon Slayer Corps who could coexist harmoniously with demons. The current leader didn't yet have the overwhelming authority to suppress all dissent, but that gentle man would surely reach that point one day.

"Is that professional a woman?"

"Yes, she's a very refined and elegant lady. You'll understand once you meet her, Kanae-san."

Upon arriving in Tokyo, Li Mo personally escorted Kocho Kanae to Tamayo's residence. After seeing the pharmacist's daughter and the demon physician engage in a pleasant conversation, he left under Yushiro's murderous glare.

"See you next time, Li-san."

"See you next time, Kanae-san."

After leaving Tamayo-nee's place, Li Mo went to find Rengoku Shinjuro. He found the Flame Pillar in a ramen shop, seemingly having just sat down to rest and replenish his energy by devouring bowls of ramen.

Looking at the stack of empty bowls beside him, Li Mo realized that Rengoku Shinjuro must have been truly hungry.

"Junior, I've noticed that every time we meet, it's at this ramen shop!"

"That's because you love eating at this ramen shop, Rengoku-san. That's why we keep running into each other here."

Rengoku Shinjuro quickly finished the bowl of ramen in front of him and said, "You're right! Just thinking about not being able to eat such delicious ramen after leaving here makes me sad."

Li Mo sat down next to Rengoku Shinjuro and said, "If you say that, Ruka-nee will get angry. Isn't her ramen better than this shop's?"

Rengoku Ruka was Rengoku Shinjuro's wife. Over the past year, Li Mo had visited the Rengoku household many times. Through these visits, he had grown closer to the family.

—Though he didn't fully understand why, Li Mo noticed that Rengoku Ruka, like Kamado Kie, treated him like a younger brother. Why was that? Am I just a little brother to everyone?

Not that he disliked it.

"Ruka only cooks rice at home now," Rengoku Shinjuro said, believing that this junior, whom Ruka treated like a brother, would understand.

Li Mo tapped his palm, suddenly realizing, "Oh, right. Kyojuro loves rice, and Ruka-nee prefers cooking rice."

"Exactly. Even when Ruka isn't in the kitchen, she specifically instructs the servants to make rice," Rengoku Shinjuro said.

Li Mo remarked, "It's strange for a Japanese person like you to dislike rice."

To Japanese people, rice was the staple food. In their culinary culture, there were even dishes like ramen served with rice—ramen was considered a side dish.

Rengoku Shinjuro said seriously, "I don't dislike rice. I just prefer ramen over rice."

"Right, right."

In the Rengoku household, the son who loved rice and the father who loved ramen were an irreconcilable pair. Ruka-nee could cook both ramen and rice without issue, but Rengoku-san always felt that eating both at the same time made the ramen less enjoyable.

The passionate Rengoku-san had this one peculiar quirk.

"By the way, Rengoku-san, how's Kyojuro's training going?" Li Mo asked.

"He's mastered the earlier forms of the Flame Breathing techniques! Thanks to your help, junior!" Rengoku Shinjuro said.

"When are you leaving, Rengoku-san? How's Ruka-nee's health?"

A year could bring many changes. For example, Rengoku Kyojuro's mastery of Flame Breathing had improved significantly, while Rengoku Ruka's health had deteriorated. The lady of the Rengoku household could now only spend most of her time bedridden—much like Kamado Tanjuro.

—No, there were differences. Tanjuro could still move around using Breathing Techniques and could easily fend off wild animals. Ruka-nee, on the other hand, had become a frail woman.

The reason Rengoku Shinjuro was leaving Tokyo was to return home and check on his family. At the same time, he was transferring his responsibilities from Tokyo to his home region.

"I'll be leaving the day after tomorrow. As for Ruka's health, the doctor says she needs to rest for a while. Don't worry, young man, Ruka will get better."

"Why the day after tomorrow? I'm already here, aren't I?"

Rengoku Shinjuro set down his chopsticks and said, "That's what I need to explain. Last night, I saved a merchant from a demon. During the encounter, I realized the demon wasn't attacking the merchant to eat him but had specifically targeted him."

"What's strange about that? Couldn't it just be the demon's revenge…" Demons were once human, and as humans, they inevitably had grudges and emotions. But if that were the case, Li Mo didn't think it was worth Rengoku Shinjuro bringing it up.

It wasn't about eating humans but specifically targeting someone…

"Rengoku-san, are you saying that after killing the merchant, the demon left the body behind?"

Rengoku Shinjuro nodded. "Yes, and it tried to make it look like the merchant was killed by a normal human with a blade."

"Why go through all that trouble?" Li Mo asked. Demons could kill using their powerful bodies and mysterious Blood Demon Arts. Using weapons like blades seemed unnecessary.

Rengoku Shinjuro said seriously, "Exactly. Tomorrow, I want you to come with me to meet that merchant. Let's see what the demons are up to."


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