Morning in the Great Jura Forest was calm, bright, and fresh—yet Takumi's heart beat with restless purpose.
A single notification changed everything.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have received: Primeval Spirit Sword ×1]
Takumi stared at the elegant blade in his hand.
It was beautiful.
One side of the blade bore engravings of the sun, moon, and stars. The other side depicted mountains, rivers, forests—life itself.
The hilt carried even stranger carvings: one half showing farming techniques, the other half showing ancient strategies of conquest.
Takumi squinted.
"…System… why does this sword look familiar?"
[Because looking handsome is essential for a protagonist. Does Host not like it?]
"LIKE IT? This is basically the Xuanyuan Sword! Of course I love it!"
He held the blade reverently.
"Your name shall be Linglong. When you become human, you can pick your own name, okay?"
The sword trembled lightly, acknowledging him.
Takumi cleared his throat.
"Linglong, as your master, I must teach you some life philosophy. In cultivation, the path of caution is the greatest truth. Only idiots fight for no reason. Fight too much and you'll end up as a ghost banner!"
[Ding! Wise-sounding nonsense detected. Recording as Host's philosophy.]
Just as Takumi prepared to continue spouting 'profound' truths, another notification rang.
[Ding! Dimensional Gate has completed initial charging. Do you wish to anchor world coordinates?]
Takumi froze.
"…Already? That was fast."
"System, after anchoring coordinates… I can choose NOT to go, right?"
[Travel is optional.]
Takumi exhaled in relief.
"Good. If it opens to something ridiculous like the Honkai Universe, I'd get erased before I blinked."
He steadied himself.
"System, open the Dimensional Gate."
[Anchoring world coordinates…][Coordinates locked: Demon Slayer World]
Takumi's eyes widened.
"…Demon Slayer? That's actually manageable!"
Images flashed in his mind—the Kocho sisters, Rengoku, Akaza, tragic scenes, tragic deaths…
Deaths he could prevent.
Takumi clenched his sword.
"This time… I'm changing everything."
But before he left, there was someone he had to talk to.
Rimuru's Worries
Takumi walked toward the Goblin training area.
There, Rimuru was perched proudly on a wooden stake, lecturing dozens of Goblins and Fang Wolves.
"From now on, you must live in teams! Help each other! No fighting among yourselves, okay?"
Goblins: "Yes!!"
Wolves: "Woof!!"
Rimuru nodded like a proper commander.
"Good! And next—food, housing, defenses! We will form specific teams!"
But then he stopped.
"…Wait. What's your name again?"
Rimuru stared blankly at the red-bandana Goblin.
The Goblin Chief beside him answered respectfully:
"Ordinary monsters do not have names."
Rimuru brightened.
"Ah, then I'll name everyone!"
The Goblins jolted. The Fang Wolves froze.
Takumi: Here it comes. The naming maniac.
Rimuru, oblivious, prepared to begin.
But Takumi rushed forward.
"Rimuru, wait!"
The slime wiggled and turned.
"Takumi? Good morning! I was just about to name them—"
"Hold on. I have something important to tell you."
Rimuru blinked.
"What is it?"
Takumi took a breath.
"I need to leave for a few days."
Rimuru froze.
"…You're leaving?"
Takumi nodded gently.
"It's only temporary. I'll be back soon."
Rimuru's voice trembled slightly.
"But you're my only friend here… and we always eat together, sleep together… talk together…"
Takumi felt warmth tug at his chest.
He placed a hand on Rimuru's head.
"I won't abandon you. Never. I'm just taking a short trip."
"…Really?"
"Really."
Rimuru puffed up his body.
"Then I'll… reluctantly forgive you!"
Takumi smiled.
"And I'll bring you a gift when I return."
Rimuru's round eyes sparkled.
"A gift!?"
"Yes."
"Then I forgive you even more!"
Takumi laughed.
"Take care of the village while I'm gone, Rimuru-sama."
The slime blushed.
"O-Okay!"
Takumi gently patted him once more… then turned and walked toward the depths of the forest.
Rimuru watched his departing back.
"…Come home safely, Takumi."
Then, gathering himself, he shouted at his followers:
"Alright! Line up! Naming starts now!"
The Naming Begins
Rimuru pointed at the Goblin Chief.
"What was your son's name again?"
"Riguru."
"Then your name is Rigurd!"
A golden light swallowed the Chief.
His body grew taller, stronger, majestic.
"Thank you, Rimuru-sama!"
Rimuru nodded proudly.
"You're Gobuta." "You're Gobuchi." "You're Gobuzo." "You're Gobtan."
One by one, monsters evolved in cascades of blinding light.
Meanwhile…
Takumi stepped into the forest.
The Dimensional Gate Opens
"System, activate Dimensional Gate. Begin traversal."
[Opening Dimensional Gate…]
A massive white portal formed beside him. It shimmered like liquid glass, displaying countless worlds layered upon one another.
Takumi stared.
"…Wow. You're flashy, huh?"
[A protagonist deserves dramatic entrances.]
"Fair enough."
Despite complaining, Takumi stepped forward.
The world warped. The air twisted. The portal swallowed him whole.
Demon Slayer World – Sunset
When the light faded, Takumi found himself standing on a quiet mountain path.
Tall cedar trees swayed overhead. A warm orange glow from the setting sun illuminated the land.
Crows cawed in the distance.
Takumi tightened his grip on Linglong.
"So this is… the Demon Slayer world."
His eyes sharpened.
"System, check coordinates. What era am I in?"
[Early timeline detected. Estimated: Before the deaths of Kanae Kocho and Shinobu's parents.]
Takumi's breath quickened.
"…I can save them."
[Warning: Demon presence approaching.]
Takumi instantly raised his sword.
"Already?"
A sickening smell of blood filled the air.
A shadow flickered between the trees.
A demon lunged—a monstrous figure with elongated limbs and fanged jaws.
Takumi didn't flinch.
Golden Finality energy wrapped around his blade.
"One strike."
A crescent of golden sword qi split the demon in half.
It evaporated into ash.
Takumi exhaled slowly.
"…I won't let this world suffer the same tragedies again."
The System chimed.
[Mission Initiated: Save the Anime Regrets – Demon Slayer Arc]
[Primary Objective: Prevent the deaths of the Kocho Sisters' family.]
[Secondary Objective: Eliminate upper-rank threats before they appear.]
A gentle voice suddenly echoed behind him.
"Excuse me… did you just kill that demon?"
Takumi turned.
Standing at the edge of the path was a girl with long hair tied in a butterfly-pattern ribbon…
Her eyes kind, warm, and filled with confusion.
Takumi's pulse quickened.
"Kanae… Kocho?"
Her smile blossomed like a spring flower.
"Yes. That's my name. Are you lost? Do you need help?"
Takumi tightened his grip on Linglong—
And vowed silently.
This time… I will not let your story end in tragedy.