The morning sun rose over the Butterfly mansion, painting the rooftops gold. After days of recovery, the chaos had calmed — yet the air was thick with anticipation. The Hashira Training would begin soon.
But Jinwoo's day was about to start in a completely different way.
Inside a guest house, Tanjiro wears his green and black haori, humming gently. Jinwoo leaned against the wall, silent as usual, watching the young swordsman prepare.
"Jinwoo-san," Tanjiro smiled warmly, "I want to thank you again for protecting everyone yesterday."
No arrogance. No self-congratulation.
Just pure sincerity.
Jinwoo nodded once.
Honor level detected.
The system's blue text appeared in front of him.
> Kamado Tanjiro — Honor: MAX
Jinwoo wasn't surprised.
"Everyone's life matters to him…" Jinwoo thought. "Even demons."
For some reason, a part of him respected that.
Then suddenly—
"Tanjirooooooo! I'm here to save youuuuuuuu!"
A thunderous, high-pitched scream shook the building.
Tanjiro froze. Jinwoo raised an eyebrow.
SLAMMMM!!!
The sliding door EXPLODED open and a yellow blur flew inside.
"Tanjiro! I heard you were injured! Are you okay?! Are you eating well?! Why didn't you tell me where you are?!"
Zenitsu cried and shook Tanjiro violently, tears spraying everywhere.
Tanjiro: "Z–Zenitsu! I–I'm fine! Please stop shaking me!"
Zenitsu suddenly stopped and turned — noticing Jinwoo.
His eyes widened. His face turned red. Then he screamed even louder.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!! WHO IS THAT HANDSOME DARK-AURA MAN?! IS HE A DEMON?!! DON'T EAT US!!"
Jinwoo blinked twice. "I'm not a demon."
Zenitsu immediately switched personalities.
"Oh. My apologies, sir. I always welcome strong reliable older brother figures into my life."
Tanjiro sweat-dropped.
Jinwoo stared in confusion — this kid changed emotions fast.
But before things could calm down—
CRASHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
A body DROPPED from the ceiling like a wild animal and shattered an expensive vase.
"I HAVE ARRIVED!"
Inosuke stood proudly, no shirt, boar mask, flexing.
Tanjiro: "Inosuke! You broke the vase!"
Inosuke: "It attacked me first!!! The superior beast ALWAYS wins!"
Zenitsu: "YOU JUMPED THROUGH THE WINDOW AND YOU BROKE!!! YOU IDIOT!!!"
Jinwoo just sighed.
These two… were exhausting.
But underneath the chaos… he felt something else.
System scan initiated.
> Kamado Tanjiro — Honor: MAX
Agatsuma Zenitsu — Honor: Medium
Hashibira Inosuke — Honor: Low
Just like he expected.
Then the system displayed more:
> Permission to assign protection? Secret shadow linking and for shadow exchange— only visible to the Monarch.
Jinwoo didn't hesitate.
Shadow assignment — begin.
Darkness seeped from Jinwoo's feet, undetectable by mortal eyes. The shadows branched across the floor like liquid night.
First target:
Tanjiro.
Two enormous high-orc shadows formed behind Jinwoo, then silently slipped into Tanjiro's shadow like ghosts.
Tanjiro felt a cold breeze.
He glanced around.
"Huh? Did the door open?"
"No," Jinwoo said calmly. "Just the wind."
Second target:
Zenitsu.
A small, a two shadow soldier — like a green bit bulky warrior — emerged and stumbled nervously.
Zenitsu at that exact moment started crying again.
"WHAT IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO TANJIRO?!! I CAN'T LOSE MY FRIEND!!"
The shadow saluted clumsily and crawled into Zenitsu's shadow.
Zenitsu shivered. "Why does it feel like something slimy touched me?"
Tanjiro patted him. "Probably your imagination!"
Jinwoo turned away to hide a smile.
Third target:
Inosuke.
A medium-sized weak shadow orc appeared, like a wild beast.
It looked at Jinwoo, pounded its chest, then sprinted toward Inosuke's shadow.
The moment it fused, Inosuke startled.
