Sanemi Shinazugawa's shoulder was patted. He quickly turned his head, relieved, and said grumpily, "Kuwano Masachika—"
"It's Masachika." The black-haired youth sat beside him. "It's really impolite to call someone's full name like that."
"I don't know what politeness is." Sanemi turned his head, looking at his scarred arm and the chain wrapped around it.
"Besides, you won't even be able to call me Masachika anymore; you'll have to call me Sen—ior—" Kuwano Masachika smiled and patted his shoulder. "Master has already agreed to take you as a disciple, and this chain used to restrain demons can be discarded now."
Discard it.
Sanemi looked at the chain that had accompanied him in hunting demons ever since he left home, left Genya, and a wave of confusion suddenly washed over him.
Ever since his mother turned into a demon and vanished into ash before his eyes, Sanemi had left home, vowing to eliminate all the ugly demons in the world.
But he didn't know a Breathing Technique, nor did he possess a long nichirin blade like the white-haired Swordsman's that could ignite a demon's body. All he could do was follow the Swordsman's simple guidance, release his unique blood to lure demons, and hang them from trees with chains until the sun rose.
This kind of death was extremely painful, but he no longer felt any sympathy for these demonic beings.
Not long after he started wandering, he met Kuwano Masachika, a youth with two deep scars under his eyes and a smile like a small sun.
It was from him that Sanemi learned about the Demon Slayer Corps, which hunted demons in the shadows, and he saw the uniform he wore, identical to the white-haired youth's inner lining.
Kuwano Masachika was enthusiastic and kind—though Sanemi felt such qualities were unnecessary.
He recommended Sanemi to his master, giving the lone demon slayer Sanemi a chance to receive professional training.
But as he was about to head to his prospective master's residence, he inevitably thought of Genya, whom he had left at home.
How was he doing now? Was he with that white-haired Swordsman?
He knew his uncle had passed away, and everything he said was just an excuse. He hoped Genya could stay by the side of that powerful Swordsman, where he would likely be very safe.
So, for once, Sanemi didn't refute Masachika's words about "calling him Senior." Instead, he hesitated, then hesitated again, finally asking, "How many Swordsmen are there in the Demon Slayer Corps in total?"
"Hmm... including the support staff, there are probably several hundred."
"How many do you know?"
"Dozens, I guess. My During the same period , healers from the Fuji no ie (Wisteria House), and some Kakushi."
Sanemi took a deep breath. "Perhaps you know someone like this..."
He described the appearance of "that gentleman" to Masachika, originally thinking it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, after only mentioning his extremely striking appearance and white hair, Masachika nodded decisively, "I know this gentleman."
...But I haven't even said anything yet."
"Extremely striking appearance, white shoulder-length hair with light blue tips, wearing a green haori, and a white parrot as his Kasugai Crow, right?"
Sanemi stared at him, silently nodding.
Masachika smiled brightly and said, "That's Haruto-san. I saw him a few days ago when I returned to headquarters. He has already become a new Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, and his strength is incredibly powerful."
Pillar?
Sanemi glanced sideways. He had heard Masachika say that Pillars were the strongest Swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps; among hundreds of Demon Slayer Corps Swordsmen, only nine Pillar-level Swordsmen could emerge.
That gentleman... was he really that powerful?
The one who could kill fifty demons, or one of the Twelve Kizuki—that gentleman could have cut off his mother's head with a single strike, but he didn't.
He fully displayed human warmth in front of the demon's son, even handing his mother over to him in the end... Sanemi looked at Masachika with some urgency, bloodshot eyes filling his whites. "He... where does he live? Is there a child with him?"
Masachika, whose arm was tightly gripped by him, wasn't annoyed, but merely gestured vaguely in the air with his hand: "A child with a rooster-comb hairstyle? I did hear that Haruto-san originally intended to adopt him as a successor, but it seems he gave up because the child couldn't learn a Breathing Technique."
Indeed! Sanemi's eyes widened. "Where do they live now?!"
Mt. Sagiri.
Sanemi crouched in the bushes, watching the few people practicing at the foot of the mountain.
He knew that excellent Swordsmen had very keen senses, so he didn't dare to get too close, maintaining as much distance as possible within his line of sight.
The youth with reddish-brown hair held a nichirin blade, and Demon Slayer Corps uniforms were drying outside the house, indicating he was likely a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The small Genya stood beside the youth, doing weighted training. It seemed he was doing well, and he had grown much taller.
Sanemi felt relieved. He could tell that both youths liked Genya very much. As long as he was alive and well-fed, such a life could be considered paradise.
He had originally planned to stay here only for a short while, but he ended up staying until noon.
That gentleman returned.
That gentleman removed Genya's weights, gave him water to drink, and ruffled his rooster-comb hair... These were things Sanemi should have done, but unfortunately, he could only hide in the bushes like this, despicable, peering at them with dark eyes.
That gentleman noticed his gaze—even though he was so far away!
Sanemi immediately started running, leaving his spot, circling around the row of wooden houses, and heading down the mountain from the other side.
Was he really a Pillar? Even his sensory abilities far surpassed ordinary people!
Sanemi leaped through the mountain forest, running very fast, his clothes fluttering like the wind of the Wind Breathing Technique he was about to learn, stirring up gusts of wind.
But that gentleman's speed was even faster!
Just as Sanemi was about to reach the descent path on the other side, a blue figure flashed past. Through his flowing white hair, he saw a familiar gaze.
It was a very perplexing expression.
Haruto's hand lightly pushed off the rapidly passing ground, his entire body leaping gracefully, blocking Sanemi's path ahead.
His knee struck Sanemi's chin, a light tap that changed the silver-haired youth's direction, knocking him to the ground.
Sanemi's head jolted, and he quickly got up after falling.
The kick wasn't heavy, and his body didn't hurt from the fall.
"Sir... Haruto-san." He gritted his teeth, but still greeted him earnestly.
Although he had a volatile temper, facing this meticulous gentleman, Sanemi still reined in his bad temper completely.
Haruto's arms were crossed over his chest, his gaze sweeping over the messy wounds on Sanemi's body. He gestured towards the wooden house. "Want to go see him?"
"No!" Sanemi immediately said, then swallowed with difficulty. "I'm relieved that Genya... is doing well. My appearance would only make him angry... so no."
Haruto looked at Sanemi with a bewildered expression. "Angry?"
"Genya must hate me... for leaving him in a broken home. Our bond as brothers," Sanemi took a deep breath, bloodshot eyes filling his whites, "is already shattered!"
Shattered my ass.
Haruto looked at him expressionlessly. "Are you a one-track mind?"