CHAPTER 283: CHAPTER 34: I WANT TO EAT MEAT!

That day.

In the training field.

Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were in the middle of their physical rehabilitation training. Their injuries were gradually healing, but no matter how hard they tried, none of the three could manage to land a hit on the nimble and swift Kanao.

As for their practice in Total Concentration Breathing, Tanjiro—who already had the basics down—was the first to succeed in bursting the giant gourd.

When Zenitsu and Inosuke saw the petite, delicate Kanao effortlessly blow up that massive gourd, they stood there, stunned and speechless.

They were absolutely crushed.

Heads hanging low, the two slumped back toward the infirmary.

When Tanjiro heard they had bailed on training, he panicked and rushed after them.

"Hey! You two—what happened?!"

The moment they turned to face him, their whole demeanor screamed "defeated."

"We really are just hopeless losers," Zenitsu mumbled, despair written all over his face.

Tanjiro blinked, anxious. "What are you talking about? What’s wrong with you guys?!"

"I’m just... the worst when it comes to hard work," Zenitsu said, dragging his feet.

Inosuke chimed in sullenly, "Doing something steadily and tirelessly... that’s the hardest thing in the world."

Tanjiro couldn’t quite understand.

To him, giving it your all, pouring your heart into something—even if it might cost your life—was the most natural thing in the world.

"It’s fine, Tanjiro," Zenitsu said dejectedly. "Just leave us be and go back to training."

Hanging his head low, Zenitsu turned to walk away.

Inosuke followed suit, trudging along behind him.

"Zenitsu... Inosuke..." Tanjiro called after them, wanting to stop them, but seeing the way they looked—so utterly defeated—he couldn’t figure out what to say, or even what he should do.

"Hahaha!"

At that moment, a hearty laugh rang out from nearby.

"You’re thinking about giving up after just this much?"

The three of them looked up in surprise.

A striking young man dressed in black was perched casually on a tree branch.. With his piercing blue eyes and a playful smile, he gazed down at them.

"You’ll never become strong swordsmen like this, you know."

Inosuke, still wearing his wild boar mask, looked up and growled, "Who the heck... are you?"

But before he could finish—

Tanjiro’s voice rang out in happy surprise.

"Mr. Ron!!"

"Ron...?" Zenitsu blinked, puzzled. "Who’s that?"

It was the first time he’d ever heard that name.

Ron, sitting lazily atop the tree branch, gave Tanjiro a small smile before taking another sip of his wine. He looked back at the group and said, "I saw the training just now. The two of you look so down because you’ve lost faith in yourselves, right? Even with Tanjiro trying to guide you seriously, there’s been no sign of progress. Seeing how far he’s come only makes you feel more like dead weight, doesn’t it?"

"...Is that true?" Tanjiro turned to them, eyes wide with surprise.

Zenitsu and Inosuke both kept their heads down, silent.

"Total Concentration Breathing," Ron continued, "isn’t some impossible technique. As long as you train hard enough, you can learn it. I’ve been watching you two, and I noticed something important. There’s actually a clear reason why you’re both struggling so much."

Hearing that, both Zenitsu and Inosuke perked up slightly.

"A reason...?" they echoed in unison.

Tanjiro looked up with urgency in his eyes. "Mr. Ron, you know something?"

Ron took another sip and let out a small sigh. Then, with a somewhat exasperated smile, he looked at Tanjiro and said—

"It’s because your teaching is terrible, Tanjiro."

"...Eh?"

Tanjiro froze for a second—then completely turned to stone on the spot.

In a flash, Ron disappeared.

"He vanished?!" Zenitsu nearly jumped out of his skin.

And then, a hand landed on his shoulder—nearly scaring the soul right out of him.

"AAAAHHH!"

He screamed, leaping backward and landing flat on his rear. He stared up at the man in black with a face full of pure terror.

"Wh-When did you get there...?"

Even Inosuke, who was never easily impressed, was stunned as he stared at the man now standing right in front of them. From the tree, Ron hadn’t seemed all that remarkable. But now that he was up close, Inosuke finally realized—this guy was huge.

He didn’t even come up to the man’s shoulder.

Ron gave the three a friendly smile. "Come on. I’ll give you some proper guidance."

...

They followed Ron to a small courtyard near the Butterfly Estate.

And the moment they arrived—

An incredible smell hit them.

"Something smells... amazing..." Tanjiro murmured, eyes fluttering closed as he inhaled deeply. His face was pure bliss.

"I’ve never smelled grilled meat this good in my life," Zenitsu whispered, mouth already starting to water.

Inosuke was gulping down drool like a waterfall.

When they pushed open the gate—

They stepped into the courtyard behind Ron, and the rich, smoky aroma of grilled meat hit them like a tidal wave.

Their eyes immediately locked on the large grilling rack set up in the middle of the yard, where a giant slab of meat was roasting to golden perfection, juices sizzling and glistening in the firelight.

The three stared, jaws slack, saliva dripping, and stomachs growling loud enough to echo.

"Th-That meat is huge!!" Tanjiro exclaimed.

"I can’t take it anymore!!" Inosuke roared.

He lunged toward the meat like a wild animal—but mid-air, a hand casually grabbed the back of his neck and slammed him straight into the ground.

Tanjiro and Zenitsu both yelped, startled, and squinted toward the attacker.

"It’s Kanao!"

With a smile on her face, Kanao had one hand clamped firmly on Inosuke’s neck, holding him to the ground like it was nothing. Inosuke, boar mask and all, thrashed wildly—but couldn’t break free.

Meanwhile, Ron had settled in front of the grill and picked up a small knife. He carved off a perfectly roasted slice—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—and popped it into his mouth.

The three could only stare, mouths hanging open, their expressions dripping with hunger, envy, and despair.

Ron, knife still in hand, turned toward them with a grin.

"Want some meat?"

All three nodded in perfect unison.

"You can—but only after you finish your training."

Zenitsu’s eyes turned bloodshot, steam puffing from his nostrils like an angry bull.

"If training is the price for meat—THEN BRING IT ON!! I WANT TO EAT MEAT!!"