The Sapphire Star walked down the corridor toward the room assigned to her, her steps seemingly composed.
Only after she was certain she had completely escaped those nine almost tangible stares in the courtyard did she release a barely audible breath she had held for ages, her shoulders sagging a little.
Holy shit! Were all the swordsmen in your Demon Slayer Corps this hotheaded?!
She ranted furiously to herself.
Wasn't this supposed to be just meeting the Hashira, having a meeting or whatever, and getting to know each other?
I thought we could have a pleasant chat, maybe even share a feast and try the local specialties! But no! I'd barely stepped inside and said two words when, bam, a projectile came flying straight at me! And it was scalding tea!
She instinctively lowered her gaze to her palm, covered in ice-blue scales.
When she had caught that cup of tea, its scalding heat had seeped through the scales. It could not possibly hurt her, but the sudden attack had still made her heart skip a beat.
Without the reflexes honed through years beneath Elder Dragons' claws and her extraordinary physique, that blow would have left some nasty burns, even if it had not scarred her face.
Though boiling water could not actually burn the Sapphire Star's body, which surpassed even the forbidden...
Ugh!
I didn't get the feast I'd been looking forward to most. All that fuss, and I only got a sip of tea.
The Sapphire Star glumly scratched her hair, a little mussed from her helmet. The cool touch of her scales helped her calm down a little.
"A Sapphire Star down on her luck gets bullied by a hedgehog! Away from home, nothing's in your hands! What's wrong with that white-haired hedgehog head? It's like he swallowed explosives!"
She recalled the Wind Hashira's bloodshot eyes, filled with hostility and wariness, and the bulging veins on the hand pressed to his sword hilt.
He was even more irritable than a Deviljho that had just woken up!
The Sapphire Star pursed her lips, filled with nostalgia for the "harmonious" everyday life back home.
At least the monsters there charged straight at you with a roar when they wanted a fight. Who threw teacups over the slightest disagreement?
Forget it, forget it. She forced herself to shake off that little unpleasantness.
"At least Oyakata-sama seems nice. He speaks gently and can keep everyone in line. The others... that gold-and-red owl guy was burning with fighting spirit. He looks pretty straightforward. That purple-eyed woman who's always smiling... she feels a little unfathomable, like those weird old men on the research team. The rest... hmm, they didn't leave much of an impression, apart from that big guy who kept crying."
As she mentally labeled the Hashira she had just met, she rounded several corridors, following the directions a Kakushi member had given her earlier. Headquarters was enormous, its buildings old-fashioned, and the air carried a faint scent of wisteria and... a trace of food?
The Sapphire Star's nose twitched, and her lingering gloom instantly vanished!
That smells amazing! Is that... grilled meat? And rice!
Right on cue, her stomach rumbled.
After that "unconventional" introduction, she was already starving!
Following the aroma, she soon found the dining hall near the rear side of the headquarters complex.
Its door stood open, letting out the warm scent of food and the faint clatter of pots and dishes.
The Sapphire Star's eyes lit up. The mood the Wind Hashira had ruined instantly brightened!
Food! Food comes first! Nothing matters more than eating! Who cares about that hotheaded guy? I'll fill my stomach first!
She stepped inside without hesitation, ready to reward her badly frightened stomach. Back in the day, before every monster hunt, she would eat a Purr-fect Platter big enough for more than ten people! Nothing could comfort a hunter stranded in a foreign land and fresh from a teacup crisis better than the piping-hot food before her.
Standing in the doorway, the Sapphire Star first straightened her ice-blue armor, making sure it was free of dust from her earlier walk. Only then did she lift her hand and tap twice on the open wooden door with a crisp knock.
The sounds inside paused, and a middle-aged man wearing a clean apron, apparently in charge of the dining hall, poked his head out. He wore the unpretentious smile of someone who had spent years working at a stove, but visibly froze when he saw the Sapphire Star standing at the door.
"Ah! Lady Sapphire Star!"
He quickly recovered, surprise giving way to warmth and respect. Hurriedly wiping his hands on his apron, he strode out to greet her and bowed slightly.
"Please, come in! You must be hungry. Have a seat! Just tell us if there's anything you need!"
A hint of warmth flickered in the Sapphire Star's golden eyes at his welcome. She nodded slightly, speaking with a warrior's characteristic courtesy, a little stiff but utterly sincere.
"Sorry to interrupt. May I eat here now?"
"Of course! Of course you may!"
The man quickly stepped aside and enthusiastically ushered her in.
