After patrolling his district and cutting off a demon's head, Haruto returned to Mount Sagiri.
Stripped to the waist, Takeo swung his wooden sword under Mr. Urokodaki's guidance, drenched in sweat.
In the shade beneath the eaves, Delia and Shigeru sat obediently side by side. Inside, Rokuta slept soundly on the bed.
Rokuta no longer needed someone looking after him every moment, so the three children of the Kamado Household had insisted on giving up the house in town and moving to Mount Sagiri.
At least they could stay with their brother Takeo, and Tanjiro would return between missions, too. Compared with staying in town with only a nanny for company, they were happier on Mount Sagiri.
They could watch their brother Takeo get scolded by Mr. Urokodaki and see Mr. Haruto crouching sleepily beside the stream to brush his teeth every morning.
Mr. Urokodaki took good care of their food and clothing. He seemed very good at that sort of thing.
Haruto remembered Sabito telling him that Master Urokodaki had adopted many children and successfully raised them all. Unfortunately...
-When there was nothing to do, Mr. Urokodaki would teach them to read or play Shogi.
Mr. Haruto could not play Shogi. He preferred "Gomoku"-also known as Renju-and was very good at it.
Mr. Haruto also loved reading manga. His bedside cabinet was always full of magazines, and even Rokuta, who could not read, enjoyed the manga serialized in them.
Haruto smiled, took an oilpaper packet from inside his clothes, and handed it to Delia. After stroking her and Shigeru's silky black hair, he sat down beneath the eaves.
Takeo's swordsmanship was beginning to look quite respectable. Unfortunately, it did not suit Haruto's Star Breathing, so he would probably continue learning Water Breathing from Urokodaki.
But at the rate things