Fujino subconsciously adjusted his glasses, his elbow bumping into the burly man snoring beside him.
The other party looked at him dissatisfiedly, but found this thin middle-aged man's gaze somewhat unfriendly, so he didn't want to cause trouble. He grumbled irritably and turned away.
"What are you asking about this for?" He asked, somewhat strangely.
This unusual reaction naturally did not escape the notice of the three. Shinobu felt she might have caught a clue and quickly pressed further: "Fujino-san seems... to have a rather poor impression of this cult?"
"Poor impression is an understatement. It's downright misleading!"
"I haven't personally had contact with their monks, but I've gathered bits and pieces from my family's letters:"
"These people all day long preach some kind of fallacious reasoning like 'Living is for enjoyment; if something is difficult, just don't do it.' 'Don't undertake arduous, painful responsibilities and obligations, live happily with a peaceful heart'...."
"If it were just preaching this kind of self-abandoning, lazy doctrine, that would be one thing, but their fundamental purpose is probably to use this to attract young people inexperienced with the world, poor souls escaping reality, to follow the cult leader's footsteps and pursue eternal life after death!"
As a scholar, he detested these tricks of playing the ghost and bewitching people's hearts.
As a physician, he was even more vehemently disgusted by talk of immortality and rebirth in paradise.
Fujino's words echoed in the swaying train. Even though his voice wasn't loud, it still drew probing glances from people nearby. This made him somewhat embarrassed as he calmed down.
He frowned deeply, his words filled with undisguised disgust: "Whether for accumulating wealth or harming lives, these people are not on the right path! I also advise you two, it's best to stay well away from such things!"
Seeing him like this, the three Demon Slayer Corps' members confirmed one thing in their hearts.
The Eternal Paradise Faith definitely had problems.
Shinobu's smile carried a slight apology. She lowered her voice: "Fujino-san misunderstands. We're not joining that cult. We're just doing field research!"
"Field research?" The doubt in Fujino's eyes did not dissipate.
"That's right. Actually, we're reporters for a small newspaper under the Ubuyashiki Corporation, conducting some field investigations into local folk beliefs. We just wanted to collect different voices."
Her explanation was seamless, as if she really were a female reporter in this line of work.
Looking again at the innocent girl beside her who remained silent, and this cold, young man who claimed to have nightmares,
they indeed didn't resemble the kind of decadent people who escaped reality and pursued nothingness....
With this in mind, Fujino's gaze softened somewhat.
He pushed up his glasses. His originally stern gaze relaxed, even carrying a hint of understanding: "I see... Sorry, I lost my composure...."
"If it's just investigation and interviews, that's probably fine. But that place is ultimately a den of iniquity. It's best not to get too involved."
"Besides, even if you want to go investigate, it's actually quite difficult."
"How so?"
Taka asked, and Fujino explained: "Although the Eternal Paradise Faith constantly peddles its negative teachings, they actually rarely truly develop core followers. At most, they accept offerings and consultations from some residents...."
"My family members are that type. They don't completely believe in this cult either. But old people, as they age, will believe a little bit of everything.... Occasionally, they'll host these Eternal Paradise monks."
"When they have need, they themselves will appear in the town. Usually, though, we don't know where their temple is. Even if you want to do field research, you'd have nowhere to go."
"Since you're doing this kind of investigation, why not come back to my hometown with me? My elders have lived in this area for decades. They might be able to provide more specific information. Better than you stumbling around aimlessly."
This proposal hit the mark.
Taka and Shinobu exchanged a glance. This Insect Hashira, with her exceptional acting skills, lit up her eyes with just the right amount of gratitude: "Really? That would be a huge help! Thank you so much, Fujino-san!"
Kanao's gaze silently flowed across everyone's faces, finally settling back on the rapidly retreating mountain forests outside the window, dyed with rich autumn colors.
The twilight of late autumn came especially early.
When the train, with the friction of metal, pulled into Nagano Station, the grey clouds had already heavily pressed down, enveloping the daylight.
The disembarking crowd surged towards the exit. Shinobu, using the motion of adjusting her collar, silently fell back a few steps.
A pitch-black Kasugai Crow, like a phantom, silently landed on her raised forearm.
She quickly informed it of the intelligence she needed to convey, including the leads about the Eternal Paradise Faith from Fujino, and the fact that their group was about to change course and head to the countryside of Nagano Prefecture.
"Tomioka-san should be waiting at the rendezvous point in Niigata Station. Have him come to Nagano Station. We'll move together!"
"Caw—!!"
The Kasugai Crow's jet-black eyes flickered in the gloom. It flapped its wings silently and was instantly swallowed by the vast twilight.
Taka's gaze followed the disappearing black dot until Fujino's voice urged him from ahead, snapping him back:
"This way, everyone."
Fujino's relatives' home was in the countryside. They still had to take a creaking carriage along winding mountain roads for a while, which also provided a rare opportunity to enjoy the mountain scenery.
At this moment, the setting sun's afterglow spilled over the mountainside, illuminating vast stretches of brilliant red maple forests. This inspired Fujino to wax poetic:
"Deep valley, lingering sun shines, red leaves chase each other playing in the shallows, quietly listening to pine cones fall~"
Saying this, he turned his gaze to Shinobu and the other two, expecting a final finishing touch.
Taka, lacking any artistic sensibility, was lost. Shinobu pondered the poetic mood, weighing her words.
Kanao, who had kept silent all along, looked at the solitary wild goose on the distant mountain and calmly spoke:
"Birds return to the mountain...."
"Marvelous, marvelous." Fujino was momentarily stunned, then clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "I didn't expect the young lady to also be proficient in haiku?"
Kanao smiled without answering, further enhancing her literary girl aura.
The carriage finally stopped at a fork in the road. The narrow dirt track ahead was impassable for the carriage.
After paying the driver, Fujino pointed to a path flanked by tall zelkova and maple trees: "Here we are. It's just ahead, not far. A few minutes' walk."
The path wound upward, disappearing into the shadows of a denser mountain forest.
The three followed Fujino onto the path. Beneath their feet was a thick layer of humus and fallen leaves, soft and silent.
Taka suddenly felt a wave of cold envelop him.
This wasn't because the mountain wind was cold in late autumn, but because through his Reiatsu Perception, he sensed a hint of discomfort.
'Careful. Something's wrong.'
He didn't speak, only patted the back of Shinobu's hand and gave her a meaningful glance.
His fingertips rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
After walking for a while, Fujino pointed to the outline of a roof made of dark wood, faintly visible through the trees ahead:
"Look, there it is. An old house. A bit remote, but still quiet."
The moment his voice fell—
An icy aura, setting off alarm bells in Taka's mind, rushed towards them.
Taka drew his sword from its sheath. The Nichirin Sword flickered with a deep green light.
"Prepare for battle! There's a demon!"