The morning sun filtered through the trees as Tanjiro, Jinwoo, and Zenitsu walked along the narrow stone path leading to Gyomei Himejima's training grounds. The air grew heavier the closer they got — not bad heavy, but sacred, still, like the world itself held its breath.
Zenitsu trembled with every step.
"T-Tanjiro… I can feel it… I can feel something powerful…" he whimpered. "My legs… they're not moving like normal legs anymore…"
Tanjiro laughed nervously. "Zenitsu, we're almost there. It'll be okay."
Jinwoo said nothing. He was listening — to the rhythmic beat coming from the mist ahead.
A giant wooden block being lifted and dropped. Repeatedly.
Steady. Calm. Immovable.
That heartbeat… that rhythm… feels like stone.
Tanjiro whispered, "That's… Gyomei-san…?"
Zenitsu instantly hid behind Jinwoo. "Bro, bro, bro—W-WHY is he training at 5 in the morning!? DOES HE NOT SLEEP!?"
Jinwoo didn't answer. He was focused on the overwhelming presence waiting ahead.
---
ENTERING THE TRAINING AREA
The three stepped closer until the trees opened into a wide clearing.
A small temple stood in the center. The Stone Hashira knelt before it, lifting a log the size of a house pillar. His beads clicked gently around his hands. Tears ran down his cheeks — yet his expression remained serene.
Even without swinging his weapon, Gyomei's aura pressed down like a mountain.
Tanjiro felt his chest tighten.
Zenitsu stopped breathing.
Jinwoo narrowed his eyes.
So this is the strongest Hashira.
Gyomei sensed them immediately.
He placed the massive log down, folded his hands in prayer, and spoke—voice deep, calm, echoing:
"Welcome… children."
Zenitsu immediately bowed so fast his forehead hit the ground.
Tanjiro bowed deeply. "Thank you for training us!"
Jinwoo bowed respectfully as well.
Gyomei's blind eyes shifted toward Jinwoo's direction.
"…And you. The quiet one with the heavy heart."
Jinwoo blinked once.
He can sense that?
Gyomei's head tilted slightly, as if he could feel Jinwoo's silence more clearly than sight ever could.
"Mmm… your sorrow… your weight… it is deeper than the logs we carry…"
Tanjiro glanced at Jinwoo worriedly.
Zenitsu shivered. "H-He can… feel emotions?? What is this man!??"
Gyomei placed his palms together.
"Let us begin."
---
STAGE 1 — THE WATERFALL
they moved to the waterfall.
A massive stone waterfall crashed down in front of them, spraying mist everywhere. The water was icy, roaring, relentless.
Zenitsu cried, "NOOOOO!! THIS WASN'T IN MY CONTRACT!!"
Tanjiro smiled nervously. "It'll build endurance!"
Before Jinwoo stepped in, two familiar voices echoed:
"WOOOOOOH!! WATER SMASHING TRAINING!! I LOVE IT!!"
Inosuke burst out of the trees wearing nothing but pure excitement and chaos.
Without hesitation he dove head-first into the waterfall, got instantly flattened by the pressure, and slid out like wet laundry.
He jumped up screaming:
"THIS WATER IS ATTACKING ME!! GOOD!! I'LL ATTACK IT BACK!!"
He ran under it again, arms flailing like a wild animal.
Murata arrived right behind him, exhausted as always.
"PLEASE—STOP—RUNNING—AROUND—WE JUST STARTED—"
He stepped under the waterfall…
…lasted 0.5 seconds…
…and collapsed.
"WHY IS THIS COLDER THAN FINAL SELECTION—!? I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS—!!"
Zenitsu pointed dramatically.
"SEE!? EVEN MURATA CAN'T DO THIS AND HE ALMOSTDIED IN FINAL SELECTION!!"
Murata coughed violently.
"I didn't ALMOST die—okay maybe I did—BUT STILL—THIS IS WORSE!!"
Inosuke began punching the water.
"FIGHT ME!! FIIIIGHT MEEEEE!!!"
Tanjiro tried to calm him.
