Chapter 90

Beep—!!!

With a sudden whistle, the three juniors, Tanjiro and the others, consciously stand in a row, preparing to undergo physical function recovery training.

Zero takes a package out of the 【Nano Space】 and comes before the three juniors, casually throwing the items in front of them.

Thud!

Clang!

A small pit is smashed into the ground, and a metallic clanging sound rings out.

The three juniors are startled by these items, thinking simultaneously: "What on earth are these things?"

Zero says: "These are items for your physical function recovery training."

"Eh?" The three juniors are full of shock.

Zero opens the package, revealing what is inside.

They are some specially made wrist and ankle guards.

One wrist guard weighs 300 jin, and the ankle guards are the same weight.

"These things are specially made protective gear I created myself during my own training in the past; each one weighs 300 jin."

"My requirement is simple: in the next few months, you three must wear a pair of wrist and ankle guards each while training!"

"You are not allowed to take them off even when eating, sleeping, or going to the bathroom!"

As soon as he finishes speaking, Zenitsu widens his eyes, looking as if he has seen a ghost.

"Eh!!! You've got to be kidding?!! We have to wear them even when eating, sleeping, or going to the bathroom!? No way!!! People will die from this!!! Tanjiro, hurry and persuade Zero-aniki, can't we... eh?"

Zenitsu sees that Tanjiro and Inosuke show no resistance at all; instead, they are full of longing—a longing for strength.

"Tan... Tanjiro, Inosuke... are you two... are you... okay..."

Tanjiro looks at the protective gear in front of him, thinking that this might be a very good idea.

Hinokami Kagura—no, it should be Sun Breathing.

Sun Breathing has extremely harsh requirements for the user's body.

As long as the physique is strong enough, the side effects brought about by using Sun Breathing techniques can be reduced.

Tanjiro knows very well that even if he knows the sequence of Sun Breathing, he still cannot fully master it with his current self!

Using Sun Breathing in a state of Total Concentration, the body cannot move as one wishes; the body cannot keep up with the techniques.

Even with Total Concentration: Constant, although stamina can be improved, that alone is far from enough!

After all, although learning Total Concentration: Constant can improve stamina for a whole day, it cannot improve strength in an instant...

Therefore, Zero's words ignite his longing to improve his strength.

And Inosuke's goal is simple.

That is to become stronger!

And then go challenge Zero again!

But now, Zenitsu feels that the two of them are crazy, absolutely crazy!

If they really wear these things all the time, they will definitely be exhausted to death!

One weighs 300 jin; all four together weigh 1200 jin. Is this really something a human can do?

"Zero... Zero-aniki... do we really have to wear these things to train?" Zenitsu asks, trembling, hoping that what Zero just said was a joke.

"Of course! After all, I have always been like this."

"Eh? You're lying, right?" Zenitsu feels his worldview collapsing. Is there really someone who can do this?

Zero does not explain too much; he just rolls up the sleeve of his right arm, revealing the special wrist guard on his right wrist.

He takes it off and throws it on the ground.

Rumble!

The commotion is even greater than before.

Then he takes off his metal boots, revealing his feet.

Zenitsu looks at these fair, tender feet, his eyes shining.

Then, he sees Zero take off the protective gear on his left and right ankles and place them together with the wrist guards.

Suddenly, Zero radiates a sharp aura, and the three people in front of him feel this powerful aura, their bodies trembling involuntarily.

He says: "Although my strength is suppressed to only about half, I still wear this protective gear every day."

"Zero-aniki, this protective gear of yours... is each one also... 300 jin?"

"No." Zero answers decisively.

Seeing this, Zenitsu feels it is unfair. Why is the weight of the protective gear Zero wears lower than theirs, while the three of them have to wear protective gear heavier than his?

However, it is only after hearing what Zero says next that he realizes he misunderstood.

"The weight of one of my protective guards is more than three times yours."

"No way?" Zenitsu cannot believe it.

The weight he has to wear for training is 300 jin, so if his is more than three times that, wouldn't one weigh at least 1000 jin?

He steps forward to pick up the protective gear Zero just took off, but unexpectedly, he has to use a lot of effort just to lift it.

Only then does he believe what Zero said.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"Zero-aniki, I have one more question."

"Go ahead."

"Do you wear these things even when you eat and sleep?"

"I used to, but now I wear them all the time except when I sleep."

"Why?"