"You've come at just the right time. The food's fresh off the stove! There's plenty! Help yourself to whatever you like, and don't hold back! You're our honored guest!" He gestured toward the neat rows of steaming dishes and enormous rice tubs.
Several Kakushi members were still working or getting ready to eat inside. When the Sapphire Star entered, they stopped what they were doing and stole curious, respectful glances at her. The faint chill around her made those near the door instinctively tuck their necks into their collars.
"Thank you."
The Sapphire Star offered a brief word of thanks, her gaze sweeping across the dazzling selection. The rich aroma of meat, the delicate fragrance of rice, the fresh sweetness of vegetables... all the scents mingled together.
She walked to the serving counter and picked up a bowl larger than her face-
It was meant for the dining hall's large servings.
Without the slightest hesitation, she deftly filled it with a heaping mound of white rice, packing it down firmly. Then she began piling on the side dishes. Large chunks of stewed meat, golden pan-fried fish, bright green vegetables... she did not pick and choose. As though replenishing strategic supplies, she efficiently and precisely loaded the bowl with high-calorie, high-protein foods, soon turning it into a colorful little mountain of staggering proportions.
The dining hall attendant's smile remained welcoming, but his eyes had begun to glaze over.
Th-that bowl's awfully big, isn't it? And she's piled it so high!
The Sapphire Star seemed to find nothing wrong with it whatsoever.
Carrying her "food mountain," she found an empty seat off to one side and sat down.
Her enormous blade made a soft thud as she set it down. Then she picked up her chopsticks-her movements slightly awkward at first, though she soon adapted-and began her "battle."
She did not crudely wolf down her food. Her eating had the efficient, focused rhythm peculiar to a hunter. Every bite was large, her chewing strong and quick, her swallowing smooth. The little mountain shrank visibly. Rice disappeared at a startling pace, large chunks of meat were cleanly stripped from their bones, and the vegetables were swiftly dispatched. The entire process was quiet and focused, carrying the seriousness of completing an essential resupply mission.
When the bowl was empty, she rose and walked back to the rice tubs and serving dishes beneath the dumbfounded stares of the attendant and several Kakushi members. Once again, she filled a large bowl with tightly packed rice and piled a mountain of food on top.
A second bowl...
A third bowl...
Only the lingering warmth of the stoves and the soft clink of the Sapphire Star's bowl and chopsticks remained in the dining hall as she ate with complete concentration. The welcoming attendant stood with his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide, watching the third empty bowl join the pile before her and her figure head toward the rice tubs again. He felt his understanding of the world being shaken.
He had worked in this dining hall for more than a decade. He had seen the Corps' biggest eaters, and even Lady Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, with her astonishing appetite...
But this foreign warrior's appetite...
Calling her a "big eater" no longer did it justice! This was practically like...
Was she trying to eat several days' worth in one sitting? Or did she have a bottomless pit inside her?
A young Kakushi member nearby could not help elbowing his companion, lowering his voice in incredulous amazement.
"H-hey! Did you see that? Her f-fourth bowl! My God... she eats even more than... Lady Kanroji!" His companion nodded blankly, utterly speechless.
The Sapphire Star concentrated wholly on finishing her fourth bowl.
Her hunger was finally easing. Warmth filled her stomach, and most of the gloom the Wind Hashira had caused faded with it.
Hmm, tastes good!
She gave her satisfied appraisal inwardly. Although the seasoning fell a little short of the head chef's and Granny's cooking, the ingredients were fresh and the portions generous! Enough to fill her up!
When she finally set down her fourth empty bowl and exhaled a long, satisfied breath warmed by the food, the dining hall was silent. Everyone looked at her with something close to awe.
The Sapphire Star stood and nodded slightly once more to the still-petrified attendant.
"Thank you for the meal. The food was delicious." Her tone was sincere, and her golden eyes held the satisfaction of a full stomach.
"Ah... ah! N-not at all! As long as you're satisfied! As long as you're satisfied!"
Only then did the man snap out of his daze. He hurriedly waved his hands, his smile a little stiff but still as welcoming as he could manage.
"Would... would you like some more? There's still food in the pot!" He asked almost instinctively.
The Sapphire Star rubbed her stomach, gauged that she was about eighty percent full, and shook her head.
"No need. I've had enough. Thank you."
She picked up the Fatalis Demolisher leaning against the table. Even its chill seemed a little gentler now that its owner was satisfied.