"Inosuke! It's not an enemy! It's training!"
"I DON'T CARE!! ANYTHING THAT HITS ME IS MY ENEMY!!"
Murata raised a hand from where he was lying.
"Please… someone… save me..."
Jinwoo removed his hoodie
And
He stepped under the waterfall first.
The water crashed onto him…
and nothing happened.
He stood there, arms at his sides, eyes closed.
Feels like rain.
Zenitsu gaped.
"HE'S A MONSTER."
Murata weakly nodded.
"That's not normal human behavior…"
Even Inosuke paused mid-scream, staring at Jinwoo.
"HEY. BLACK-HOODIE GUY. ARE YOU A MONSTER? YOUR MUSCLES DON'T FLINCH."
Jinwoo opened one eye.
"…No."
Inosuke sniffed him.
"You smell like nineteen different dangers. I LIKE IT."
Tanjiro panicked.
"Inosuke!! Don't sniff people!!"
But Jinwoo just sighed.
Gyomei approached Jinwoo quietly.
"You are unshaken… even under this weight." His voice lowered, gentle. "Yet your heart… trembles."
Jinwoo opened his eyes for a moment.
Gyomei continued.
"You carry burdens alone. But stone does not stand alone. Stone is stronger in a wall. A foundation."
Jinwoo looked away.
Tanjiro stepped beside him under the waterfall.
"Jinwoo-san… we're all here with you."
Gyomei nodded. "Yes… let your heart lean on others."
Murata, struggling under the water, tried to nod too.
"I-I agree…! F-Friends… are important…!"
Inosuke headbutted the waterfall again.
"I DON'T NEED FRIENDS!! BUT IF WE'RE FIGHTING WATER TOGETHER—WE'RE A TEAM!!"
Jinwoo let out a slow breath.
The cold water washed down all of them — Inosuke screaming, Murata dying again, Zenitsu crying — but Jinwoo felt something shift inside..
Not pain.
Not stress.
Something releasing.
STAGE 2 — THE LOG CARRY
Dozens of demon slayers were already struggling across the training field, each carrying massive wooden logs on their shoulders. Most of them were wobbling. Some fell. Others cried.
A crow suddenly announced:
"SECOND STAGE! CARRY A LOG ACROSS THE ENTIRE FIELD!"
Zenitsu screamed.
Tanjiro lifted his log with determination. "Okay… let's go!"
Jinwoo approached his log.
He easily picked it up with one hand.
A few demon slayers stared.
"H-He lifted it like a pillow…"
"What kind of strength is that…?"
Before anyone could process it—
A wild scream ripped through the forest.
"WOOOOOOH!! WHERE'S THE HEAVIEST LOG!? I WANNA BREAK MY SPINE!!"
Inosuke came charging in like a boar missile, Murata chasing behind him.
"Inosuke!! PLEASE STOP RUNNING TOWARD DEADLY OBJECTS!!"
Inosuke ignored him, skidding to a stop in front of the logs.
He sniffed them.
"These are too LIGHT. GIVE ME A BIGGER TREE!! A REAL TREE!! LIKE THAT ONE!!"
Meanwhile..
Jinwoo didn't react anything while he lifting the log. He just simply walked.
Gyomei, sitting cross-legged, turned toward Jinwoo.
"…That log is too light for you."
Jinwoo stopped.
Gyomei stood up. Even his movement felt like a temple shifting.
He walked toward Jinwoo, guided by the sound of his footsteps and heartbeat.
With a gentle touch, he placed one hand on Jinwoo's arm.
"Your body…
Your soul…
Both are trained to endure unimaginable burdens."
Tanjiro watched, eyes wide.
Zenitsu whispered, "Oh no… he noticed… He noticed Jinwoo san isn't human-lev—"
Gyomei lifted a cloth from the corner.
It wasn't normal log
It's an general sherman an old ancientix tree, lying down...
He shows it in front of Jinwoo.
"Carry this."
Tanjiro gasped.
Zenitsu fainted.
Even the demon slayers stopped training to watch.
Then After Gyomei Says..
Jinwoo paused.
