Chapter 3

“Little brat, now it’s just you and me!”

“Damn brat, insulting me like this—you’re asking for death! Blood Demon Art: Maple Blade!” Instantly, a flood of maple leaves shot from Byōyō’s hands like ninja shuriken, piercing anything they touched.

Ding ding ding~

Zero severed every maple blade with one of the Four Styles, then kicked off forcefully and charged toward Byōyō. Zero had lived for dozens of centuries; across the starry river, he had patrolled endlessly and fought countless Void Insects and other species that breached the gates of time and space—his experience was beyond anything Byōyō could match.

“So fast! Who the hell is this guy? He’s not wearing Demon Slayer Corps uniform—could he be a Pillar?!”

“Plosch!” Instantly, Byōyō’s head was severed.

Though he’d slain Byōyō, Zero remained alert—the analysis glasses displayed “Target Not Dead.” He immediately recalled the earlier analysis: one Blood Demon Art was called “Substitute Corpse,” so he kept sensing his surroundings at all times.

……

Meanwhile, two beautiful girls were rushing toward the small village.

Both wore butterfly-patterned haori, like two butterflies dancing in flight.

One stood out especially: long black hair, violet eyes, a colorful butterfly-patterned haori, purple-and-crimson-edged butterfly hairpins on either side of her head, and a delicate face.

The other had black hair with purple tips, slightly shorter, and a butterfly hairpin at the nape of her neck. Both wore swords at their waists.

“Sister, according to the messenger crow’s report, there’s a demon in that village ahead—and it’s likely two Lower Tiers.”

“Oh? Is little Shin afraid? Don’t worry, sister will protect you well—I’m a Pillar, after all!”

“Sister, I mean if there really are two Lower Tier demons, that village probably…”

“Ah, little Shin, wouldn’t it be wonderful if humans and demons could coexist peacefully?”

“Sister…”

“We’re here! Huh? What’s that?” The two girls arrived at the village and saw a strange figure with four black-and-red long cases strapped to his back, and over a dozen strange objects flying nearby.

“Sister, what’s that? And he’s fighting demons alone?! Sister, why aren’t you speaking?”

“Little Shin, look at the eyes of those two demons.”

“Huh? That’s… Lower Tier demons?! Sister, let’s help him!”

“No rush, let’s watch first—he’s strong! Huh? That demon was beheaded, yet he’s still alive?”

“Sister, could it be because he’s not using a Nichirin Blade, so he can’t kill him?”

“No, I can feel his blade isn’t ordinary—it can kill demons too. The one he beheaded earlier wasn’t the real body.”

“Oh? Little Shin, look—he’s found the real one! Amazing perception.”

……

“Activate infrared scan! Target: Byōyō”

The analysis glasses began scanning the surroundings.

【Scanning… Scan successful. Target detected three meters to the right.】

“Now see where you run!”

“No good! Blood Demon Art: Withering!” Byōyō, sensing he’d been found, immediately activated his Blood Demon Art.

Instantly, all surrounding plants and animals lost vitality and withered. But it was all in vain.

“How is this possible? How did he find me? I masked my aura completely—why can he still detect me? Why is my Blood Demon Art useless? What’s around him?!” Byōyō’s heart burned with fury and terror.

Zero had anticipated this move. Unseen, he retrieved a tiny metal shard from his nanospace—a quantum shield—and pressed it against his chest, forming an egg-shaped barrier that enveloped his entire body, rendering Byōyō’s Blood Demon Art useless.

“Never mind—even if his Blood Demon Art doesn’t work, if he beheads me, it won’t matter. He doesn’t have a Nichirin Blade. Even if I’m beheaded, once he leaves, I’ll instantly recover and escape…” As Byōyō thought this, a flash of light passed.

Plosch…

“What’s happening? That’s my body?! Why can’t I regenerate?! So painful—this burning sensation!” The severed head of Byōyō landed on the ground, staring at his own body. He felt overwhelming terror—he couldn’t regenerate at all.

“Ahh! You bastard, what did you do to me?! Why can’t I regenerate?! What did you do?!” Byōyō’s head screamed on the ground.

“You want to know why? I won’t tell you! Heh~” Zero stuck out his tongue, pulled down his lower eyelid with his index finger, and made a face at Byōyō’s head, then headed toward Xiao Yue.

“You damned bastard, I’ll never let you go—even as a demon, I won’t forgive you…” Then his head and body both dissolved.

