Chapter 1: Confession Wall ♡
(Brain cells optional, but not required)
...
During the Heian period, as the sun set, evil ghosts devoured humans, filling people's hearts with fear and panic. The Ubuyashiki family, acting on behalf of heaven to punish Muzan Kibutsuji for his wicked deeds, founded the Demon Slayer Corps with the ultimate goal of defeating Ghost King Muzan.
In the Sengoku period, the successive pharmacist Tamayo turned into a demon, and the Tsugikuni brothers emerged. For a time, undercurrents surged among the common folk. In the end, the Sun Breathing lineage survived only through the Tanjuro line, while the Demon Slayer Corps continued shuttling through the populace, fulfilling their mission against demons.
Year 27 of the Meiji era—18 years before the Taisho era tragedy when Tanjiro's family is slaughtered by Muzan!
In the outskirts of Kazahana Village.
The luxurious grand mansion of the Kanroji family was built against the northern mountain with a western wing, styled after Tang Dynasty Chinese gardens. Every corner exuded leisurely elegance—clearly the home of a wealthy household.
In one of the rooms, a dignified, gentle, and graceful woman radiating maternal warmth gazed tenderly at the dazed infant in her arms. She smiled softly and asked, "Kaede-rin-kun, where did you pick up this child?"
Unusually, the infant's eyes showed an expression far beyond what a baby should have. This was no ordinary infant—it was Yi Ren, who had just transmigrated.
Back home, he had been happily watching Demon Slayer. Suddenly, the Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji glanced over, smiled sweetly, and called out "Onii-chan~" in her adorable voice. Before he could react, a flash of white light engulfed everything.
When Yi Ren opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dense bamboo forest, seeing only bamboo stalks and the blue sky above. Glancing at his tiny, tender hands, he was so shocked he let out a "waa waa" cry—the wail of an infant!
Staring at the empty bamboo grove filled him with helpless despair. Time passed unknowably long. Just as he thought he would starve to death in this wilderness, a man in samurai attire slowly approached from afar.
Yi Ren tried to cry for help, but darkness claimed him—he fainted from hunger.
When he awoke again, a kind and gentle couple gazed at him with softened brows. From their conversation, he learned the man was Kanroji Kaede-rin, head of the Kanroji family, and the woman was Harada Yuri, his wife.
Kanroji Kaede-rin had an uplifting aura and gentle demeanor, easy to approach. He looked softly at the swaddled Yi Ren and said, "Yuri, do you want to adopt him? I found this child in the bamboo forest—he seemed so pitiful."
"Mm, I do... Kaede-rin-kun, if we have a girl later, he can protect her. If it's a boy, he can be a playmate."
Harada Yuri tenderly gazed at Yi Ren while gently stroking her slightly rounded belly, radiating maternal glow.
Kanroji Kaede-rin nodded lightly, then smiled at Yi Ren's appearance. "He looks like a healthy little boy. Let's adopt him!"
"Yes! Kaede-rin-kun!" Harada Yuri smiled gracefully, her gentle eyes on the infant Yi Ren.
And so, in a complete daze, Yi Ren was adopted by the Kanroji family—in a completely different era, no less!
Staring at his immobile body, he felt utterly lifeless. Just as he thought he'd transmigrated to ancient Japan...
A majestic yet neutral voice echoed in his mind, seemingly transcending time and space, inspiring awe.
[My Lord, the wheels of your destiny have begun to turn. The future of Demon Slayer shall be written by you. Remember, the power of spacetime is limitless...]
"Future? Demon Slayer! You... who are you? Why am I here?!"
Yi Ren bombarded the voice with questions, his mind reeling in this unfamiliar world.
But after a long wait, the voice did not return—only ethereal silence remained.
Recalling the majestic tone, waves rose in his heart, yet he calmed down to think. If it said this world... then it's no ordinary world? And it's the Demon Slayer world!
At this thought, unlike most people, Yi Ren felt no fear or panic—instead, a secret thrill. Transmigration for an otaku was pretty great, especially without the painful truck-kun cliché. His old life had been monotonous; now he could adventure here. Best of all, he could cuddle with his waifu Mitsuri—and other girls too.
