As demon blood flooded Shinobu's body, his head began to swell rapidly. Dark purple veins bulged grotesquely, as if about to burst through his skin.
Muzan withdrew his finger and walked away without a backward glance. He didn't care whether this human lived or died, nor whether he'd successfully transform into a demon.
It was merely a whim—after all, when one lived too long, one had to find ways to amuse oneself.
Shinobu slumped against the wall, his head still expanding, growing thinner and larger like a dark purple balloon on the verge of popping.
Gradually, the swollen head began to shrink as his body adapted to the demon blood—though it remained three times larger than a normal human's.
Simultaneously, an overwhelming hunger surged through him. He wanted to eat—especially his own family.
"Hungry!"
"I'm so hungry!"
"But I feel so strong! Hahaha!"
Shinobu staggered to his feet, saliva cascading from his mouth. Though he'd just completed his demon transformation, he retained fragments of consciousness. One had to admit—he had talent in demonhood.
Following his instincts, he stumbled toward home. This was the Scrap Boss's cruel joke—newly turned demons always craved their families first.
...
"Aren't you sleeping?" Sanemi yawned, turning toward the house. At the doorway, he paused and glanced back at Tendo. "Thanks for treating my family to that feast. I'll repay you someday."
Tendo waved dismissively with a grin. "Don't mention it. It's on the company's dime—my boss's treat."
Sanemi was momentarily speechless at the brazen declaration. How could someone say that so openly?
And why did this guy sound almost proud of it? The audacity was unreal.At that moment, Tendo solemnly drew his sword, his gaze fixed intently on the dark alley in the distance. He warned:
"Sanemi, close the doors and windows. No matter what you hear, don't come out!"
"What's wrong?"
Sanemi had barely finished speaking when a towering figure, nearly two meters tall, appeared in his line of sight. The creature's eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and its head was unnaturally large compared to a normal human's.
"Hungry!"
"I'm so hungry!"
"Let me bite your neck off, you little brat!"
"Ahahaha!"
Shinazugawa Gin stared at Sanemi like a ravenous wolf, its teeth clacking together with a chilling "click-clack" sound.
"How the hell did you turn into this monstrosity?"
"Get lost!" Sanemi roared, his disgust undiminished no matter what form his bastard father took. The stench of his presence lingered like a rock fished out of a cesspit.
Tendo widened his stance, ready to draw his blade, his brows furrowed in complex emotions.
His tension wasn't due to the newly transformed Shinazugawa Gin—but rather the one who'd turned him into a demon.
Just the thought of sharing the same neighborhood with Muzan or one of the Upper Ranks was enough to send shivers down his spine. And with an entire family to protect behind him, the pressure was overwhelming.
Who could it be?
Muzan? Upper Rank One? Or perhaps Upper Three?
Of course, aside from the cowardly Upper Rank Four and the sibling duo of Upper Rank Six, any of the Upper Ranks could be lurking nearby.
"Scared now, aren't you, you little shit?"
"I'm terrifyingly strong now—that sword of yours won't do a damn thing!"
Seeing Tendo's grave expression, Shinazugawa Gin felt invigorated.
But before it could finish gloating, a flash of lightning streaked past its eyes—so fast it didn't even register the attack.
Tendo was about to sheathe his blade when he realized Shinazugawa Gin's body hadn't dissipated. The decapitation had failed.
Just as he prepared to strike again, a swirling black sludge-like substance engulfed Gin's body and head.
A Blood Demon Art?
But this guy just turned into a demon!
How does he already have a Blood Demon Art?
"You two little bastards, just you wait!" Shinazugawa Gin bellowed in fury. If not for his newly awakened spatial-type Blood Demon Art, he would've been dead just now.
"Remember this—from now on, I am Lazuli the Hollow!"
"I'll kill you both sooner or later!"
The black sludge seeped into the ground, taking the narrowly escaped Lazuli with it.
Just how much demon blood had this guy absorbed?
And the most absurd part—he actually survived it.
Tendo suddenly felt like the world had become utterly surreal. Scanning his surroundings to confirm no immediate threats, he cautiously approached Sanemi, whose worldview had just been shattered.
"Why the hell could that bastard still talk after being beheaded?"
"And why did he disappear?"
"What the hell are you, anyway?"
"Easy, easy!" Tendo forced a smile, gesturing for Sanemi to calm down. "Let me explain."
After a brief explanation, Sanemi had a rough understanding of demons and the Demon Slayer Corps.
"So you're saying that bastard isn't human anymore."
"Yep." Tendo nodded, still on high alert. Shinazugawa Gin's Blood Demon Art was unpredictable, and more importantly, the one who turned him might still be lurking nearby.
"Then how do I join your Demon Slayer Corps?"
"If what you're saying is true, if I don't kill him, he'll come after my mother and the others."
Hearing this, Tendo's interest was piqued. He'd been struggling to find a way to convince the Shinazugawa family to relocate.
"Joining is simple—I can write you a recommendation letter. But demon slaying is dangerous. You could die at any moment.""Then aren't you already doing this line of work?" Sanemi wasn't intimidated at all and instead shot the question back at Tendo.
"Sure thing!" Tendo patted Sanemi's shoulder. "Then you should move. I can lend you the money first, and you can pay me back once you become an official member."
"Thank you. Such kindness is beyond words. Call me if you ever need anything—I'll give you my life if you ask." Sanemi thumped his chest, making an extremely earnest promise.
"Uh… no need to be so serious, just think of it as making a friend, ahahaha!" Tendo scratched his head awkwardly. Offering his life was way too intense.
But Shinazugawa Sanemi was a man of deep loyalty and honor—once he gave his word, he meant it. If Tendo ever found himself in danger, Sanemi would truly risk his life without hesitation.
Early the next morning, Tendo immediately wrote a letter to report the matter to the Master.
The Master's reply came swiftly, and within about three days, Seiken returned to Tendo's side.
"How did it go?"
The moment Tendo finished reading the letter, Sanemi eagerly pressed for an answer.
"The Master agreed. I do have some pull, after all. There are plenty of empty houses at headquarters—your family can just pick one."
"This is one of the benefits of the Demon Slayer Corps. We'll absolutely take care of your family so you can focus without worries."
Under the cover of night, the Shinazugawa family moved out of the slums.
Due to the large number of people and the presence of children, it took them over half a month to reach headquarters.
After settling the Shinazugawa family, Tendo took the opportunity to introduce Sanemi to a Wind Breathing Breeder.
The day after he returned to headquarters, the Final Selection had already ended a week prior. The Butterfly sisters were likely about to return, so he requested a few days off.
With tasks being light recently, Kagaya Ubuyashiki approved his leave. Though Tendo wasn't a Hashira yet, his treatment was on par with one.
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