Demon Slayer: I Am a Demon Chapter 164 164: Shinobu Won’t Forget the Nickname Someone G

Kanroji Mitsuri had been looking forward to eting Kocho Shinobu at the Butterfly Mansion, completely unaware that Shinobu had already arrived at Mount Sagiri and had begun treating Shinazugawa Genya.

Genya's body was covered in wounds—far too many to count. When Shinobu pulled back his clothes and saw the extent of his injuries, even she was montarily stunned. For a brief mont, she fell silent. Then, without another word, she composed herself and began treating him with ticulous precision.

Her dical skill was extraordinary—even better than the rumors claid. By the ti she finished, the boy's complexion had visibly improved, recovering at a pace noticeable to the naked eye.

"Your physical ability is truly poor," Shinobu said while packing up her dical box after finishing the treatnt, her tone calm but rcilessly direct as she looked at Genya lying on the bed. "You are not suited to walk the path of a demon slayer. Stop trying to hunt demons. Your brother wouldn't want you to go down that road either."

The mont the words left her mouth, Shinobu froze.

Those cold, heartless words—words she had once found hateful—had been said to her before by Hijima Gyoi. Back then, after she repeatedly begged to join the Demon Slayer Corps, he had rejected her with much the sa reasoning.

And now, without realizing it, she had spoken almost those exact words herself.

"No way."

Genya clenched his teeth almost the instant she finished.

"No matter what, I'll make my brother acknowledge . No matter what, I'll fight beside him…"

Shinobu said nothing more. She only gave him a long, searching look before slinging her dicine box over her shoulder and walking out, leaving behind the furious boy gnashing his teeth on the bed.

Even after she stepped outside, she could still faintly hear his angry curses, his defiant protests echoing from the room.

And hearing them, Shinobu couldn't help rembering how she had felt when Hijima had rejected her.

Back then, she had been just like this boy—full of anger, unwilling to accept it.

Perhaps… Hijima Gyoi had felt exactly as she did now.

A warning born of kindness, only to be t with resentnt.

No wonder Hijima disliked children more than anything.

Even she, back then, had felt nothing but fury at being refused. Even now, a deep trace of grievance still lingered in her heart.

And yet, strangely, at this mont, so part of her felt released.

Because the truth was… Hijima hadn't been wrong.

At the ti, she truly had been almost incapable of walking the path of a demon slayer.

Shinobu lifted her hands and looked at them.

They were beautiful, delicate hands—but the joints were lined with calluses.

She had trained harder than anyone, pushed herself further than most ever would, but weakness was weakness. Her small fra ant little physical strength, and even now, severing a demon's neck through sheer force remained difficult for her.

If she hadn't recently extracted a lethal toxin from wisteria flowers and found another path to kill demons, then even dealing with ordinary demons would still have been a struggle.

Perhaps her sister, just as Shinazugawa Sanemi wished to protect his younger brother, had also never wanted her little sister to walk this road.

But she could no longer live the ordinary life her sister had once hoped for.

Too much had happened.

Those tragedies, that suffering—none of it could be erased, none of it could be treated as though it had never occurred. The pain had long since been branded into the deepest part of her soul.

As long as demons still existed in this world, as long as her heart continued to beat, she knew she would never stop thinking of one thing—

To hunt down and kill every last demon.

With these thoughts in her heart, Shinobu walked out of the room. Outside the door, the demon had been waiting for a while.

Seeing Shinobu erge, Soma smiled. "You must be tired from your journey, Miss Shinobu, and probably hungry as well. Lady Kie has prepared so delicious food. Please join us."

Shinobu raised her head and looked at the tall man standing before her.

And she had not forgotten.

Not for a second.

This was the very man who had called her a "Hobbit" behind her back.

It was truly... infuriating.

"Miss Shinobu isn't still holding a grudge over what happened earlier, is she?" Soma spoke again, his tone carrying that sa infuriating casualness. "If you are, then I can apologize to you again."

Shinobu pressed her lips together, teeth clenched as she forced out, "I'm not that petty."

"That's good, then."

With that, Soma simply turned and led the way.

Shinobu followed behind him with her dicine box hanging at her waist, but walking behind that tall figure only stirred an inexplicable irritation inside her. His words from before kept circling in her mind, refusing to leave—

"So it's the Hobbit, Shinobu."

Those words lingered in her mind, making her restless and agitated.

The girl stared at the man's back and thought silently: This person had better not get injured in the future. If he does, I'll definitely disinfect his wounds with salt water a few extra tis. I'm sure the pain will make him rember the price of offending Miss Shinobu.

As for other active forms of revenge, Shinobu hadn't considered them. Perhaps she might also poke him a few extra tis with her needles during treatnt.

Before long, Soma led Shinobu into the house.

The house had been built not long ago, and the rooms were very clean.

In the center of the main room stood a table, already set with food. The aroma of the dishes filled the room.

Several people were waiting in the house—adults and children alike. It looked like a very warm family.

"Let introduce everyone. This is Shinobu Kocho, a highly skilled physician."

After entering, Soma first introduced Shinobu to everyone, then introduced the mbers of the Kamado family to Shinobu: Kie, Tanjiro, Nezuko...

After the introductions, he led Shinobu to a seat nearby.