"What do you think?"

Zenitsu cannot figure out why Zero says he doesn't wear them when he sleeps now. Finally, Tanjiro explains a little, and Zenitsu regrets his loose tongue just now.

"Zenitsu, after all, Zero-aniki has someone with him when he sleeps; he must be afraid of hurting them." Tanjiro explains.

Pfft! Pfft!...

It is as if many sharp swords have pierced Zenitsu's body, and he regrets asking that question just now.

Even in his mind, he imagines Zero sleeping with girls...

Moreover, Zenitsu has heard that Zero doesn't just have one partner, but two.

And they are both top-tier beauties...

"Alright! Put on this protective gear and prepare to start training!"

Tanjiro: "Yes, Zero-aniki!"

Inosuke: "Iyahahaha! No problem!"

Zenitsu: It's over... I'm going to die... I'll definitely be exhausted to death...

Finally, all three put on the wrist and ankle guards.

In an instant, their bodies feel as if they have been shackled and fettered, or as if they are carrying a thousand-jin weight, becoming extremely heavy.

They prepare to start receiving training.

Beep—!!!

The whistle blows again.

"My training has three stages: push-ups, cross-country, and sword swinging. Now, the first stage of training: 300 push-ups! I will train with you!"

Thus, in the following period, except for missions and non-essential moments, Zero basically supervises the three of them as they start physical function recovery training together.

Sometimes he trains with them as well.

Three months later.

A stormy night.

"Caw! North-northwest, north-northwest, go to exterminate the evil demon in the mountain temple!"

Tanjiro receives the mission and immediately prepares to set off.

Carrying the wooden box containing Nezuko, he heads to the destination to execute the mission.

Looking at the protective gear on his wrists and ankles, he decides it is better to keep wearing them.

As early as a few days ago, Zero reminded them that the training was over and they could take off the gear.

But Tanjiro does not want to take them off.

Having worn this gear continuously for three months of training, he feels a bit unaccustomed to suddenly taking it off.

Moreover, Tanjiro can clearly feel that his strength has improved significantly over these three months.

Even if he keeps wearing them on his body now, he can move freely.

If he takes off this protective gear, his strength will rise to another level.

Inosuke goes without saying; he has been wearing them all along.

Zenitsu originally wanted to take them off, but seeing that the other two hadn't, he felt he didn't want to be the odd one out, so he followed suit and kept wearing them.

But thinking of the training over these three months, he only feels as if it were hell...

Push-ups increased from the original 300 a day to 1000 a day now.

Cross-country, which originally only required running 10 laps around the Butterfly Mansion, became 10 laps around the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.

Sword swinging goes without saying; 1000 swings a day became 2000 swings a day now.

And every swing must be done with all one's might...

Every time it ends, they are as exhausted as dogs.

Just thinking about it feels terrifying!

It feels like Zero is a devilish training officer!

But it must be said that Zero's training method is indeed very effective, and they have benefited a lot.

North-northwest, mountain temple.

Tanjiro, wearing a straw hat, ascends the steps and arrives at the temple mentioned by the Kasugai Crow.

Inside the temple, it is pitch dark.

Tanjiro pats the wooden box behind him and asks: "Nezuko, are you okay? Did you get wet?"

Nezuko responds, indicating that there is no problem.

Seeing this, Tanjiro feels relieved.

He starts to carefully search for the evil demon.

"The demon should be around here..."

Squeak—squeak—

Hearing movement, Tanjiro draws his Nichirin Sword and prepares for battle.

Just at this moment, a foul stench from the evil demon wafts out.

Smelling this foul odor, Tanjiro discovers the evil demon hiding above.

This is a mantis demon, with two arms like a mantis and four more mantis arms on its back.

However, for Tanjiro, this is nothing to fear!

Water Breathing. Third Form: Flowing Dance!

The excessively fast movement leaves an afterimage in place, causing the mantis demon's attack to miss.

Water Breathing. Fourth Form: Striking Tide!

While the mantis demon is searching for Tanjiro's figure everywhere, a multi-stage attack like a tide appears behind the mantis demon, instantly killing it!

By the time the mantis demon reacts, it is already too late.

Its body has been slashed into multiple pieces, finally turning into ash and dissipating in the air.

"This evil demon feels so weak... no, it should be the training Zero-aniki gave us over these few months."

Tanjiro attributes all of this to Zero; without his training, compared to solving this evil demon, it might have taken more time.

