Chapter 73: The Hashira Training Begins.
Listen, I actually wrote an apology, and it was literally 500 words long. Because of that, and to save time, I decided not to include the apology and just settle with saying, "Sorry… and this humble author, God willing, will not stop again and will continue this cursed novel for you all."
So yes, I'm back, and I've almost completely finished planning the upcoming events, and I wrote a draft for the novel that exceeds around 89 thousand words. This draft will be turned into chapters with quality far better than the draft itself so you can enjoy the novel.
The release schedule will most likely be one chapter every day, and that's because I discovered that I actually have a life and can't publish three chapters daily with each one being the usual chapter length exceeding 2000 words perhaps.
Sorry again….
Enjoy~~~
In one of the quiet wings of the Butterfly Mansion, where the scent of herbal medicine mixed with the cold morning breeze, Yukihara Ren sat on the clean white bed.
He stared through the open window outside with calm emerald-green eyes, like the surface of a still lake that even the wind dared not disturb.
His appearance had changed drastically; his long messy hair that had distinguished him for a long time had been cut short, with straight strands hanging on both sides of his expressionless face.
He wore loose white patient clothes, and his chest covered with thick bandages was clearly visible, hiding beneath them the traces of a kick that almost tore apart his heart.
Ren sighed silently. What bad luck that he had become so restricted in this world now. Even this severe injury he received from "Ryoga" still had not healed naturally yet.
In reality, Ren could use the "Reverse Cursed Technique" (RCT) that he mastered thanks to sharing consciousness with his counterpart in the Jujutsu world, to accelerate his treatment and heal his shattered ribs in seconds.
But he did not do that. He decided to rest for a while, to let his human body feel pain so he could remember that he was still alive, and calm down a little.
Knock… Knock…
A light sound on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," Ren said in a calm and low voice, carrying none of his usual arrogance.
The door opened slowly, and the Insect Hashira, Kocho Shinobu, entered, followed by hesitant footsteps from her new disciple… and his little sister, Yukihara Eiri.
The moment Ren's eyes fell on the wooden sword Eiri was gripping tightly in her hand, his eyes narrowed slightly in a sharp cold gaze.
Seeing her brother's gaze devoid of any warmth, Eiri showed genuine panic and quickly shrank behind Shinobu's haori.
Her heart beat intensely as she thought, "My brother has changed a lot lately! I don't know the exact reason… could his personality have changed because of the haircut I forced him into when he returned injured two days ago? Or maybe because of accompanying those idiot disciples? Or… or maybe that powerful headbutt he received from the hard-foreheaded Kamado Tanjiro damaged his brain cells?! I really don't know… he's become terrifyingly quiet!"
Shinobu looked at the Sun Hashira. This boy who constantly shined with an annoying smile and excessive confidence now looked like a black hole swallowing the light from the room.
She felt as if she was standing before a completely different person, but as usual she hid her tension with a smile and sighed.
"Ara ara, Yukihara-san," Shinobu said in a lightly sarcastic tone, "you should try not to scare everyone with those looks of yours, including your cute little sister who came to check on you."
Hearing Shinobu's words, Ren turned and looked out the window again without any real interest. He did not respond with a sarcastic remark like he usually did.
The "original Ren" had become far weaker than before after the system update, or at least that was how he felt. Even his sister's foolishness and burning desire to become a Demon Slayer to stand beside him had become a completely unacceptable idea in his mind currently. He did not want anyone to get hurt because of him.
The entire equation had changed. Nezuko had become human now thanks to Tamayo's medicine and his interventions, which meant Muzan's original plan had been destroyed. The Demon King's only primary goal now was one thing: destroy Yukihara Ren and eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps from its roots. Ren carried an enormous responsibility on his shoulders; he was the final shield.
Of course, things were not completely grim. Ren had already healed the Corps leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, using the system's abilities.
And now, this leader who possessed one of the most terrifyingly tactical and brilliant minds in the world was managing the Corps' movements in perfect health. But Ren still burdened himself with thoughts… especially after the appearance of that destructive unknown factor… Ryoga.
The Upper Moon Six had become this powerful? Then what about Muzan himself in this timeline?
The moment he remembered the demon's glowing green eyes and mysterious smile while bidding him farewell with a meteor-like kick, a deep dark frown appeared on Ren's face.
To Shinobu, who was pretending to chat with Eiri while approaching to change the bandages on his chest, that expression was terrifying. Her hands stopped for a moment. For the first time, she saw this face on Ren.
"A completely different personality… as if he isn't the 'Ren' I know," Shinobu thought with hidden fear before continuing her work in professional silence.
After finishing changing the bandages, Shinobu stood up and left the room, leaving the siblings alone, allowing another person to enter.
Yukihara Yumi, Ren's mother, entered. Her usual gentle smile decorated her face, but upon seeing her son's condition and his pale frowning face, she sighed in slight annoyance and placed her hands on her waist.
