With the mission over, Rengoku Shinjuro took the two youngsters away from Hachijojima Island. He wrote to Oyakata-sama about everything that had happened during the mission, and Oyakata-sama gladly accepted the new recruits.
On the way back to headquarters, he also gave Iguro Obanai some swordsmanship guidance and physical training.
Two weeks later, the three arrived on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
"I want food—hot, delicious food, not rations!" Hiruma had not eaten for a full three hours, and his stomach was growling. He could only blame his lousy constitution.
"Obanai, do you have anything to eat?" he asked expectantly.
Obanai had already wrapped bandages around his lower face. He shot Hiruma a disdainful glance. Once the two had grown familiar with each other, his sharp tongue had awakened.
"Hiruma, are you a bottomless pit? You ate all my rations already, idiot!"
After delivering his insult, he pulled out his last piece of ration from his clothes. Having been imprisoned in a dungeon for years, he had developed the habit of keeping food on hand.
But this truly was his last ration. To Obanai, it was something he would not take out unless absolutely necessary.
But if it was for Hiruma, he was more than willing.
Hiruma snatched the ration like a starving ghost and devoured it in a few bites, so moved that he was nearly in tears.
"Waaah!"
"This ration smells amazing! Obanai, you're such a good buddy!"
At that, Obanai turned his head away. The bandages hid his smile as he muttered softly,
"We're not that close, bottomless pit!"
"Boys, there's a town up ahead!"
"Finally, we can have a proper feast! Hahaha!"
Shinjuro Rengoku pointed excitedly into the distance. After nearly two weeks of living like wild men, a town meant food, and food meant happiness.
"Really, old man?"
Hiruma had somehow appeared beside Shinjuro Rengoku. The two stood shoulder to shoulder, stars in their eyes as all sorts of delicious dishes circled around their heads, drool streaming from their mouths.
In the blink of an eye, only lingering dust remained on the road. The two had vanished in a flash.
"Food!"
"Food!"
"Delicacies!"
"Delicacies!"
Their chant-like cries drifted into Obanai's ears from afar. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as though he could not quite accept the absurd sight before him.
After all, both of them were stronger than the other. Either way, he could not beat either of them.
"Sigh!"
"The Demon Slayer Corps is supposed to be a serious organization, right?"
Obanai let out a long sigh, stroked Kaburamaru's head, and headed toward the town.
A short while later, he found the dining duo in front of a restaurant.
Seven bowls had been stacked beside Shinjuro Rengoku. But when Obanai looked at Hiruma's side, his worldview collapsed.
A full forty-five bowls were stacked together, like an insurmountable mountain of food.
"Boss, another bowl! Money's no issue!"
Hiruma pushed his empty bowl aside and called out to the owner, still wanting more.
Every eye in the restaurant was fixed on their table. People who could eat this much were truly rare.
Hiruma noticed Obanai and greeted him with a smile, changing his order as he did so. "Boss, make that two bowls. My friend's here!"
The moment he spoke, the diners' gazes shifted to Obanai. Since he was friends with this astonishing eater, he naturally could not be ordinary either.
Obanai glared at Hiruma resentfully. Luckily, he had hidden Kaburamaru in his clothes beforehand, or they might have been thrown out.
What normal person wore a snake around their neck?
He sat across from Hiruma. One of them was all smiles, while the other looked thoroughly displeased.
"Boys, I noticed there's a Wisteria House in this town. Once we're done eating, we can go there and rest up!" Shinjuro Rengoku suggested.
"What's a Wisteria House?" Obanai asked with a puzzled look, feeling as though he and these two were on completely different wavelengths again.
Hiruma swallowed the food in his mouth and explained, "It's short for House of Wisteria Crests."
"They were established by people the Demon Slayer Corps once helped. They mark their homes with special wisteria crests and provide Demon Slayer Corps members with assistance free of charge. They're rest stops for the Corps throughout the country."
"Mm." Obanai nodded, pulled aside a small section of his bandages, and began eating slowly.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three went to the Wisteria House to rest.
By evening, Obanai was still pestering Shinjuro Rengoku to teach him swordsmanship. For a hardworking junior, Shinjuro Rengoku wished he could teach everything he knew, especially one with such talent.
Although Flame Breathing was not particularly suited to him, he could still teach him some basic sword techniques.
As for Hiruma, whom Obanai considered "lazy and gluttonous," he had long since disappeared somewhere for a stroll.
The small town already had electricity. When the sky darkened, the dim yellow streetlights came on.
A few food stalls were still scattered along the roadside. Though it was not particularly bustling, the place carried a warm, homely atmosphere.
"Boss, I'll take all your Saisai Dango!"
Hiruma suddenly appeared in front of a vendor's stall and slapped money down before him, startling the man into a shudder.
"Please wait a moment, young sir!" the vendor said with a forced smile, though his hands trembled slightly. The boy carried a sword—he was frightening even if he was just a child.
"Boss, don't be nervous. I'm a good person!" Hiruma explained solemnly.
"Yes, yes, of course!"
The vendor nodded repeatedly. The government's sword ban had been in place for years. Could someone still carrying a sword possibly be a good person?
Suddenly, someone dressed in rough cloth crashed into Hiruma's chest.
Because he had trained with a sword for years, his stance was exceptionally steady. Instead, the person who hit him was knocked to the ground.
He had just been about to check on the person when a nimble figure darted away from before him and ran off without looking back.
Then, angry curses rang out nearby. Hiruma looked toward the sound and saw three fierce-looking men.
"Damn it, stop right there!"
"When are you going to pay back what you owe?"
"If you don't pay up, we'll sell you!"
"Sir, stop staring. You'll bring trouble on yourself!" the vendor hurriedly warned. "Those people have connections. Even the government won't do anything about them!"
"Oh."
Hiruma withdrew his gaze. He only wanted something to eat and had no desire to get into a conflict.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fleeing person. From behind, she looked like a little girl. She clutched a packet of prepared medicine in her arms and ran swiftly.
Soon, the small, thin figure in rough clothes disappeared into an alley.
"Shinobu Kocho, stop right there!"
"You'd better pray I don't catch you, or I'll beat you to death!"
"And your sister too! Don't think we won't touch you just because you two know a little medicine!"
"Damn it, stop right there!"
Seeing that he could not catch up, the leader began shouting threats, but he did not give up the chase.
Hearing that name, Hiruma's body jolted. He seemed to have heard an incredibly familiar name.
Shinobu Kocho!
That man just said Shinobu Kocho, didn't he?
He definitely said Shinobu Kocho!
"Sir, your Saisai Dango!"
"Boss, wait just a moment!"
Seeing the young man staring fixedly at the three bullies, the vendor began to panic.
Didn't we agree not to meddle in other people's business?
The vendor wanted to stop him, but it was already too late, because Tendo Hiruma had already appeared behind the bullies.
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