Looked at the log.
And...
nodded.
the ancient log resting behind the training grounds — wide as a house, long as a serpent.
The crow squawked nervously.
Several demon slayers whispered:
"That's the legendary log…"
"It's nearly 4 million pounds…"
Murata collapsed to his knees.
"Whyyyy is that even HERE!? That's not a LOG—that's General Sherman's grandson—!!"
Inosuke sprinted straight at it to attack it with his forehead.
But —
Jinwoo suddenly walked past him.
Inosuke froze.
Murata blinked rapidly.
"Y-You? No… no way… you're not—"
Jinwoo reached the colossal log.
Placed one hand on it.
And lifted.
The earth groaned. Trees shivered. Dust shot up like a shockwave.
Every demon slayer fell backward.
Inosuke's jaw unhinged.
Murata screamed like a goat.
"HE'S LIFTING A MOUNTAIN—!! WHAT KIND OF BIOLOGY DOES THIS MAN HAVE—!? WHAT ARE HIS BONES MADE OF—!? METEORITE!? AAAAH—!!"
Inosuke pointed dramatically, trembling with excitement.
"THIS MAN— THIS BLACK-HOODIE BEAST—
IS MY NEW RIVAL!!!"
He headbutted the ground.
"I ACCEPT YOU!! LIFT THAT TREE AND I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR MUSCLE DOMINANCE!!!"
Zenitsu fainted with his eyes open.
Tanjiro shouted, "Inosuke!! Stop yelling!! Jinwoo san is focusing!"
But Jinwoo barely reacted.
He simply carried the massive, impossible log across the field — slowly, steadily, calmly — like it was his responsibility alone.
Gyomei stood and turned toward the vibrations, hands pressed in prayer.
"…That log… the weight of an entire forest… yet you carry it as though you have carried far heavier sorrows."
Even Inosuke, for once, grew silent.
Murata whispered:
"I think… I think I just witnessed a new species…"
And with that, the training continued — Jinwoo leading them like a silent force of nature.
Tanjiro whispered, "Jinwoo-san… is doing his best."
Jinwoo said nothing.
He simply walked.
Step by shaking step.
Like he was dragging years of suffering behind him.
Gyomei's silent respect for Jinwoo grew.
STAGE 3 — THE PUSH-UP LINE
Dozens of demon slayers lined up doing push-ups while Gyomei walked behind them, placing extra weight on their backs.
Zenitsu was crying through every push-up.
"No… no… NOOOO—my bones—my poor bones—"
Tanjiro kept pushing, determined.
Sweat dripped from him in streams.
Jinwoo?
He did push-ups with two demon slayers sitting on his back.
fainted from the intimidation.
A loud BOAR SCREAM suddenly exploded behind the line.
"WOOOOOOOH!! WHAT IS THIS!? WHY ARE THERE HUMANS SITTING ON ANOTHER HUMAN!?"
Inosuke dove into the push-up line like a missile, hands slapping into the dirt beside Jinwoo.
Murata chased after him, wheezing.
"Inosuke!! You can't just— PLEASE don't run!!"
Inosuke stared at Jinwoo's form with the intensity of a wild animal spotting a rival.
Two demon slayers sitting on Jinwoo's back shook in fear.
But Jinwoo didn't flinch. Not even once.
Inosuke's jaw dropped.
"That's… THAT'S INSANE. YOU'RE LIFTING TWO HUMANS WHILE DOING PUSH-UPS!?"
He slammed his own chest proudly.
"THEN I, INOSUKE HASHIBIRA, WILL DO THE SAME—NO, I'LL DO BETTER!"
He immediately grabbed Murata.
"YOU!! SIT ON MY BACK!!"
Murata screamed in horror as Inosuke forced him into position.
"Inosuke—PLEASE—PLEASE NO—MY SPINE ISN'T BUILT LIKE YOURS—!!"
Inosuke got into push-up stance—
But the moment Murata's weight touched his back…
Inosuke collapsed like wet laundry.
"AAAAAAAAAAGH—HEAVY!! WHO PUT A MOUNTAIN ON ME!?"