But if it's the Demon Slayer world, where exactly am I now? From the couple's talk, he was in the Kanroji household. Naturally, the adorable Mitsuri Kanroji popped into his mind.
Wait—don't tell me the Love Hashira dragged me here because she took a liking to me?!
Remembering the scene before coming—the last thing he saw was Mitsuri's dazed expression—he shuddered, then chuckled and shook his head. If he really ended up in Mitsuri's family and could protect this girl who always wanted protection, that wouldn't be bad at all.
As Yi Ren daydreamed, brilliant ancient text appeared in his mind, accompanied by explanations.
[Sword Dao Physique: Absorb the essence of various Breathing Styles to strengthen the body. Basic Swordsmanship: Encompasses the most fundamental sword techniques. Markings (Locked), Breathing Style (Not Awakened)]
The text turned into flowing light and merged into his body.
Yi Ren felt the change—this felt less like a golden finger and more like innate abilities. From the description, the Sword Dao Physique let him observe and fuse the essence of Breathing Styles, while Basic Swordsmanship covered nearly all techniques.
Excited, he couldn't wait to test the swordsmanship and observe Breathing Styles from the Hashira. But trapped in a swaddled body that couldn't even walk for months, he had to shelve the idea.
Though... does this mean I'll spend these days staring at that bulging thing? I refuse...
...
Time flew by—several months later.
In the Kanroji family courtyard, a black-haired, black-eyed toddler wobbled to his feet. This was the adopted Yi Ren. Surrounded by many wet nurses, he finally took his first stumbling steps.
(The many nurses weren't because he was addicted to milk—purely hunger! Really, no excuses!!)
Unbeknownst to him, his first step instantly drew the nurses' attention.
"Yi Ren is so cute!"
"Yeah!"
"Should we go pinch his cheeks?"
The nurses beamed with auntie smiles, ready to pounce and devour him with affection.
At that moment, a couple approached. The woman held a dazed infant, her gentle aura inspiring pity. The man beside her had extraordinary presence—authoritative yet softened by a faint smile.
They were Kanroji Kaede-rin and Harada Yuri.
"Yuri, look—Yi Ren's grown and can walk now. I wonder when our Mitsuri will."
Harada Yuri shot Kaede-rin a glance, tenderly touching the infant girl's cheek. "Mitsuri's only been born a few days—you talk too much. But Kaede-rin-kun, why name him Yi Ren?"
"There's an old Chinese poem: 'The one I long for, here finds joy and freedom!' It means awaiting a wise person who arrives to live carefree. Just like this little guy—I hope he'll be our future wise one."
Kanroji Kaede-rin smiled faintly, then frowned slightly at the dazed Yi Ren. "Though this kid eats so much. Without all these nurses, Mitsuri would go hungry, as you say."
"Hmph! Our Mitsuri won't be like that! She'll definitely be a gentle girl."
Harada Yuri glanced warmly at the dazed Yi Ren while cradling her infant—who, unbeknownst to her, was also a future foodie.
Meanwhile, Yi Ren ignored the outside world, immersed in his inner one. Having finally stood, he could test his swordsmanship!
Accessing the mental book filled with bizarre scribbles—even something like "Iron Mountain Lean" in bloody strokes. Just as he felt lost, the text clarified, turning into moving figures that flowed into his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed a stick with chubby hands and awkwardly swung it a few times. But at nearly one year old, it looked adorably clumsy.
"Pfft! Yi Ren's hilarious—so cute!"
A nurse spotted him and melted, rushing to hug and squish him against her soft chest.
Yi Ren glared speechlessly: Woman! Get lost! You're only slowing my sword draw!
But under one year old and unable to speak, it came out as "ee ya ya"—even cuter to them.
"Waaah!! Let me hug first!"
"Me too, thanks!"
The nurses, defeated by his baby babble, swarmed to pinch and cuddle.
Kanroji Kaede-rin smiled at the scene: "So charming at this age—he's got half my charisma~"
"Kaede-rin-kun!"
Harada Yuri stared seriously, eyes sparkling with hearts, gaze heating up.
"What... Yuri?"
"Take Mitsuri!"
She shoved the infant into his arms and dashed off: "I'm going to pinch!"
"..."
Kaede-rin twitched, tears welling as he eyed Yi Ren with envy and jealousy.
...
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