"DID A BEAST SPIRIT JUST CHOOSE ME BECAUSE OF MY MIGHTY MUSCLES?!"
Zenitsu: "NO!! THAT DID NOT HAPPEN!!"
Jinwoo remained still, expression unreadable.
Assignment completed.
> Tanjiro — 2 High Orcs
Zenitsu — 1 Mid Soldier
Inosuke — 1 Weak Soldier
Jinwoo thought:
Zenitsu and Inosuke… their honor is low now. But maybe they'll rise later.
He didn't judge them. He saw potential.
Tanjiro clapped his hands together.
"Alright! Let's go to the Hashira Training!"
Zenitsu choked. "H–Hashira Training? Right now?! We're gonna die."
Inosuke punched the air. "If they think they can break me, I'll break them FIRST!"
Zenitsu cried. "This is why we keep almost dying!!"
Jinwoo walked toward the door.
"Let's go."
Just that — calm and confident — and somehow both Zenitsu and Inosuke instinctively followed.
Outside, villagers watched the group walk together — Tanjiro's bright positivity, Zenitsu's panic, Inosuke's pride, and Jinwoo's silent power.
And for the first time, Jinwoo noticed something special:
These three boys… carried no fear of him.
Everyone else — Hashira, demon slayers, civilians — looked at Jinwoo like a walking catastrophe. But Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke treated him like a comrade.
Something unfamiliar warmed Jinwoo's chest.
"We're a team now," Tanjiro said, walking beside him with a smile.
Jinwoo didn't reply — but he didn't push him away either.
After Reached to the training place:
Zenitsu whispered in relief, "This place… doesn't look dangerous."
Inosuke head–butted a tree immediately. "TRAINING TREE! FIGHT ME!"
Tanjiro laughed nervously.
Jinwoo walked forward, scanning the courtyard — noticing something powerful.
A tall white-haired man leaned casually against the railing, sparkling with gemstones and confidence. His aura didn't burn like Sanemi's or suffocate like Gyomei's — it exploded like fireworks.
Tengen Uzui —Former Sound Hashira.
He pushed off the railing with a grin. "So you're the flashy new guy."
Zenitsu fainted instantly at his presence. Inosuke growled in admiration. Tanjiro bowed politely.
Jinwoo simply nodded.
Tengen's sharp eyes focused on him. "I heard you cut down a monster that even pillars struggled with. Impressive. But power alone isn't enough in our job."
Jinwoo didn't answer — but he listened.
Tengen tapped his sword hilt (the single one he still carried).
"One arm. Still faster than most demons. Still stronger than most Hashira. Flashiness isn't luck — it's technique."
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed slightly. He respected that.
Tengen smirked. "Good. You're already thinking — how can a man with one arm be this strong?"
He leaned closer.
"I'll show you."
The sky darkened a little as training assistants cleared the courtyard.
Tengen pointed ahead.
"Training starts today — with me first."
Zenitsu screamed.
"TENGEN-SAMA FIRST?! WE'RE GOING TO DIE AT THE START!"
Inosuke cheered. "FINALLY! A REAL MONSTER TO FIGHT!"
Tanjiro bowed, excited. Jinwoo cracked his neck, ready.
Tengen swung a wooden training sword — fast enough that the air whistled.
"Today, we're building the foundation: run until your lungs burn, swing until your arms scream, and stand up even when your body collapses."
He looked straight at Jinwoo.
"You look like the type who relies on overwhelming power. Here, you'll learn discipline."
Jinwoo didn't deny it. Power meant nothing without control.
Tengen smirked and took his stance — even with only one arm, his form was flawless.
"Alright, Sung Jinwoo — try to keep up with me."
Jinwoo's shadow wavered beneath him — Beru watched silently from inside, waiting.
But Jinwoo didn't summon him.
This wasn't a battle of shadows.
This was a battle of skill.
Jinwoo stepped forward.
"I'm ready."
Tengen's grin widened — thrilled.
"Good. Then— let's make this training… flashy."
The assistants struck the start drum — DOOOOMMM!!!