CH. 4: Is It Sweet

"Kenshi, won't you consider selling this sword to me?" Shinobu suddenly looked up and asked very seriously.

Aiden was stunned, but still shook his head.

"You really won't consider it? No matter the price I can afford it! No matter what you want I can give it to you!" Shinobu continued to offer him.

No matter what I want she can give me?

Aiden suddenly looked at Shinobus beautiful face, then shifted his gaze away.

"Cough cough cough!"

Damn, He had actually thought like that just now! Did coming into this world mess up his mind or something.

Simply unforgivable!

After taking a few deep breaths and calming himself down.

Aiden looked at Shinobu again, also seriously saying. "Sorry, this sword has been passed down in my family, so I can't sell it to you."

"I see, it's just that, this sword is just too interesting for me." Shinobu did not insist further.

'So it's from his family, is someone a demon slayer in his family? That explains him having a sword that can kill demons, but still, it's a strange sword.' Shinobu pondered something in her mind for a minute, before suddenly smiling.

Then looking at Aiden's battered body, she suddenly said. "Why don't you come back with me? I see you're injured, we can treat you for free."

'I thought as much, she was indeed interested in the sword. From the moment I met her, I was thinking about how I would even begin my journey in this world.

Given that I have the system and it assigns me missions, I know I can't leave on the sidelines, so why bother even trying and that Edward person the system mentioned, since the system actually placed his name alongside Muzan's, it was clear that this guy is not someone to be taken easy.

If I train by myself I know I won't learn much since the system wasn't fully bonded with me. Shinobu would be helpful to me in training and teaching me breathing techniques. So this is it huh - moving forward I have to leave behind my old identity as Aiden, and proceed cautiously. From now on my name is kenshi Tanaka.'

His gaze became resolute after looking Shinobu. "Isn't that too imposing? Won't it disturb you?" He said still feigning modesty.

"It's no problem. After all, you also helped us eliminate an evil demon, it's only right that we treat your injuries. And don't worry, the medical skills at our Butterfly Mansion are very good!"

"Then...I'll not be polite."

Kenshi breathed a sigh of relief, he had been worried she might agree on a whim.

After thinking for a bit, he asked again. "How far is Butterfly Mansion from here?"

"Not far, just over four or five mountains."

Four or five!?

Kenshi was shocked immediately, but seeing the sneaky smile in Shinobu's eyes, he understood right away.

"Miss Shinobu, lying is not good behavior!"

"Alright, sorry for teasing you." She laughed lightly. "The location of Butterfly mansion is classified to our Demon Slaying Corps, it's not possible to tell you for now. But don't worry, we'll send someone to bring you there, though they may blindfold you first."

Kenshi nodded, indicating no problem.

Afterwards, he tidied up a bit, though there wasn't really anything to tidy, then left with Shinobu.

According to her, they had to first go to a nearby town, to simply bandage his injuries.

Then the "hidden" members of the Demon Slaying Corps stationed there would escort him to Butterfly mansion.

On the way there, he also introduced his background which he made up to reduce her suspicions on him.

He, kenshi Tanaka, 19 years old, was from an ancient eastern noble family.

His ancestors had some connections with the Demon Slaying Corps, thus he knew of the existence of demons and the Corps.

Because his family had declined, he specially came to join the Demon Slaying Corps, to find meaning for his life.

"I see." After some embellishment, Shinobu believed his words. "No wonder when I said I was from the Demon Slaying Corps, you didn't doubt me at all."

Every time after contacting ignorant commoners during missions,

What she heard the most were things like-

What kind of organization is the Demon Slaying Corps?

Is the Demon Slaying Corps an official organization?

The people think that they're always suspicious!

Because they were never officially recognized, their heroic deeds also never became known by others.

"Then did you find the meaning of life?" Shinobu suddenly asked.

"..."

Kenshi's eyebrows twitched, the random backstory he made up was actually taken seriously by her.

But he still answered very sincerely. "I did!"

Shinobu was a bit surprised: "That quickly?"

Kenshi opened his mouth said expressionlessly. "When I was desperately fighting the demon, I realized, in this world - being alive, is the best thing! Endlessly agonizing is not the way to obtain any happiness. I was too bothered before by searching for the meaning of life and suffered miserably, only after that brush with death, I realised how wonderful it is to just be alive."

Kenshi's words were half true half false, but Shinobu believed them completely.

"Then do you still want to join the Demon Slaying Corps?" Shinobu asked.

Kenshi nodded. "This is what I decided to do from the start, I won't give up, also...I have nowhere else to go now!"

This was a completely pure and honest truth!

A completely honest truth!

The instant after speaking, kenshi seemed to notice Shinobu becoming even happier?

'Why is she getting happy? is it because I decided to join demon slayer corps? but isn't she just interested in the sword? Well I can't always predict what a Hashira is thinking.'

Before long, kenshi finally arrived at the small town Shinobu mentioned, and found the base that was hidden there.

Because of his injuries, they had to do simple bandaging before setting out.

"It's actually so serious!" When examining, Shinobu discovered his injuries were much more severe than she imagined.

Not only were two ribs broken, his back was also badly swollen.

"Hard to believe you could calmly walk such a long way with me without resting. You haven't even joined the Demon Slaying Corps yet! No need to push yourself so hard!" Shinobu sighed while bandaging.

Kenshi was very calm.

He saw anime characters that spewed blood out of their mouths and scenes like pulling out their intestines. Why would he think injuries like this are serious? However,

"Just two ribs broken, what could that possi... Ow! Ow ow ow!"

Shinobu's bandaging actions suddenly applied force, interrupting his talking.

"Oh my, turns out you can feel pain too? I thought you were made of iron!" Shinobu said smiling.

Deliberate! Definitely deliberate!

Kenshi took several deep breaths before the pain subsided.

Looking at Shinobu's gloating smile, then at his still unbandaged wounds.

He quickly decided...to endure!

"Don't be angry! I really didn't do it on purpose just now!" Shinobu said laughing.

He looked at her expressionlessly, her gloating almost overflowing.

After finishing bandaging, Shinobu got up and brought over a cup of medicinal broth.

"Now, how about I treat you to this medicinal broth I specially prepared for you?"

She said treat, but there really was no choice right...

He accepted the cup, discovering the medicinal broth inside was murky green, involuntarily making him think of the potions brewed by witches in TV dramas that were also this color.

Especially the occasional bubbles rising from the bottom of the cup, simply identical to the state of those witch potions.

"What is this medicinal broth made from?" He pointed at the cup and asked.

Shinobu's smile immediately became dangerous.

"Don't ask! Just drink!"

The simple four words made kenshi's hair stand on end.

He tentatively drank a mouthful, the bitterness almost made his stomach acids rise up and puke out everything.

Looking up at Shinobu, her smile still left no room for doubt.

The surrounding corp members were also minding their own business, completely ignoring this side.

Looks like he could only get through this hurdle relying on himself.

Just as he steeled himself to down it one go, a cold object was suddenly stuffed into his mouth, followed by a sweet taste spreading in his mouth.

He opened his eyes to find Shinobu holding a bag of candy from who knows where. Well, he doesn't know what they are but they looked like candy.

Seeing him look over, she licked the remaining candy on her finger, smilingly asking.

"Sweet?"