Under the dining hall's sea of complicated stares, the Sapphire Star left contentedly. To her, a filling meal was the best comfort. As for everyone else's surprise? Well, wasn't it perfectly normal for a hunter to have a big appetite? The dragons they had to cut down were enormous, after all!
After her hearty meal, the Sapphire Star felt entirely revived. Even headquarters' old-fashioned buildings looked considerably more pleasing.
She strolled leisurely around headquarters to help her food settle.
The afternoon sun was rather harsh, so she looked for somewhere shaded.
Soon, she discovered the perfect spot-
Near the edge of the training grounds, a huge old tree cast a broad swath of cool shade beneath its dense canopy. A small wisteria trellis beside it provided additional cover with its lush leaves. Better still, the spot was close enough to hear the shouts and the swish of blades clearly, but far enough away that she would not be disturbed.
The Sapphire Star nodded in satisfaction and walked into the deepest shade. She planted the heavy Fatalis blade against the ground, its chill dispelling some of the surrounding heat. Leaning against the thick trunk, she settled comfortably down. Her cool scaled armor against the bark felt rather pleasant.
Ahh, that's nice! She narrowed her golden eyes contentedly, like a Palico sunning herself at the edge of an Elder Dragon's territory. A full stomach, a cool spot, and nothing to do. Now this is living!
The sounds from the training grounds had a strong rhythm. The Sapphire Star listened for a while, then squinted in that direction. Through gaps in the sparse fence, she could see people in Demon Slayer Corps uniforms practicing. Their movements were swift and powerful, every swing and every step accompanied by a distinctive, long, forceful breath.
"Exhale-inhalе-"
"Hah!"
Their breathing was remarkably unusual, as though each inhale and exhale gathered the strength of their entire bodies and coordinated every movement. The Sapphire Star could see that when they entered that particular rhythm, their movements became smoother, more explosive, and faster. Different-colored faint glimmers even seemed to rise from their skin.
"Oh?"
Interested, the Sapphire Star sat upright and continued watching intently, as though observing wildlife.
"So this is the Breathing Style they mentioned? Pretty interesting."
She carefully studied the rhythm of their breathing and how their strength flowed.
"It feels... a little like Demon Mode?"
She compared the two inwardly. Demon Mode allowed hunters to awaken their bodies' latent potential and briefly unleash strength and speed beyond their limits, but its side effects were severe and its energy consumption immense.
But this Breathing Style... The Sapphire Star keenly picked up on the differences.
It seems more... gentle? Or perhaps more focused on the fundamentals?
She saw that even during intense sparring, the trainees maintained a strangely stable breathing rhythm, continuously drawing strength from it rather than draining themselves all at once as Demon Mode did.
It seemed more like a continuous, efficient improvement to the body's fundamental capabilities-
Strength, speed, endurance, reflexes... allowing the body to remain in a high-intensity combat state for long periods.
The discovery made the Sapphire Star's eyes light up. As an elite hunter, she understood all too well the importance of those fundamentals.
Back home, when facing Elder Dragons that easily weighed dozens of tons, powerful physical conditioning and endurance were the foundation of survival.
Demon Mode was powerful, but it could only serve as a trump card at crucial moments, not a lasting solution. This Breathing Style, however, appeared to be a technique for systematically and sustainably strengthening the body's foundations!
If I could learn this...
The Sapphire Star stroked her chin, the cool touch of her scales making her thoughts especially clear...
Wouldn't I be able to keep hacking... ahem, fighting for longer? Double my endurance? Against those demons with strong regeneration, I could wear them down until they died!
And it seems much less taxing on the body, nowhere near as damaging as Demon Mode.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt this Breathing Style was a treasure! It was perfect for building a solid foundation! Practically a support skill tailor-made for hunters!
The Sapphire Star felt an eager itch. She had always been practical. Whenever she spotted something useful, her first thought was, "Can I learn it?"
Hmm... She pondered.
"Ask those Hashira directly? That doesn't seem quite right. That white-haired hedgehog head probably wouldn't even acknowledge me. The owl guy looks easier to talk to, but he seems a little too enthusiastic... and that smiling purple-eyed woman... I keep feeling like she's looking at me as though I'm some rare material..."
She shook her head. Better ask Oyakata-sama! The Sapphire Star quickly made her decision. Oyakata-sama seemed the most reasonable person here, and the one whose words carried the most weight. Asking about their basic training methods should... not be too much, right? They could call it a cultural exchange!
With her mind made up, the Sapphire Star felt even better.
