CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: HAUNTED?

This was a particularly difficult night for Sosuke, who experienced an unfamiliar sense of unease.

Not only did he struggle to fall asleep, but when he woke up to find the space beside him empty, he felt an inexplicable emptiness.

He rubbed his face wearily, glanced at the faintly brightening sky outside, and sat up. "No wonder people left alone in empty rooms harbor such resentment. Sometimes it’s not about needing to do anything; simply missing someone by your side can make you feel utterly restless."

He got out of bed, determined not to waste the precious morning hours.

With no blacksmithing duties to attend to, Sosuke went outside to train his body.

He didn’t return to his room until the sky had fully brightened.

Reconsidering everything that had happened since his trip to Mt. Sagiri, he felt his progress in crafting puppets was still too slow.

Sitting at his desk, he took out paper and pen.

"The core details—the parts controlling the puppet’s movements—cannot be divided; I must handle those myself. But after my experience on Mt. Sagiri, I’ve identified components that can be manufactured separately and assembled later."

Analyzing the function of each part, Sosuke began sketching diagrams on the paper.

He planned to dedicate the entire day to drawing out all the components that could be produced separately and assigning their production.

Then, tomorrow, he would set out for the Rengoku family.

After all, the repair of the Nichirin Blade needed to be completed as soon as possible. If it malfunctioned at a critical moment, the resulting regret and sorrow would be unbearable.

He had only sketched a few components when it was time for breakfast.

During breakfast, he noticed tha Kanae’s sleep hadn’t been restful either.

Shinobu had shaken off her dejection from yesterday and seemed in much better spirits today, even casting several approving glances at Sosuke.

’I wonder what those sisters talked about last night,’ he mused.

After breakfast, Sosuke explained the upcoming itinerary to Kanae. During the explanation, Shinobu repeatedly hesitated, wanting to speak but ultimately holding back.

She secretly wished to accompany them, hoping to keep a closer eye on her sister’s growing intimacy with Sosuke.

However, as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, she had her own responsibilities and couldn’t act on impulse.

In the end, the peace she had finally found last night began to sour into melancholy once more.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that some immense force in the world was preventing her from doing what she should.

Her mood soured, she lost interest in listening to their conversation and decided to go for a walk to clear her head.

Inside, Sosuke couldn’t resist asking Kanae, "What did you two talk about last night?"

Kanae rolled her eyes at him. "She was singing your praises, of course. How wonderful you are, how gentle you are... and she even mentioned us living together, yet... Hmph!"

The unspoken words hung in the air, their meaning clear. Kanae gave Sosuke a pointed look, letting him draw his own conclusions.

Sosuke fell silent, yet something felt off. "You told her we live together, and she didn’t even try to kill me today?"

"I told her you’ve been sleeping on the floor this whole time..." Kanae’s face flushed crimson. She couldn’t possibly admit they’d been sharing the same bed all along.

Sosuke couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re just lying to a child."

"Then I’ll go tell her the truth," Kanae retorted, glaring at him.

Sosuke quickly grabbed her hand. "I’d like to live a few more days, thank you."

Kanae burst into laughter. "She’s not that ferocious!"

"She may be small, but her ferocity is terrifying!" Sosuke pulled Kanae into his arms. After a moment’s hesitation and a glance at the door, she finally nestled against his shoulder.

The two murmured sweet nothings, sharing secrets no outsider should hear—the kind that would make anyone’s skin crawl. They lingered in this intimate embrace for another half-hour, lost in their own world.

The conversation ended only when Shinobu pushed the door open and entered.

After that, Sosuke returned to his drawings while Kanae stayed to chat with Shinobu.

The day passed in this manner.

Early the next morning, the two packed their belongings and set off on their journey once more.

A heavy snowfall had recently blanketed the region, and the accumulated snow was only just beginning to melt. The muddy ground quickly froze in the frigid air, leaving behind numerous hardened footprints across the landscape.

They trudged along this frozen path toward the Rengoku family’s estate.

Three days later, as nightfall approached, they finally reached a small town.

The warmth of human habitation and the scent of cooking fires immediately dispelled much of their travel fatigue and the biting cold.

Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, they strolled down the town’s main street.

Kanae’s beautiful eyes scanned their surroundings. Suddenly, she sniffed the air and exclaimed, "It smells delicious!"

Sosuke caught the scent too and pointed. "Ramen!"

A ramen stall stood at the edge of the street. A steaming bowl of noodles on such a freezing day would be a perfect treat.

The two immediately went over, lifted the curtain, and sat down.

The owner, a middle-aged man, seemed to have been preparing to close up shop, but hesitated when he saw them. In the end, he made two bowls of ramen as requested.

After handing them over, he said, "Eat quickly and hurry home."

Sosuke didn’t think much of it, but Kanae seemed to sense something unusual.

She glanced at the sky and asked, "Closing up so early?"

"Mm-hmm," the owner nodded, then seemed to realize something. "You’re not from around here, are you?"

Kanae smiled and nodded.

"No wonder," the owner sighed. "Things haven’t been peaceful at night lately. People keep disappearing. After a while, no one wants to go out after dark anymore."

Hearing this, Sosuke looked up, a mouthful of ramen still dangling from his lips. With a loud slurp, he sucked the noodles into his mouth and swallowed hard. "Disappearing? Could it be demons?"

The owner’s face paled instantly, and he glared at Sosuke. "Don’t say such things!"

Looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, the shopkeeper lowered his voice. "That’s the rumor going around, but no one really knows what’s happening. They say it’s haunted, but no one’s ever seen a ghost. Of course, if anyone did see one, they probably wouldn’t be able to talk about it anyway. Anyway, if you’re just passing through, eat quickly and find a place to stay for the night. Leave as soon as it’s light tomorrow."

Hearing this, Sosuke and Kanae exchanged glances.

If they were just ordinary travelers, it would be best to avoid trouble. But... these travelers were Pillars!

How could they possibly ignore such a situation?

Sosuke found the situation quite novel. His previous encounters with demons had always been in dilapidated temples, mountain caves, or remote wilderness areas.

This was the first time he’d encountered such a phenomenon in a human town.

Of course, we can’t be certain yet if demons are at work, but we’ll know for sure by nightfall!