I, Yorii Tsugikuni, Must Do Something Chapter 5

Yorii Tsugikuni slowly opened his eyes.

Chapter 8: Malice Pure to the Extreme

'A carriage?'

Yorii Tsugikuni glanced at it with some curiosity.

At the end of the street, a carriage appeared that was obviously luxurious just by looking at it.

Although he didn't know the exact time, it was clearly very late, and he hadn't expected anyone to be out at this hour.

In Yorii Tsugikuni's memory, almost no one traveled at night. The era he was in was the period when Muzan Kibutsuji was most rampant.

Before Yorii Tsugikuni encountered Muzan Kibutsuji, there had never been any existence that could threaten Muzan Kibutsuji.

Especially since the era at that time was mainly one of cold weapons, Muzan Kibutsuji was even more rampant.

So, compared to the main storyline's time period in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba world, demons had almost become figures of legend. During the Sengoku period, demons weren't yet legends, and while not very common, they weren't rare either.

This was why Yorii Tsugikuni was somewhat surprised that people were still out at this hour.

Sayo and Ieyasu had no choice. They were strangers in a foreign land, penniless, but with decent basic strength.

Even if they encountered a demon with a Blood Demon Art, as long as it wasn't one of the Twelve Kizuki, even if Sayo and Ieyasu couldn't kill the demon, they could at least hold it off and escape without too much trouble.

However, the person in the luxurious carriage clearly didn't seem to be in such a predicament.

'Is this a big city?'

Yorii Tsugikuni mused inwardly.

Although he had felt that some places were a bit strange more than once since meeting Sayo and Ieyasu, he could accept some oddities considering he was in a prosperous city he had never seen before.

It was normal for a city with a million people to have some peculiar aspects. Yorii Tsugikuni was over eighty years old, and he had traveled all over the country searching for Muzan Kibutsuji, visiting major cities in Fusō.

Cities with a population of over ten thousand indeed had much better public order, with almost no demons preying in the big cities.

After all, Yorii Tsugikuni was incredibly powerful, but one shouldn't underestimate humanity's foundation. Take the Demon Slayer Corps, the most visible example. Yorii Tsugikuni was only a figure from four hundred years ago.

The Demon Slayer Corps had a history of a thousand years.

It was almost as if the Demon Slayer Corps was established shortly after Muzan Kibutsuji became the source of demons, and they possessed methods to kill demons, so they weren't completely outmatched.

Yorii Tsugikuni's birth was undoubtedly very important.

However, the absence of Yorii Tsugikuni's Breathing Techniques did not mean that humanity had no means to counter demons.

Those with extraordinary talent, like the Stone Pillar Himejima Gyomei and the Love Pillar Kanroji Mitsuri from the original story, possessed the terrifying strength to literally beat regular demons until dawn.

Even more special was the Wind Pillar's younger brother, Shinazugawa Genya, who could devour demons.

More commonly, there were Wisteria Flowers, which had the effect of repelling demons, and the various standard weapons made from Nichirin Iron and Nichirin Ore that absorbed sunlight. Yorii Tsugikuni never considered himself particularly important.

When his older brother, Yorii Genkatsu, worried about his skills being lost, Yorii Tsugikuni didn't feel much. From beginning to end, Yorii Tsugikuni never thought of himself as an indispensable existence.

Even though Yorii Tsugikuni's role was many times greater than he himself imagined.

'Hmm?'

Before Yorii Tsugikuni could think further, he frowned slightly as he looked at the luxurious carriage stopped in front of him.

Then, the door of the luxurious carriage slowly opened, and what appeared in Yorii Tsugikuni's line of sight was a pair of very kind-looking noble couple, and beside them stood a charming and cute blonde girl.

"It's truly pitiful."

"Although summer is almost here, the nights are still a bit cold."

The blonde girl looked at Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo, and Ieyasu resting at the corner of the street, her eyes lighting up.

Then, a look of unbearable pity quickly appeared on her face, and she turned to her father and mother, pleading, "Daddy, Mommy, can I invite them to our house as guests?"

"Just a simple hospitality for a few days to solve their immediate problem shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Warm candlelight shone from the somewhat luxurious carriage onto Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo, and Ieyasu.

Undoubtedly, the scene inside the carriage formed a stark contrast with Yorii Tsugikuni's situation.

Normally, the two would have almost no chance of interaction, but unexpectedly, upon seeing Yorii Tsugikuni and the others, the luxurious carriage stopped, and the people inside extended their hands to Yorii Tsugikuni and the others.

It looked as if they were offering a helping hand.

"Of course, there's no problem."

Inside the carriage, the elegant and graceful noblewoman smiled upon hearing the blonde girl's words and said, "Aria, you are always so kind."

"Since it's Aria's request, what do you think, dear?"

The noblewoman didn't ask Yorii Tsugikuni and the others for their opinion at all. Instead, she turned her gaze to the man beside her.

In the noblewoman's opinion, such a scene, such an opportunity, was something that people like Yorii Tsugikuni, who ended up having to sleep on the streets, wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Weren't these disheveled outsiders flocking to the Imperial Capital precisely to make a name for themselves?

Clearly, if they accepted their invitation now, making a name for themselves would be within easy reach.

There was no reason for them to refuse.

"Heh, I can do whatever you want."

Hearing the conversation between his wife and the girl, the nobleman also smiled slightly and said, "Since my precious daughter Aria said so, let's take them back and entertain them for a few days."

"Who are you?"

Yorii Tsugikuni stood up from the ground as he looked at the kind family before him.

Yorii Tsugikuni didn't quite understand the current situation.

The birthmarks and the Clear World granted Yorii Tsugikuni observational abilities that were unimaginable to ordinary people.