……

“Master, you’re here! You don’t know how sneaky this one was—she manipulated vines to create puppets, then turned the vines into her own shape to fake death. I almost got fooled—if I hadn’t activated the scan in time, she’d have escaped!”

Xiao Yue pointed at Ling Yuzi, sitting on the ground, clutching several pieces of cloth to cover her vital parts.

Zero turned and saw Ling Yuzi surrounded by Destroyer Drones. His face flushed instantly—he felt utterly speechless.

At this moment, Ling Yuzi looked especially alluring—her entire outfit had been shredded by Xiao Yue’s Destroyer Drones, leaving only a few scraps covering her key areas.

She could only sit on the ground, gripping the remaining cloth fragments, her petite frame trembling, cheeks flushed, face filled with profound shame.

“Xiao Yue, how did you even think of this? Sure, she’s a demon—but she’s still a little girl!” Zero gently tapped Xiao Yue’s head.

“Oh, sorry, Master! Xiao Yue knows she’s wrong!” Xiao Yue pouted, muttering. Inside, she thought: “What’s the point? I came up with this idea myself. Luo Li was right—Master really is a big dummy. But hey, he blushed too—hehe!”

“Sigh, whatever. Let’s just end her quickly!” He walked up to Ling Yuzi.

“Please, spare me! If you let me live, I’ll do anything you want!” Ling Yuzi wept in pleading.

“I’m sorry. You’ve taken lives. I cannot forgive you—or let you live. Goodbye.”

Plosch~

Zero swung his blade, beheading Ling Yuzi, then sheathed the First of the Four Styles, watching her head slowly vanish.

“Master, you’re so heartless! Sure, she’s a demon, but she was kind of cute!”

Zero retracted the Destroyer Drones into his nanospace, tapped Xiao Yue’s head lightly, and said: “You don’t understand. None of this matters anymore. Now we must deal with something else.”

Xiao Yue: “True. Those two have been watching since they arrived—we should handle them.”

“You two hiding behind that grove—watching long enough? Come out!” Zero turned toward the small forest behind him.

“Oh? So you noticed us already!”

Two girls stepped out from the grove.

“Hello, little brother! Let me introduce myself—I’m Kanao Hashibira, a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. This is my younger sister, Shinobu Hashibira.”

Xiao Yue sat on Zero’s shoulder, viewing the information his system had gathered on the two girls.

【Name: Kanao Hashibira—Female】

【Age: 17】

【Demon Slayer Corps Pillar: Flower Pillar】

【Breathing Style: Flower Breathing】

【Personal Info: Optimistic, cheerful, gentle, kind, always smiling. Talented in koto, flower arrangement, and tea ceremony. Believes demons were once human, and thus feels sympathy for them. Believes slaying demons not only saves victims but also liberates demons from their tragic karmic cycle. The Stone Pillar, Himejima Gyomei, considers her “too gentle.” She made a vow with her sister Shinobu: when slaying demons together, she was prepared to sacrifice herself for others’ happiness.】

Because ghosts were once the same kind of beings as humans, he felt sympathy for them, believing that hunting ghosts was not only about saving those they intended to kill, but also about freeing ghosts from the sorrowful cycle of karma. He was deemed “too gentle” by the Rock Pillar, Shinobu Kocho, and had resolved to sacrifice himself for the happiness of others when he made a pact with his sister, Shinobu, to slay ghosts together.

【Age: 16】

【Demon Slayer Corps Swordsman: Class B】

【Breathing Style: Insect Breathing】

【Serious, stern, rarely smiles. Occasionally frustrated by her short stature. Dresses conservatively, dislikes revealing clothing.】

Zero’s forehead twitched. He smiled without warmth. “Little brother? Little girl, I’m far older than you—how dare you call me ‘little brother’?”

“What do you mean? My sister and I traveled all this way to save you, and this is your attitude?!” Shinobu snapped.

“Did you think I needed saving?”

“I… this… I…” Shinobu looked around. Indeed, they didn’t need saving—they’d already slain two Lower Tier demons.

Xiao Yue: “Master, your appearance really does look a bit…”

Zero sighed helplessly. “Fine, I won’t argue with you.”

“Wow, such a cute little doll! And she talks! What’s your name?” Kanao covered her mouth in astonishment, staring at Xiao Yue as if she’d discovered a new continent.

