Demon Slayer: Upper 0 seems to be a waste

Lin Guang is not good at remembering things.

He is not good at remembering faces, smells, voices, or things that happened many years ago. The long years have always covered his head with layer upon layer of sand and dust. So when he suddenly recalls them, everything is blurry and he can't distinguish the original appearance.

----

"Are you sleepy, brother? You can't even open your eyes——"

The girl's childish voice came from the front with a smile.

"It seems so. It's rare to see Rinkou so listless."

The protagonist in question leaned in the man's arms, his eyes closed, his head nodding forward as he walked, as if he was about to fall asleep but stubbornly persisted.

"Maybe I was too tired from playing just now."

The man responded softly, lowering his eyes to glance at the boy's eyes that could no longer be opened.

"Then go back quickly and let brother have a good rest. I've given Dad to him. Tomorrow he will play with me and have fun—"

Chiyo's voice was high, her joy evident in every word.

"Okay, okay, Lingguang will accompany you tomorrow."

Miss Li used her gentle voice to comfort the girl, asking her to be quiet so as not to wake up the sleepy Lin Guang.

The atmosphere was harmonious until a strange noise that didn't belong to the atmosphere disturbed the boy's light sleep.

The hurried footsteps were somewhat obvious even though they were covered by the bustling crowd. They gradually became clearer from far away to near, and the rhythm was out of tune with the noisy yet dull atmosphere around them.

The footsteps stopped in an instant, and the palm of a hand slapped the shoulder. The sound was dull because of the obstruction of the cloth, but the force was not light and the sound was loud, so close that it seemed to be right next to the ear.

The shaking during the movement also stopped at the same time. Lin Guang forced himself to open his eyes, and his head, which had been noisy and bumpy, finally straightened up.

"what happens......?"

The vision obscured by Muzan was restored when he turned sideways. The person who stopped them was a boy wrapped in a scarf covering his head. Rinko rubbed his eyes and tried to clear his blurred vision.

"Who is he?"

When she opened her eyes again, she saw a boy's face. He was very young, not as tall as Muzan, and had a unique scar on his forehead. Rinko didn't remember such a person appearing around Muzan, and a boy of this age certainly didn't look like someone 'Tsukihiko' would know.

When those red eyes moved from Muzan's face to his, the shock was mixed with great sadness. His frown and unconscious action of covering his mouth symbolized that he was enduring something completely unexpected. Rinkou tilted his head, not understanding what he was surprised about.

"I don't know... I don't remember either. What can I do for you? You seem quite flustered."

Muzan used 'Tsukihiko's' usual gentle tone and politely asked the inexplicable person who blocked his way.

Looking from top to bottom, Lin Guang's gaze finally fell on the Sun Blade on the other person's waist.

Someone from the Demon Slayer Corps?

Why was he here? No, it wasn't strange for him to be here, but why did he come to them? Did he notice something was wrong with them...?

"Dad—brother—what's wrong?"

The girl realized that the father and son behind her had not caught up with her, so she turned back and ran to Muzan first. She looked at her brother and father, then tilted her head to look at the tall boy in front of her.

"who is this?"

Chiyo tugged at the corner of Rinko's clothes and asked softly. Rinko looked away and shook his head slightly.

"I do not know either."

"Chiyo, run slower. Is Rinkou awake yet?"

Miss Li protected Chiyo in front of her, touched Lingguang's head, and then looked at the boy who ran out from nowhere.

"Is it someone you know?"

Muzan turned his head to look at the boy, seemed to recall it seriously again, and finally denied it again.

"No. It's a coincidence. I don't know him at all... I think I recognized the wrong person."

Having said that, Lin Guang noticed that the hand that was supporting his back had left his back. It was only for a brief moment, and perhaps no one else would have noticed it, but his ears caught the sound of the wind, and the sound of flesh being cut and blood splattering.

The sweetness of the blood was faint, but it was captured clearly.

Lin Guang felt a little hungry for the first time in a long time.

A roar sounded behind him, and the boy in front of him suddenly pushed them away. Lin Guang's vision moved again. The man who suddenly jumped up attacked his wife, and the smell of blood gradually became stronger.

