Chapter 48 – What Style Fits Me, I Wonder? Yukinoshita Style?
A sharp slicing sound cut through the silence.
With one swift motion, the Nichirin Blade in Yukinoshita Akira's hand sliced clean through the demon's neck.
As the demon's body crumbled into ashes and vanished into nothingness, Akira silently watched the final traces disappear into the cold night.
That evening, he had combed through eighteen different districts where mysterious murders had occurred. He'd slain three demons in total—the one just now being the third. The system's notification chimed in his mind, registering a 0.5% increase in his inheritance progress.
It was already past midnight.
Time to head home.
"Let's go back."
He slid into the backseat and carefully set his sword case down beside him. His tone was calm as he spoke to the driver.
"Understood, young master."
The chauffeur nodded and started the engine.
Throughout the long night, they had driven to various areas, and though he didn't voice it, the driver had his own thoughts. He suspected his young master was searching for something—or perhaps someone.
But being a seasoned professional, he knew his place. A driver should never overstep or poke into things that weren't his business.
Knowing too much, in this line of work, rarely ended well.
His duty was to drive. Nothing more.
By the time they returned to the apartment complex, the clock read 1:30 AM. Akira let out a quiet sigh.
Fatigue clung to his body. Morning to evening was spent at school; night was reserved for demon hunts.
But tonight's hunt hadn't been a waste.
From his interrogation of the demons, he learned a troubling truth—they had only become demons within the past month or two. One had survived the longest—about two months—but the rest? Recently turned.
Which could only mean one thing.
Kibutsuji Muzan… might currently be lurking somewhere in Chiba.
After all, only Muzan held the power to create demons. If that monster really was here, then it was possible Akira's operations had already drawn his attention.
However, Muzan was a cowardly and paranoid being. There was little chance he'd show himself directly.
He'd likely send stronger demons instead.
But the real concern gnawed at Akira's mind—if Muzan had indeed crossed into this world… did that mean the Twelve Kizuki had come with him too?
The night passed uneventfully after that.
By 6:30 AM, Akira was already awake.
For him, four to five hours of sleep was more than enough.
He washed up, got dressed, and began his usual morning training routine.
Now that he had a Nichirin Blade in his possession, a weight had been lifted from his chest.
Finally, he could fully immerse himself in the path of the sword—mind, body, and soul.
[Ding!]
[Template Inheritance increased by 0.7%!]
"Haaah..."
With a slow exhale, he opened his eyes. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
As he thought—so long as he devoted himself entirely to his training, he could tap into that special state of mind again.
Was this what they called Swordmastery Divine Path? A divine gift so precise it made one's progress feel unreal—like destiny itself.
A soft sound echoed through the room as he zipped his sword bag and tucked the Nichirin Blade away once more.
Then, moving with practiced rhythm, he prepared his breakfast and cleaned the lunchbox he'd forgotten to wash the night before—the one given to him by a certain girl who might, possibly, be his future girlfriend.
Ding-dong…
The doorbell rang.
Akira glanced toward it and had a good idea who it was.
Click—
Sure enough, when the door opened, there stood the two Yukinoshita sisters.
"Hellooo, Aki~ra-chaaan~~" chirped Yukinoshita Haruno, her tone sickeningly sweet.
Akira twitched. His brow twitched. Every muscle on his face twitched.
He hated that nickname.
And yet no matter how many times he told her, she always used it. Repeatedly. Relentlessly.
Haruno was the type who found joy in teasing others. The more annoyed you were, the more she laughed.
"What are you two doing here so early?"
"Oh, nothing~ Just wanted to check in on your little 'hunting trip' from last night. How many did you get?"
Akira's gaze instinctively shifted to the other girl.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
You too? Why are you here?
But Yukino didn't meet his eyes. She still hadn't emotionally recovered from last night's events.
With a hesitant expression, she turned her head away, avoiding his gaze altogether.
Akira stepped aside and gestured for them to come in. He had nothing to hide.
"I followed the list you gave me. I hit up eight different districts and found three demons."
"I see... Three, huh?" Haruno's cheerful tone faded slightly.
She had anticipated something like that. The places she had marked were all hotspots—suspicious deaths, strange disappearances, rumors of suicide or closed-room murders within the past two to three months.
The moment she looked into it, she had a bad feeling.
And even though she expected it... hearing confirmation still left her shaken.
For over twenty years, she had lived in Chiba without suspecting a thing. She never realized her peaceful little city was crawling with human-eating monsters.
She suddenly felt really lucky to still be alive.
Unlike Yukino, who rarely ventured out at night, Haruno often returned home late due to family events and social obligations.
Even if she was picked up by private drivers, walking through dark alleys late at night had become part of her routine.
"But here's some good news," Akira continued. "These demons all moved alone. According to them, their 'Master' strictly forbade them from grouping up."
"Master? You mean… Muzan?" Haruno asked.
"Yeah. But... Miss Haruno, I'd advise you not to say that name so casually. You never know when rats might be listening."
"Noted. Got it."
Haruno nodded, understanding what he meant.
Then, she turned toward her sister.
Yukino still hadn't said a word.
But Haruno, being her older sister, could read her expression instantly.
"Oh right, Akira, do you have any way for someone like me to grow stronger too?"
"What, you planning to become a Demon Slayer now?"
"Of course not. I'll leave the monster hunting to you. I just want… to protect myself. To protect Yukino."
"There is a method. But it's not fully developed yet."
"Not fully developed?" she echoed, curious.
Both sisters now looked at him, interest flickering in their eyes.
Naturally, if there was a way for normal people like them to become stronger, they wanted in.
"I'm still developing it. A technique that uses Breathing Styles to enhance the human body. But it's still incomplete. Once it's ready… I'll teach it to you."
"Ehhh~ So you're going to have your own Style then, huh? That's so cool, Akira-chan~"
"You could say that."
If this technique worked—and it could be passed on—then yes, Akira would be the founder. The origin of a new lineage.
"Then what will it be called? Yukinoshita Style?"
"It's still daytime, Miss Haruno. Please stop dreaming."
"Geez~ You're no fun, Akira-chan!"
Akira rolled his eyes and let her joke slide, knowing all too well there was no point in arguing with her.
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