"Demons fusing with yokai?"
That piece of information wasn't particularly surprising to Ryuji. Knowing Muzan's personality, it would be odd if he wasn't up to something twisted. The only question was—how far had he gone this time?
If he'd really managed to create some absurd new form of monster…
He glanced toward the energy point that led to the Food Wars world, then gave a small nod.
500 points. No pressure. He could easily bring over enough modern ammunition to deal with the demons.
As for how he'd get that firepower across worlds?
Of course, he wouldn't go about it the "proper" way.
There were plenty of abandoned U.S. military bases. He'd just borrow a few stockpiles, that's all.
So far, nothing he'd faced—monsters, enemies, zombies—had been able to withstand concentrated firepower. Even the zombie hordes in 7 Days to Die weren't that scary. The main issue back then had been lack of manpower, not lack of weaponry.
So imagine it: every Demon Slayer armed with an M16, tossing rockets and grenades. Muzan? Yokai? Who'd care?
Just bomb them.
Of course, there wasn't a need to go that far yet. For now, his own power was more than enough.
"Yes," Shinobu nodded in response. "Even though these fused demons are still vulnerable to sunlight, they've become a huge pain to deal with. Where it used to take just one Hashira to eliminate a Lower Moon demon, now even basic demons, after merging with yokai, are difficult and strange. But let's save the details for when we get to headquarters."
She waved to the members of the Demon Slayer Corps behind her, and they immediately sprang into action, rushing toward the burning building and coordinating with other enforcement officials to search the premises.
Ryuji noticed that each of them held small vials filled with the scent of wisteria. Meanwhile, the patrons who'd been at the brothel, despite their obvious reluctance, obediently stepped into the sunlight to undergo inspection.
Clearly, fear of demons had long since overcome any concern for dignity or pride.
Ryuji followed Shinobu toward their headquarters.
The Demon Slayer Corps base was close—practically in the center of the port city. One look and he could tell it had been chosen for ease of operation.
But it was also quite large. It extended all the way to the coast and even had its own harbor. It was practically a fortress.
Shinobu offered a bit of context.
"This used to be the residence of Lord Ashikaga. But after the rise of demons and yokai, he loaned it to us as a base of operations. That said, part of the estate remains his private residence, so unless there's urgent business, please avoid the seaside wing."
Ryuji noted the "Ashikaga Estate" sign on the main gate, along with several guards and samurai who didn't bear the wisteria crest.
Clearly, the noble lord was terrified of demons.
Just then, a steward emerged from the gate. Shinobu turned to Ryuji and Mai.
"Please wait here a moment."
She walked briskly toward the man and began a hushed conversation.
After a while, Shinobu left with the steward. Another corps member arrived to escort Ryuji and Mai to a side room.
Ryuji appeared relaxed, reclining calmly in the room. In contrast, Mai frowned, visibly irritated.
She hadn't brought a phone or anything to pass the time with, while Ryuji, at least, had his device to brush up on his English vocabulary.
Looking around the traditional-style room, she turned to him.
"So… what happened after I left? You've clearly been through a lot."
She hadn't thought much about it before, but boredom had caught up with her—and so had her curiosity.
"It's not really worth bragging about," Ryuji shrugged. "I ended up traveling to a few… strange worlds."
He was also bored and didn't really liked studying, so when Mai started the conversation, he started—telling Mai about Toph's world of mystic bending arts, the vast seas of the One Piece world, and the strange abilities he'd picked up along the way.
Of course, he left out the spicier parts involving certain girls. Mostly.
He even mentioned his ability to resurrect the dead.
Mai raised a brow. "Let me guess. You offered to resurrect someone's family in exchange for… favors from that girl, Nami, right?"
For a moment, she struggled to find the right words to describe Ryuji.
A scumbag? Too harsh. A hero? That didn't fit either. He always managed to do good things in a way that made you suspicious.
Finally, she found the perfect word.
"You're just… a damn bastard."
Without giving him time to argue, she went on:
"Don't tell me you didn't do the same thing with that princess—what's her name? Vivi? After you took down Crocodile?"
He didn't even flinch. "Look, I don't owe them anything. I'm not their family, not their friend. If they want something from me, I expect something back. I don't care about their thousand-year kingdoms, or their powers. So yeah, if they want my help, they give me their bodies. Their choice."
He shrugged, scowling.
"And seriously? I describe this epic battle with Crocodile in vivid detail, and this is the part you fixate on?"
Mai folded her arms under her chest and scoffed.
"Exactly. That's why you're a bastard. And don't forget—I'm a victim too! So of course I care!"
She gave him a sharp glare, puffing up like an angry cat.
Ryuji's hand twitched. He really wanted to mess with her.
"You keep that up and I'll pin you down right here, resurrect your grandfather, and make him watch me ravish you."
"Huh?! You? As if!"
Mai scoffed, sticking out her tongue at him with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Catch me first if you think you can!"
Those words were all it took. If there was one thing Ryuji couldn't ignore, it was a direct challenge like that.
