Tomioka Giyu's eyes narrowed as he stared at the strange figure before him.
Shin Arashi looked nothing like a normal human. With glowing purple eyes, demonic patterns across his body, and an eerie aura that radiated power, Giyu instinctively raised his guard.
"Is he... a demon?" Giyu's expression darkened, his grip on the Nichirin sword tightening.
But Shin wasn't aware that he was already being mistaken for the enemy.
Right now, only one thing mattered to him—protecting Nezuko. Her survival was tied directly to his own. The system had made it painfully clear: if she died, he died.
"I didn't come all this way to be 'humanely handled' by some damn system," Shin muttered under his breath, steel glinting in his eyes.
"Even if I have to die, I'm not going down without knowing why. And not in some strange world, alone." He stepped forward, raising his sword with calm resolve.
"You can't harm that girl," Shin said coldly, eyes locked with Giyu's. "I won't allow it."
Giyu's gaze sharpened.
"Did Muzan Kibutsuji send you here?" he asked, voice low and guarded.
"Muzan who?" Shin blinked, confused for a moment. "Hell no. I'm not anyone's lapdog."
Then, narrowing his eyes, he added with a smirk:
"I'm just a demon slayer passing by. That's all. And I won't stand by while you kill a child."
Giyu said nothing—but his sword moved.
[Water Breathing: First Form – Water Surface Slash!]
A brilliant arc of water flashed as Giyu lunged forward. Their blades met with a loud clang, and Shin was forced back several meters, sliding across the snow.
The impact rattled his arms, but he held his ground. Still, he didn't retaliate.
"He's hesitating…" Giyu realized, as he paused for a moment. His killing intent had temporarily subsided; obviously, Shin's words had caught his attention.
Giyu stood still, observing him.
"Demon slayer…? You hunt demons?" he asked, skeptical.
Still, Giyu had never seen a demon sayer that looked this inhuman.
Years of experience with demons had sharpened his instincts. And yet, something about Shin felt… off. He didn't radiate the same malevolent energy demons did.
"His aura... it's not demonic. It's something else."
"A demon? Me?" Shin let out a dry laugh, eyes gleaming with mockery.
"No thanks. I don't eat people. I'm just a kind person passing by." He met Giyu's gaze calmly, then pointed upward. "If you're not convinced, wait for sunlight. Demons can't survive in it. That'll prove I'm not what you think."
Giyu didn't lower his weapon.
"If she's a demon, she's dangerous. Letting her live might endanger others," he warned, voice firm.
"My sister won't hurt anyone! I promise!" Tanjiro cried out from behind, desperation in his voice.
But Giyu didn't even glance at him.
He was focused solely on Shin now. There was something strange about this man—something he couldn't quite read.
"Why?" Giyu finally asked. "Why protect her? Why take her side?"
Shin's confidence faltered. For a moment, he stood in silence.
"How the hell do I explain that if she dies... so do I?" he thought bitterly. "Yeah, that'll go over well."
Instead, he just looked away, exhaling slowly.
"I have my reasons," he said at last, his voice softer. "I won't let her die. That's all you need to know."
(End of Chapter)
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