Shinobu knelt at the table, looking at the large spread of food. Though it wasn't lavish, the dishes were abundant: wild vegetable salad, miso soup, grilled fish...

All very hostyle cooking.

"I don't know if this suits your taste, Shinobu," Kamado Kie said apologetically from beside her. "Please forgive us if it's too humble."

"It's already wonderful," Shinobu replied softly, lowering her eyes. "With a table this full… I should be the one thanking everyone for their hospitality."

"Then Miss Shinobu should eat plenty," Soma cut in from the side. "Consider it part of my apology for my earlier rudeness."

Shinobu lifted her eyes and shot him a look.

He had ntioned apologizing several tis already on the way here, as though she were so impossibly narrow-minded woman who held onto every slight.

"I said I'm not that petty."

Then, as if to emphasize it, she added, "I already forgot about you speaking badly of behind my back."

Soma's mouth twitched slightly.

The more a woman repeated she had forgotten sothing, the more clearly she usually rembered it. As expected… when girls beca petty, they might really rember sothing for a lifeti.

Fortunately, Shinobu had no idea he was thinking such dangerous thoughts.

At that mont, she accepted the bowl of miso soup Kie handed her and quietly began to drink.

"Brother, I want grilled fish," Hanako said softly to Tanjiro beside her.

"I'll get you so."

Tanjiro stood and carefully picked out a piece of fish for his little sister.

"Brother, you have so too." Beside him, Nezuko also placed a piece on Tanjiro's plate, before taking the most tender portion of the fish and giving it to Soma.

It was a very warm, lively family dinner.

As Shinobu sipped her miso soup and watched the scene before her, a sudden lancholy rose in her chest.

Once, long ago, she too had shared als like this—with her sister, with her gentle mother, with her stern father.

There had been laughter.

Warmth.

Ho.

But all of that…

Had already passed.

Long, long ago.

"This is sweet red bean porridge," Kie said, ladling another bowl for Shinobu. "Please try so."

"Thank you, Lady Kie."

Shinobu accepted it politely and took small, quiet sips.

And sohow, in that warm and ordinary room, surrounded by the sounds of family, even the irritation lingering in her heart seed to soften.

Beside her, Nezuko lifted her head and looked at Shinobu with bright, expectant eyes.

"It's very good," Shinobu said softly, genuine admiration in her voice.

"My daughter Nezuko made it," Kamado Kie said, unable to hide her happiness. "She's been learning to cook red bean porridge lately. Recently she's even started learning sewing and weaving, and she can already make simple things…"

"That's impressive."

Shinobu couldn't help turning to look at Nezuko again.

The girl was not only beautiful, but irresistibly adorable in a way that made people warm to her the mont they t her. There was sothing naturally lovable about her, sothing soft and bright.

And for so reason, looking at her made Shinobu think of her sister.

Kanae had been like that too.

Beautiful, talented… extraordinary.

When they were young, Kanae had been known as the most gifted girl in town. She had learned to play the thirteen-string koto at an early age, knew flower arrangent, understood tea ceremony, and had captivated nearly every man in the village.

And the girl before her now…

Nezuko felt almost the sa.

"Sir, you should have a bowl too."

Nezuko served a bowl and placed it in front of Soma.

"Thank you."

Soma accepted it, split half with Kanao, and then drank in peace.

"Mother, tomorrow I want to learn sewing clothes like big sister," little Hanako said suddenly.

"Brother, teach swordsmanship tomorrow too!"

…

As Shinobu quietly sipped her porridge, she watched the family around her.

The children chatted in soft overlapping voices, one speaking after another, while Kamado Kie gently looked after them all with endless patience.

Watching it, Shinobu found herself thinking—strangely—that tonight's al tasted especially good.

Even the irritation she had felt earlier over being called a "Hobbit" behind her back no longer seed so important.

This family truly cared for one another.

It was as if even the air in the room had beco warm.

And once again, Shinobu found herself thinking back to the days before demons had shattered her own happiness. Those beautiful, peaceful mories now lay in ruins, little more than fragnts.

She took a large mouthful of red bean porridge and quietly pressed those mories back into the depths of her heart.

…

After the al, Soma spoke.

"Tomorrow I'll begin teaching the children Sun Breathing. Learning Sun Breathing may cause strain or even injury to the body, so I hope Miss Shinobu can watch over them."

"No problem."

Shinobu agreed at once.

That was part of why she had co to Mount Sagiri in the first place. And she understood, perhaps better than most, what it would an for the Demon Slayer Corps if Initial Swordsn could be cultivated. Even if Soma had not asked, she would have taken it seriously.

Soma nodded, then turned to Kamado Kie and said gently, "I'll trouble Lady Kie to arrange Miss Shinobu's lodging for tonight."

"Sir, Miss Shinobu will stay with tonight. I'll take good care of her."

"Then I'll leave it in your hands, Lady Kie."

"Please don't say that. It's only what I should do."

Shinobu said nothing, rely listening quietly as they made arrangents for her.

Then she silently watched as Soma led the girl with pinkish-purple eyes back to his room to rest.

And in that mont, she could feel how much this family relied on this man.

He didn't seem quite as terrible as she had first thought.

But still—

He was the man who had called her a Hobbit behind her back.

Even if…

It was technically true.

Still…

You can't just go around giving people nicknas!

Really—

It was infuriating.

Truly, deeply infuriating.

...

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