Murata flailed.
"I'M A REGULAR HUMAN WEIGHT—!!!"
Zenitsu cried while doing his miserable push-up.
"H-How is even Inosuke losing… JINWOO SAN, WHAT KIND OF MUSCLES DO YOU HAVE!??!"
Tanjiro, sweating but steady, smiled encouragingly.
"Everyone is working hard! Don't give up!"
Inosuke pointed dramatically at Jinwoo, still struggling under Murata.
"LISTEN!! BLACK-HOODIE MUSCLE DEMON!! ONE DAY I WILL BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!"
Jinwoo only gave a quiet nod.
Gyomei, watching silently, allowed a small respectful smile.
Even the wildest warriors…
were humbled by Jinwoo's quiet strength.
Gyomei stopped behind Jinwoo.
He placed a single finger on demon slayers (in Jinwoo body).
Instantly—
Jinwoo felt the pressure multiply tenfold.
What…? This weight…
It wasn't physical.
It was spiritual.
Gyomei whispered:
"Your body is strong.
But your spirit…
It trembles… like a child left alone in darkness."
Jinwoo froze.
He had never heard anyone describe him like that.
Gyomei continued, voice gentle:
"You have endured unimaginable trials.
But strength forged alone becomes brittle."
Jinwoo's push-up slowed.
Tanjiro looked at him, eyes soft.
"Jinwoo san… it's okay. We're here."
Zenitsu screamed while doing one terrible push-up. "YES!! WE'RE HERE EVEN IF I'M DYINGGGGGGG!!"
Jinwoo exhaled.
And pushed through.
---
EVENING — GYOMEI'S LESSON
By sunset, demon slayers collapsed everywhere.
Zenitsu lay like a dead fish.
Tanjiro was breathing hard but smiling.
Jinwoo stood silently, steam rising from his shoulders.
Gyomei gathered all of them in the temple courtyard.
His presence felt like a father's — strict yet warm, unshakable yet comforting.
"Today," Gyomei said, hands clasped in prayer, "you have all carried weight. Physical… emotional… spiritual-"
Inosuke burst in first, arms thrown up dramatically.
"STONE GUY!! I HAVE RETURNED FROM MY OWN SECRET TRAINING!!"
Murata collapsed behind him, panting like a dying animal.
"S–Secret training!? YOU GOT LOST IN THE FOREST, INOSUKE!! WE WERE CHASING A SQUIRREL FOR TWO HOURS!!"
All the exhausted demon slayers stared.
Then..
Gyomei turned toward Tanjiro.
"Your heart is pure."
Tanjiro bowed deeply.
Then toward Zenitsu.
"Your fear… hides untapped bravery."
Zenitsu burst into tears and hugged the ground.
Gyomei turned his head calmly toward inosuke and murata.
"Inosuke Hashibira… your spirit is loud… yet honest."
Inosuke puffed up proudly. "OF COURSE IT IS!! MY SPIRIT IS A MUSCLE!!"
Murata, still collapsed, squeaked,
"P–Please… acknowledge me too… I did my best not to die…"
Gyomei nodded gently.
"Murata. Your endurance… is admirable."
Murata cried instantly.
"T-Thank you…! Someone finally noticed…!"
Inosuke leaned toward him.
"HAH!! SEE!? THE BIG STONE GUY RESPECTS MY FRIEND!"
Murata froze.
"…Friend?"
Inosuke slapped him on the back so hard he fell face-first into the dirt.
"YES!! IF YOU RUN WITH ME, FIGHT WITH ME, AND GET LOST WITH ME—YOU'RE MY FRIEND!! DON'T CRY ABOUT IT!!"
Murata did cry about it.
Tanjiro smiled warmly. Zenitsu sniffled. Even Jinwoo glanced their way…
and a tiny hint of amusement crossed his eyes.
Finally, Gyomei faced Jinwoo.
"You, child of another world… carry more sorrow than anyone here."
Jinwoo's eyes widened.
Gyomei continued.
"But… you also carry hope."
Tanjiro smiled proudly at him.
