Becoming the Early-Dying Wife of the Sun-Breathing Ceiling - Chapter 3

He accepted my haphazardly concocted lie without a single doubt. Taking advantage of the time he spent washing the dishes, I hurriedly organized my thoughts.

I was right! He doesn’t even believe in the existence of demons yet! That must mean he hasn’t encountered any!

This was news that left me feeling both happy and sad. The “happy” part was that demons clearly hadn’t become a widespread threat… the “sad” part was that they did truly exist!

In this world, ordinary people stood absolutely no chance against demons; encountering one meant certain death. The only weakness demons had was having their heads decapitated—and that was only if you could actually land the blow. They weren’t like the slow-walking zombies in Resident Evil; powerful demons could even overcome the weakness of decapitation and regenerate…

And that wasn’t even considering the Demon King, with his five brains and seven hearts.

The more I thought about it, the more hopeless I felt.

But then, I cheered myself up again: Tsugikuni Yoriichi! The ceiling of combat strength who could kill the Demon King in seconds—with him around, what was there to fear!

However, my brow furrowed as I tried to recall: what was the reason he joined the Demon Slayer Corps in the first place…? Ah!

How I regret not studying the source material more when I had the chance!

“The hot water is ready.” While I was desperately brainstorming, he opened the door and walked in.

“So fast!” I turned my head, shocked.

While I was lost in thought, he had already washed the dishes and prepared hot water?

I, the host, hadn’t even had a chance to do a single thing!

I hurriedly stood up, suddenly realizing he was probably telling me to go bathe. “You go first, um, I still need to prepare some things.”

He remained silent.

There wasn’t much expression on his face, either.

“All right.” He said after a brief moment of thought.

No one knew what kind of mental processes he was going through.

Then, he raised his hand and took off his sun earrings.

I looked at them; they were rumored to be protective amulets. I was intensely curious. “May I take a look at them?”

He placed them into my palm.

He gave them to me so generously, when I was actually prepared to be rejected.

They were very light; I didn’t know if it was just my imagination, but they felt a bit warm.

“I will keep them safe for you for now.” Because I knew their importance, I didn’t treat them casually, and looking up, I said this to him.

“Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do.” I looked at the flame-shaped markings on his face, and my own face flushed a strange red.

He then let down his hair, which made his whole appearance look even softer.

Only then did I notice his hair wasn’t black, but a very, very deep red.

Then, he reached into his robe, took out a small cloth bundle, and handed it to me. “May I keep this here, too?”

What is this now?

He’s really pouring his heart out; he isn’t even afraid I’ll run off with his fortune, I thought.

Though, I certainly wouldn’t do that; I was counting on him to protect me!

I put his belongings into a small square box for safekeeping and then redesigned the room layout.

I found and dragged out an old door panel from before, cleaned it up, and used it as a bed board.

Then I spread out an old quilt, a straw mat, and prepared an extra pillow…

By the time I finished, I was feeling a bit warm, but after seeing the space I had set up, I nodded to myself. It was a bit primitive, but it should be suitable for sleeping.

Then, I thought about how he might leave tomorrow, leaving me, who now knew the truth, to face this demon-filled world alone…

I don’t want that to happen!!!

I have to find a way to make him stay, I thought, unable to stop the idea.

Is there any place in this world safer than by his side? QAQ

Even though, right now, he showed no sign of aggression and didn’t possess the demeanor of a samurai.

I thought about how he had been after meeting me… a bit dim-witted. Whether he was a samurai or not, I didn’t know, but at such a young age, it was easy to see he was destined to be an honest person who was easy to bully.

But isn’t that just perfect!

If I just hug his leg and cry, begging him to stay, he’d definitely agree, right!!!

And so, my “hug the leg” plan gradually took shape in my mind.

He walked in from outside, and I immediately handed him a towel, being quite the sycophant: “Your things are here, and this this is the bed I prepared for you! I just threw it together at the last minute! Sorry, this is all I can do. If you mind, you can sleep in mine!”

“This is just fine,” he said, his tone flat.

“Um, if there’s anything you aren’t satisfied with, you can tell me.”

“There is nothing I am unsatisfied with.”

Throughout our exchange, he silently took the towel from my hand and thanked me. But for some reason, I sensed a different emotion from his expressionless face it shouldn’t have been happiness.

“As long as you’re satisfied.”

His reaction was too cold; it was completely different from how he had been in the afternoon.

I felt a bit depressed. After walking out the door, I slapped my burning head. “What am I doing!”

The one who changed wasn’t him; it was me!

Because I knew his identity, I had subconsciously become filled with awe and trepidation, my attitude becoming fawning, my mind filled with images of an invincible samurai and a “bug” in the world. But did he really need me to treat him with this kind of attitude?

Even if he didn’t say it, he must have sensed this shameful sycophancy.

“Whatever, just be yourself! Stay calm!” I clamped my face with my hands, slapping myself until it hurt.

That fanatical obsession to make him stay also began to recede.

If he didn’t want to, I couldn’t exactly tie him up, could I? With one finger, he could flick me away… probably.

By the time I finished bathing and returned, his hair was already half-dry. Seeing him still there, my heart settled a bit; at least he hadn’t run off.

He was sitting in the corner I had prepared for him, not overstepping his bounds in the slightest, not even having taken back his earrings or other items.

He was like a cat borrowed from a neighbor’s house.

I think I was beginning to understand his thinking. Because I was too formal, he didn’t know what to do and became just as reserved. After all, he wasn’t someone who knew how to interact with others to begin with.

I smiled gently. This is a shy person, I realized.

I handed him the box casually. “These are your things. If you aren’t taking them, are you planning to give them to me?”

Then I sat on the edge of the mat and began to dry my hair.

Unlike him, my hair was thin and soft, drying easily. A breeze blew through the gap in the window.

He held the box, lost in thought for a long moment. “If Miss Hui truly wants them…”

“Forget it, I’m just joking with you!” Seeing he was about to say something outrageous, I interrupted hurriedly and looked at him. “These must be very important things to you, right?”

Internal Monologue: This is extremely important legacy gear! What would I do with it? Challenge the Demon King to a duel? Don’t make it that hellish!

“These were a gift from my mother.” His tone became gentle. “When I was young, I didn’t speak. My mother thought I was deaf and prayed for these protective charms for me at the Sun Shrine. My mother… she pitied me.”

As he spoke, he raised his crimson eyes. “Just like when Miss Hui brought me home because she thought I was blind.”

“Cough, let’s not bring up that embarrassing incident again.” I looked away.

Sud-suddenly, I can’t look directly into this innocent and pure gaze.

“You should just wear them properly. Um, actually, I think you look quite good wearing them. I mean nothing else by it.” I rubbed my nose.

Seeing that I truly didn’t want them, he stopped asking.

He just whispered another question, very softly. “Am I… very much like Miss Hui’s creditor?”

Ah, he still believes that.

“Not that much… It was just a conditioned reflex earlier. If you look closely, you’re much younger and more handsome than he was.”

I didn’t get an answer. He kept his head lowered, and I couldn’t see his expression.

“Um, I’m going to put out the lamp.”

Being hard-up, I had to save on oil.

So, I blew out the lamp. The room was plunged into darkness, save for the faint, hazy shadows cast by the moonlight outside.

Listening to the soft, shallow breathing that was almost non-existent nearby, I was, of course, unable to fall asleep!