How Do You Have Three Wives?

Kanae had never imagined that having someone look at her wounds could leave her so flustered.

When Xia Xi's fingers lightly touched the injury on her shoulder through her uniform, embarrassment was no longer her greatest concern.

Instead, a faint shiver crept up her spine.

His fingertips were steady and gentle.

He seemed more like a physician with years of experience than a swordsman who spent his days fighting demons.

His touch held a reassuring warmth.

Kanae's ears reddened, but not from pain.

He carefully snipped away the fabric stuck to her wounds, exposing torn flesh and purple bruises beneath.

"Please... please don't look."

Her quiet refusal came out softer than she had imagined.

On the battlefield, she could calmly face any demon and the pain they inflicted.

Yet now, the boy's innocent, undistracted gaze and care left her heart in turmoil.

He cleaned the grit embedded in her flesh, rinsed the wounds with medicine that smelled of persimmons, then gently wiped and stitched them...

It hurt terribly, yet that pain paled beside the warm breath brushing her ear when he leaned closer.

A crimson flush and stinging pain spread together.

Kanae could only lower her head shyly, her limpid gaze meeting the Carved Wooden Fox Mask at the boy's waist.

The bandages he took from his pack felt slightly rough as they brushed against her waist and neck.

He wrapped them layer upon layer, as though binding a piece of blue-and-silver porcelain that had shattered and been pieced back together.

When his knuckles accidentally brushed her cheek, it felt almost like an unfinished embrace.

He was too close-close enough for her to see the downward curve of his lashes and hear every beat of his breathing.

He was completely focused on treating my injuries, but his face looked so gentle from the side.

Her fingertips still trembled, while her cheeks had long since grown scorching hot.

When he set her bones, his palm completely enclosed her forearm, his touch precise and decisive.

"It hurts..."

At the soft sound of bone slipping back into place, Kanae could not help drawing a sharp breath.

Then she heard her own heartbeat running wild.

It thundered like a drum.

Kanae lowered her eyes in a fluster, her gaze drifting between the flowing wind patterns on the boy's pack and the dark woods in the distance.

Scattered and startled.

Just like the ripples stirred in her heart...

"What are you blushing about?"

Huh?

The girl looked up at the boy in surprise.

He was watching her with a strange expression.

Was it already over?

"Don't tell me it's infected!"

Startled, Xia Xi hurriedly opened her details panel again to check.

Then came Kanae's indignant response.

"Th-thank you, you blockheaded senior!"

She grabbed the haori beside her and covered half her face, her voice muffled in the fabric, while the tips of her ears turned completely red.

Xia Xi: ???

What was with this brat? Why did she seem angry now?!

Tengen Uzui, who had watched the entire thing, could not help snorting with laughter.

This junior of mine... this Kurumaji kid really was something else.

Then he gave Kanae a thumbs-up.

Such a gentle, kind child...

"Flashy young lady, you'll make a fine wife someday."

Xia Xi said, "Seriously, what's gotten into you now?!"

Uzui cheerfully slung an arm around his shoulders. "I'm just complimenting young Kocho! Like my three wives, she's a flashy, beautiful girl!"

The air fell silent for a moment.

"...Three?" Xia Xi slowly turned his head.

"That's right!" Uzui lifted his chin proudly. "All three are beautiful and strong. The flashiest possible lineup!"

Kanae secretly peeked over her haori, curiosity replacing the blush on her face.

"They're every bit as flashy as this young lady."

He grinned at Xia Xi.

In a sense, the ninja had regained his confidence.

So what if the other boy practiced several Breathing Styles? Were they as flashy as my three wives?

Kanae wasn't the point, Mr. Flashy!

"Kanae isn't the point-you just said 'three wives'?"

"You're only seventeen or eighteen, right?! Where are your wives? How old are they?"

Bro, you're breaking the law. You know that?

Oh, right. Different historical setting.

Maybe girls getting married at sixteen or seventeen was perfectly normal.

