Kanae's Shock

Southwest

In a village next to the town.

Inside a simple house, two nearly identical young girls lay on a somewhat shabby bed.

One had long hair, the other short. The long-haired girl had a more mature, graceful figure, while the short-haired girl was slightly smaller and curled up in her arms. The two embraced each other as they slept soundly.

The long-haired girl was Kanae Kocho, the current Flower Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.

As for the short-haired girl, she was her younger sister, Shinobu Kocho, the future Insect Hashira.

Just as the room held nothing but the sound of two long, steady breaths, a knocking sound suddenly rang out.

Kanae slowly opened her eyes and sat up from her deep sleep. Her movement also woke Shinobu, who had been curled up in her arms.

The two girls looked toward the window almost simultaneously.

Kanae gently stroked her sister's smooth hair, rose to her feet, and walked to the window. As soon as she opened it, she saw a black crow perched before her.

Without waiting for Kanae to ask anything, the crow spoke its orders in human speech.

"An Upper Rank Demon has appeared in the southwestern town twenty li from here and is currently fighting someone. The Master orders you to investigate the situation. Do not engage rashly. Your first priority is to protect yourself."

Hearing the crow's orders, Kanae and Shinobu both showed different expressions.

Kanae's eyes were filled with shock. She had never expected someone to fight an Upper Rank Demon alone, while Shinobu's eyes held an irrepressible worry.

After all, she knew how dangerous Upper Rank Demons were. Yet her sister was being sent alone into such danger. If anything went wrong, she might never see her sister again.

That was an Upper