"Seriously, Ren?" Yumi said in a lovingly reproachful tone. "You should at least smile a little… especially on your birthday."
Ren's eyes widened, and his dark aura disappeared instantly. "My birthday?"
He had been so busy that he completely forgot how time passed in this world. He blinked several times, then immediately stood up from the bed, pushing the blanket aside.
"Where are you going in your condition?" Yumi and Eiri asked at the same time.
"To eat," Ren answered with deadly simplicity while rubbing his stomach.
Eiri immediately mocked him, placing a hand over her mouth to hide her laughter. "Hah? Is your birthday gift to yourself just a huge meal to compensate for the lack of blood in your brain?"
"Shut up, you dwarf," Ren muttered while walking past her.
Yumi sighed and pulled out something small from her kimono pocket. It was a bright emerald-green earring, exactly resembling the color of his eyes.
"Ren, stop where you are and kneel," Yumi said in a tone that accepted no argument.
Ren looked at the earring, then at his mother, and the corner of his mouth rose into a familiar old arrogant smile. "My dear mother, the world's hero, the Sun Hashira, and the conqueror of Upper Moons, has not yet been born who can make him kneel on one kne—"
He did not finish his sentence. Yumi looked at him with terrifying narrowed eyes, an aura of angry motherhood sweeping through the room, an aura that might make even Muzan himself apologize.
Smack!
Ren instantly knelt on both knees with a straight back and rapidly blinking eyes, obedient like a little puppy.
"Why are mothers so terrifying as hell?!"
Eiri and Yumi burst into pure laughter, and Eiri stepped forward to place the earring in his left ear with a wide smile.
"What is wrong with people in these worlds?" Ren thought internally with boredom while looking at his reflection in the window glass. "First Gojo-sensei gifts me a cursed necklace weighing a ton, and now an earring? Do I look like a Christmas tree that needs decorating?"
The family sat together for a while and talked about ordinary matters far away from demons and death. For a moment, in that room, amidst his sister's laughter and his mother's gentle scolding, Ren felt that the "void" in his chest had filled slightly.
These were the things he fought to protect, and this was the reason he refused to abandon his humanity.
…
The next day… early morning.
In the wide dirt courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion, the scene looked more like an execution ground than training.
There were six people standing while breathing heavily, their bare chests shining with sweat, and their bodies covered in blue and purple bruises: Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Hakuji, Sakurai, and Zenichiro.
And in the middle stood one boy. Short black hair swayed with the morning breeze, calm emerald-green eyes, a shining earring, wearing a loose black kimono, standing completely relaxed while holding a wooden sword lazily resting on his shoulder.
Yes, this was the Sun Hashira, Yukihara Ren. But to the six standing before him, he was not a Hashira… he was a demon incarnated in human form.
The goal of this hellish training was very simple: "land one direct hit on Ren." But from their miserable condition, it was obvious they had failed miserably.
"Finished?" Ren said in a low voice, yawning in boredom. "Half an hour has passed, and I haven't moved from a circle with a one-meter radius."
"You… monster!" Zenichiro shouted while holding his knee in pain.
"Tanjiro," Ren turned a cold gaze toward the scarred boy, "your attacks are perfect in terms of fundamentals, but you reek of hesitation. You attack as if you are apologizing in advance for hitting me. On a real battlefield, your neck would fly off before you finished your apology."
Tanjiro swallowed his saliva and bowed respectfully. "Y-Yes, Ren-senpai!"
"Inosuke," Ren pointed his sword toward the boar-mask wearer who was blowing steam from his nose. "Blind charging is not a fighting style, it's a suicide agreement. If you keep attacking with your face exposed like this, I'll use it as a floor mop."
"I'll tear you into pieces, girly-face bastard!" Inosuke shouted, preparing to attack again, but a light strike from Ren's sword to his forehead knocked him to the ground.
"You talk as if you possess the manliest face in the world… idiot."
"Hakuji," Ren looked toward the former demon who had regained his humanity and was biting his lips in frustration.
"You rely too excessively on human martial arts styles now. Martial arts are a tool, not a restriction. Use the instincts you honed for centuries, otherwise you won't even touch the edge of my kimono."
"Centuries?" Tanjiro asked strangely. Hakuji looked like just an ordinary young man in his twenties perhaps, but Ren said he had lived hundreds of years?
"I understand… Ren-sama," Hakuji said with eyes burning with determination.
On the wooden balcony overlooking the courtyard, Eiri sat beside Kamado Nezuko (who had fully regained her humanity and was watching her brother with concern).
"Do… do you think he'll kill them?" Eiri whispered while swallowing nervously in fear as she watched Ren send Sakurai flying with one kick without even looking at him.
"I don't know… Ren-san looks really scary today," Nezuko replied while clasping her hands worriedly over her brother.
