Becoming the Early-Dying Wife of the Sun-Breathing Ceiling - Chapter 4

Since I couldn’t sleep anyway, I decided to probe him indirectly. “I seem to have heard of a very famous samurai family called ‘Tsugikuni’?”

“Do you come from that family?” I was a bit blunt and reckless, but otherwise, I feared I wouldn’t be able to pry anything out of this “clamshell” of a man.

“Even though you’re dressed modestly, your manners and behavior clearly show you aren’t of commoner birth. I guess I’m not wrong, am I?”

I cleverly used a question to end my sentence; only with his personality would he be likely to answer my inquiry.

“Yes, I am the second son of the Tsugikuni family.” As expected, he told me.

“I see… Then, you didn’t become a samurai?” I asked, feigning curiosity. Of course, I knew the reason, but I wanted to confirm it once more.

“My body was very weak; my father believed I had no qualification to become a samurai. I have an older brother who will inherit the family, and I will pray for him, wishing for him to become a powerful samurai.”

He didn’t mention a word about what happened after he revealed his astonishing swordsmanship! He had left enough face for both his father and brother.

This guy… My inner world became complex.

I asked step by step, “Then, does Yoriichi want to be a powerful samurai?”

He paused, seemingly reminiscing about something. The silvery moonlight inlaid him with a bright, soft border; the cold night seemed even more lonely and peaceful amidst the faint chirping of insects.

“I once wanted to, but now I only wish to live an ordinary life. I detest…” He stopped for a moment, “The feeling of using a weapon against a human body.”

I immediately followed up: “Oh, and what if the target you’re attacking isn’t human?”

Upon hearing this, he looked at me straight on, his crimson eyes filled with faint confusion.

It was entirely subconscious once I thought about demons, I couldn’t help but say it. I changed the subject: “Cough, like killing chickens or something. Actually, I also hate taking lives; if only there were someone who could help me.”

As I spoke, I began to empathize with my own words.

The reason was that the little chicks I had recently been raising in the backyard had finally grown up. They could be said to be the most expensive assets in my poor household.

I had been planning to kill one to celebrate and reward myself, I hadn’t eaten meat in nearly a month or two! Just thinking about it made me drool, but when it actually came to going to the kitchen to pick up a knife, I completely couldn’t bear it!

I had raised them all with my own hands; I simply couldn’t bring myself to do it. I had already planned to ask a neighbor for help, but it sounded truly laughable to admit out loud that I was afraid to kill a chicken I raised myself.

As I thought about it, I habitually sighed, speaking as if to myself:

“Living alone is very hard, but marrying out just like that is too hasty.”

The reason I said this was because of a leap in logic to something that had been happening frequently lately: the village wives had seen how hard I was living and had actually started trying to set me up with someone!

Considering such things at this age is way too early, isn’t it?!

But from their perspective, it was only natural. They kindly advised that if there were a man in the house, things would be completely different many things would be much easier. To be honest, I was actually “a little” tempted; I was almost about to nod and agree.

However…

I dismissed all the scenes of the village women pulling me aside to lecture me. Don’t shake my resolve again! I will not be defeated by the hardships of a farmer!

The worries of daily life gradually overshadowed my fear of demons after all, the former were more tangible right now.

After a very, very long time,

I seemed to hear a very, very faint question:

“Does Miss Hui not feel lonely?”

“Of course I do… how could one be alone and not feel lonely? But I haven’t fallen so far as to be in a rush to marry just because of loneliness…” I raised my hand to suppress a yawn. “Besides, after a long time, one gets used to it. Perhaps I haven’t gotten entirely used to it yet, otherwise I wouldn’t have brought you back.”

I think I said too much.

I turned my head, opening my eyes which were already sore and weary—to look at the blurry silhouette at a distance, pillowing my head on my elbow while lying on my side.

Maybe I’m asleep.

Closing my eyes, in that half-dreaming, half-waking state before dozing off: “Does Miss Hui want to…?”

I tried hard to open my eyes to stay awake. “What?”

“Nothing.”

What a pity, I didn’t hear what he said clearly. I hugged my pillow, my consciousness already drifting, as I asked: “Come to think of it, you must have experienced a lot after leaving home, right? Can you tell me some of it?”

I wanted to find some clues about demons or trigger my memory regarding the plot.

But I heard absolutely nothing. After a busy day, I quickly sank into a sweet, deep sleep.

The next day, when I woke up to the sound of cackling and clucking.

Rubbing my head, I turned my face; the makeshift bed and bedding in the room had already been tidied up neatly.

Did he leave without saying goodbye… has he already gone?

Not only did I not have a chance to ask him to stay, I didn’t even get to say goodbye. I should at least have asked for an autograph!

I regretted it deeply.

Never mind. I can’t be unlucky enough to run into demons constantly. If worst comes to worst, I’ll just go look for the Demon Slayer Corps? But I quickly rejected the idea…

No, the Demon Slayer Corps without Tsugikuni Yoriichi is far too weak. Even if I find them, they can’t protect me; it would be even more dangerous. I might as well think of some reliable pharmacological knowledge to deal with them!

For example, the point that demons fear Wisteria flowers… I could… Thinking about these things in my heart, I absent-mindedly opened the door. The clear morning light outside mixed with the chirping of birds seemed to unveil yet another peaceful, beautiful, and happy day.

As I came out, two dark shadows, seemingly wild sparrows, flew away from my bamboo fence.

The flock of chickens in my cage were huddled together on the ground, pecking at the feed in their bowl.

He was inside. The chicks didn’t treat him as a stranger at all, crowding around him and eating without the slightest bit of formality.

I maintained the action of pulling the door: Stunned.

He turned to walk toward the kitchen.

“Wait.” I stopped him, thinking I was still dreaming. “You are the guest here!”

Hearing this, he looked calmly at my bandaged finger and said slowly, “You are injured.”

/Your hand is injured, and you live all alone in a house with bare walls. You are so pitiful that I feel I must help you./

For some reason, I read these words in his gaze.

I picked up a spoon with one hand. The breakfast was green vegetable porridge after all, I had nothing else in the house.

He had peeled the eggs and placed them on a dish… he looked like the type who was very good at taking care of people.

Then he sat quietly, upright, without a word. He was the epitome of gentle and virtuous.

I put the spoon into my mouth, lowering my head into deep thought. I began to suspect that I wasn’t just injured in the hand, but had become partially paralyzed.

May I ask, did I bring home a house-elf?

The image of the invincible samurai in my memory was shattered. Replaced by it was the gentle-natured youth before my eyes.