Chapter 38: It's Konpeito!
"If that's true, I would be very happy for you, Tatsu."
She reached out and gently placed her hand over Tatsu's on the table.
Although a demon's body temperature is low, she didn't mind.
"I will help you with this."
Her gaze became serious.
"If we find that flower, I will do everything in my power to protect you until your wish is fulfilled."
She thought about how if Tatsu truly conquered the sun, it might attract the attention of Muzan Kibutsuji.
That cowardly Demon King would never allow a creature more perfect than himself to exist in this world.
Danger would follow one after another.
But Kanae was not afraid.
On the contrary, she felt a long-lost fighting spirit.
"I will protect you."
She swore silently in her heart.
"Whether it's for you, or for that dream of 'humans and demons living in peace'."
"Thank you, Kanae."
Tatsu turned his hand over and gently grasped hers.
"However, the most important thing right now..."
Tatsu suddenly blinked, breaking the somewhat sentimental atmosphere.
A playful smile appeared on his face.
"Shouldn't we look forward to that miso soup with wild vegetables Nezuko mentioned?
I can already smell the fragrance."
Kanae was taken aback, then let out a sudden laugh.
She withdrew her hand and chuckled behind her palm, her eyes curving like crescents.
"You... you're clearly a demon, so why are you more of a glutton than I am?"
"Only fine food and love cannot be let down."
Tatsu casually tossed out a meme that hadn't appeared in this era yet, his expression relaxed and natural.
Outside, the eastern sky was already turning the color of a fish's belly.
The morning light pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the treetops of Mount Kumotori.
...
The sky had just darkened, and the last glow of the setting sun was swallowed by the mountains.
The night curtain, like a vast deep-blue velvet cloth, softly enveloped the simple residence nestled deep in the mountains.
"So cool! Kanae-sister is so cool!"
A childish cry of surprise broke the silence of the night; it was Takeo's voice.
He was staring wide-eyed, looking at the scene before him with a face full of disbelief.
Surrounded by the children, Kanae Kocho was currently squatting on the ground.
She was skillfully manipulating several thin strings in her hands.
Her slender, fair fingers danced like butterflies weaving through flowers.
In the blink of an eye, those seemingly ordinary strings transformed into complex patterns in her hands.
"This is a rabbit. See? Doesn't it look like one?"
Kanae Kocho tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile on her face.
"Wow—!"
Young Rokuta lay on Kanae's lap, drool almost leaking out.
This beautiful big sister before him was simply a magician.
"I want to see more! I want to see more!"
"I want to learn too! Kanae-sister, teach me!"
Hanako squeezed to Kanae's side, her small hand tightly clutching the sleeve of Kanae's Haori.
She had never seen someone so beautiful and so gentle.
It was as if a mountain deity had transformed into a person, carrying a faint, pleasant floral scent.
It was even more fragrant than the wildflowers blooming on the slopes in spring.
"Alright, alright, everyone take it slow. Sister will teach all of you."
Kanae Kocho patiently undid the string knots in her hand.
She slowed down her movements, demonstrating to the children step by step.
"First, hook it around your thumb like this, then..."
Not far away under the eaves, Tatsu was leaning against a rough wooden pillar with his arms crossed.
He had a piece of foxtail grass he'd picked casually dangling from his mouth, watching the scene with boredom.
"Honestly, this Kanae is having more fun than the kids."
Tatsu complained silently in his heart, but the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled into an arc.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the woods at the end of the mountain path, accompanied by slightly heavy breathing.
Tatsu's ears twitched. He spat out the foxtail grass and stood up straight.
"She's back."
Emerging from the darkness was a young girl carrying an empty basket.
She wore a pink hemp-leaf patterned kimono, and her long black hair was tied in a bun behind her head.
Fine beads of sweat hung on her forehead; she had clearly run all the way back.
Nezuko Kamado.
As soon as Nezuko stepped out of the woods, she saw Tatsu standing at the door.
Her originally anxious footsteps came to a sudden halt, and a look of guilt appeared on her face.
She walked quickly to Tatsu, her hands tightly gripping the basket straps, and lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly:
"I'm sorry... Brother Tatsu."
Nezuko's chest was heaving violently; she was clearly exhausted.
But she couldn't care about resting and explained urgently:
"I searched all over the western slopes and the southern valley today,
But... but I still couldn't find that blue spider lily.
I'm really sorry!
I will definitely wake up earlier tomorrow and go further to look!
Please give me a little more time!"
For this eldest daughter who valued family and always put others first,
failing to complete a guest's entrustment,
even if it was just a casual request, would make her feel deeply uneasy.
"Hey, it's no big deal."
Tatsu reached out, his broad palm resting gently on top of Nezuko's head.
As if soothing a startled kitten, he rubbed it gently.
"That flower is extremely rare. If it were that easy for you to find,
would it still be called a legendary flower?
No need to rush, Nezuko."
He truly hadn't expected Nezuko to find the blue spider lily so quickly.
That was something Muzan hadn't found in over a thousand years.
If Nezuko had brought it back after just one stroll outside,
Muzan would probably be so angry he'd commit suicide by sunbathing on the spot.
"But..."
Nezuko looked up, her pink eyes still filled with unease.
"Brother Tatsu needs it to treat his illness..."
"I do need it, but these things depend on fate."
Tatsu shrugged and spoke with an air of indifference.
"And you don't have to specifically go look for me every day.
Just take a casual look if you have time, and don't worry about it if you don't.
Look at you, running until you're covered in sweat.
If you wear yourself out, that kid Tanjiro will definitely come at me with an axe when he sees you,
and I'd be wrongly accused to death."
Tatsu made a small joke, trying to ease Nezuko's tension.
Nezuko was amused by Tatsu's words and broke into a smile through her tears, bashfully wiping the corners of her eyes.
"Brother wouldn't hack Brother Tatsu; Brother is the most reasonable person."
"Yes, yes, your brother is the greatest good person in the world."
Tatsu laughed and shook his head, then as if suddenly remembering something,
he reached into his robes and fumbled around for a bit.
"Right, hold out your hands."
Tatsu said mysteriously.
Nezuko was stunned for a moment and subconsciously held out both hands, palms up.
Tatsu took out a small package wrapped in colored paper from his robes,
and gently placed it in Nezuko's palm.
"Here, your payment for the hard work."
Nezuko curiously opened the paper package.
Instantly, multi-colored light reflected in her eyes.
They were small star-shaped candies with points,
red, yellow, green, and white, shimmering with an enticing luster under the dim light.
"Wow..."
Nezuko couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration.
Her eyes instantly lit up, as if two stars were hidden inside.
"It's Konpeito!"
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