"I do!"
Ren nodded seriously. This reaction completely bewildered Kocho Shinobu, who thought she had misheard him, causing her to ask for clarification.
"Eh? I apologize, Mr. Ren, what did you say? I didn't hear you clearly."
"I said I am willing to join the Demon Slayer Corps, to join all of you!"
"Wait, Mr. Ren, aren't you... aren't you agreeing a little too decisively?" Shinobu exclaimed in amazement. 'Is he not going to hesitate even a little bit?'
"Haha, I actually thought about it for a long time. On the way to the Butterfly Mansion, I heard Mr. Tomioka speak about it. There are many man-eating demons in this world, and many people who have lost their lives because of them. Even now, in places we don't know about, there may be people living in fear of demons, or even losing their lives and having their families destroyed! Knowing such a truth, I really can't remain indifferent!"
As he spoke, Ren couldn't help but clench his fist. At this moment, that fist, the size of a sandbag, was filled with boundless power.
"I want to help those people!"
"I once heard a story that everyone sees their life script before they are born. The reason they still choose to come to this world is that there must be something worth doing!"
"Preventing tragedies from happening—I think that is the purpose of my coming to this world. Therefore, even if you hadn't invited me, once my injuries healed, I would have actively asked to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Mr. Ren..."
Shinobu murmured. For some reason, she felt that Ren looked somewhat handsome at this moment.
"Cough, cough. Um, Miss Kocho, actually I've wanted to say this for a while. You can just call me by my name. After all, I'm not that much older than you. You keep calling me Mr. Ren, Mr. Ren... it makes me feel like a middle-aged uncle."
Calculating carefully, Shinobu was only about sixteen years old right now, almost the same age as him, or at most a few months younger.
"Cough, well then, I will call you Ren. You can also call me by my name directly from now on. Also, I am very sorry, Ren. I shouldn't have teased you earlier..."
Shinobu then explained how she had forcefully stabbed Ren's shoulder earlier and apologized sincerely.
"Oh, so that's what happened!" Ren said indifferently. "It doesn't matter, I don't mind. After all, I didn't feel anything. I actually thought you weren't using any strength..."
These words undoubtedly stepped squarely on Shinobu's landmine. Hearing this, the corner of her mouth twitched instantly.
Then, without saying a second word, she jammed the syringe containing the antidote into Ren's shoulder, not caring if the position was correct or not.
"I forgot to tell you, to join the Demon Slayer Corps, you must pass the Final Selection. This year's Final Selection is in one month. If Mr. Ren fails to pass, you will have to wait another year!"
Shinobu spoke coldly and immediately left the ward. Ren couldn't help but slap his own cheek.
"I'm done for. I made her angry. I have to watch my mouth in the future; I can't just say whatever comes to mind. I absolutely cannot become a second Tomioka Giyu! However, there is a difference between Giyu and me. At least I know I made Kocho Shinobu angry. Unlike Giyu, who can't even tell when people are speaking good or bad words to him..."
Thinking this, and seeing the sky growing dark, Ren slowly lay down, preparing to rest. He had been traveling for the past three days and hadn't had time to rest properly.
As for the Final Selection on Mt. Fujikasane in a month, Ren didn't take it to heart. After comprehending his Battle Skills, he could basically fight Kibutsuji Muzan to a draw. Passing the Final Selection wouldn't just be easy; it would be a leisurely walk in the park!
In fact, given enough time, he could wipe out every single demon on Mt. Fujikasane by himself. Thinking of this, Ren closed his eyes and drifted into dreamland.
Early the next morning, Ren got up early and went to the lawn outside the Butterfly Mansion to exercise.
With the antidote Shinobu had injected, the remaining Muzan cells in his body had been completely decomposed. Therefore, the current Ren could be said to be full of vigor and boundless energy!
In less than ten minutes, he easily completed one thousand push-ups without a single drop of sweat on his forehead.
'Heh, as my strength and constitution continue to increase, my speed in doing push-ups has also become much faster. With my current physical fitness, even if I did two thousand push-ups in a row, I probably wouldn't feel tired.'
Nowadays, these one thousand push-ups were merely a warm-up exercise to loosen his muscles and bones; they had no effect on training his body or increasing his basic attributes.
'I'd better practice my Battle Skills first! Before the Final Selection at Mt. Fujikasane, I must successfully execute a Battle Skill at least five times a day.'
Thinking of this, Ren walked over to a sword rack nearby, which held many wooden swords used for practice.
He immediately pulled out a wooden sword, swung it casually at the air twice, and then shook his head repeatedly, frowning.
"This won't do. This wooden sword is too light. I'm really afraid I'll crush it if I use any force!"
As he spoke, Ren increased his grip strength slightly. Sure enough, the wooden sword soon couldn't withstand his power, and a deep handprint was forcibly impressed onto the hilt.
And this was using less than a fifth of his strength. If he had gone all out, the wooden sword would have already snapped in half.
"It looks like I need to find a heavy weapon. It would be best to get an iron hammer or an iron axe."
Just as Ren was worrying about a weapon, Kanzaki Aoi, sporting short hair, walked over slowly holding a pile of laundry. Seeing Ren on the lawn, she spoke in surprise.
"Huh? Mr. Ren, you're doing rehabilitation training so early? Are the toxins in your body really okay now?"
"Yes, the antidote Miss Shinobu brought out was very effective. I'm already as good as new."
"Is that so? That's good!" Kanzaki Aoi smiled sweetly upon hearing this.
At this moment, Ren asked with a solemn expression, "By the way, Miss Kanzaki, is there any heavy weapon here at the Butterfly Mansion?"
"A heavy weapon?"
"Yes, like a mace, a large iron hammer, or a heavy sword. These wooden swords are too light; they don't feel right to use at all."
After saying that, Ren displayed the wooden sword in his hand. Seeing the handprint on the hilt, Kanzaki Aoi was startled; she hadn't expected his strength to be so great.
"A heavy weapon, huh?" Kanzaki Aoi muttered. "Come to think of it, there actually is a heavy sword in the armory."
"Really? Miss Kanzaki, I wonder if you could let me see that heavy sword?"
"Of course, no problem. However, as far as I know, that sword weighs over a hundred pounds. I don't know if Mr. Ren can lift it."
With that, Kanzaki Aoi led Ren to the warehouse in the backyard of the Butterfly Mansion.
Over the years, the Demon Slayer Corps had sacrificed many people in battles against demons. If the weapons of those victims were not damaged, they would be stored in the Butterfly Mansion's warehouse for training purposes. It was also a way to cherish the memory of those fallen comrades.
When surviving corps members trained while wielding the Nichirin Swords of their fallen comrades, they could always feel that those comrades were watching over them from a distant place.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]