Demon Slayers: Swordsman
Chapter 8 — Beneath the Same Sky
Ren slowly woke up and stretched his arms lazily. Sunlight was already pouring through the window, and judging by the brightness outside, it was well past noon.
He yawned, stood up from the futon, picked up his sword, and walked outside the room.
In the courtyard, Kanae and Shinobu were speaking quietly with their Kasugai Crows. The birds were perched on a wooden railing, delivering messages from headquarters.
Shinobu noticed Ren first and turned toward him.
"You're finally awake?" she said. "Good timing."
She folded her arms lightly.
"A message came from Master Ubuyashiki. You are invited to Demon Slayer Headquarters as a special guest of the Ubuyashiki Family and the Demon Slayer Corps."
Ren simply nodded.
Kanae raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?" she asked.
Ren looked confused.
"Should I feel something?"
Kanae and Shinobu both blinked.
"Well… kind of," Kanae said slowly. "It's the headquarters of the organization that fights demons. All the strongest Demon Slayers—the Hashira—will be there."
Ren shrugged casually.
"So what?"
Shinobu tilted her head slightly.
"Umm… shouldn't you be nervous or excited?"
Ren shook his head calmly.
"Nope."
He glanced at Kanae.
"Kanae is also a Hashira," Ren continued casually. "So I can say for sure that even if all the Hashira combined fought together, you still wouldn't be worthy to fight Upper Moon One or Muzan."
Kanae's eyebrow twitched.
Ren continued speaking as if he were discussing the weather.
"And against me, all of you are just good enough for battle experience."
His gaze briefly sharpened.
"If I wanted to, I could kill Kanae in a single slash."
Before either sister could react—
Ren vanished.
For a moment both girls froze.
Then suddenly—
Ren appeared behind Shinobu.
He gently patted her head.
Kanae and Shinobu blinked in shock.
"Wha–what?"
Ren casually tossed Kanae's sword back to her.
She caught it instinctively.
"You still have a long way to go," he said calmly.
Silence fell between them.
Kanae and Shinobu both stared at him without speaking.
Ren suddenly stepped forward and hugged Shinobu, gently stroking her back.
"And strength isn't everything," he said softly. "Being weak isn't a crime."
Shinobu trembled slightly.
"What… what are you talking about?"
Ren continued calmly.
"There's no need to be angry at yourself for things you can't control."
His voice was unusually gentle.
"And if it's revenge you want… if the destruction of demons is what you want…"
Ren paused.
"Then leave it to me."
Shinobu remained silent for several seconds.
Finally she spoke quietly.
"Why?"
She looked up at him with confusion.
"We don't even know each other for more than a day."
Kanae listened silently.
She also wanted to ask the same question.
She knew about Shinobu's hidden anger, but she had never figured out how to talk about it with her sister.
Ren suddenly smiled.
"Well, that's my secret."
He shrugged casually.
"And you're a cute and beautiful girl."
"So of course I'll do it for you."
Shinobu stared at him for a moment.
Then she narrowed her eyes slightly.
"So you're just a pervert?"
Ren thought about it seriously for a second.
Then he nodded proudly.
"Yep."
Shinobu lightly smacked his chest.
"Stop being proud of it."
Ren smirked and started walking away.
"Well, I'm hungry," he said casually. "Anyone want to eat?"
Kanae clenched her sword slightly.
She really wanted to cut him after he hugged Shinobu again.
"Ren."
He stopped and turned back.
"Hmmm?"
Kanae hesitated for a moment.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Will you really be leaving on that journey of yours?"
Shinobu also looked at him curiously.
Ren smiled but didn't answer immediately.
He turned around and began walking toward the gate of the Wisteria House with his hands behind his head.
"Well… every man has to go someday," he said casually.
"My day will come too."
He shrugged.
"So yeah… I'll be leaving."
Kanae and Shinobu both fell silent.
Even though they didn't want to admit it—
They already felt strangely close to Ren despite meeting him only a day ago.
There was something about him.
A charm that bypassed emotional walls and brought out their true selves.
Shinobu watched his back as he left the Wisteria House.
"Ren," she called out.
He waved his hand without turning.
"What about you saying you would kill Muzan?"
Ren laughed lightly.
"Oh, that?"
He kept walking.
"Just say the words, Shinobu."
"For you two sisters… I'll do it."
Kanae stared silently at his back.
She had wanted to chop him up multiple times already.
Yet strangely—
The thought of him leaving bothered her.
Why? both sisters wondered silently.
Meanwhile, Ren walked into a small restaurant nearby.
He sat down casually.
"Old man, bring me whatever you have," Ren said. "I'm hungry."
The owner laughed from the kitchen.
"Coming right up, kid!"
After eating his fill, Ren returned to the Wisteria House.
Instead of going inside, he climbed onto the roof.
He lay down comfortably, staring at the endless sky.
Stars slowly began appearing as evening turned into night.
Ren sighed softly.
Leaving, huh…
I'm just a guy who shouldn't even have existed.
Of course I'll disappear someday.
Suddenly—
Someone climbed onto the roof beside him.
Shinobu lay down next to him and looked up at the sky.
"The stars and moon are beautiful," she said softly.
Ren smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
Then he glanced at her.
"But you and Kanae are more beautiful."
Shinobu ignored the comment this time.
She continued staring at the stars.
"Why don't I like the idea of you leaving?" she asked quietly.
"Even though it's only been a day since we met."
She sighed.
"When I'm with you… it feels like you already know everything about me."
"And I don't have to hide anything."
Her voice softened.
"You even know I hate the fact that I'm weak."
Ren listened silently.
After a moment he spoke.
"Shinobu… I can't say I know everything about you."
He closed his eyes slightly.
"But I'll say this."
"Leave the demons to me."
"I'll kill them all."
Shinobu turned her head slightly.
"Why?"
She looked at him seriously.
"I still don't understand."
"Even if you're a pervert who likes beautiful women… you can find women more beautiful than me and my sister."
She frowned slightly.
"So why us?"
Ren chuckled softly.
"You're very bad at hiding, Kanae."
He continued staring at the sky.
"If you're curious about my answer, you might as well come out."
A moment later—
Kanae stepped onto the roof.
She quietly sat beside Shinobu.
Both sisters looked at Ren.
Ren finally spoke.
"Well, yeah… there are women more beautiful than you two."
He smiled faintly.
"But they aren't you."
He stretched his arms behind his head.
"And I'm very biased toward a few girls, you see."
Kanae and Shinobu still looked confused.
Ren chuckled.
"Well… that's because—"