Chapter 311: Shinobu and the Silver-Eyed Witch
"Your name is Gunilla? What a beautiful name."
Inside a tavern styled with Western decor,
the noise and smoky atmosphere made Shinobu Kocho feel out of place.
However,
members of the Demon Slayer Corps were trained in disguise and infiltration,
so even though she disliked it inwardly, she didn't show it on her face.
Sitting across from her
was a tall, blonde beauty.
Her features were elegant and refined, with short hair. Her curvy figure was wrapped in a tight white bodysuit,
and her shoulders, hips, and other vital areas were covered by cold, steel armor—
clearly built for battle.
She radiated strength and presence.
When she heard Shinobu's compliment, Gunilla was slightly taken aback,
the words she had been about to say turning into two simple syllables:
"Thank you."
The gentle tone, and the way Shinobu looked at her—so unlike everyone else on Claymore Island—
awakened a memory she hadn't felt in a long time.
On Claymore Island,
sword-wielding women like her, trained by the Organization and fused with demonic flesh to become half-Yoma,
were seen as tools by the Organization, enemies by the Yoma,
and feared by the very civilians they protected.
It was rare—almost unheard of—for anyone to say something kind.
"Do all demon hunters in your world look like you?"
Gunilla asked the question weighing on her mind.
Though it was somewhat impolite,
she was under orders. The Claymore leader and the head of the Demon Slayer Corps had arranged an envoy exchange to better understand one another.
Both were organizations devoted to hunting monsters.
After their worlds collided, they had tacitly agreed to use this opportunity to exchange information
about how to fight demons and Yoma—
rather than erupting into open conflict.
Because neither world was truly peaceful. Both faced threats too great to ignore.
If possible,
cooperation was best. At the very least, they should try not to get in each other's way.
"That's quite the question, Miss Gunilla."
Shinobu wasn't angry.
She simply smiled, teasing the tall warrior who clearly didn't have much social interaction.
She explained, "In our world, the Demon Slayer Corps trains its members in something called Breathing Techniques. They allow ordinary people to unleash tremendous power—to fight on equal footing with demons."
There was no need to keep Breathing Techniques a secret.
In fact,
Ubuyashiki Kagaya had never once considered hiding any technique related to slaying demons.
If others were willing to learn, he'd share everything.
The Demon Slayer Corps, having battled demons for a millennium, deeply understood how fragile and powerless humans were in the face of such monsters.
Rather than jealously guarding their methods,
Kagaya hoped no creature threatening humanity would ever walk the earth again.
"And in return, Miss Gunilla," Shinobu continued gently,
"could you share how your world combats Yoma?"
She wasn't just curious whether Claymore abilities could counter the demons of her own world—
she was also worried.
Some Yoma had sophisticated disguise abilities.
If one crossed into the Demon Slayer world,
her comrades needed ways to identify and defeat them.
Looking at Shinobu—petite but carrying herself like a big sister—
Gunilla had just opened her mouth to speak when—
The tavern descended into chaos.
A blood-covered, burly bartender ran in from the back courtyard, shouting in panic:
"There's a Yoma! A man-eating Yoma! It killed my wife and child!"
The patrons scattered instantly.
Most had only come out of curiosity, hearing that a Claymore had arrived in town.
They never expected to actually run into a Yoma attack.
"The back courtyard?"
Gunilla frowned.
She could smell the stench of Yoma clinging to the man—he wasn't lying.
She drew the massive sword strapped to her back and rushed past the bartender.
Suddenly—
She felt a chill at her lower back.
Turning around, she saw a Yoma-shaped arm fall to the ground—it had already been severed.
She had nearly been slashed open by its claws.
"Such a reckless girl. In battle, you need to mind the details."
Shinobu's voice came calmly.
Her petite form was completely obscured by the massive Yoma—
Whose golden eyes dimmed and collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.
"I couldn't sense the 'Yoma aura' you mentioned,
but the bloodlust in his breath was overflowing when he spoke."
Shinobu's eyes were calm,
but the loathing and killing intent within them were sharp.
"A man-eating Yoma… it could only have been him."
Disgusting.
Whether in the Demon Slayer world or Claymore Island,
these monsters that disguised themselves as loved ones—
or twisted those dearest into killers—
were equally repulsive.
"Thank you for saving me."
Gunilla was slightly stunned.
Not just because Shinobu had the strength to slay a Yoma—
but for her keen insight and battle-hardened reflexes.
She might compare to the top-ranked Claymores.
Looking around the now-empty tavern, Shinobu asked curiously,
"These are combat techniques for survival. They greatly reduce new recruits' mortality rates.
Doesn't your Organization have anything like that?"
She was puzzled.
Demon Slayers fought monsters with every breath.
Even noble guards were given systemic training to increase survival odds.
Even lords who treated soldiers like pawns would eventually face rebellion
if they ignored basic safety measures.
In her eyes,
an organization capable of hunting Yoma should be led by someone like Master Ubuyashiki—
a kind-hearted protector of civilians.
Gunilla looked equally puzzled.
After pausing for a long moment, she asked awkwardly,
"Do your Demon Slayers actually learn things to reduce the chance of dying?"
The Claymore Organization did train its soldiers to kill Yoma.
But the training was crude to the point of being a bad joke.
Besides enhancing physical ability,
they fused Yoma flesh into their bodies—
and then sent them to face death in primal, brutal combat.
As for the kind of refined techniques Shinobu described…
Gunilla asked, "Wouldn't that require a much longer training period?"
"Of course."
Shinobu nodded naturally.
"But hunting demons is an incredibly dangerous job. Without proper training, intel gathering, and mission planning,
wouldn't that make Demon Slayers nothing more than disposable tools?"
Even though the Corps faced constant peril—
Ubuyashiki Kagaya had done everything in his power to reduce their deaths
and protect the children who gave their lives.
Trained crows relayed intelligence.
Specialized departments handled logistics, weapon crafting, and intel.
Wounded fighters were treated promptly.
No Slayer was sent against an opponent they couldn't handle.
To Kagaya—
Every member of the Demon Slayer Corps was a hero who had chosen to fight evil,
even at the cost of their own life.
"Not… disposable?"
Gunilla froze.
It was as if a storm had erupted inside her mind.
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