“I’m not a doll! I’m Master’s…” Xiao Yue’s words were cut off as Zero cupped her in his palm, covering her mouth.

“Her name is Xiao Yue. She’s my sister. Due to special circumstances, I shrank her!” He sent a telepathic message to Xiao Yue: 【Xiao Yue, stay quiet. Don’t let them ask questions and drag up more trouble.】

“Her name is Xiao Yue, my sister—I shrank her due to special circumstances!” He simultaneously sent a telepathic message to Xiao Yue: [Xiao Yue, don’t speak yet, or they’ll ask endless questions and bring up more trouble.]

“Why did you come here? If you have nothing to say, I’m leaving!” He retracted the Dark Alloy Fourth Style into his nanospace and turned to go.

Seeing the boy vanish his weapon into thin air, they were stunned again.

As Zero moved to leave, Kanao stepped forward and called out: “Wait! I do have something to discuss with you. Also, you haven’t told me your name.”

Seeing Zero was about to leave, he stepped forward and called out to him: “Wait—I actually have something I want to discuss with you. Also, you haven’t told me your name yet.”

Shinobu: “Zero? Strange name. I’ve never heard a name with just one character.”

“Little Shin, that’s impolite.”

“Then I’ll just call you Zero.”

Kanao took a deep breath. “Zero, would you consider joining the Demon Slayer Corps?”

Kanao knew Zero’s combat power was formidable—he’d slain Lower Tier demons alone. Combined with his strange devices, he’d be a tremendous asset. He’d already killed two Lower Tier demons—he was more than qualified to become a Pillar.

Zero: “What kind of organization is the Demon Slayer Corps?”

During this time, he’d gathered intelligence on the Demon Slayer Corps, but details were scarce—he only knew they were an organization dedicated to fighting demons.

“The Demon Slayer Corps is an organization that fights demons at night to protect people. It’s not officially recognized by the government. Joining brings many benefits, but also heavier responsibilities.”

“I see. But I’ll decide later. I’m tired—I need rest. Xiao Yue, find me a place to rest nearby!”

“Wait, Zero! I can take you to a place to rest. But please consider what I just said.”

“Alright. Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Kanao.”

“Wait, Zero—I can take you to where you want to rest! But I hope you’ll consider what I just said.”

“Alright! Then I’m counting on you, Lady Kanae!”

Call me Xiang Naihui!

"This is the Purple Wisteria Clan. You may rest here tonight; they will arrange everything for you afterward. As for me, I must return to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to report tonight’s events to the Lord, so I cannot stay."

Butterfly Kanae and Butterfly Shinobu brought Zero and Xiao Yue to a nearby family residence carved with purple wisteria patterns.

"The Purple Wisteria Clan? What is that?"

"The people of the Purple Wisteria Clan were once saved by Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen. In gratitude, they carved wisteria patterns onto their home and planted wisteria trees all around."

"Any Demon Slayer who comes here will receive their aid without condition," explained Butterfly Kanae.

Zero: "I see."

"Honorable Demon Slayers, I am Kujō Matsui, head of the Purple Wisteria Clan. Please come inside and dine with us; I will prepare your rooms for rest shortly."

"Thank you very much!"

…

After bidding Zero farewell, Butterfly Kanae and Butterfly Shinobu left the Purple Wisteria Clan and set off for the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to report tonight’s events to the Lord.

"Sister, are we really leaving him here? Wouldn’t it be better to take him straight back to the Demon Slayer Corps?" Butterfly Shinobu couldn’t help asking as they traveled.

Butterfly Kanae: "Yes, we return first to headquarters and report to the Lord. Let him decide. I believe he will join the Demon Slayer Corps."

Butterfly Shinobu: "True—he’s incredibly strong, defeating two Lower Moon demons alone. But something’s strange: I didn’t sense any Breath Technique from him."

"But isn’t that precisely what makes him remarkable? Killing Lower Moon demons without Breath Technique—and with those strange devices of his."

"If he chooses to join, I’m certain the Demon Slayer Corps will soon gain another Pillar."

Butterfly Kanae recalled Zero’s weapons and the talking doll beside him, amazed. If he joined, the Demon Slayer Corps would undoubtedly gain a formidable new force.

In truth, Butterfly Kanae had another thought she didn’t voice: she sensed Zero was no ordinary man—even the strongest Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps might not be his match. It was a woman’s intuition.

…