During the short break Ren graciously allowed them, a girl in a Demon Slayer uniform approached, her arm hanging in a medical sling, and extreme shyness visible on her face.
She stood before Ren and bowed deeply, her trembling hands holding her sword sheath. "Y-Yukihara-sama! I'm a huge fan of yours! C-Could you sign my sword sheath please?!"
Normally, Ren would have given her a narcissistic smile, flipped his hair with his hand, and told everyone how amazing he was.
But today, he quietly took the pen, signed his name elegantly, and returned the sheath with a slight nod without saying a single word, then turned back toward the training.
This cold behavior increased his mysterious attractiveness in the girl's eyes to the point she nearly fainted, but it ignited a volcano somewhere else!
"Whyyyyyyyyyyy?!"
A thunderous scream tore through the sky. Zenitsu was tearing at his blond hair with both hands while tears poured like waterfalls from his eyes.
"Why is it always you?! Why are beautiful girls, nurses, and even injured Demon Slayers attracted to you while you stand there like a silent statue?! I'm the one who should get attention! I'm the one who risked my life many times! Hey girl, did you see me using Thunder Breathing?! I'm faster than him! I…"
"Zenitsu, your voice hurts my ears," Ren said coldly.
"I'll show you who's annoying!" Zenitsu flared with anger and jealousy, taking an iaijutsu stance while yellow lightning charges gathered around his body. "Thunder Breathing… First Form…!"
Zenitsu launched at incredible speed, leaving destruction behind him in the dirt ground. He was genuinely furious.
"Are you an idiot? Do you think you're some shonen anime protagonist whose power increases when he gets angry or jealous?" Ren mocked internally and sighed.
Before Zenitsu's wooden blade reached Ren by millimeters, Ren lazily raised his leg, and with a swift movement delivered a simple side kick to Zenitsu's stomach at the exact perfect timing to break his momentum.
Boom!
Zenitsu flew through the air and crashed into a nearby tree, falling face-first.
Ren sighed. He did not want to hurt Zenitsu harshly, especially since he knew the change that had happened to the boy recently.
Thanks to Ren, Zenitsu learned that his fellow disciple "Kaigaku" had become a demon and joined the Upper Moons. This news made him run like a madman to visit his master (Jigoro) and stop him at the last moment from committing seppuku.
Since that day, Zenitsu had started training with terrifying seriousness and unmatched strictness to kill Kaigaku…
"He possesses great determination now… but unfortunately, he's still an idiot and a failed womanizer in his free time," Ren thought while shaking his head.
"Wahahahahaha! Excellent training! The burning energy of youth!"
That booming voice came accompanied by loud laughter echoing through the place. Everyone turned to find the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojuro, standing atop the Butterfly Mansion wall with his hands on his waist, his usual wide smile shining on his face.
"Rengoku-san!" Tanjiro shouted happily.
Rengoku lightly jumped down and landed before Ren, then turned to address everyone in a voice audible to people in the neighboring village: "Listen carefully, young ones! By Oyakata-sama's orders, the 'Hashira Training' will officially begin! This training will serve as purification and improvement for the entire Corps in preparation for the final war!"
Everyone swallowed nervously.
Rengoku continued while pointing at himself: "I will be the first stage! My duty is to ignite your wills, train you on harsh fundamentals, and only pass talented people and those who possess sincere determination to train seriously! The weak and the hesitant-hearted will fall in my field!"
Then Rengoku turned toward Ren and struck his shoulder with enough force to nearly break what remained of his ribs. "As for Yukihara-san here, his duty is greater! He has officially been assigned to train the 'Hashira' themselves! Alongside continuing his regular patrols as the Sun Hashira!"
Absolute silence filled the courtyard. Everyone stared at Ren in shock. Training the Hashira? The terrifying Hashira would train under this boy?
Hakuji broke the silence while wiping sweat from his forehead and mocking with a tired smile: "Training us, training the Hashira, and doing daily patrols? Do you think he's a multi-armed monster? Or do you think he can split himself into two to perform all these tasks? Do you want him to work 48 hours a day?"
Ren looked at Hakuji, and inside him, beneath the mask of absolute calm, the corner of his lips rose into a hidden devilish smile no one noticed.
"Can I split myself into two?" Ren thought, his mind connecting for a moment with 'Ron' sitting in a dark place, and with 'Rai' playing with cursed energy in another world.
"Hakuji… you don't know even half the truth."
Ren raised his wooden sword and pointed it at the six standing before him, and the cold look returned to his eyes. "Break time is over. Attack together this time… I'll show you why I don't need 48 hours."
—
Yes, I'll continue playing with you all and you won't see Rai anytime soon, and yes you won't see Jujutsu Kaisen events anytime soon… nihahaha.
Okay sorry, I'm trying to finish the events here and then move to the next arc so you don't get lost.
I only hope this chapter gets one or two comments even though I know that's difficult since the novel was stopped for a while.