Probing and Revenge

As fighters, all three had hearty appetites.

Even the gentle Kanae showed quite an impressive appetite after burning through her stamina in a long battle.

They were engrossed in conversation, with sake and tea adding to the mood.

Before long, nothing remained on the table but a pile of empty plates.

"Owner, another order of yakisoba and sushi!"

Tengen waved as he called out.

But the owner was already running himself ragged at the stove.

It was the night market's busiest hour, and this was a well-known establishment in town, so the food naturally took much longer to arrive.

Xia Xi checked his system panel.

Then he suddenly stood up and told the other two, "Keep eating. I'm going to the restroom."

Kanae watched Xia Xi's retreating figure.

"Mr. Uzui, is the restroom in that direction?" she asked softly, puzzled.

Uzui watched Xia Xi slip into the kitchen, looking utterly bewildered.

What was that kid up to now?

Meanwhile, Xia Xi glanced at his panel after ducking into the kitchen.

His cooking skill was already close to maxing out LV.2.

In that case, there was no time like the present.

"Hey, sir, customers aren't allowed back here."

"Mind if I lend a hand?" Xia Xi asked. "I'm a pretty good cook."

Before the owner could refuse, Xia Xi had deftly tied on an apron, washed his hands, and picked up a kitchen knife.

A cold gleam flashed the next instant.

Almost before anyone noticed, the ingredients on the cutting board had become evenly sliced shreds beneath his blade.

His knife work was superbly practiced.

And that was not all. His precise control of the heat and fluid stir-frying motions left the owner wide-eyed.

Even Tengen and Kanae looked surprised when they caught occasional glimpses from outside.

Once they realized Xia Xi was actually helping in the kitchen, his figure appearing now and then through the curtain, they fell silent.

The table was quiet for a moment.

Pouring himself half a cup of sake, Uzui suddenly asked, "Butterfly, what do you think of that kid?"

His voice held less of its usual flamboyance.

The girl paused slightly at his words, taking small sips of mugicha.

She drew her gaze away from the curtain, her smile still gentle and composed.

"Kurumaji?"

"He's a very strong Swordsman, both in body and in spirit. If he hadn't arrived in time yesterday, I might have died..."

She was only halfway through her answer.

But to her surprise, Uzui leaned forward a little and interrupted.

The ornate accessories on the Ninja's head bumped together, making faint, crisp clinks.

He addressed the girl sitting opposite him. "I'm not asking about Xia Xi's fighting ability. I mean, what do you 'think' of him as a person?"

"Mr. Uzui, please don't joke about that."

"Kurumaji is a colleague worthy of respect."

Kanae spoke with a composed expression.

Only the tips of her ears had reddened slightly, and her fingers tightened a little around her cup.

Taking in all those subtle reactions, Tengen stopped teasing her.

He settled back casually, leaned against his chair, and let out a wistful sigh.

"That guy really is unbelievably flashy."

"And he's stronger than I am right now. By more than a little, too."

A flicker of surprise crossed Kanae's eyes.

She had thought this proud Ninja would never bow his head to anyone.

Seemingly noticing her astonishment, the Ninja waved a hand and continued.

"I do owe him, after all."

"You heard that flashy theory of his just now, right? Even the great Uzui has to admit it's useful."

Kanae nodded and said softly, "And Kurumaji's goals go far beyond most people's, too."

Of course they did.

After all, when he mentioned wanting to learn multiple Breathing Styles and then create his own, his tone had been utterly casual.

He had sounded as though he were saying, "Which shop's dumplings should I try tomorrow?" It was simply too flashy!

Uzui reckoned he was still nowhere near that level.

"But his eyes... did you notice?"

"Yes."

"They're full of goodwill, but there's still a little distance... like he's watching us through a window."

"Do you mean Kurumaji is a cold person, Mr. Uzui?"

The Ninja denied it again. "Not at all."

"He carefully treats injured strangers, steps into the kitchen when a restaurant is slow serving food, and doesn't have a shred of arrogance despite being so strong..."

"He hardly ever spouts slogans. He puts everything into action."

The Ninja took a gulp of sake and grinned mischievously. "Butterfly, men like that are a rare breed."

