Genya the Demon Eater

Haruto had never heard the term "Demon Eater" before. Perhaps that Ubuyashiki fellow knew, but he could not write to him about it yet.

The term had come from the bullet comments. Haruto would at least have to wait until it appeared in real life, or he would have no way to explain how he knew it.

Demon Eater.

Someone who devoured demons.

How did they devour them? Literally?

During his time living with Genya, he had learned that the boy had an exceptionally keen sense of taste. One sip was all he needed to identify every seasoning Makomo had added to a soup.

But did taste have anything to do with this?

An idea took shape in Haruto's mind.

So the next time Cang Kong brought a mission, he beckoned to the listless Genya. "Want to come with me?"

"You're joking, right?" Sabito gave him a baffled look. "Genya is still a child!"

"I'm already eight! I'm not a child anymore!"

Genya scrambled up from the ground and clutched the old Nichirin Blade tightly. "I'm going!"

"Don't worry, Sabito. I have my reasons. He won't get in the way."

Haruto nodded to the gentle boy, then patted the back of Genya's shaven head. "Can you keep up with me? I'm not going to stop and wait for you."

Despite his misgivings, Genya nodded firmly. "Of course I can!"

Haruto did not call his bluff. He put on his haori and took Genya down the mountain under Sabito's worried gaze.

The mission site was not far away, still within Tokyo Prefecture.

A demon had attacked a livestock farm, killing many of its cattle and the owner.

The demon's strength did not even qualify it as a Lower Rank, and Haruto subdued it with ease.

The question now was how to awaken Genya's ability.

Demon Eater... did it really have to be triggered by devouring a demon?

Haruto cast a disgusted glance at the filthy demon on the ground. Wouldn't eating that give him diarrhea?

Demons used to eat people, and now people were eating demons instead?

He sighed and turned his blade, preparing to cut off the demon's head.

Perhaps it was fate. Genya came over and crouched beside the demon, licking his lower lip with some hesitation.

"What are you doing?" Haruto asked.

Genya was silent for a while, conflict showing in his eyes.

"He seems like he could give me... energy."

"Who?" Haruto raised his voice. "The demon?"

Genya swallowed hard. "I don't know why, but there's a voice in my head telling me to eat him... Teacher, am I possessed?"

With all those bullet comments in my head, I'm the one who seems possessed.

Haruto scratched his head. "You-when you saw your mother before, did you feel this way?"

At the mention of his mother, Genya's head drooped a little. "All I could think about then was fear and despair. There wasn't room for anything else." He lifted his head. "Teacher, let me try. Maybe this is why my body can't use a Breathing Style."

At this point, Haruto also wanted to know what a Demon Eater's constitution was. He picked up the half-dead demon, shoved him into the farm's water tank, and gave him a thorough wash.

After listening to their conversation for some time, the demon opened his mouth and shouted in panic, "What are you doing? What does this mean? What's this bullshit about humans eating demons? Get your facts straight! I'm the demon, and you're the humans! You're the food!"

In all his years as a demon, he had never heard anything so absurd!

"Should we use some soap? He's been through water and dirt. Who knows what germs he might have on him?" Haruto still felt uneasy.

"What do you mean, through water and dirt? I'm a demon, not a mole!" The demon flailed, trying to break free of the swordsman's grip, but could only submit to his overwhelming strength.

"It should be fine." Genya was nervous too. He licked his lips, opened his mouth, and bit into the demon's arm. Steeling himself, he tore off a chunk of demon flesh and swallowed it whole, not even daring to chew.

"Ow, ow, ow! You're actually doing it?!"

The demon screamed in terror. Had the world gone completely mad? Not only did humans refuse to run when they saw a demon, they were eating demons instead!

Haruto watched Genya's reaction intently. Although the bullet comments had sounded certain, he had never seen anyone like this in real life.

Genya licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, then suddenly froze. Bulging veins crept up his neck from beneath his collar.

Haruto immediately severed the demon's neck, then lunged forward and pinned his young apprentice down. "Genya?!"

He had never witnessed someone transform into a demon, but he imagined it would look just like this.

Genya squeezed his eyes shut and trembled all over, as though something were about to burst out of his body.

Veins bulged across his entire body, and two sharp fangs grew between his trembling lips.

Genya abruptly opened his eyes. Their once-clear whites had turned completely black, leaving only pinprick pupils staring fixedly into Haruto's eyes.

This is bad! Haruto's heart lurched.

Wasn't this a demon transformation?!

Had Genya... become a demon?

Haruto gripped Genya's collar tightly, his mind already racing through possible ways to fix this.

Was becoming a demon really that easy?

According to the Demon Slayer Corps' records, all demons had been transformed by Muzan Kibutsuji or the Upper Ranks among his Twelve Kizuki. Only by receiving blood bestowed by Muzan Kibutsuji could they become the same species as him.

Lesser demons had no power to turn humans into demons. Never mind eating a mouthful of their flesh-even devouring them whole could not possibly allow someone to bypass Muzan Kibutsuji and become a demon.

Haruto forced himself to stay calm and keep watching.

If things truly reached the point of no return, he would have no choice but to...

"I'm fine."

Genya suddenly spoke.

Those pinprick pupils moved within his black eyes, as though he were adjusting to this body.

"I don't believe you," Haruto said bluntly.

Sharp demon fangs, bulging veins, terrifying black eyes-none of it looked remotely fine.

"My head is completely clear right now. I don't have any urge to eat people."

Genya raised his hands high, ran his tongue over his fangs, then looked at his palms. "My heart's beating so fast. Strength keeps surging through my whole body..."

Hesitantly, Haruto tried letting him go. Genya stood up and went through a sword routine with his Nichirin Blade.

The blade sliced through the air wherever it passed. His swordsmanship had improved immensely compared with before.

Haruto finally confirmed that Genya had retained his reason throughout, and let out a long breath of relief.

Before long, the black faded from Genya's eyes, and his bulging veins subsided. Only the two fangs remained, jutting awkwardly from his mouth.

"Maybe it didn't last long because this demon was too weak," Genya explained.

A few days later, the fangs fell out too.

Haruto wrote to Kagaya, detailing everything that had happened to Genya and asking whether he knew any scholars who studied demons.

A few days later, Cang Kong brought a reply.

"In the history of the Demon Slayer Corps, I found a constitution very similar to Genya's: the Demon Eater.

This is a special ability that temporarily gives someone a demon's constitution after they eat a demon or part of a demon's body.

The stronger the demon he eats, the greater his regenerative ability and strength become. With further demon transformation, he can even use Blood Demon Arts that the demon previously used.

The last appearance of this constitution was three hundred years ago.

As for the scholar knowledgeable about demons whom you seek..."

Reading the letter, Haruto could practically picture that Ubuyashiki fellow's lips curling into a smile.

"Those who understand demons best are, of course, demons themselves.

Go to Asakusa in Tokyo Prefecture and find a woman named Tamayo. She will look forward to Genya's visit."