Afterward, he checks again to ensure there are no other dangers nearby, and only then does he leave with peace of mind.

After dawn.

Tanjiro returns to the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Nezuko, we will be at the Butterfly Mansion soon."

As soon as he finishes speaking, he hears shouting coming from the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion.

"Please stop! Please let me go! I... this child... I beg you..." Kanzaki Aoi is being carried on the shoulder by Tengen Uzui, her face full of panic.

"Shut up, be quiet!"

Tengen Uzui is full of impatience, carrying Kanzaki Aoi, with little Naho tucked under his arm, preparing to leave directly.

Seeing that her resistance is fruitless, Kanzaki Aoi can only ask Kanao for help.

Behind Tengen Uzui, Kanao is also full of panic, not knowing what to do.

The words Zero and Tanjiro said surface in her mind, and she immediately makes a decision.

She rushes forward and grabs Kanzaki Aoi's hand and little Naho's skirt, preventing Tengen Uzui from taking them away.

Tengen Uzui looks back and says faintly: "Don't grab me so inconspicuously; didn't you just receive orders?"

"I... I..." Kanao doesn't know how to answer him, her hands still not letting go.

"You should at least say a complete sentence! What an unflashy person!"

Tengen Uzui's roar gives little Kiyo and little Sumi a big fright, and they shout: "Attack! Attack!"

Forming a surrounding posture, they pounce on Tengen Uzui and grab him tightly, not letting him leave!

"Wait... you guys stop it!" Tengen Uzui feels like he is about to explode with anger.

"What are you doing to the girls?! Let them go!"

Tanjiro rushes into the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion and shouts.

But when he sees the scene in the courtyard, he is stunned.

The one being surrounded is Tengen Uzui, so seeing this situation, who should be the one being caught...

For a moment, Tanjiro doesn't know who the victim is.

Kiyo sees Tanjiro and cries out: "He wants to kidnap people, please help us!"

Seeing this, Tanjiro rushes up quickly, intending to take advantage of Tengen Uzui being temporarily unable to move to give him a headbutt attack.

Unexpectedly, in less than the blink of an eye, Tengen Uzui disappears from the spot, carrying Kanzaki Aoi and little Naho.

Tanjiro's headbutt attack also misses, crashing directly into the ground.

Boom!

A small pit is smashed into the ground by Tanjiro's forehead.

And little Kiyo lands behind Tanjiro, without suffering any harm.

"Stupid guy, I am the flashy former ninja, Lord Tengen Uzui! In the ninja circle, I am a flashy and well-known man! Don't think I would be hit by that useless headbutt of yours!"

He looks at Tanjiro with eyes full of disdain and dissatisfaction.

Tanjiro: "(? ò? ò) You old geezer, let go of Miss Aoi and the others! You kidnapper!"

Kiyo: "That's right, that's right!"

Tanjiro: "(? ò? ò) What on earth do you want to do?!"

Sumi: "Pervert! Pervert!"

"Strange, why is it so noisy ahead?"

Zero has just returned to the Demon Slayer Corps and hears the arguing coming from the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion from far away.

Out of curiosity, he rushes over to see the situation.

Arriving outside the wall, he sees Tengen Uzui standing on top of the gate, still carrying Kanzaki Aoi and little Naho.

Out of curiosity, he prepares to enter the gate to see the situation, but...

"Then I don't want them!"

After speaking, Tengen Uzui throws little Naho down.

"Yaahhh!!!" Little Naho thinks she is dead for sure, closing her eyes tightly.

But after a long time, she doesn't feel any pain.

Opening her eyes, she realizes she is being held in Zero's arms.

"Are you okay, little Naho? Did I scare you?" Zero asks with concern.

"Lord Zero Pillar... Waaahhh! I was thrown down, I almost..."

"Alright, alright, don't cry, don't cry, good child, good, good, good~"

Zero comforts little Naho in his arms, looks up at Tengen Uzui, says nothing, and silently takes out a book from the 【Nano Space】 to start reading.

Tengen Uzui sees Zero and says: "Zero, don't get involved in this, I have a mission and need female team members."

Zero says nothing, still flipping through the book.

Seeing this, Tengen Uzui curiously glances at the cover of Zero's book.

It is written on it:

【100 Death Penalty Methods for Kidnapping Young Girls】

Tengen Uzui:!!!!!!!