The streets were in chaos, and Lin Guang was recalling when he had last eaten. It had been so long since he had eaten anything a ghost should eat, and for the first time, his stomach was silently clamoring because there was nothing inside.

"stop it now!"

The boy's roar brought Lin Guang back to his senses. The scarf was pulled off, revealing his short red hair and a pair of unusually conspicuous earrings.

earring?

"Chiyo, you can't look at this."

The voice above his head made Rinko look at Muzan, and then followed his gaze to look at Chiyo who was frightened by the scene before her. He reached out and held the hand that was tightly grasping the corner of his clothes.

"Chiyo, don't be afraid. It's okay."

"Uh-huh."

Even though she was so scared that she couldn't make a sound, Chiyo still tried to nod her head and respond vaguely.

"Miss Li, it's very dangerous here. Let's go to the other side."

The streets were still noisy and the commotion behind them continued, but Lin Guang just grabbed the hand and left with his "sister".

"Kibutsuji Muzan! I will never let you go! No matter where you go! Never!"

Like a thunderclap, the boy's roar passed through the crowd, across the street, and reached his ears clearly. It was completely instinctive, and under the huge sense of oppression, Lin Guang's pupils suddenly shrank.

His heart seemed to be pinched, and breathing and heartbeat became extremely difficult. He remembered this feeling, but it was not from the room a year ago, but from the more distant past. He had experienced it before, in the night of too long ago, hundreds of years ago, he had experienced this feeling.

This is not anger.

It's fear.

It is an indescribable fear. When facing true death, it will drown all acquired consciousness, trample all rationality into the abyss, and leave only the fear of the desire to survive.

"What happened to that child...?"

Miss Li asked in confusion, but this time, 'Yue Yan' did not give her an answer, but just quickened his pace without any expression.

"No matter where you go, I will never let you go! I will chase you to the end of hell and take your head! I will never forgive you!"

It sounded like the miserable howl of a ghost from hell, drifting farther and farther away on the street.

----

----

"Dad isn't coming?"

The fear on Chiyo's face had not faded when she was handed to Miss Li's arms. The girl instinctively longed for her father's comfort. Her hands stretched out towards Muzan, hoping to be held by her father for a while longer, but Muzan shook his head gently.

"I have work to do and must attend the meeting. Besides, the commotion just now has me very concerned..."

"Honey......"

"It's okay. I'm just going to ask the officer."

There was a flawless and gentle smile on Muzan's face.

For a moment, Lin Guang almost thought that the huge emotional fluctuation just now was just a dream when he was still half asleep, if the hanging hand had not grabbed his hand and never let go.

"Rinko, do you want to go back with us?"

Miss Li looked at the boy standing next to Muzan who had not spoken since leaving the street and asked softly.

"The child is a little hungry. I'll take him to find something to eat and drink to calm him down. We'll go back together later."

Muzan often took Rinkou out at night to do things together. Miss Li was confused at first, but then she noticed that Rinkou was a quick learner and Muzan often taught him some work, so she stopped being suspicious. She just thought that Muzan was training the child from a young age. After all, it was a boy, so there was no harm in starting from elementary school.

But, under such special circumstances today, wouldn't it be a bit difficult to take the child out?

Miss Li frowned slightly, still looking a little worried.

"It's okay. Miss Li, I will stay with the gentleman. I'm fine. Chiyo, you must listen to Miss Li. I will come back to see you later with some candy."

Lin Guang noticed that the hand holding him was gradually tightening, and before his bones made a strange sound, he took the initiative to speak, with a decent smile on his face. As he spoke, he reached out and gently patted Chiyo's back.

"Well, it's a deal. Brother and Dad have to come back early."

"Okay, sit on it."

The car door closed in front of him, and Rinkou was picked up, waving gently at Chiyo in the car.

"We agreed to come back early."

Chiyo leaned on the car window and pleaded softly towards them.

"Yes. I will take my brother back as soon as possible, so be obedient. Send them both to the mansion, go ahead."

The vehicle drove away in front of him, and the smile on Wuzan's face disappeared when he turned around.

When Lin Guang stepped into the dark alley, he finally remembered who the face blurred by time belonged to, and why those eyes looked at him with surprise and sadness.

Muzan was right. I won’t be so happy when I see you again...