The next instant, he vanished from his spot—reappearing right in front of Mai before she could even blink. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she wasn't someone who'd go down without a fight. She twisted, pivoting on her palm, and swept her leg upward in a swift kick to force Ryuji back.
The move was quick and sharp, but compared to Ryuji, Mai was slow.
Though she managed to disrupt his angle, Ryuji moved faster than she could react. Before she could fully escape, he seized both her wrists and gently pinned her to the floor.
"What was that you said just now?" he grinned, hovering above her.
With practiced precision, he kept her legs pinned with his weight—making sure she couldn't counterattack with kicking him in the crotch. Mai scowled, her expression a mix of frustration and embarrassment, especially as she felt how closely he was leaning over her.
Her thighs were perfect—soft yet toned, warm against his hips. And as if on cue, his dick began rising, pressing insistently against her lower abdomen.
Worse, her natural scent—not perfume, just her—was intoxicating. Just being this close, feeling her squirm, made him want to spread her legs and fuck her right here, but he forced himself to focus.
Mai glared up at him, lips curled in defiance, but Ryuji saw the truth: she wanted to run. Yet for some reason, she kept provoking him.
"Hmph! That was just a sneak attack. And I still don't believe you can revive my grandfather!"
Her voice cracked on "grandfather," her expression dimming—just like when he'd first found her.
Even as the hardness against her lower abdomen made her heart beat faster and she felt terrified and uneasy, because of his words, she couldn't help but think of her grandfather Hanzo Shiranui.
Her grandfather—the man who'd modernized the Shiranui-style, who'd believed in her and Andy... only to be murdered because of a friend's betrayal.
Now?
She was too weak to avenge him. Andy had abandoned her. The legacy of her clan? Crumbling.
The brief spark of defiance died as quickly as it came.
Ryuji, however, was too busy marveling at Andy's idiocy—how could any man resist her?—to notice her despair. Releasing her wrists, he sighed.
"Okay, currently, I can't revive him. We're not in your world, so even if I could, you wouldn't want him stuck here, right? This era's ninjas are still knee-deep in bloodshed."
He stood, reluctantly peeling himself off her god, her thighs were addictive, he though. His arousal very evident. But with Mai grieving? Even he had limits.
"...You can revive people?" Mai whispered, stunned. She didn't even bother fixing her disheveled clothes.
"Yeah. Just not across worlds. If someone dies here, I can bring them back—temporarily, at least. Lots of limitations" Ryuji shrugged. "But the power's real. Next time we find someone with dead loved ones, I'll prove it."
"Hah?!"
Mai raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
This world was filled with strange powers and magic, sure—but resurrection? That was something even fantasy stories rarely granted without dire consequences. She remained skeptical, arms crossed, a doubtful look on her face.
Just then, the door to the room slid open.
Shinobu walked into the room.
"Are you two telling each other fairy tales?" she asked, smiling gently.
To her, Ryuji and Mai looked more like close companions sharing a secret joke. Their ease around each other was obvious, and perhaps enviable. Knowing he was likely to join the Demon Slayer Corps soon, it made sense to build good relationships early.
Ryuji didn't hesitate.
"Mm, we were talking about my resurrection ability. I have a power that can bring someone back temporarily. It's got its limits, of course—but she doesn't believe me."
He said as if it were the most casual thing in the world, as if he were discussing the weather. It was a statement, not a boast.
"Ah… I see."
Shinobu blinked, her smile flickering. She didn't expect that he was a person who liked to joke. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
And yet Ryuji watched her expression shift, and pressed on.
"Say, Shinobu… as a Demon Slayer, I imagine you've lost someone important too. Would you like to see them again?"
Shinobu's face immediately went cold. Her eyes hardened, the warmth in her expression fading in an instant. But after a brief pause, she answered quietly—likely only because Ryuji was considering joining them.
"Yes. My parents… and my sister. All killed by demons."
It was a simple truth. Nothing poetic, nothing dramatic—just a shard of the pain she carried daily.
"I see," Ryuji said, glancing at the sunlight streaming through the window.
"Then… let me bring your sister back. Just for a moment," Ryuji said quietly, lifting his hand toward the sunlight pouring through the window.
Shinobu froze. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Huh?"
As soon as the words left Shinobu's mouth, she saw Ryuji's palm light up with a radiant golden glow. A heartbeat later, a figure emerged before her eyes.
That familiar, gently smiling face—tinged with surprise and warmth—stunned Shinobu into silence. She couldn't move. Not even blink.
Beside her, Mai was just as speechless.
And Ryuji? He casually grabbed Mai's hand and walked past the dumbstruck Shinobu, heading out into the sunlit corridor.
"I'll leave you two sisters to catch up, Miss Kocho."
With a small wave and an easy smile, he stepped into the golden sunlight. From her place inside, Shinobu turned her head and watched as his figure was bathed in sunlight, silhouetted like a phantom from a dream.
Her lifeless eyes suddenly became bright.
