Soma remained standing where he was, studying the character panel in his mind.
But no matter how closely he examined it, he couldn't discover anything new. It seemed to be nothing more than a status screen that recorded his current condition.
Aside from allowing him to clearly understand his own state, it served no other purpose.
Though he felt somewhat unwilling to accept that, Soma could only withdraw his focus in resignation.
Himura Kenshin, assuming Soma was simply immersed in the joy of his swordsmanship breakthrough, didn't disturb him. He waited until Soma snapped out of it before smiling. "Congratulations on your breakthrough. How about we share a drink to celebrate?"
Soma was slightly surprised by Kenshin's warmth, but he nodded.
......
The town was bustling. Even at night, many small taverns remained open.
Kenshin brought Soma and Kanao Tsuyuri to a somewhat quiet tavern. Shortly after they sat down, someone served sake and small dishes.
Soma specifically ordered a bowl of meat porridge for Kanao and placed two small side dishes in front of her.
Seeing how attentively Soma cared for the child, Kenshin smiled and picked up the sake flask, pouring a cup for Soma and one for himself.
"Congratulations on mastering the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu." Kenshin's face was full of sincere joy, clearly genuinely happy for Soma.
"Thank you as well." Soma raised his cup. During their sparring, Kenshin had sincerely guided him, and he was truly grateful.
"Even without me, it wouldn't have taken long for you to master it yourself." Kenshin took a sip of sake.
Soma smiled and drank as well. But when the sake entered his stomach, it had no taste whatsoever. Clearly, as a demon, he could no longer enjoy fine alcohol like a human.
After a few cups, the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed and lively.
...
"I wonder, Soma-kun, what is your view on the current state of the world?" After another drink, Kenshin suddenly asked.
Soma shook his head. He didn't understand much about this place or its current political state. What he knew most was the plot of Demon Slayer, and even then, he wasn't particularly clear about the broader era it was set in.
"Wars are raging everywhere now. Every day, innocent people die beneath blades. Countless families are displaced. There are even rumors of demons appearing…"
Kenshin clearly harbored dissatisfaction with the state of the world.
Soma merely smiled faintly and continued drinking, quietly listening. He wasn't particularly concerned with what Kenshin was describing. For him, the priority was to find where Tanjiro Kamado lived and locate the legendary Blue Spider Lily. Only then could he overcome the weaknesses of being a demon and free himself from Kibutsuji Muzan's control.
"Now that my swordsmanship has reached a certain level, I wish to leave the mountains and put an end to this chaotic era—so that the killing may stop. This is the time to use Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu to save the people…"
Soma lifted his gaze toward Kenshin, then lowered it again, taking another sip of sake. "You already have your own answer, don't you?"
"My master does not agree." Kenshin gave a bitter smile. "He says that one person alone cannot change the era. A sword is a weapon of murder, and swordsmanship is the art of killing. Once the blade is drawn, it only leads to endless slaughter…"
Soma picked up a small morsel of food with his chopsticks and placed it in Kanao's bowl—she was busy focusing on her porridge—as he listened silently.
"However, I do not agree with my master's view."
Soma glanced at Kenshin. His swordsmanship was extraordinary—so formidable that even with a demon's physical prowess, Soma found it difficult to withstand him. There was no doubt Kenshin was extremely powerful.
Now that he carried a sharp blade, he felt he was different.
He believed that with his own ability, he could change everything.
He held the purest dreams—yet also the most arrogant ones.
But…
He was still human.
And humans grow tired. They get injured. They feel hunger and thirst.
After another cup of sake, Himura Kenshin looked up at Soma. "I want to invite you to join me—to change all of this together."
Soma fell silent.
"Your physical ability is the strongest I've ever seen. Even my master may not surpass you in that regard. Though your swordsmanship still needs refinement, if we work together, no difficulty would be insurmountable. I'd like to invite you to Kyoto. Together, we could—"
Before Kenshin could finish, Soma shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't agree."
Kenshin froze, clearly not expecting such a direct refusal. His gaze dimmed slightly. "Do you also agree with my master?"
"An individual's power is ultimately limited. No matter how great one's swordsmanship is—perhaps you can defeat ten people, a hundred people—but can you defeat a thousand? Ten thousand?"
"With one person's strength, it's difficult to stand against the tide of an era. To truly change something, you would have to join a faction. But once you join one, you will inevitably be used by those in power. And then what awaits may be endless slaughter in the name of justice. Once you throw yourself into it, Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu will only cause you to kill countless people."
Soma drank another cup as he spoke. The alcohol flowed down his throat into his body—tasteless and bland.
Kenshin fell silent. Indeed, as Soma had said, he planned to go to Kyoto and join a faction. And perhaps the future would unfold exactly as Soma predicted.
"Then... should I do nothing at all?"
Kenshin looked at Soma, then at the little girl beside them who was quietly eating her porridge in small bites.
Sensing his gaze, Kanao Tsuyuri looked up at him briefly before lowering her head again, focusing on her bowl.
Kenshin lowered his head, took another drink, and said firmly, "Someone has to do it."
Soma smiled and raised his cup toward him.
Kenshin, still weighed down by emotion, gave a bitter smile and raised his own cup, drinking deeply.
However, Kenshin's tolerance for alcohol did not seem very strong. After a few more cups, he was already drunk.
Soma asked the tavern staff to help carry the heavily intoxicated Kenshin back, then took Kanao's hand and began walking toward their small inn.
As they walked, Soma suddenly sensed something and raised his eyes.
At the end of the bustling street, near a wonton stall, several men sat scanning their surroundings.
Though they were not wearing the standard Demon Slayer Corps uniform, there was no doubt they were swordsmen of the Corps. Beside them lay long objects wrapped in cloth, emitting an aura he found extremely repulsive—the unmistakable presence of Nichirin Swords, weapons used to slay demons.
Sensing the Demon Slayer swordsmen, Soma lowered his head and merged into the crowd with Kanao.
After avoiding them, they soon approached the small inn.
But as they passed a slightly secluded alley near the inn, Soma suddenly stopped and looked ahead.
Not far away, a burly man stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, staring at him coldly.
From the man's body, Soma sensed a very familiar aura—
The scent of his own kind.
...
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