Rin sat cross-legged in the main seat and took a sip of sake.
The clear liquor slid down his throat, washing away the faint fatigue from days of travel.
He glanced at the three teenagers devouring the food like starving ghosts and casually lifted his chopsticks, tapping them against Inosuke's hand as it reached for the last plate of matsutake.
Slap!
"Ow!" Inosuke clutched the back of his hand and glared at Rin. "Why'd you hit me?!"
"That's mine." Rin calmly pulled the plate of grilled matsutake toward himself.
"Once you're done eating, go soak in the hot spring. Don't sit here being an eyesore."
After eating their fill, Tanjiro and the other two lay sprawled on the tatami, rubbing their round stomachs and groaning.
"Let's go, let's go check out the legendary secret hot springs that can cure anything."
Rin stood up and pulled a bath towel from his bag, draping it over his shoulder.
At the mention of hot springs, Zenitsu Agatsuma—who had been half-dead just moments ago—shot upright as if revived on the spot.
His blond hair was a mess, his eyes gleaming with a suspicious light, and a thin line of drool even slipped from the corner of his mouth.
"Boss! I heard the hot springs in the Swordsmith Village don't just heal injuries, but… but because space is limited, some baths are mixed, right?!" Zenitsu rubbed his hands together, his expression growing increasingly dubious. "If I happen to run into a female swordswoman who came to repair her blade… hehe…"
"..." Rin glanced at him without saying a word.
Tanjiro sighed helplessly. "Zenitsu, can't you think about something decent for once? We're here to train."
"Shut up, Tanjiro! How would a blockhead like you, who's always with his sister, understand the suffering of us bachelors?!" Zenitsu bolted out through the sliding door. "Hot springs! Pretty girls! Here I come!"
He hadn't even taken ten steps...
Rin, walking behind him, flicked his finger. A peanut shell shot forward with a sharp whistle, striking the acupoint behind Zenitsu's knee with perfect accuracy.
"Ow!"
Zenitsu's legs gave out, and he slammed face-first onto the corridor, sliding all the way to the edge of the stairs before his head hit a pillar with a solid thud. He passed out on the spot.
"Carry him," Rin said, tilting his chin toward Tanjiro. "Before he embarrasses himself even more."
The Swordsmith Village's hot spring was located deep in the forest behind the mountain, enclosed only by simple bamboo fences.
Steam rose from the bubbling water as it flowed from cracks in the rocks, carrying a strong mineral scent.
Rin removed his yukata, revealing a lean, well-defined physique.
Unlike Inosuke's wild, rugged build, his muscles were sculpted with precision, as if refined through countless trials—holding explosive strength without a trace of excess.
He stepped into the hot spring, leaned back against the smooth rock, and let the warm water rise to his chest.
Closing his eyes, he listened to the gentle rustling of wind through the nearby bamboo.
Just then, a soft humming drifted over from the bamboo path.
"The little kitten beneath the cherry blossom tree, its tail curled up… so cute."
Following the tune, a slender figure approached in wooden clogs.
She wore a loose pink yukata, her long hair fading from pink to green draped damply over her shoulders, clearly having just come from another bath.
In her hand was a bottle of iced milk, and her cheeks were flushed with a warm, alluring red from the steam.
It was the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri, who had arrived at the Swordsmith Village ahead of them.
"Eh? Isn't this Rin-san and Tanjiro-kun!"
Spotting them in the pool, Mitsuri waved in surprise.
The loose collar of her yukata shifted slightly with her movement, revealing more than intended.
Zenitsu, who had just been revived by the cold water, sat at the edge rubbing his head. The moment he looked up and saw the scene, a nosebleed burst out like a fountain, and he toppled backward, fainting straight into the hot spring again.
"The Love Hashira!" Tanjiro quickly stood up in the water. Flustered, he didn't know where to put his hands and could only scratch his head awkwardly.
Rin opened his eyes and leaned lazily against the rock, not moving at all. "What a coincidence. You're here to get your sword repaired too?"
"Yes!" Mitsuri walked to the edge of the pool and crouched down without any hesitation, her bright eyes fixed on Rin. "My sword got a little chipped during a mission. But the best part is the food here—I ate three whole buckets of matsutake rice tonight!"
At the mention of "three buckets," Tanjiro quietly swallowed in the water.
"Oh, right, right!" Mitsuri suddenly remembered something, and her gossiping instincts flared up again.
She glanced around, then leaned in slightly and lowered her voice. "Rin-san, since you came out this time, Shinobu-chan didn't come with you, right? The two of you were showing off so much at the Butterfly Mansion the other day! I even asked Shinobu-chan afterward, but she got all flustered and kicked me out. Are you two planning to go to Oyakata-sama and ask for permission to marry?"
Faced with this barrage of questions, the corner of Rin's mouth twitched.
Aside from eating, this Love Hashira really spent all her time thinking about other people's romance.
"She has to stay at headquarters to prepare medicine." Rin casually scooped up a handful of hot water and poured it over his shoulder. "As for marriage… I'll talk about it after I twist off Kibutsuji Muzan's head and use it as a betrothal gift. What's the rush?"
"Waaah—!!"
Mitsuri clasped her hands over her heart, her eyes sparkling. "Using Kibutsuji Muzan's head as a betrothal gift! That's so romantic—so bold!"
No, she'd probably just call me insane.
Rin thought to himself, not bothering to correct the love-obsessed Hashira.
"Alright, stop standing around in the cold. Go get dressed after your soak so you don't catch a chill." Rin waved his hand dismissively.
"Mm-hmm! Then Rin-san, enjoy your soak. I'll head back to sleep first! See you tomorrow!" Mitsuri waved cheerfully, humming as she walked away in her wooden clogs.
The night deepened.
Tanjiro and Inosuke, lightheaded from the hot spring, dragged Zenitsu—who had fainted yet again—back to the guest room.
Soon, only Rin remained in the spacious outdoor bath.
Everything fell silent, save for the gentle sound of the spring water flowing.
Rin tilted his head, gazing at the crescent moon veiled behind thin clouds.
The darkness in his eyes receded, and the intricate pattern of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan slowly surfaced, his gaze piercing through the mist and mountains.
Within his perception, the faint demonic presence from earlier had grown much stronger.
It was no longer probing cautiously, but like countless cold, venomous snakes, tightening the encirclement from all directions.
"Upper Rank Four… Upper Rank Five."
Rin leaned against the rock, his fingers lightly tapping the water's surface, as if marking the toll of an impending funeral bell.
"The numbers have increased, but it's nothing more than a swarm of weaklings gathering together."
Since they had chosen to secretly lay out their Blood Demon Arts and prepare their clones under the cover of night, he would be merciful and grant them this one night to prepare.
By tomorrow night, this quiet Swordsmith Village would become the grave of those two rats.
Splash.
Rin rose from the hot spring, water droplets sliding down the lines of his sculpted body.
He slipped on his loose yukata, tied the sash, and walked leisurely down the mountain path in wooden clogs.
Sleep well.
Tomorrow, a one-sided slaughter awaited him.
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12 Advance chapters:Patreon/slept01