"So? Need the great Uzui to create a few 'flashy' opportunities for you?"

This time, however, Kanae did not avert her eyes. Instead, her gaze grew clearer and softer.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Uzui. But..."

The girl looked toward the bustling kitchen, where the reassuring sounds of a spatula stirring food drifted out.

She smiled faintly.

"Rather than intrude rashly, I'd prefer... to quietly watch how high he can rise. Being able to stand beside him as a comrade is already enough."

Did she value her duty as a Swordsman more than romance?

This girl was pretty flashy, too.

Uzui froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

The nearby diners all turned curious eyes toward them.

"Ha ha ha! Well said!"

"Quietly watch, huh? You're right. That guy might put on a flashy spectacle beyond anything we can imagine someday!"

"What are you talking about?"

Just then, Xia Xi pushed through the curtain.

The tray in his hands held steaming yakisoba and sushi.

He had efficiently finished not only their order, but the dishes for several other tables as well.

Tengen picked up a mouthful of Xia Xi's noodles with his chopsticks, and his eyes widened as he tasted them.

"Mmm! This is even flashier than before! You're strong with a sword, skilled in medicine, and even your cooking is this... Your future wife will be one lucky woman!"

If he were a woman, he might well cling to Xia Xi just for another taste of this.

As he spoke, he deliberately flicked a teasing gaze between Xia Xi and Kanae.

Kanae's cheeks flushed crimson. "Mr. Uzui!" she chided softly.

Xia Xi: ?

What nonsense was he talking about?

Laughing heartily, Tengen drained

half a cup of sake, and their conversation gradually shifted to everyday matters outside the Demon Slayer Corps.

Kanae spoke about her past, which had also been shattered by vicious demons.

And about Shinobu, the younger sister with whom she had depended on each other to survive.

"So the Stone Hashira saved you," Xia Xi said. "Someone trained by Mr. Oomatsu... Kanae, how strong is he?"

"You actually have a younger sister?" Uzui asked. "She must be a girl who shines like a jewel, just like you, right?"

Kanae went on alert!

She immediately switched into protective-sister mode. "She's still an innocent, gentle child!"

Tengen waved a hand. "Relax. I already have three wives. I won't go after anyone else."

Xia Xi: Could we stop bringing up this damned subject...

Kanae asked with some curiosity, "Mr. Uzui, how did you meet... and get together with them?"

"After all, although you speak flippantly, disregard etiquette, haven't read many books, and enjoy making strange noises..."

"You're still not some debauched womanizer."

Uzui: ≖_≖

This girl was definitely getting back at him, wasn't she?

"Well, they were all arranged by my family. They're also my most trusted partners."

Tengen smiled, a trace of complicated emotion passing through the depths of his eyes as his voice grew a little subdued.

Clearly, he did not want to discuss his Ninja family's past.

Instead, he asked Xia Xi, "What about you? Xia Xi, what's your story?"

Xia Xi: Me?

Did wanting to speedrun the Demon King as a player, then string her up and thoroughly turn her into a sex slave count?

After a pause, Xia Xi decided to recite his well-practiced backstory.

"Nothing special. My family's all dead, that's all."

"My younger sister... was killed by a demon later, too."

His tone was flat, but the table abruptly fell silent.

Even he almost believed the sorrow brought on by that "backstory" as he spoke beneath the lifelike night sky and warm lights.

Uzui and Kanae exchanged a glance, clearly reading much more into Xia Xi's brief account.

He had a younger sister, too...

Thinking of her own sister, who was still alive, the girl looked at Xia Xi with greater tenderness and understanding.

Family, huh...

Uzui also put away his joking expression and patted Xia Xi's shoulder.

"I see. No wonder you fight so hard when you're killing demons."

Just as the mood grew somewhat subdued,

three beautiful women in practical clothing, each with a different air about her, quietly appeared beside the stall.

They addressed Tengen respectfully. "Lord Tengen, here you are."

"A new assignment has arrived from Oyakata-sama. We need to leave tonight."

Xia Xi: ?

His gaze swept over the three women's capable figures, then turned to Tengen, who raised his eyebrows smugly beside him. For a moment, he was speechless.

I'm jealous, man.