Demon Slayers: Swordsman
Chapter 5 Becoming A Slayer
Demon Slayer Headquarters.
Ubuyashiki read the letter. Amane sat beside him, calm and silent, waiting for him to finish reading.
"A swordsman who carries a sword that can kill a Demon. Possibly a Nichirin Blade. Yet the boy has no connection to the Demon Slayers. He wishes to join without wasting time training."
Ubuyashiki said.
Amane frowned, her calm expression cracking slightly.
"But isn't that against the rules?"
"We don't have any rules saying we can't recruit swordsmen directly."
"Even so, fighting with a sword and fighting against a Demon... they are completely different things."
"Yes, but he has already killed a Demon. And he also sparred with Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira. That alone speaks about his strength."
"If that is the case, making him a Demon Slayer won't be a problem. We can assign him to Mr. Giyu's location. He is covering a large area alone; it is inconvenient for him."
"Fine, then prepare a Kasugai Crow and a Demon Slayer uniform for him and appoint him to the Water Hashira's area."
Ubuyashiki said as Amane nodded.
The sun rose in the sky as morning arrived.
Ren was already awake and doing physical training.
After training, he started performing Sun Breathing forms.
His sword moved like an extension of his limbs.
Whoosh!
The Transparent World activated as he observed the muscle movements in his hands and feet, adjusting his stance and breathing.
"Phew... training early is really fun."
Ren muttered.
His clothes were soaked in sweat. If not for him buying a few sets after having his meal yesterday, he wouldn't even have anything to change into.
Giyu was already awake, ready to leave, waiting for Ren.
Ren walked out after washing up.
"So, where are we going?"
"Wisteria Mansion. A place where all Demon Slayers can rest and stay until they receive missions."
Giyu replied.
"Hmm, I see. Fine."
Ren and Giyu left the inn.
"So, hey, when will your crow be back?"
"Don't know. We'll have to wait."
Giyu said.
Ren looked at him speechlessly.
"You know, you should talk more and more clearly. Your words can sometimes be misunderstood because you don't speak what you mean, which might make people angry."
Giyu turned toward him.
"I speak clearly."
Ren's mouth twitched.
"No, I don't think so. From your perspective, it might look like you speak clearly, but to others, you sound like an arrogant punk. And that cold, emotionless face of yours doesn't help either."
Giyu blinked.
Ren sighed.
"I am not like you guys. So I might not understand how you feel after losing your family and friends to Demons, so I have no right to say this. So I will leave it to the future."
Ren said and patted Giyu's shoulder.
"Try to talk more with people. Just staying silent like that won't help you. Once the Demons are gone, which I guarantee will happen very soon with me around—"
Ren put one hand on his sword and the other on his chest as if saying, Leave it to me.
'Is this kid sick in the head or what?'
That was the thought in Giyu's head, which Ren did not know.
They walked as Ren chatted nonsense.
And Giyu regretted asking him to join the Demon Slayers for the hundredth time.
As they moved toward the Wisteria Mansion—
After a few hours of traveling, they arrived at the Wisteria Mansion.
Both entered, just as the old woman bowed toward them.
"Water Hashira-sama, a letter has arrived for you from Lord Ubuyashiki."
She handed the letter to Giyu and walked them to a room.
After escorting them to the room, she left.
Giyu took out the letter from the envelope and started reading.
Ren was curious and tried peeking.
Giyu turned toward him.
"You are a Demon Slayer from now on. Your Kasugai Crow and uniform will arrive soon, and since you already have a sword, you won't be needing one."
Ren nodded.
Akatsuki was definitely a good sword. He didn't need another one for now.
"You may stay here. Once you receive your crow and uniform, you can start doing missions."
"Well, so I will be waiting here for a while."
Ren grinned as he looked at Giyu.
"Then how about some sparring? You must be already planning to run off to do your patrol as a Hashira at night, right?"
Giyu nodded and walked with Ren to the backyard of the Wisteria Mansion.
Both took wooden swords this time.
"Hey, Giyu... I can call you that, right?"
Giyu nodded.
"Well, show me your Water Breathing. I wanna see how strong it makes you."
Ren said as he took his stance.
Giyu nodded.
"Try not to lose too quickly."
A vein popped on Ren's temple, but he calmed himself.
'Calm down, calm down. That guy must mean "try your best" or something. He isn't a bad guy... But damn, he is annoying.'
Ren rushed at him as Giyu defended.
Whoosh!
Ren attacked again and again.
Giyu's sword flowed like water, defending and counterattacking.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ren observed Giyu's movements with his Transparent World.
With Giyu starting to get the upper hand, Ren started using Sun Breathing.
"First Form: Dance (Enbu)!"
He swung his sword in a single, high-powered vertical slash.
Giyu's eyes widened, but he moved instantly.
"First Form: Water Surface Slash (Minamo Giri)!"
He met Ren with a horizontal slash.
CLANG!
Both wooden swords clashed as they separated and rushed at each other again.
The clash became more forceful as they fought.
BAM! CLANG! THUD!
After clashing multiple times, Ren rushed forward.
"Eighth Form: Sunflower Thrust!"
He thrust forward with a single-point, impaling stab.
Giyu also moved.
"Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!"
His sword moved in a fast and accurate straight-line piercing stab.
CRACK!
Both swords clashed, and both wooden swords splintered from the strain.
"Phew... that was fun."
Ren breathed heavily.
His stamina was almost completely out.
Giyu looked at him.
He was still standing straight, his breathing slightly uneven but still calm.
"You don't tell me you know a Breathing Style?"
He asked.
Ren waved his hand.
"Well, that's not my Breathing Style. It was created by someone I know. I will create my own."
Giyu stared at him but didn't say anything.
"Well, what do I have to do to become a Hashira?"
Ren looked at Giyu and asked.
It had been years since he had read the Demon Slayer manga.
"You need to kill at least 50 Demons or a Moon-level Demon."
Giyu said.
Ren smiled.
"Well, then you better be prepared. A new Hashira will be joining you soon."
"I'm not one of them."
Giyu said expressionlessly.
Ren ignored him.
"Doesn't matter. For me, you are one of them."
Giyu looked at him and walked back to his room.
Ren also walked to his.
That night, Giyu went on his patrol as Ren stayed behind.
Following days, Ren woke up, did his daily training, and practiced Sun Breathing.
His fusion rate increased to 45% when he learned Total Concentration.
After waiting for a few days, he finally received his uniform and Kasugai Crow—or rather, it was a raven.
Its eyes were blood-red.
Because of this, Ren gave it the name "Itachi."
That night, Ren received his first mission.
"Caw! Caw! Head toward Azabu, Likura, Akasaka Ward. Investigate suspected Demon activities."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Ren said as he dashed out.