He had three wives.

Was I taking things too seriously, looking for my real self in a game...?

Ah, I needed to keep an open mind.

This bastard actually had three young, beautiful wives!

With the quality of this game's character models...

"Kanae already has movie-star looks. I honestly don't know what great deed you did in your past life to get this lucky."

Xia Xi felt ready to shed tears of envy.

Uzui laughed proudly.

Meanwhile, Kanae pointed at herself with a slightly dazed expression.

Huh?

Me?

A movie star?

Did he mean a household-name actress like Kawakami Sadayakko?

"Senior..."

Xia Xi said, "Just call me Xia Xi. Senior? I only joined a few months ago."

Kanae said, "...Huh?"

After making a few preparations, the three began leading everyone out of the dense woods.

Xia Xi also helped the Kanoto-ranked swordsman to his feet. Seeing how quickly the three had grown close, the man could not help thinking.

I was a member of the Demon Slayer Corps too.

Wasn't I a little unnecessary here?

The Kanoto swordsman smiled bitterly. "I really envy strong seniors like you... unlike me, just a Kanoto."

Xia Xi patted his shoulder. "Don't lose heart. I'm a Kanoto too."

The Kanoto-ranked swordsman fell silent for a moment, his eyes growing even gloomier.

"Ah, well... you certainly have a way with words, senior."

Perhaps the lengthy conversation had dispelled the woodcutters' fear.

"Thank you so much for saving me." One of them approached and asked quietly, "But who... exactly are you?"

Kanae answered with a gentle smile.

"We're members of the Demon Slayer Corps, swordsmen who specialize in eliminating demons like the one you saw today."

Everyone exchanged looks, still utterly bewildered.

Most people in this era spent their entire lives in one place.

Never mind being well-informed-even the strange tales circulating among the common folk were not necessarily known to everyone.

Kanae was about to explain further and reassure them.

But Xia Xi stepped forward first, swiftly produced a small booklet with a dark blue cover, and flashed it before the woodcutters.

"Tokyo Special Affairs Division Nine, Demon Slayer Mobile Unit. We're conducting an investigation."

His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.

"No need to ask about the details. Just cooperate."

They might never have heard the local rumors.

But the words "government agency" carried an inherent weight of intimidation.

Even an invented, fictitious title was enough to overawe these simple villagers.

The crowd nodded, impressed despite not understanding.

Sure enough, they said no more, merely whispering among themselves as they gradually dispersed.

Once they had left, Kanae quietly tugged Xia Xi's sleeve.

Her eyes brimmed with curiosity. "What sort of identification was that?"

Tokyo Special Affairs Division Nine?

Mobile unit?

An investigation?

Why had I never heard of a unit like that in the Corps?

And that identification-why didn't I have one either?

Xia Xi lowered his voice. "A Central Bank passbook."

He had specifically asked a Kakushi member to arrange it at the Kyoto branch earlier.

All her substantial funds were deposited in it.

Hearing Xia Xi's explanation, Tengen Uzui burst out laughing beside them. "Hahahaha! What a flashy, entertaining fellow!"

"Kurumaji, I, Tengen, acknowledge you."

"You... are no weaker than I am. Someone like you is surely destined to make a flashy ascent to the top of the Demon Slayer Corps!"

He clapped Xia Xi hard on the shoulder.

His eyes shone with appreciation.

"Become a Hashira with me! Once we join forces, even an Upper Rank won't stand a chance against our hot-blooded, flashy combination!"

Xia Xi: ???

Was this kid's delusions of grandeur getting worse again?

He looked over at Kanae Kocho.

Her lips were pressed together and her shoulders trembled slightly; clearly, she was struggling not to laugh too.

"So, to celebrate the completion of our mission, and the destiny that brought us together here..."

"You two, let's have a grand, flashy feast tonight!"

Uzui: ╭(●｀∀´●)╯

Xia Xi, Kanae: (°_°)?