Demon Slayer: Upper 0 seems to be a waste

"You're really malnourished. I'm almost taller than you, but you haven't grown at all."

Shinobu raised her hand and gestured with her palm above her head and the boy's head.

Time is passing.

Kanae's height is approaching her mother's, and Shinobu needs to redraw the horizontal line representing her height.

But time stands still.

For Rinko.

Kanae still remembers how much Shinobu disliked the fact that Rinkou was taller than her when they first met, but as the days passed, when they stood together again inadvertently, Shinobu realized that her height had caught up with Rinkou, and Kanae also realized belatedly that the boy seemed to be no different from when they first met: height, appearance, voice, dress, everything was the same as when they first met.

It seemed as if time never visited him when it came, and never told him when it left. He was just forgotten by time in the mountains and forests.

"After all, Rinkou is a boy, so he'll probably grow taller later."

This was of course a lie. Rinkou was older than Shinobu, and Shinobu had reached the age of growth. There was no reason for Rinkou to be the same as he was a few years ago.

"Maybe it's malnutrition. I grew very slowly as a child, too."

Rinko explained softly, a somewhat vague explanation that made Kanae feel relieved. If this continued, she would start to suspect that Rinko was indeed the immortal ghost in his stories. But Rinko had never eaten anyone, and no one in the town had been killed. Surely, it was just a story to scare Shinobu.

"Then maybe in two years I'll be taller than you."

"Congratulations in advance."

Lin Guang followed them slowly and naturally took over the bamboo basket behind Shinobu.

"What are you picking today?"

As Kanae and Shinobu grew up, the one from the Butterfly family would ask them to help with some small chores, such as picking some herbs or helping to make some prescriptions, but the place for picking herbs was limited to the mountain where Rinkou lived, because there were almost no wild animals here and the plants grew better.

"It's a herb that looks like this. There have been a lot of people coming to see the doctor lately, and Dad is a little overwhelmed, so my sister and I have to come out. But in a few years, we will be able to help take care of it, and Dad will probably have a little more relief."

Lin Guang leaned his head to look at the wrapped herbs that Shinobu took out. He didn't recognize these herbs before, but after following Shinobu and Kanae for a long time, he got to know quite a few of them. Anyway, he had nothing to do in the mountains, so identifying herbs was a kind of entertainment.

Besides, Muzan has been studying these things for a long time... If he could understand a little bit, he would be happy too.

"I know this. It's near the cliff, but there are no trees over there. Let's go there last."

No one had any objection to this arrangement. Rinkou was responsible for leading the way, while Shinobu and Kanae would make sure whether those were the herbs they needed. From afternoon to night, the final destination was a steep cliff. When Rinkou went down, the two sisters were frightened, but the boy easily threw the herbs into a bamboo basket and climbed up smoothly with the basket on his back.

After picking the stock needed for today, Shinobu and Kanae were escorted back to the village gate by Rinko.

"Go back early, it's dangerous at night."

Lin Guang waved to the two sisters and turned to walk towards the mountains.

Such ordinary days are also very interesting. Shinobu will grow up, and Kanae will grow up too. They may take over the family clinic in the future, and may become pharmacists as good as their father. They may find excellent men in the future, and like Makijuro, they will get married, have children, and then start a life that belongs to them.

But that's their own story. Wait a little longer, until Shinobu is taller than him, then Rinkou will leave here.

Lin Guang did not wait for the day when Shinobu grew taller than him, but before that he received the news of their separation.

The girl's voice echoed in the silent forest, calling his name over and over again, just like every time they came.

But this time, the girl who stepped into the forest was covered in blood, and there was a man as tall as a mountain standing behind her.

Rinkou blinked, but walked over without hesitation, letting the crying Shinobu fall into his arms.

This is an unfortunate story that happens wherever ghosts pass by.

A happy family, but overnight, no one survived. The good news is that a man passing by saved the girl who was hiding in a corner and almost died. The bad news is that the person who fell will never stand up again.

"Rinko, we will leave here with Mr. Beimingyu. Do you want to come with us?"

Kanae wiped away her tears and asked him softly. Shinobu took his hand, and as always, without waiting for his answer, she pulled him towards the man known as Beiming Island.

"Will you leave with us, kid?"

The man's voice was deep and oppressive, and so was his stature: tall and strong. Behind him hung a hammer larger than his head, stained with unwashed blood from the unfortunate ghost.

Lin Guang said nothing.

Use silence as a polite refusal.

Shinobu didn't understand his decision, but she no longer had the energy to persuade him. In comparison, Kanae was much more open-minded.

"You should pay more attention in the future, Rinko, be careful. Your health is very poor, remember to get more rest."

Even after encountering such a thing, Kanae was still able to smile at him at this time.

"If you join the Demon Slayer Corps. Maybe we'll meet again in the future."

Rinkou spoke as they turned to leave.

"How do you know about the Demon Slayer Corps..."

When Kanae turned around, the boy had disappeared, just like he had appeared without warning many years ago. When the door closed and opened again, the boy disappeared like a gust of wind without warning.

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【tips：

A little digression. I felt a bit emotional when writing about Shinobu Kocho. Butterfly, butterfly, it really is like a butterfly, constantly striving to fly until it is caught in a trap set by an evil spirit.

Even if you are always vigilant, you are always one step behind.

Her father had said that Rinko was in poor health, but Rinko was always healthy, so she remembered it but didn't take it to heart until Rinko collapsed in front of her, then she realized how important it was.

Lin Guang told her that it was very dangerous at night and that ghosts would appear, but she had never seen one, so she remembered it but didn't take it to heart until her parents died in front of her and she realized the danger.

She knew how dangerous and powerful ghosts were, but her sister always comforted her, so she just let her sister go out every time until her sister died in front of her.

She is a very lucky butterfly. She faces traps again and again, but is always protected and always survives by chance. But she is also an unlucky butterfly, because in the end, she is the only one left with everything she has.

But at least she will always be that brave butterfly. Even if there are dangers in the mountains, she will take a step down the mountain to seek help; even if she witnesses the viciousness of the man-eating demon with her own eyes, she will follow Gyomei to join the Demon Slayer Corps to protect more people; even if she witnesses the death of her sister, she has never been timid or afraid, but bravely and fearlessly spreads her wings and runs towards the evil demon who set a trap.

Enter the game with your body, gamble with your life, and ultimately win half the battle.

So, brave butterfly, spread your wings and fly. The nets you break through will eventually allow more butterflies to soar in the blue sky.