Kanami sat on the floor of the Butterfly Mansion infirmary, his torso wrapped in fresh bandages. Shinobu Kocho sat beside him, preparing her medical kit, still affected by Kanami's previous words. He knew he had to push further to earn the trust needed to save her.
Kanami looked at the serene garden outside, but his voice was tight with remembered fury. He began to talk about the demons he hated.
System: Title effect: Story Manipulator (scammer) making a very convincing story.
equipped.
"I told Oyakata-sama I was a wanderer," Kanami began, his voice low and intense. "But the truth is, I live and breathe for one purpose: rage. I hate demons for eternity. My breathing style... my Devouring technique... it was born from a madness I couldn't control after they destroyed everything."
He let the fabricated emotion of his past tragedy hang in the air.
"I can sense the same kind of anger in you, Kocho-san, just like mine. My breathing technique... the Heavenly Demonic Devouring style... it's not only able to devour demon blood. I can sense the surging flow of life force, even in humans. And your blood flow is faster whenever a demon is mentioned. Your hatred... I sense it. I feel your pain."
Shinobu's composure cracked. Her head snapped up, her forced smile vanishing. Her eyes were wide, a mirror of the moment her sister, Kanae Kocho, was murdered by an Upper Rank demon.
"You... you shouldn't be able to sense that," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kanami reached out, placing his hand gently on her forearm. The gesture was warm, controlled, and deeply comforting.
"Your vengeance won't bring her back. I know this because my vengeance hasn't brought back my family," Kanami continued, his voice softening. "Your kindness, the kindness of your sister is what you should be clinging to. Not the fire that consumes you. She wouldn't want to see you become a viper."
The dam broke. Shinobu leaned forward slightly, burying her face in her hands. She spoke, her voice muffled and thick with unshed tears, recounting the story of her sister, the former Flower Hashira, and her dream of finding a way for humans and demons to coexist.
"Kanae... she wouldn't want this for me," Shinobu sobbed quietly. "But the anger... it won't let go. It's the only thing that drives me."
Kanami didn't offer a philosophical answer; he offered simple, genuine comfort. "Let someone else carry the load, Kocho-san. Let your friends, let me, carry the hate for a while. You should focus on saving lives."
Shinobu slowly looked up, fresh tears streaming down her face. She saw the concerned gold of Kanami's eye and the raw honesty in his expression. She hastily wiped her eyes, a faint, embarrassed blush rising on her cheeks.
"I... I apologize, Kanami-san," she stammered, picking up her medical tools. "I shouldn't have burdened you with that."
> SYSTEM (Notification): Shinobu Kocho's Affection Rate has increased to 30%.
> SYSTEM (Mission Complete): Fate Divergence: The Insect's Heart successful.
> Reward: Woman's Ring (Flower Gold Pattern) x1; Dragon Gold Ring x1. (Effect: Can track location of Golden Flower Ring bearer).
>
Kanami knew his window was closing. As Shinobu began to stand, he quickly rose, pulling her hand gently to stop her.
"Wait." He slipped the delicate Woman's Ring (Flower Gold Pattern) onto her finger. "That's is not a burden, Kocho-san. This...
It is a gift. For our friendship. Consider it a promise that I will look out for you, and you look out for me. A bond."
Shinobu stared at the ring, her blush deepening, a rare, genuine smile touching her lips. "Thank you, Kanami-san. I will cherish it."
Grueling Training and Power Surge
The four slayers, Tanjiro, Kanami, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, began their rehabilitation and training at the Butterfly Mansion, overseen by Aoi and the three little girls. The training was relentless: strength conditioning, endless breathing exercises, practicing Constant Total Concentration Breathing even while sleeping, and the famed water gourd blowing.
While the others participated in the group training, Kanami dedicated his nights to a solo mission.
> SYSTEM (Solo Mission): Pushing the Limit.
> Goal: Train alone past your physical limits for seven consecutive nights, focusing on pure physical endurance.
> Reward: Free Stat Points +10.
>
Kanami accepted. He subjected himself to a grueling routine designed to increase his base human stats. One night, he pushed himself past all reason, forcing himself to train under the icy pressure of a waterfall while carrying a massive boulder strapped to his back.
In the morning, the entire Butterfly Mansion staff and occupants were in shock.
Zenitsu shrieked in terror. "WAAAH! Kanami-san is insane! He's going to crush himself!" Inosuke roared with manic jealousy, immediately trying to find an even bigger boulder. Tanjiro watched with concern and awe. Aoi and the little girls fretted, sending a steady stream of bandages.
Kanami, exhausted but triumphant, completed his week of self-inflicted torture.
> SYSTEM (Mission Complete): Pushing the Limit successful.
> Reward: Free Stat Points +10.
>
Kanami immediately assigned his points to boost the core stats he wanted to increase without Devouring:
* Luck: 9 > 14
* Charm: 13 > 18
* Strength: 25 > 26
His overall appeal and fortune had spiked dramatically, while his brute strength saw a minor boost.
Shinobu's Concern
Shinobu, watching this impossible display of self-punishment, felt a knot of concern twist in her chest. She glanced down at the Flower Gold Ring on her finger, its cold metal a stark contrast to the warmth of Kanami's hand.
His words of comfort were completely at odds with his actions of self-abuse. His power was immense, but his dedication was truly terrifying.
"He's going to kill himself," she whispered, her voice laced with genuine worry.
> SYSTEM (Notification): Shinobu Kocho's Affection Rate has increased to 34%.
The intense recovery and training phase continued for weeks, preparing the slayers for the trials of the Mugen Train.