Chapter 85: The Saimon Family

Konda Village, located to the north of the Byakko Plains, was a crucial transit point for anyone traveling from Ritou to Inazuma City. However, what Li Mo saw now resembled more of a retirement village, with few young people in sight.

"Big Brother Ichirou is back!"

"You brat, after years of wandering outside, you've finally returned."

...

As Saimon Ichirou walked through the village, many recognized him. Most were elderly, though there were a few children, ranging from seven or eight years old to as young as three or four. The older children recognized Saimon, while the younger ones looked puzzled.

Li Mo gently patted the children's heads and smiled warmly at them. The children, in turn, smiled back at the tall stranger.

They soon arrived at the Saimon household.

Perhaps the commotion of their arrival had alerted the family, as two elderly figures stood at the entrance. Their hair was white, and they appeared to be in their sixties or seventies, likely Saimon's grandparents.

"Father, Mother, I'm back."

Saimon Ichirou looked to be in his early twenties, while his parents appeared much older than one would expect for parents of a man his age.

—They had aged too quickly.

Li Mo introduced himself as a friend Saimon had made during his travels.

Entering the house, Saimon looked around and asked, "Where's Jirou?"

"He's out in the fields. He'll be back soon. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you, Ichirou. Come, sit down, both of you," Saimon's father said.

"Actually, I'm just a friend of Ichirou's," Li Mo responded to Saimon's father's assumption.

The old man shook his head. "Sir, you don't look like one of us."

"Too pale?" Li Mo guessed, realizing the difference. Growing up in modern society, his skin was much fairer than theirs, making him stand out like someone from a noble family.

Saimon's father nodded. "Exactly, sir."

This was a minor interruption. Before arriving, Saimon and Li Mo had anticipated that Li Mo's identity might be exposed. His mannerisms and habits were too different from those of the locals, so they had concocted a backstory for him.

"A guest from Liyue? But I thought foreigners were only allowed to stay in Ritou," Saimon's mother remarked.

Saimon's father chimed in, "It's the foreign merchants who are restricted to Ritou. There are scholars from other nations in Inazuma City, though their movements are limited. I learned this from chatting with old Imatani."

"Imatani? Uncle Imatani? What's Keisuke doing now?" Saimon asked.

"Keisuke? He joined the Tenryou Commission. I wanted you to join too, but you just ran off without a word!" Saimon's father said, his tone filled with disappointment.

Saimon's mother interjected, "Enough, dear. He's back now, and that's what matters."

The conversation shifted, with the elderly couple asking Saimon about his life outside. Saimon kept his answers vague, insisting that everything had been fine.

—If Li Mo hadn't intervened, Saimon might have perished on Jinren Island. Yet, Li Mo found himself agreeing with Saimon's words.

A returning traveler would never burden their parents with tales of hardship, only sharing their successes and joys.

During the conversation, Li Mo learned the names of Saimon's parents: Saimon Katsumi and Saimon Eri. Saimon also had a younger brother named Saimon Jirou.

For some reason, the name Saimon Jirou felt familiar to Li Mo.

Soon, Saimon Jirou returned from the fields. He entered the house with a carefree demeanor, his hair cut in a bowl-like style.

"I'm home... huh? Brother?"

Saimon Jirou casually walked into the room but froze when he saw his older brother. He couldn't believe his eyes. His brother, who had left years ago and never returned, was now standing before him.

When Saimon Jirou was just a teenager, his brother had disappeared without a trace. He couldn't have forgotten that.

"I'm back, Jirou."

"Brother, Ichirou, you're finally back!" Saimon Jirou's face lit up with joy, and he rushed forward.

The bond between the two brothers seemed strong.

Li Mo, like an isolated island in the sea, quietly observed their reunion.

However, Saimon Ichirou's expression seemed slightly off.

"Brother, now that you're back, you can take over the farm work, right?" Saimon Jirou cut straight to the point, clearly thrilled at the prospect of sharing the workload.

Saimon Ichirou sighed. "Can't we talk about this later?"

Immediately, Saimon Jirou was scolded by their parents. "Your brother just got back, and this is how you treat him?" they chided. Li Mo shook his head, amused. The returning child was always the favorite, but that favoritism would fade after a week.

—Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

That night, Li Mo stayed in a guest room, while the Saimon brothers shared a room. The Saimon family was very welcoming to Li Mo, likely attributing Saimon Ichirou's safe return to him.

Though, in truth, it wasn't far from the truth.

Li Mo sat alone in his room, pondering his next steps.

—This time, it wasn't like the world of *Demon Slayer*. When he saw the young Tanjiro, he knew exactly what he needed to do. The path was clear, and the conditions for returning were straightforward.

But... what was he supposed to do in this world?

The Vision Hunt Decree hadn't begun yet, and the story of Inazuma was still unfolding. The Traveler, whether the brother or sister, might not have even met Paimon yet.

So, what should he do?

The system, which had been reliable so far, had gone silent at this critical moment. While the translation feature was helpful, the lack of a main quest left him feeling lost.

He couldn't just challenge the Raiden Shogun to a duel—that would be suicide.

Inazuma was vast, but what was his objective here?

Li Mo looked out the window. The weather was gloomy, and the air felt heavy. It was likely going to rain tonight.

As he made this judgment, there was a knock at the door. After Li Mo granted permission, Saimon Jirou entered.

"Sir, are you interested in treasure?" Saimon Jirou asked without preamble.