Slaughtering All Around

Kirishima Bupai moved.

With a flicker, he charged into the pack of demons like a phantom.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Blade light flashed, and screams rang out.

In mere moments, all dozen or so demons had been slain, crumbling into ash.

[Ding! Slain one low-level demon. Gained 20 points. Current total points: 1,020.]

[Ding! Slain one low-level demon. Gained 15 points. Current total points: 1,035.]

Zenitsu looked at the empty woods, then at the relaxed Kirishima Bupai, and froze on the spot, unable to speak for a long while.

That... that was it?

Kirishima Bupai walked up to Zenitsu and patted his shoulder. "Not bad. You do have a knack for drawing attention."

Zenitsu's mouth twitched. I was forced into it!

Meanwhile, Genya also walked over. Looking at the ashes on the ground, he pressed his lips together, his gaze complicated.

He had to admit that Kirishima Bupai was indeed powerful-so powerful that it left him feeling hopeless.

The three continued onward.

Along the way, Kirishima Bupai repeated the trick several more times, sending Zenitsu to draw the demons' attention each time and scaring him out of his wits.

But every time, Kirishima Bupai easily disposed of all the demons.

Zenitsu gradually went from utterly terrified to somewhat numb.

It turned out to be a false alarm every time anyway. With this powerhouse around, maybe I wouldn't die?

Still, his awe of Kirishima Bupai only grew.

Not only was this guy strong, but he was terrifyingly devious!!!!! He wasn't human!!!!

That evening, the three found a cave to rest in.

Kirishima Bupai redeemed some food and water, then sat beside the fire, leisurely eating a hamburger and drinking cola.

Zenitsu and Genya, meanwhile, gnawed on the dry rations they had brought.

They stared wide-eyed at the hamburger and cola in Kirishima Bupai's hands.

"W-what's that? It looks so delicious..." Zenitsu swallowed, unable to resist asking.

"A hamburger," Kirishima Bupai said without looking up.

"A hamburger?" Zenitsu had never heard the name before. "Is it good?"

"It's all right," Kirishima Bupai mumbled through a huge bite.

Genya couldn't help stealing a few more glances either. Though he said nothing, his stomach honestly growled.

Kirishima Bupai glanced at them, a mischievous smile curling his lips.

He took out another hamburger and waved it in front of Zenitsu. "Want one?"

Zenitsu nodded hurriedly, his eyes shining with longing. "Yes!"

"Call me bro! Call me big bro! Call me bro Strong! You've got to call me bro V!" Kirishima Bupai shrugged, deliberately teasing him.

Zenitsu froze, looking troubled. Earlier, he had only called him big bro and all that because he had been so scared...

But as he looked at the hamburger in Kirishima Bupai's hand and smelled its tempting aroma...

In the end... he couldn't resist the temptation. After a moment's hesitation, he quietly called him bro Strong and bro Mighty.

"Haven't you eaten? Louder!" Kirishima Bupai said deliberately.

Zenitsu gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and shouted, "Bro Strong! Bro Mighty!!!!"

Genya watched from the side, dumbfounded. This guy? Was he shouting so loudly because he wanted to become sworn brothers?

Amused, Kirishima Bupai burst out laughing and tossed the hamburger to Zenitsu. "Here."

Zenitsu hurriedly caught it as though it were a priceless treasure and eagerly took a huge bite. His eyes immediately lit up. "Wow! This is delicious! What kind of heavenly food is this?"

He wolfed it down, finishing the hamburger in just a few bites, then licked his fingers, still wanting more.

After laughing awkwardly for quite a while, Kirishima Bupai took out another hamburger and looked at Genya. "Want one?"

Genya frowned and turned his head aside, stubbornly saying, "Who wants your food!"

Seeing this, Kirishima Bupai didn't insist. He casually set the hamburger on a nearby rock. "Suit yourself!"

With that, he paid the two no further attention, leaning against the cave wall and closing his eyes to rest.

A while later, Kirishima Bupai sensed someone stealthily taking something.

He opened his eyes and saw Genya with his back to him, secretly munching on the hamburger with a look of enjoyment on his face.

Kirishima Bupai couldn't help laughing inwardly. This kid really was stubborn.

Over the next few days, the three continued onward in this same strange combination.

Kirishima Bupai handled killing demons to farm points and teased Zenitsu from time to time.

Zenitsu handled "scouting" up ahead, while also being teased half to death by Kirishima Bupai.

As for Genya, his role was to follow silently behind.

At times, Kirishima Bupai's strength shocked him; at others, he felt irritated that someone so powerful could have such a casual disposition.

But he never dared to pick another fight.

During that time, they also encountered other participants. Some saw how powerful Kirishima Bupai was and wanted to team up with him, but he refused them all.

In his eyes, these people would only hold him back.

Zenitsu did want to team up with others and escape Kirishima Bupai's "clutches"...

But each time, he barely managed a few steps before Kirishima Bupai caught him and brought him back. Another round of intimidation inevitably followed, frightening him so badly that he no longer dared entertain the thought.

Day after day passed, and soon, well over half of the seven days were gone.

Kirishima Bupai had accumulated more than 1,400 points. He redeemed plenty of snacks and drinks, stuffing the system storage to the brim.

Through repeated "frights," Zenitsu had also grown a little braver.

At least his legs no longer went weak at the mere sight of a demon, as they had at the start.

Genya remained a man of few words, but the anger and disdain in his gaze toward Kirishima Bupai had gradually turned into complicated feelings and a barely perceptible trace of awe.

That day, the three arrived at a valley.

A thick smell of blood filled the valley. Clearly, quite a few demons had gathered there.

Kirishima Bupai's gaze sharpened. He was about to charge in and slaughter to his heart's content when Zenitsu grabbed him.

"B-big bro Bupai, wait!" Pale-faced, Zenitsu pointed into the depths of the valley. "There... there seems to be a really powerful demon in there!"

Kirishima Bupai looked in the direction he was pointing.

Deep in the valley's shadows, a massive figure could vaguely be seen moving, giving off a heart-pounding aura.

"Oh? Interesting."

An excited smile curled Kirishima Bupai's lips. "Looks like that's the Hand Demon? I bet he's having a blast fighting Tanjiro right now?"

He pulled free of Zenitsu's hand and headed deeper into the valley, sword in hand.

Zenitsu and Genya exchanged a glance, each seeing fear in the other's eyes, but in the end, they braced themselves and followed.

They knew that at a time like this, staying beside Kirishima Bupai was their safest option.