Gyomei's voice deepened.
"Do not bear your burdens alone.
Share your weight.
Let others stand beside you."
For the first time in many chapters…
Jinwoo's expression softened completely.
"…Thank you."
Gyomei bowed slightly.
"It is my duty… and my honor."
---
NIGHT
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Jinwoo sat together.
Inosuke and murata...??
Both are sleeping, cuddled each other...
Zenitsu was eating rice balls like he survived a war.
"I—I can't believe we lived… Gyomei-san is soooo scary but sooo cool—"
Tanjiro laughed softly. "He helped me understand my breathing better."
Jinwoo looked at the stars.
Tanjiro noticed.
"Jinwoo san… you okay?"
Jinwoo nodded slowly.
"Gyomei was right… I'm used to carrying everything alone. But here… with all of you…"
He paused.
"It feels different."
Tanjiro smiled warmly.
"That's because you're our friend."
Zenitsu nodded aggressively. "YES YOU ARE—EVEN IF YOU'RE A MONSTER—A STRONG MONSTER—BUT A FRIEND."
Jinwoo smirked.
The temple bell rang in the distance.
Training for the night… was not over yet.
But Jinwoo felt lighter than he had in years.
IN MID-NIGHT
Tanjiro sat beside Jinwoo on the temple steps, hugging his knees. Zenitsu lay passed out on the floor nearby, snoring like a dying bird.
For a while, they watched the fireflies drift in the dark.
Tanjiro glanced at Jinwoo… hesitating… then softly asked:
"Jinwoo-san… can I ask you something?"
Jinwoo looked over.
His expression was calm now, but the shadows in his eyes were deep.
Tanjiro continued carefully:
"When Gyomei-san spoke about your sorrow… it felt like you've… been through more than we know.
If… if you're okay with it…
What happened to you?"
Jinwoo didn't answer at first.
He watched the moon, letting its cold glow fill the silence.
Then, slowly—
"…It's complicated."
Tanjiro didn't push. He just listened.
Jinwoo exhaled quietly.
"My world… isn't like yours.
Gates opened. Monsters poured out.
People died every day."
His hands tightened slightly.
"I was weak at first. Too weak to save anyone.
I lost… everything...i was about to die...."
FLASHBACK
Dark environment.
Cold dungeon, surrounded by giant statues.
Empty streets filled with dead bodies.
The scene fades into a younger Jinwoo, weak… bleeding… battling his life in double dungeon.
YOUNG JINWOO (VO):
"I wasn't strong.
I wasn't brave.
I was the kind of hunter others had to protect."
Then—
Blood.
Shadows.
Friends dying one by one.
Tanjiro sees the pain on Jinwoo's face but doesn't interrupt.
OLDER JINWOO (VO):
"And then one day…
I watched people who trusted me die.
Right in front of me."
There is a brief flash of the hellish Red Gate… the Knights… the despair.
Jinwoo opens his eyes slowly.
The flashback fades.
Jinwoo lets out a quiet breath.
JINWOO (softly):
"I survived because something… chose me.
It gave me power.
But power always comes too late."
His hands tighten.
JINWOO:
"Every day after that…
I fought to make sure no one else died the way they did.
No matter what it cost me."
Tanjiro's breath caught.
Jinwoo:
"I kept fighting.
I survived things that should've killed me.
And eventually… I became strong enough to protect others."
He lowered his voice.
"But strength… doesn't erase the memories."
A soft breeze passed between them.
Then...
Tanjiro placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Jinwoo-san…
You're strong not because you endured pain.
You're strong because you kept moving forward after it."
Jinwoo actually smiled — a small, rare smile.
"…Maybe."
Zenitsu rolled over in his sleep.
"sToP tRaInInG mE gYoMeI-sAn—"
Jinwoo and Tanjiro both laughed quietly.
Tanjiro looked up at the moon one more time.
"We're here with you now.
So whatever you carry…
You don't have to carry it alone."
Jinwoo didn't respond with words.
But he nodded once — firm, grateful.
A silent promise between them.
To Be Continued...