The morning sun hovered above the horizon, a plump golden circle slowly climbing over the ridge of the mountain as if peeking shyly at the world below.
This gentle warmth bathed the Love Estate, the residence of Kanroji Mitsuri, the Love Hashira. The estate resembled a traditional Japanese courtyard, simple yet elegant, filled with a soft, homey charm.
"Lady Kanroji, you're back."
Lucien stood at Mitsuri's side as two young girls in kimonos approached from within the courtyard.
"Hanazawa, Sakura."
Mitsuri waved enthusiastically, completely unaware of the prestige attached to her Hashira title.
"Lady Kanroji, were the demons taken care of? And… who is he?"
Both girls turned to Lucien with polite curiosity.
"Oh, he's a Thunder Breathing user. He'll be staying here for a while," Mitsuri said with her usual sweet smile.
"My name is Lucien, please take care of me."
He greeted them with flawless courtesy, the kind expected of a refined anime protagonist.
"I'm Hanazawa."
"And I'm Sakura."
"Please take care of us."
They bowed with their hands placed gracefully over their stomachs.
"Lady Kanroji, we thought you'd return hungry, so we've already prepared breakfast. Please eat, then rest."
Hanazawa's orange bobbed hair swayed slightly as she spoke, while Sakura's braided pigtails bounced gently. Both girls were lovely—junior members of the Corps who had not yet passed Final Selection.
"Really?" Mitsuri's eyes sparkled, and she instantly began drooling.
"Mr. Lucien, please join us too," Sakura added.
"There's some for me as well? Thank you, truly."
Lucien smiled politely, though inside he felt like he was performing a role. Ever since arriving in this world, his behavior felt almost theatrical, as if he were portraying the perfect protagonist he once admired. Still, he adapted quickly. After all, when in Rome, one lives like the Romans.
They entered the courtyard. Small bridges crossed over clear streams, and gentle breezes rustled the leaves. The atmosphere was serene.
Inside the tatami-lined dining room, a generous spread of dishes filled the low table.
Mitsuri placed her hands together. "Then, I'll begin."
"I won't hold back either."
Lucien's stomach growled quietly. Since transmigrating, he had barely eaten beyond a few spicy strips—most of which Mitsuri devoured. Worse, his appetite had increased monstrously. If an adult deer weighed a hundred pounds, he could easily consume the equivalent of five or six in one meal. And the stronger he grew, the more he needed.
"Mmm, it's delicious! Hanazawa, Sakura, you two made this, right?"
Lucien ate rapidly, scooping up rice with practiced ease.
"Mhm! Hanazawa and Sakura have some of the best cooking skills in the entire Demon Slayer Corps," Mitsuri replied proudly, her cheeks puffed with food like a soft bun.
"Another bowl, please."
Hanazawa immediately refilled his bowl.
"Thank you. It's just too delicious not to."
Lucien accepted the bowl, then moved with startling speed, snatching up a palm-sized rice ball and tossing it into his mouth in a single fluid motion.
"Another bowl."
"Ah… yes!"
Both girls stared silently, their hands trembling slightly.
"Whoosh… whoosh…"
Lucien ate as if a whirlwind had possessed him.
"Another bowl."
"Another."
"Another."
Dishes vanished one after another until the table was perfectly empty. Even Mitsuri had stopped eating midway, stunned.
"There's… none left…"
Hanazawa stared at the completely scraped rice pot in disbelief.
"I see…" Lucien rubbed the back of his neck. His cheeks warmed with embarrassment.
"You… you're also a big eater?"
Mitsuri's eyes gleamed with stars. Her heart warmed. She'd always been disliked for her enormous appetite, but now she felt she had found someone who not only understood her but surpassed her.
"Because my training is intense, I burn a lot of energy," Lucien explained, though truthfully, he was barely thirty percent full.
"Hanazawa, Sakura, please prepare more meals."
Mitsuri clasped her hands pleadingly.
"Understood, Lady Kanroji."
"Um… please make another hundred servings."
Lucien spoke carefully.
"A hundred…?"
Both girls nearly collapsed.
Even Mitsuri froze. As much as she ate, she wasn't on that level.
"Yes, one hundred servings should bring me to about eighty percent full. Also, please accept this."
Lucien produced a large gold chain from his storage, holding it out politely. He had taken it from the Beast Titan, and it gleamed brightly in the morning light.
"This… this is unnecessary!" Hanazawa panicked.
"Please accept it. I can't expect you to work so hard for free. I may have a large appetite, but I'll find ways to earn money."
Reluctantly, after looking to Mitsuri for confirmation, the girls accepted.
About an hour later, Lucien stepped out into the sunshine, stretching comfortably. He was finally full.
Mitsuri had already gone to rest—most Demon Slayers were active at night, so daytime was for recovering.
"Mr. Lucien, are you full?"
Hanazawa and Sakura approached, tired but smiling. Preparing a hundred servings with only two people had clearly drained them.
"You two worked very hard. Thank you."
"It was nothing!"
Both waved frantically, though sweat still glistened on their foreheads.
"Which direction is the nearest city?"
Sakura pointed east. "A full day's walk that way."
"That's not far."
Lucien nodded. "I'll be back before dark."
Golden lightning suddenly wrapped around him. With a crack, he launched skyward like a streak of light, leaving a gust of wind and thunderous echoes behind.
Hanazawa and Sakura's hair whipped wildly; their eyes widened in awe.
"H-Hanazawa… did you see that?"
"His speed is incredible…"
"He must be extremely powerful."
"And so polite…"
Lucien had left a deep impression—one they would never forget.
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