At this moment, Yorii Tsugikuni could clearly feel the genuine joy emanating from the family before him upon seeing him, Sayo, and Ieyasu, without any trace of pretense.

What a big city this is.

Looking at the kind family before him, Yorii Tsugikuni instinctively sighed inwardly once more.

To extend a helping hand to those in distress, even Yorii Tsugikuni had rarely encountered wealthy families in his life who possessed such kindness; it was good enough if they didn't add insult to injury.

Chapter 9: A Generous Invitation from the Aria Family

"My apologies."

"I've been talking for so long here that I forgot to introduce myself."

Hearing Yorii Tsugikuni's slightly confused inquiry, the nobleman showed a look of realization and said with a smile, "My name is Caven Devonshire. My noble rank in this empire is Count."

"This is my wife, Calitan Devonshire, and my daughter, Aria Devonshire."

Caven introduced himself to Yorii Tsugikuni.

He not only introduced his surname but also his noble rank to Yorii Tsugikuni.

In this empire, commoners were not entitled to have their own surnames; only nobles possessed surnames. As a Count, Caven held considerable influence in the empire.

It wasn't that stomping his foot would shake the empire, but it was effortless for Caven to make his voice heard, and he could easily help these so-called outsiders achieve their ultimate goal of rising in the world.

"Hello, Mr. Caven."

"My name is Yorii Tsugikuni, and these are my two disciples, Sayo and Ieyasu."

Yorii Tsugikuni smiled slightly as he looked at Caven, who was introducing himself so formally, and introduced himself in return.

Because Yorii Tsugikuni's naming convention was completely different from the empire's, his name appeared to others as a single given name, without a surname.

Even though Yorii Tsugikuni came from a prominent family, he belonged to the commoner class.

"Master? What happened?"

"Who are these people...?"

The interaction between Yorii Tsugikuni and the Aria family was not insignificant.

Sayo and Ieyasu, who had already been half-asleep, rubbed their eyes and stood up.

They looked sleepily at the Aria family, who had appeared at some unknown time.

Sayo and Ieyasu had slept soundly, unlike Yorii Tsugikuni, who had maintained some level of vigilance, so they didn't know what was happening.

Looking at the well-dressed Aria family, Sayo and Ieyasu felt a mix of envy, longing, and fear.

After all, the class difference between them was too immense.

There was no need to ask; one glance was enough to understand the vast class disparity.

"Brother Yorii Tsugikuni, and Sister Sayo and Brother Ieyasu."

"Would you like to come to Aria's house as guests?"

"Sleeping on the street like this can easily cause you to catch a cold."

The golden-haired girl, Aria, noticed the fear in Sayo and Ieyasu's eyes.

Then, Aria's smile became even more innocent and lively as she jumped out of the carriage.

Carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance, she approached Yorii Tsugikuni and said with a somewhat expectant tone, "Mom and Dad are busy with many things every day, and Aria gets a little lonely and isolated at home."

"If Brother Yorii Tsugikuni, Sister Sayo, and Brother Ieyasu could come to Aria's house as guests."

"Then Aria wouldn't be so lonely."

With her pale pink dress and the ribbon in her smooth long hair, her face was as delicate as a carved jade.

Under the candlelight inside the carriage, Aria looked so pitiable and lovely.

Except for Yorii Tsugikuni, both Sayo and Ieyasu were moved to pity to varying degrees, especially Ieyasu.

In just a moment, he was completely won over by Aria, his eyes turning into pink hearts, perfectly embodying the image of a devoted admirer.

From this, it could be seen that there was a reason why Sayo and Ieyasu were completely captivated by the Aria family in the original story; the difference in their social standing was simply too vast.

If the night raid in the original story had happened a few days later, the protagonist Tatsumi would not have survived.

He would have definitely been toyed to death by the Aria family.

"Master?"

"What do you think we should do...?"

Sayo didn't presume to make a decision and accept Aria's invitation. She turned her gaze to her master, Yorii Tsugikuni, awaiting his decision.

In the original story, there were only Sayo and Ieyasu. Sayo and Ieyasu naturally accepted Aria's family's warm invitation with ease, even though Sayo herself wasn't particularly keen on troubling strangers.

After all, it was just for one night on the streets; it wasn't an unacceptable request.

Similarly, Ieyasu, who had fallen for Aria at first sight, didn't speak up on his own.

With his master, Yorii Tsugikuni, by his side, it wasn't his place as a disciple to make the decision. He just needed to obediently follow Yorii Tsugikuni's instructions; this was the most fundamental aspect of respecting one's teacher.

It would have been even better if Ieyasu's stomach hadn't let out a 'rumble' at that moment.

Aria looked at Ieyasu, who was clutching his stomach with an expression of pure embarrassment, and covered her mouth, chuckling softly. It was almost enough to steal Ieyasu's soul.

"If your household doesn't find us bothersome."

"Then we shall impose upon your residence for a few days."

Looking into Aria's eyes, which were as clear as a mountain spring, Yorii Tsugikuni smiled slightly and said, "Please, Mr. Caven, Madam Calitan, and Miss Aria, do not find us too rowdy."

A child's eyes never lie.

Yorii Tsugikuni didn't believe that Aria, with eyes as clear as a mountain spring, harbored any ill intentions.

After speaking, Yorii Tsugikuni glanced at Sayo and Ieyasu beside him.

Although he was the one to make the decision, Yorii Tsugikuni could tell that both Sayo and Ieyasu were eager for the Aria family's invitation. After all, if they could build a good relationship with this noble Earl, it would be a direct path to success.

It would be easy for Sayo and Ieyasu to achieve their ambitions and make a name for themselves in the Imperial Capital.