*Plink… Plock*
Inside an expanse that stretched farther than the eye could see, as the sky and ground were one mirrored plane.
I stood there, and naked, at what could be said to be my very soul in the shape of a sky blue crystal monolith displaying my relevant information glowing as if breathing.
"… ien…"
"… ucien…"
Hm…? Is that Aoi…? Why is she calling? Does she need something?
"LUCIEN!"
I was immediately pulled from the ethereal place otherwise known as my spiritual conscious realm.
"Haaah…" I exhaled sharply before looking up at the person who disrupted my concentration.
"What is it, Aoi?"
"Dinner is ready! Don't keep the others waiting, come on!" She said cheerfully as she turned and jogged away.
Dinner, huh. I looked around and noticed the sun was almost down.
I got up and went to catch up to her which wasn't difficult.
"You've been meditating all day again. At this rate you'll turn into a statue you know." She said teasingly.
But I know, beneath the teasing, she cares a lot about my well being—sitting too long isn't healthy… well for a regular person at least.
"Well you don't have to worry about me one bit. You see, I'm quite special." I flashed a smile at her making her blush a little.
I-I… see… that's… interesting."
She murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her lips twitched in a shy, uncertain smile as she stole a glance at me before looking away again.
Hm? Surely that's not what I think it is? I hope not.
After that she didn't say anything and neither did I until we reached the butterfly mansion.
"I'm home!" I declared loudly for the whole mansion to hear.
Not even a minute later, the sound of footsteps—three pairs to be exact came running to the entrance.
"You're back! We missed you!"
"Where did you go all day? Were you playing without us?"
"Did you forget about us? Huh? Huh?" said while poking or hopping around me.
"You didn't bring any sweets? Aww, we were hoping!"
Three little gremlins throwing a barrage of questions at me.
I couldn't help laughing. "I… I didn't forget you," I said, crouching down to their level.
"But you three—how did you survive all day without me?"
They exchanged a quick, conspiratorial glance before bursting into giggles. While they were tussling around, Aoi went first and went to the dining hall.
The smallest tugged at my sleeve again, the middle one hopped in place, and the tallest leaned close, her hands on my arm.
Their combined energy made the mansion feel alive in a way it never did when it was quiet.
Their shrieks of delight filled the entrance, echoing off the polished floors and light-filled walls, and for a moment, I forgot about any fatigue I might have from meditating all day.
The tallest of the three, tugged gently at my sleeve. "Dinner table is already set, we were just waiting on you," she said.
"Thanks, I'll be there in a second," I said, following their little trail toward the table.
These little girls were picked up after their families were killed off by demons.
If not for shinobu and the demon slayer corps, they themselves would've ended up meeting the same faith as their families.
As they had nowhere else to go, we decided to take them in and raise them as junior helpers while keeping them safe.
The three unfortunate girls: Sumi Nakahara, kiyo Teraichi and Naho Takada.
And during their stay here, I have developed quite a father-daughter bond with the girls. Even Aoi.
After a while we reached the dining hall.
Immediately I caught the whiff of the food—it smelled good. Praise Aoi for her skills.
I stopped and surveyed the hall, I saw rows of tables filled with injured demon slayers that came here for treatment.
Some missing a leg, an arm—heck some doesn't even have any arms or legs. Truly a terrible sight to behold.
Why are they at the butterfly mansion you might ask…
well essentially it was a healing and support center for demon slayers, combining medical treatment, rest, and safe accommodation.
It was founded by the Kocho sisters, with Shinobu running the medical side and Aoi running the household side.
As I finished surveying, I spotted the table full of food with Aoi and the three girls sitting and waiting.
"So where is Kanao and shinobu?" I questioned as I've not seeing them since I came in.
"Kanao went to the natural selection at Mt. Fujikasane and should be back around this time." Aoi informed me.
Hm?
"Wait, why is kanao still taking the exam even though she's been training under a hashira for a few years?"
Shouldn't she be exempt from wasting time on such trivial matters and just be assigned a suitable rank.
I mean, if a hashira can vouch for her then she should just be put into the fields and given missions right away.
"Just because she had been training under a hashira doesn't mean she is automatically granted membership you know." She retorted.
"The exam is required to formally join the demon slayer corp."
"Does she receive a higher rank at least? Don't tell me she starts at the bottom?" I asked exasperated.
"If you had taken the exam and joined the demon slayer corp you would know the answer to these questions." She argued.
"Yes. She starts at the bottom." Aoi said before continuing eating.
Only a moment later does she final pose a question herself. "I never asked before but… why aren't you a part of the demon slayer? I thought you would've joined by now?"
Yes. Why am I not part of the corp you ask?
Well for multiple reasons. One being, members must follow the chain of command from the hashiras and the corps leadership.
I have problems with the idea that I must take orders. I can kill demons just fine without joining.
Another thing is that I spent most of my days meditating and training physically. From morning till night for the past 9 years.
And the type of training I've been doing requires my constant attention with little time to have fun or constant report updates.
So might as well not join and have freedom to improve myself.
I turned my attention back to our conversation. "There was simply no need to." I said calmly.
"What do you mean 'no need to'?"
"It means what it means. No need to join."
"Wha—" it seems she was about to question me about my responsibilities but I cut her off.
"I already help slay demons and help civilians already, tho need for the corp to tell me to do it really." well I barely helped.
At most I went out to slay demons a few times every two or three months.
That should help my case if needed… right?
"…Well, I guess if you did that then you might not need to join… but what about breathing techniques!? I never see you use any or practice alongside the others."
"You're right about that. I never practiced alongside the other slayers and I don't have breathing techniques."
"D-don't have any breathing techniques!? Then how are you so strong and able to kill demons!?" She questioned confusedly.
I raised my arm to flex. "I'm built differently." I smirked drawing a red faced pout from her.
"And you look so weak too." She whispered. I can hear thatyou know.
*sigh*
"So back to the first question, where is shinobu?"
This time Aoi wasn't the one to answer. The person who spoke up was Sumi.
"Oh oh. While Aoi was preparing dinner, lady Shinobu said she's going out on patrol and collecting herbs. She'll probably be back by sunrise."
"Oh, ok then. Thanks for informing me."
"Well then. It's getting late so I'm gonna wash up and head to bed… You all should do as well."
"Ok" x4
I waved them off and headed to the bath house at the back end of the estate.
"Ahhh…" The moment my body sank into the warmth, a breath escaped me.
"Today was a long and tiresome day as ever…"
*Plip…plip*
Listening to the water droplets is quite relaxing. So relaxing, I began to reminisce…
How long have I been in this world now?
16…? 17…? I stopped counting really. Seeing as it's irrelevant to me now as I have a few hundred years ahead of me if nothing happens.
I plan to begin inscriptions on my weapons tomorrow too and practice that flash step.
So much to do.
Transcendence is a difficult task.
Chapter 1 end