DS Chapter 78: Setting Off! Ren's Hashira Match Against Sanemi!
"Me?"
Kanao pointed at herself, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Can I really go?"
Ren chuckled.
"Of course."
"It's all because Shinobu overslept."
"If no one from the Butterfly Mansion comes to verify my identity, who'll know I'm representing the Butterfly Mansion?"
Leaning down slightly, Ren looked into Kanao's large eyes with a teasing smile.
"Or..."
"Are you saying you don't want me to belong to the Butterfly Mansion?"
"If you don't come with me..."
"I might never come back."
"I'll go!"
Kanao nodded immediately.
Afraid Ren might change his mind, she hurried to his side without even putting on her shoes, still wearing only her white socks.
Seeing that, Ren smiled helplessly.
"You really..."
"You're a young lady now."
"You should take better care of yourself."
He went back inside, found a pair of shoes, then crouched down and carefully helped Kanao put them on.
As soon as they returned to the entrance, they were greeted by several familiar faces.
"Ren-san, where are you going?"
"Ren-san, are you leaving?"
"Please be careful on the way!"
"Sister Kanao, make sure you protect Ren-san!"
Aoi, Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho all looked at them with concern.
The Butterfly Mansion had been especially busy lately, so none of them could leave to watch today's match.
The moment they saw Kanao standing beside Ren, they understood that she would be accompanying him.
After chatting with the girls for a while, Ren smiled and nodded.
"Alright."
"Everyone stay here and work hard."
"Yes, Ren-san!"
The girls answered together, patting their chests confidently.
Without anyone noticing...
Ren's status within the Butterfly Mansion had quietly risen to second only to Shinobu herself.
Whatever he said...
The girls listened to attentively.
"Let's go."
Ren looked toward the morning sun before gently taking Kanao's hand.
With renewed excitement, the two left the Butterfly Mansion together.
Pointing his thumb toward the road ahead, Ren grinned.
"Our destination..."
"The Ubuyashiki Estate!"
The two figures dashed beneath the bright morning sky.
A happy smile bloomed across Kanao's face.
Quietly following beside Ren, she held onto his hand.
The sunlight reflected brilliantly from the Nichirin Blade hanging at his waist.
"Sanemi..."
"I'm here."
---
The blazing sun climbed high overhead.
Time passed quietly.
Before long...
It was noon.
Outside the Ubuyashiki Estate...
A large number of Kakushi hurried busily from place to place.
Dressed in their black uniforms, their clothes were already soaked with sweat.
There was only one reason for such frantic activity.
They were constructing a simple arena for today's match between Ren and Sanemi.
As they worked, everyone was filled with anticipation.
Today...
They might witness the birth of a new Hashira.
Even more astonishing...
The Master himself had personally nominated this candidate, allowing him to skip the normal promotion process entirely.
Such a thing was exceedingly rare in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Naturally...
Everyone was curious about Ren.
If the Master valued him so highly...
Then he must possess extraordinary talent.
The Kakushi all shared the same expectation.
They eagerly awaited today's battle.
Another half hour passed.
Under the scorching sun, the Kakushi worked even faster.
Meanwhile...
More and more Demon Slayers began arriving.
Today happened to be a rare day without assignments for many Corps members.
Watching a Hashira-level battle and learning from it naturally became everyone's first choice.
Even several Hashira arrived to observe.
After all...
Whether the Demon Slayer Corps would gain its tenth Hashira today was a historic occasion.
Of course...
The greater reason was Ren's Demon Slayer Mark.
During the previous Hashira meeting, the Master had repeatedly emphasized its importance.
Everyone wanted to see just how much Ren had improved after awakening his Mark.
More importantly...
How many exchanges could he withstand against Sanemi?
Thus...
Aside from Kyojuro, who was away on a mission, and Shinobu, who was still sleeping...
Nearly every other Hashira had arrived.
"Ren's here!"
Someone suddenly shouted.
Everyone immediately turned toward the entrance.
There...
A young man calmly walked through the gate.
Beside him followed a graceful young girl.
The pair stepped into the estate together.
Instantly...
Every gaze focused on Ren.
A rose-red scabbard hung at his waist.
His clear eyes still retained the youthful innocence of a fourteen-year-old boy.
Dressed entirely in white...
His bearing was elegant and refined.
Ren looked exceptionally handsome.
"Ren-san looks even more handsome today!"
"Yeah! He already looked good yesterday, but doesn't he seem taller now?"
"Ren-san, good luck!"
"Good luck~!"
After everything that had happened at the Butterfly Mansion yesterday, many Demon Slayers recognized him immediately.
Before long...
Numerous admiring gazes gathered around him.
Quite a few belonged to young women.
Walking quietly behind him, Kanao began feeling slightly overwhelmed.
So many people...
Were looking in their direction.
Although she could now speak normally with others...
That confidence only existed when Ren was nearby.
Faced with so many unfamiliar eyes...
Panic slowly welled up inside her.
Just then...
A warm hand gently squeezed hers.
Kanao looked up.
Ren smiled reassuringly.
"It's alright."
"Be a little braver."
Her cheeks instantly turned bright red.
Looking down, she responded in a voice softer than a whisper.
"...Mm."
The two continued walking.
Soon...
Ren spotted a familiar face.
A boar-headed boy wearing a shaggy pelt.
Hashibira Inosuke.
Standing beside him were a blond boy and another young man carrying a large wooden box on his back.
Ren recognized them immediately.
Zenitsu Agatsuma.
Tanjiro Kamado.
The successors of Thunder Breathing and Sun Breathing.
If Ren remembered correctly...
The wooden box on Tanjiro's back contained his younger sister, Nezuko.
At that moment...
Inosuke also spotted Ren.
His eyes immediately lit up.
"Hehehegagaga!"
"Su Geng!"
"Long time no see!"
Ren nodded calmly.
"Didn't we just meet yesterday?"
Inosuke froze.
Apparently...
He hadn't processed that yet.
Taking advantage of the pause, Zenitsu and Tanjiro stepped forward.
"Inosuke..."
"So this is Ren-san?"
"He's amazing."
"He's about the same age as Nezuko, but he's already this strong."
Ren smiled and greeted them.
"Hello, Zenitsu."
"Hello, Tanjiro."
The two blinked in surprise.
"Hello, Ren-san!"
"Eh?"
"Ren-san already knows who we are?"