Chapter 12: Insect Hashira

*Ace POV.*

Eh? What the? Two Hashira?

If I remember correctly the pink-haired one is the love hashira and this black-haired petite lady is Shinobu Kocho, the insect Hashira.

"Now, now, Let's bring him already to Oyakata-sama," Shinobu said as she snatches my arm and drags me.

"Not to be rude but I can walk without anyone dragging me," I said... I don't like it when someone does something that concerns me without my permission.

"Well, sorry for my rudeness," Shinobu said while covering her mouth with her hand. So cute, is she doing this on purpose? I find it extremely hard to prevent myself from teasing her.

"Well tugging me is fine but please don't touch me with that sweaty hand of yours," I said with a smile.

"Ehhhhhhh," The love hashira said.

A visible tick mark appeared on Shinobu's forehead. "Ara ara, That is a funny thing to say Mr?" Shinobu said with a smile that is not a smile. She unconsciously wiping her hand with a handkerchief.

"Ace, but you can call me master," I said without changing my expression.

"Ehhhhhhh," The love hashira voiced out again.

Shinobu tried to unsheathe her sword, but Mitsuri stopped her, "Shinobu-san don't be violent Oyakata-sama don't want him hurt."

Shinobu breathes to control her emotion.

"I'm just playing, come on now," Shinobu said then continue walking forward without looking at me.

--

We are traveling for quite a long time now, I need to reapply healing again to the demon.

I place my hand in the demon's head and secretly cast heal, Although that action still causes some reaction from both girls. Tch, demon slayers and their honed instinct.

"What was that Ace-san," Mitsuri said. I can tell from her tone that she is cautious, extremely cautious.

Shinobu didn't bother to ask but I can see her ears jerks.

"One of the reasons I am important for the corps," I answered vaguely as I can because I am not in the mood to repeat explaining my power to every Hashira I encounter.

They need to wait until the semi-annual Hashira meeting.

"Then explain to us why, for some reason, you are carrying a demon around?" Shinobu asked, she didn't turn around but I can tell from her tone that she is serious.

"Like what I said, one of the reasons why I am important to the corps." So Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current head of the demon slayer corps was still not telling the Hashiras about me.

Shinobu stops walking then turn around to face me her smile is slightly scary, "I am sorry but I am not going to bring uncertainty to our headquarters, give me something to trust you,"

I sigh because this is not worth fighting between allies, "I can temporarily turn demons into humans."

"Wow! Then show us? you can show us your claim, right? Hey hey?" Shinobu provokes with a smile on her face.

This girl really an expert on making people mad.

Mitsuri, the love Hashira is not saying anything and just blushing, I bet with her personality she is inner monologing about how lovely or awesome Shinobu is.

"I rather show you my healing power, Killing a demon that temporarily turned into a human leaves a bad taste in my mouth," I said honestly, this is the reason why I didn't turn the demon behind me to human.

You see if I turn them into humans then stop the healing process they will experience the pain of turning into demons once again.

"Yeah that is right, So healing is what you call your skill huh, Can you heal me I got a boo-boo," Shinobu asked like she was talking to a kid.

Ohh I get it, she is getting her revenge because of the sweaty hands' scene earlier. Although I can see in her eyes that she is serious about seeing my power.

I sigh and used detection, yellow halo appears under my feet then expand and scan the area.

I find the nearest test subject is a squirrel in a nearby tree. "Umm, Shinobu-san can you fetch that squirrel over there for me?"

"Of course, Mas~ter~," Shinobu said, is it weird that I find joy in her call me master?

Shinobu elegantly jumps to the tree and skillfully catches the squirrel then went back to me.

"Thanks," She hands me the live squirrel, I knock the squirrel unconscious because It doesn't need to be awake.

Then I made an incision to the squirrel's stomach, both girls are watching me do my work without saying a word. I bet they are doubting reality right now, that a human has a fictional power.

I cast heal and the wound regenerates at a visible pace. The squirrel regains consciousness too, I put it on the ground and it runs for its life.

"Wah, what a beautiful power right Shinobu-san?" Mitsuri is the first to react.

Shinobu is looking at me with a sad expression, she probably thinking if I am with them by the time of her sister's death then her sister should be alive now.

"Ara, It seems you are telling the truth after, lets resume our walk then," Shinobu said hiding in her facade.

--

There are some delays in the chapters on my Patreon.

The reason for this is the adult game that I plan to launch for free on Saturday (March 20)