She leaned against the trunk and closed her eyes, enjoying the cool shade while considering how to broach the subject with the gentle Oyakata-sama.
Hmm... I'll say I'm very interested in your warriors' breathing techniques and think they'd be helpful for improving fundamental combat ability. Might I ask for some instruction? I should sound sincere...
The afternoon breeze rustled through the wisteria trellis. The shouts from the training grounds became background noise. Beneath the cool shade, the Sapphire Star began her "tactical planning" for learning a new skill.
The cool shade and her full stomach gradually relaxed her. Leaning against the thick trunk, the Sapphire Star actually drifted into a light nap. Afternoon sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting shifting patches of light across her ice-blue armor.
After an unknown amount of time, the shouts from the training grounds seemed to grow quieter. The Sapphire Star woke with a start and rubbed her eyes. Looking up, she saw that the sun had already sunk noticeably toward the west.
Those Hashira... are they still in their meeting?
She remembered the heavy atmosphere when she had left.
Driven by a little curiosity, she stood and brushed the grass clippings from her armor. Like a Palico preparing to sneak up on a large monster, she softened her steps and crept toward the courtyard where the meeting had been held.
Not daring to get too close, she found a corner of the corridor and used a pillar and a large potted plant as cover, poking half her head out to peek into the courtyard.
Sure enough, all nine Hashira were still there!
Though their postures varied, they all remained in the courtyard. Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat at the head, apparently saying something, his expression gentle but carrying a barely perceptible trace of fatigue. Some Hashira listened attentively, some still stood with folded arms, and others stared blankly, their thoughts wandering who knew where.
The Sapphire Star strained her ears. The scattered phrases drifting over were things like "regional defense arrangements," "intelligence sharing," "supply allocation," and "new recruit training"... enough to make her head spin.
The Sapphire Star pulled her head back and leaned against the cold pillar, unable to resist complaining inwardly.
This meeting's taking forever! From noon all the way into the afternoon. This efficiency... they're even slower than our Fifth Fleet!
She recalled how, at their base in the New World, the Commander always gave brief, clear instructions. Everyone took their assignments and set out.
The Sapphire Star decisively abandoned her eavesdropping and looked around, spotting Hikigusa standing quietly beneath a nearby corridor.
She walked over, trying to make her expression as friendly as possible.
"Hikigusa?"
Hikigusa immediately turned and bowed respectfully. "Lady Sapphire Star, what may I do for you?"
"Um... where am I staying?"
The Sapphire Star asked directly.
"...Well, I've stretched my legs a little. I'd like to rest and sort out my things."
"Yes. Please follow me, my lady."
Hikigusa's voice was soft and clear, without a trace of hesitation.
She stepped aside to lead the way, walking lightly ahead.
Hikigusa guided the Sapphire Star through several corridors to a relatively secluded corner of the headquarters complex. It was peaceful here, and a small bamboo grove was visible outside the window. Hikigusa slid open a door.
"My lady, this is the room prepared for you. All daily necessities are ready. If you need anything else, please let me know, and I will prepare it immediately."
The room was small but clean and tidy. New bedding lay on the tatami, with a low table and cushions beside it, along with a simple cabinet. The window stood open, and the breeze from the bamboo grove carried a fresh scent.
"Very nice. Thank you." The Sapphire Star was pleased with the simple, comfortable setting. She entered the room, finally able to take the heavy Fatalis Demolisher off her shoulder.
Hikigusa said little, merely offering respectfully:
"Please rest at ease, my lady. I will wait outside. Just call if you need anything."
"Mm, thanks for your help. Go get some rest yourself. I'll call if I need anything."
The Sapphire Star waved a hand. She was not particularly accustomed to having someone attend to her so closely.
Hikigusa bowed again.
"Yes." Then she withdrew silently and gently slid the door shut.
At last, the Sapphire Star was alone in the room.
She let out a long breath. First, she checked the door and window to make sure everything was safe. Only then did she go to the tatami and awkwardly sit cross-legged-she was still unused to that posture.
She removed her ice-blue armor, revealing the comparatively lightweight hunter's underlayer beneath.
Then she began organizing her hunter's pack, which looked small but was practically a four-dimensional pocket.
Only after finishing all this did she truly relax.
She leaned backward, flopping straight onto the soft tatami, and stretched her limbs comfortably with a satisfied sigh.
As she gazed at the ceiling, her golden eyes held a little fatigue, but far more ease.
Today wasn't so bad after all. I didn't get a feast, but I still had a hearty meal. Not bad at all~
Before you continue