"My lord… is this the world you're in? It feels completely different from mine."
On a dimly lit city street, bustling with the faint hum of nightlife, a flash of light cut through the shadows. Slowly, two figures emerged.
One was a young man in modern clothing, strikingly handsome. The other was a woman in a flowing white kimono, her posture impossibly graceful. Naturally, these two were Ren Kuroda and the Spider Princess, freshly returned from the Demon Slayer world.
At first, the Spider Princess had been skeptical of Ren's claim that he wasn't from the Demon Slayer world. But now, standing in this alien yet vivid urban landscape, she was still in shock at how different it felt from her own world.
Ren had spent a staggering five hundred reputation points just to bring her here—not counting the cost of transforming her into a demon. He felt cheated, if only slightly. Sure, he had a beautiful young woman by his side, but if he wanted to recruit his hundred demons, he'd have to rely on his own world's creatures. Finding demons in other worlds was possible, but prohibitively expensive. Reputation points earned from missions were meager; transporting even one demon from another world was almost a waste of resources. If it weren't for the extra reputation gained from helping the Demon Slayer Corps survivors, the trip would have been a net loss.
Still, the gains were undeniable. Two years in the Demon Slayer world had brought him improvements and rewards equivalent to years of effort in his own world. The system had sent him there for a reason.
To be fair, the combat levels in that world weren't extraordinary, but he had still learned a great deal. An A-rank Nichirin Blade, the self-created Demon Breathing Technique, and the Spider Princess herself—this trip had been rich with rewards, aside from the steep cost in reputation points.
Upon returning, the system confirmed that time in the Demon Slayer world had remained frozen. If he returned there again, he would appear at the exact same time and place he had left.
Tanjiro's trial before the Pillars had gone as Ren predicted. Despite minor setbacks, Nezuko was ultimately accepted by the Corps. Ren had vouched for her personally, moving the Pillars with his endorsement. Learning that he treated Tanjiro and Nezuko like younger siblings, formerly neutral Pillars like the Flame and Love Pillars shifted to his side. On top of that, Tanjiro carried a letter from Urokodaki Sakonji, confirming that he had lived with Nezuko for a year and proving her harmlessness.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Pillar, remained unconvinced. Determined to test Nezuko, he cut his own hand to lure her out. Demons were known to respond to blood, and Sanemi intended to provoke her into attacking so he could justify killing her.
But Nezuko, despite the drool gathering at her lips, refused to leave her box. Sanemi stabbed it in frustration.
Tanjiro, unable to bear seeing his sister harmed, charged forward, ready to strike. Only Giyu Tomioka's swift intervention restrained him.
"If you attack now," Giyu warned, "you and your sister are finished. Any ordinary Corps member striking a Pillar is an act of outright betrayal."
The title "Pillar" represented a rank far above ordinary members. While sympathy for Tanjiro was natural, any attack would instantly alter the situation.
"Then I guess I can act instead," Ren said with a casual flicker of resolve. "You wanted to test her, Sanemi Shinazugawa? Fine. I'll give you a few cuts to satisfy your curiosity."
With lightning speed, Ren snatched Nezuko from Sanemi's grasp and slashed, sending the Wind Pillar flying. The tension in the room spiked.
The Sound and Stone Pillars, seeing Sanemi flung aside, instinctively stepped forward to block Ren. They had previously opposed Nezuko, but now the priority wasn't her—it was preventing the Pillars from decimating one another.
Ren's reputation within the Corps was no secret. His previous feat—taking on more than half the Pillars single-handedly without lethal force—was no exaggeration.
"Don't worry," Ren said. "I won't kill him. At worst, he'll be bedridden for a year or two."
The Sound and Stone Pillars' expressions darkened. A year or two bedridden was a serious injury, indeed. But Ren was intent on making a point, carving precise cuts into Sanemi's body. The other Pillars, including the Love Pillar, hesitated, unsure whom to assist in the rapidly escalating chaos.
"Enough!" came a voice from behind the curtain. Ubuyashiki Kagaya's tone, normally gentle, rang with rare authority. "This is a meeting of the Pillars! You are role models for the entire Demon Slayer Corps. How long do you intend to continue this nonsense?"
Every Pillar except Ren dropped to their knees in self-reproach. The usually mild-tempered lord had clearly lost patience, and their previous behavior had indeed been disrespectful.
"The matter of Kamado Nezuko is settled. The Corps acknowledges her as a harmless demon and will inform the entire team accordingly."
"As for the Wind Pillar, who acted without authorization despite the council's vote, he will be confined for three months and fined one month's salary. The Demon Pillar will also be fined one month's salary. This matter ends here."
As lord, Kagaya could discipline Sanemi, but Ren posed a more delicate problem. Their current relationship was at most that of boss and employee. In the end, a simple deduction from Ren's salary sufficed to settle the issue.