But more than that—
"…Is it really you, Sister?"
Shinobu gripped her Nichirin blade as she looked at the woman standing before her—Kanae Kocho—who appeared equally overwhelmed, uncertain, and lost.
_ _ _ _
Ryuji didn't linger. He knew they'd need time. Time to speak. To cry. To confirm this wasn't some cruel illusion. Knowing the Demon Slayer Corps, they'd probably even drag Kanae into the sunlight to verify she wasn't a demon in disguise.
But for him and Mai, it was something else entirely.
"You… You actually can bring people back?" Mai asked, turning to Ryuji, eyes wide with disbelief. The resurrection she'd just witnessed was more than a parlor trick—it had shaken her down to her core.
"Of course," Ryuji replied coolly, chewing on a piece of dried meat. He liked the way she looked when she was shocked—surprised Mai was incredibly cute.
"No, I just…" She hesitated.
She couldn't believe it, not entirely. But she wanted to.
Her mind wandered—if her grandfather, Hanzo Shiranui, could be revived… would her burden finally lift? Would she no longer have to carry everything alone?
"Are there… any restrictions?" she asked softly, the hope barely concealed in her voice.
"There are," Ryuji nodded, stretching his hand out lazily. "The resources I use to bring someone back are limited. At most, I can give them about ten years of life. Maybe more, but that depends on… complicated factors. You know how weird my energy system is."
Mai paused, taking that in.
"Ten years…"
She lowered her head, feeling tightness in her chest. Ten years with her grandfather—was that enough?
Then, a more pressing thought struck her.
"Wait… is that how you got all those girls to follow you?"
She asked the question with some difficulty.
Ryuji, however, answered without hesitation.
"Yeah. What else would I want from them? I've already said—I don't care for gold or treasures. So what do you think they can offer me instead?"
His words left Mai Shiranui speechless.
He had always been upfront—what he needed was energy. And for girls like them, the only thing they could exchange for that... was themselves.
"But," Ryuji added, glancing at her, "if you really want to bring your grandfather back, it's not actually that complicated. You still have residual power from the 7 Days to Die world. I can convert that into life. Ten years of your lifespan should cover the cost. And no—" he added, seeing her expression shift, "you don't have to sleep with me."
That last part made Mai visibly perk up. Her eyes brightened.
So… she could revive her grandfather and keep her virginity?
What a deal!
She didn't even flinch at the idea of handing over ten years of her life. Honestly, it seemed like a bargain. Besides, whatever weird process he used to harvest energy, it clearly wasn't something just anyone could do.
"Alright! Deal!" she replied immediately, eyes blazing with resolve.
Then she turned to him, full of eagerness.
"So… can we do it now?"
She stared at him expectantly as he reached out his hand—but then stopped, hesitating mid-motion.
Oh no.
He just realized— he didn't actually know how to extract energy like that.
He had been planning to experiment with Robin, but she'd refused. She needed her power to protect herself. And with Mai… well, he obviously couldn't test the process by sleeping with her—not if there was a chance it wouldn't work. If it failed, he'd be accused of fraud and assault.
What if nothing happened afterward? He'd be accused of tricking her into bed—and probably hunted down.
Better play it safe.
"…Not yet," he said, pulling his hand back. "Let's wait until we're in your world. It'll be easier to do it there."
But even as he spoke, his hesitation was obvious.
Mai narrowed her eyes at him. Her instincts were screaming that something was off.
There's something he's not telling me.
Before she could press further, however, a gust of wind seemed to blow through the hallway—and Shinobu suddenly appeared in front of them.
She dropped to her knees in front of Ryuji, breathless, her expression filled with raw desperation.
"Ryuji-sama… please! Bring my sister back! I'll do anything—anything! No matter the price—I'll do whatever it takes!"
Her voice trembled. Her body shook.
She looked at him with pleading eyes and said what she had been dying to say all along.
"…Ryuji," Mai muttered softly, glancing at him with conflicted eyes.
She opened her mouth to say something… but nothing came out.
Because the truth was—Ryuji hadn't done anything wrong.
He had already explained the mechanics to her. The resurrection wasn't free. It cost him energy. His own lifespan, maybe. And you couldn't measure that kind of sacrifice in money.
But looking at Shinobu now—how she willingly fall into what felt like Ryuji's "trap," just for the chance to see her sister again—Mai felt… conflicted.
She felt… strange.
Anger. Understanding. Helplessness. And something else—jealousy?
She didn't like how transactional it felt. She didn't like that it was necessary. And yet, she couldn't fault Ryuji either.
She was annoyed that he seemed to take advantage of the situation. She understood that he needed to be compensated. She hated that there was nothing she could do to change it.
And then there was the worst feeling of all:
Ryuji's a damn pervert.
But… why did that bother her so much?
Why am I even angry?
Why am I upset that Ryuji's like this?
Mai blinked, dazed and confused.
Her heart whispered what she didn't want to hear.
' Because you care.'
And it scared her.
~~~~~~~~~~
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