Junpei Ogiya currently has no combat ability; if he encounters an ordinary demon, Mitsuko can take him down instantly.
However, if they encounter a demon with special abilities, and Mitsuko gets entangled with it, then Ogiya Junpei will be in danger.
Therefore, Mitsuko refused Ogiya Junpei's offer to go with her.
Junpei Ogiya felt extremely guilty, as he was Mitsuko's companion but could not fight alongside her.
Previously, Junpei Ogiya was overjoyed at losing his demon powers.
However, at this moment, Junpei Ogiya desperately hoped that his abilities had not disappeared, so that he could help Mitsuko fight and not become a burden to her.
Mitsuko sensed Ogiya Junpei's feelings and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, saying, "Leave the battle to me. I haven't lost a single battle yet!"
Junpei Ogiya understood that even if he insisted on going, it would be a burden.
The best way to help Mitsuko is to stay hidden in the village so as not to worry her.
Junpei Ogiya forced a smile and said, "I understand, Mitsuko. Don't worry, I'll be here waiting for you to come back!"
Mitsuko nodded, turned around and walked up to Kenichi: "Let's go."
Kenichi looked at Ogiya Junpei with a puzzled expression: "Isn't that big brother coming along?"
"I don't need two people, I can do it all by myself."
"Oh well."
Kenichi took Mitsuko and left the village.
Junpei Ogiya watched Mitsuko's departing figure, clenching his fists tightly.
"Even without the power of a demon, I will strive to improve myself, so that I won't become a burden to Mitsuko!"
...
Mitsuko followed behind Kenichi and asked meaningfully, "Kenichi, you are the bravest child I have ever met. If an ordinary child knew the location of the demon, he would have told me the location instead of taking me there himself."
And you kept walking in front of me, it didn't feel like you were leading me to see a demon, it felt like you were leading me to meet someone you knew well.
Kenichi paused, turned to Mitsuko with a fearful expression, and said, "I'm so scared. I'm just thinking about saving my mom and dad, so I've been trying to control my emotions."
"Really... According to you, your parents should have been missing for more than seven days. Why do you think your parents are still alive?"
Kenichi said with great certainty, "Because I feel that my parents are still alive, and my intuition has always been very accurate!"
Mitsuko didn't respond to Kenichi's answer, but instead asked about the demon: "Kenichi, everyone in your village hides in their homes and turns off the lights at night. Doesn't that demon prey on people hiding in their homes?"
"Well... all I know so far are people who have gone missing at night, and I've never heard of anyone disappearing from their home."
Mitsuko didn't ask Kenichi any more questions, but continued to follow him.
Mitsuko was deep in thought.
What is now certain is that Kenichi is connected to demons.
Therefore, to a certain extent, at least part of Kenichi's answer about demons is true.
As far as Mitsuko knows, there are no taboos when the demons hunt humans, such as not attacking people who stay at home.
Furthermore, Mitsuko asked, "Won't demons prey on people hiding in their homes?"
Kenichi replied, "So far, all the people who have gone missing have been those who appeared on the streets at night."
The answer did not explicitly state that it was a demon.
Kenichi's answer raised another question for Mitsuko.
Could it be that people who disappear on the streets at night are not actually missing because of demons?
Mitsuko turned her head slightly to look at Kenichi, who was walking beside her, and suddenly thought of a possibility.
Could it be that those missing people, like Mitsuko now, were lured out?
There are too many mysteries now.
But once we see that demon, the truth should come out.
Mitsuko followed Kenichi all the way to a valley overgrown with weeds.
Kenichi suddenly stopped in his tracks: "We're here!"
Mitsuko surveyed his surroundings.
The surrounding area was filled with weeds, a few trees, and a stream.
There are knife marks on the tree trunk that look like they were made some time ago.
Suddenly.
Kenichi suddenly left Mitsuko's side and ran forward.
Mitsuko wanted to give chase, but suddenly a beam of light struck him, making his body incredibly sluggish.
Even though it was running, it seemed to be slowed down several times, even slower than normal walking.
A woman dressed in a kimono, who looked to be around thirty years old, came into Mitsuko's view.
Kenichi rushed into the woman's arms and exclaimed affectionately, "Mommy! I brought the Demon Slayer!"
The woman, whom Kenichi called "Mom," patted Kenichi's head and praised him, "What a good boy! I'll reward you properly after I deal with this Demon Slayer."
The woman looked at Mitsuko and, seeing his calm expression, asked curiously, "You don't seem to find it strange?"
"I sensed from the very beginning that there was something wrong with Kenichi. From our first encounter to our arrival in this valley, all the signs indicate that Kenichi is being manipulated by someone… no, by a demon."
The woman covered her mouth and chuckled: "Looks like I'll have to make up new stories for my children from now on."
Mitsuko frowned: "The children?"
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Chizuru Kawazu, and I am the mother of many children."
After Chizuru Kawazu introduced himself, dozens of children about the same age as Kenichi appeared from the weeds.
Mitsuko clearly sensed that these children were not demons, but humans.
Therefore, these children must be being manipulated by the man in front of them, Chizuru Kawazu.
Mitsuko guessed, "You're using these children to lure people from the village to this place, aren't you?"
"You already guessed that? What a pity. If you were a little younger, you could be my child. I've always dreamed of having a child as smart as you."
"Mom, don't you love us anymore? We're smart too!"
Seeing her 'children' were dissatisfied, Chizuru Kawazu quickly comforted them, "No, Mommy loves you all with all her heart."
Mitsuko's body was still sluggish, but this sluggishness was slowly subsiding.
Mitsuko continued to stall for time, saying to Chizuru Kawazu, "I think I've figured out why you want to use these children to lure the villagers."
As expected, Chizuru Kawazu took the bait: "Oh? You guessed it? Then tell me."
"It's very simple. The knife marks on the tree trunk indicate that you fought with that Demon Slayer Corps. Although they failed, it made you wary, fearing that more Demon Slayer Corps members would come to the village to hunt you down. So, to prevent being killed, you used these children to lure the villagers out. Am I right?"
"You're right about most of it, but you're wrong about one thing: I'm not worried about the Demon Slayer Corps' Demon Slayers hunting me down, because I am the hunter!"
Chizuru Kawazu smiled, a smile that, under the moonlight, was extremely eerie.