Karasuma Reiyu stared blankly at Urokodaki Sakonji's unusually sharp reaction."Why are you freaking out? I just wanted to sleep a little longer…"
"No more sleeping," Urokodaki snapped, a rare edge of anger slipping into his voice. "Put on your uniform. You're going to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters. Now."
Reiyu immediately straightened.That faint trace of anger—yeah, he felt it.So, like a very obedient delinquent puppy, he hurried into the Demon Slayer uniform the two loli attendants from Fujikasane Mountain had given him, then threw a sky-blue haori over his shoulders.
A moment later, he followed the messenger kasugai crow, beginning the trek toward Headquarters.
As he walked, Reiyu kept replaying Urokodaki's reaction in his mind.
So the old man panicked because of that "Master" the crow mentioned…
"Sounds like someone big in the Demon Slayer Corps," he muttered.Whatever. As long as he didn't start chaos on arrival, that so-called Master probably wouldn't do anything to him.
Half an hour later, the crow led him to the massive gate of Corps Headquarters.
The first thing he saw was a masked Corps member standing guard, the character "隐" (Kakushi) emblazoned on the back of his uniform.
"You must be Karasuma Reiyu, correct?" the masked man asked, as if confirming his identity.
"Yes, that's me." Reiyu nodded.
The man gave a respectful gesture."Then please follow me. The Master and the Nine Hashira have been waiting for you."
Reiyu walked behind him through the compound until they entered a spacious courtyard.
Besides Reiyu and the attendant, nine silhouettes stood on the gravel-strewn ground—motionless, imposing.
"Well then, Mr. Reiyu… good luck."The attendant's voice trembled. After delivering Reiyu to the courtyard, he bolted away like a terrified rabbit.
"These nine…" Reiyu's eyes narrowed.
Moments ago, he'd been strolling lazily. Now, he felt pressure—an overwhelming pressure—radiating from every single one of the nine figures.
It wasn't pressure from their group presence.It was pressure from each individual.
"So that's the kid the Master mentioned?"A voice rang out. One of the nine stepped forward, speaking with complete disdain."He doesn't look like anything special."
Reiyu turned toward him—
A tall, muscular man with a shock of white spiked hair, three long scars slashing across his face, and a white haori emblazoned with the kanji for "kill." His uniform was open, exposing his scarred torso. His eyes were bloodshot, vicious enough to make ordinary people tremble.
Ding!
Shinazugawa Sanemi
Rank: Wind Hashira, Demon Slayer Corps
Personality: Violent; extreme hatred for demons
Skills: Breath of Wind
Combat Power: 4,762
Overall Rating: Heaven-Grade
Affinity with Host: –1
"Shinazugawa Sanemi…?" Reiyu frowned as he read the system window."Sounds a lot like Shinazugawa Genya… And his combat power is insane."
While Reiyu was still processing the data, Sanemi strode right up to him, those bloodshot eyes boring into his skull.
"Hey. Brat. I'm talking to you."
Reiyu snapped back to reality. Even though he disliked the man's attitude, he forced a polite smile."Ah—senpai, I'm Urokodaki Sakonji's disciple. My name is Karasuma Reiyu."
"Urokodaki's disciple?"Sanemi's brows tightened. He glanced toward one of the other eight figures."Tomioka. Looks like this brat's your junior."
Reiyu followed his gaze.
Standing there was a black-haired young man with an unreadably calm face, the Corps uniform beneath a half-and-half patterned haori.
Ding!
Tomioka Giyu
Rank: Water Hashira, disciple of Urokodaki Sakonji
Personality: Stoic, quiet, terrible at expressing himself
Skills: Breath of Water
Combat Power: 4,741
Overall Rating: Heaven-Grade
Affinity with Host: +1
"Tomioka Giyu? He's Urokodaki's student? He's my senior?"Reiyu stared at him, stunned."Holy hell—so that's my senior? Look at that face. Cool, sharp, mysterious… he's like the final boss of every popularity poll."
Without thinking, Reiyu shifted his feet, trying to inch toward Giyu.But—
Sanemi instantly grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.
"What? You hear he's your senior and suddenly think he'll protect you? Tch. You're just as annoying as he is."
Reiyu's inner world exploded:
Annoying your mom, maybe! What did I do to you!? I talked politely! I just wanted to meet my senior—what's wrong with bonding with family?! You keep pushing me and I swear I'll open my Mangekyō and drop you into Tsukuyomi for three days straight!
Of course, he didn't say any of that out loud.
Instead, with the world's stiffest smile, he forced out,"Senpai… this is my first time meeting my senior. I just want to introduce myself. Is that… allowed?"
Sanemi narrowed his eyes.
Then, with one hand, he lifted Reiyu off the ground—effortlessly—and threw him toward Giyu.
Anyone else would've crashed headfirst into the gravel.
But Reiyu wasn't anyone.
He flipped midair and landed cleanly, standing right in front of Tomioka Giyu.
"Senior! Finally—I get to meet you!"Reiyu moved up to him like he'd found a life-saving float in the middle of an ocean.
Giyu spared him a single, emotionless glance.
Then turned away.
His back faced Reiyu.
Ding!"Tomioka Giyu's affinity with host has decreased by 1."
Ding!"Tomioka Giyu's affinity with host has decreased by 1."
Ding!"Tomioka Giyu's affinity with host has decreased by 1."
Reiyu: "…"