"This is amazing."
Butterfly Shinobu was on the verge of tears, tears of joy.
The equipment Kevin Cross brought with him was beyond useful these were ultimate weapons against demons. Before joining the chat group, she would never have imagined there was something in the world that could emit light similar to sunlight and be used to kill demons.
"Kevin, I'm going to inform the Master right away," she said excitedly.
"Sure, go ahead." Kevin nodded, though he wasn't particularly fond of the way she referred to the leader as "Master."
That title implied complete loyalty and servitude.
Kevin understood that in this world, the term carried a different nuance, and that the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps had inherited a long-standing role. Still, it didn't sit well with him.
But even if he didn't like it, he didn't say anything. After all, that was the way things worked here. The Corps had always been led by the same family, and its members truly were more like retainers.
Ultimately, everything came down to defeating the demons. Once Muzan Kibutsuji was destroyed, the Corps would no longer need to exist, and with it, so too would that title of "Master" fade away.
While Shinobu went to report to her leader, Kevin, curious as always, wandered around the Butterfly Estate.
The Butterfly Estate was a recovery facility for wounded Demon Slayers, and as he walked through, Kevin saw a steady stream of injured fighters coming and going.
In the anime, casualties had seemed limited, most of the attention focusing on the trio of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. But in reality, the number of wounded was considerable. That was already a small miracle, considering that many Demon Slayers never returned at all eaten by demons, not even a corpse left behind.
Limbs missing, severe injuries these were all too common here.
Stare-
Kevin sensed a gaze fixed intently on him. Turning, he saw a young girl with a pretty face, but with a blank expression and vacant eyes. She looked like a lifelike doll.
She couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen.
Kevin instantly recognized her. That had to be Kanao Tsuyuri the girl Shinobu had adopted. One of the lesser-known heroines of Demon Slayer, though her screen time had been limited.
Kanao's expression was flat and her eyes lifeless. She lacked initiative in everything she did. Even her decisions relied on the flip of a coin.
She was cute, no doubt. But Kevin felt no particular interest in her. Compared to Kanao, Shinobu had far more presence and charm in his eyes.
Kevin gave her a polite smile. Kanao's dull gaze flickered with the faintest light.
She wasn't sure what she was feeling, but something inside her shifted slightly. The sensation was unfamiliar, leaving her a little unsettled.
"You're Kanao Tsuyuri, right? I'm Kevin Cross. I'm Shinobu's friend or maybe her fiancé?" Kevin said with a grin.
Kanao stared at him, lips pressed together. His introduction left her stunned, unsure of how to respond. Her heart beat faster for reasons she didn't understand.
She flipped her coin.
The result told her what to do, but even so, she couldn't bring herself to say a word.
Kevin felt a little awkward but didn't blame her. He knew this was just how she was. Maybe the coin had landed in a way that told her not to respond.
Whatever.
Kevin continued strolling around the Butterfly Estate. The grounds and even the courtyard were filled with blooming wisteria trees. The gentle swaying of their purple flowers in the breeze released a faint floral scent that drifted into Kevin's nose.
He didn't mind the fragrance at all.
As he walked, he glanced over his shoulder at Kanao, who was still trailing behind him.
"You know, if you've got something to do, you don't have to keep following me," he said.
Kanao said nothing.
She gave no indication she heard him, didn't respond, didn't stop. Her eyes never left him.
It was like being haunted by a silent ghost. Kevin was starting to feel a little uneasy.
"You're really just going to follow me around, huh? Alright, suit yourself." Kevin gave up.
In the courtyard, several Demon Slayers were practicing sword techniques. It looked like part of a physical rehabilitation routine.
As Kevin watched, he noticed that their breathing patterns were... unusual. Their rhythm, tempo, and even the depth of their breaths were clearly different from those of ordinary people.
That had to be the Breathing Technique unique to this world.
Out of boredom and curiosity, Kevin tried mimicking one of the swordsmen's breathing patterns.
He immediately felt short of breath and tight in the chest. The moment he tried, he nearly choked.
So it wasn't that simple after all.
Kanao, noticing his clumsy attempt at Water Breathing, hesitated. A rare flicker of emotion flashed through her otherwise expressionless eyes.
She flipped her coin.
Heads: teach him.
Tails: don't.
Heads.
Kanao stared at the result, hesitated, then flipped it again.
Heads again.
She flipped a third time.
Still heads.
What Kanao didn't realize was that by flipping the coin multiple times, she had already made a choice.
A choice that came from her not the coin.
She let out a quiet breath she didn't even know she'd been holding.
"If you want to learn Breathing Techniques, I can teach you," she said, finally lifting her eyes to meet Kevin's.
"Really? Isn't that... kind of top secret? I mean, it's your Corps' technique after all," Kevin asked with a laugh.
Truthfully, Kevin was just bored and curious. Breathing Techniques were undoubtedly powerful for the swordsmen of this world, but for Kevin, their power didn't seem particularly overwhelming.
____________________
NEXT CHAPTER : First Mission
(Kevin meets the Hashira face-to-face, bringing powerful xenon lamps capable of mimicking sunlight lethal to demons. While the Hashira are awed by both Kevin and his weapons, they quickly realize this tech could change the tide of war.
With Muzan already in their sights, Kevin's gift gives them a shortcut: no more waiting just lure him out and end it. A new mission triggers: Exterminate the Demon Clan. The final battle draws near.
Next: Can science finish what swordsmanship started)
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