CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 35: TRAINING BEGINS – DAILY LIFE IN THE DEMON SLAYER CORPS

And so, the training of the three began.

"Zenitsu and Inosuke—run around the wall. A hundred laps."

"Tanjiro, Kanao—you two will spar with wooden swords."

Lured by the tantalizing aroma of grilled meat, Zenitsu and Inosuke didn’t need to be told twice. Their eyes blazing red with motivation, they bolted off around the courtyard like their lives depended on it.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro, who had achieved the state of Total Concentration Breathing: Constant, faced off against Kanao, whose swordsmanship had only grown sharper.

After more than twenty exchanged blows, Kanao forced him back with a single, clean strike.

Tanjiro fell back and landed on his butt, blinking in surprise at the girl smiling gently on the other side.

She’s strong!

Stronger than the last time they’d crossed blades—by a lot!

With a light step, Kanao dashed forward at an incredible speed, her petite figure cutting through the air like a petal on the wind.

Tanjiro rolled to the side, narrowly dodging, then sprang to his feet, sword at the ready. His expression had turned deadly serious.

So that’s how it is...

It’s not just me who’s getting stronger—she is too.

Boom!

Wooden swords clashed, sending a dull thud echoing across the courtyard.

Tanjiro’s eyes locked in, his focus absolute as he entered full combat mode.

Total Concentration Breathing: Constant!

Water Breathing—Fourth Form: Striking Tide!

He launched a flurry of strikes, surging like an incoming tide. Each swing of his sword flowed into the next, relentless and precise.

Kanao danced like falling sakura petals, weaving between the crashing waves of attacks. She even found moments to counter, pushing Tanjiro’s limits further.

Their duel was fast, intense, and fiercely beautiful.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the yard—

Zenitsu and Inosuke were locked in a furious competition, racing around the wall at full speed, drenched in sweat and chanting as they ran.

"MEATMEATMEATMEATMEAT!!"

"MINE MINE MINE MINE MINE!!"

Sometimes Zenitsu was in the lead, other times Inosuke. The two were neck and neck, neither willing to fall behind.

Ron, having sliced a few more perfect cuts of grilled meat, lounged back under the cherry blossom tree in a reclining chair. A book in one hand, a cup of sake in the other, he would occasionally take a bite of meat, sip his drink, then call out:

"Zenitsu—your breathing rhythm’s too rushed. Slow it down. Focus on gathering strength in your footwork."

"Inosuke—you’re not gonna let Zenitsu beat you, are you? Tighten your core. Breathe out all the air in your lungs."

"Breathing techniques, in simple terms, are about moving your life energy—your blood and breath. Feel the flow within you, and control it with your breathing."

Despite being out of breath, the two instinctively adjusted their breathing just as he instructed. Almost instantly, they noticed a change.

After a moment of sharp pain in their chests, it was as if something had opened up. Their lungs felt bigger, able to hold more air. Their aching, tense muscles loosened up, soothed by the newly circulating blood.

...

By dusk—

The sky was ablaze with hues of crimson.

"Huff... Huff..."

The three of them lay flat on the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

Ron stepped up to them, those deep blue eyes gleaming with amusement as he looked down.

"How do you feel?"

"C-Can’t... even lift a finger..." Zenitsu wheezed, thoroughly spent.

"My chest... feels like it’s on fire..." Inosuke groaned, still wearing his boar mask but barely able to move.

Tanjiro looked a little better than the other two—but his whole body still throbbed with exhaustion.

"Hahaha!"

Ron took a sip of wine, laughing heartily. "Take a break, then get up and eat some meat."

"I... I don’t even have the strength to lift a piece of meat..." Zenitsu murmured, eyes shut, lying flat on the ground. "All I want is to sleep like a baby..."

"Meat... I want meat..." Inosuke, though completely drained, forced himself into a sitting position. His body trembled as he staggered toward the sizzling grilled meat.

"Guess I’ll join too..." Tanjiro’s stomach growled loudly. He wobbled to his feet and followed behind Inosuke.

The two of them immediately launched themselves at the grill, tearing into the meat like starving beasts.

"So good... so good!!"

"This is amazing! I’ve never tasted anything this delicious! It’s a hundred times better than rice balls!!" Tanjiro was so moved by the taste, tears poured down his cheeks as he devoured the meat.

Hearing the frenzied chewing and gnawing sounds, Zenitsu, who was still lying limp like a puddle of mush, couldn’t help but gulp audibly.

"That grilled meat is made from a special cut, you know," Ron commented with a sly smile, glancing over at him. "You don’t get to eat that stuff often. Helps restore stamina and replenish your energy. Are you sure you want to stay lying there? If you wait too long, they’ll have cleaned the grill."

Zenitsu’s eyes snapped open. That was it.

"YOU TWO—LEAVE SOME FOR ME!!"

With a sudden burst of energy, he sprang to his feet and dove for the meat like his life depended on it.

The moment he bit into it, tears instantly welled up and streamed down his face.

"...It’s all worth it. Everything was worth it..."

The three of them sat together, ravenously devouring the meat.

Nearby, Ron casually bent down to pick up a twig. He began playing with it in his fingers, channeling the power of distortion into it. The twig twisted like a spring. Then, as the power dissipated, it straightened back to its original form.

"At this pace," Ron said, still twirling the twig, "you two should be able to master Total Concentration: Constant within three or four more days."

Zenitsu froze mid-bite. "Huh?! We still have to do that kind of training for another three days?! We’re seriously gonna die out here!!"

"Well, if you’re okay with falling way behind Tanjiro," Ron replied casually, "you can forget everything I just said."

"Ugh..."

Zenitsu hesitated, caught between despair and pride.

But Inosuke leapt to his feet and yelled, "AAAAH! Don’t look down on me! Who said I’d lose to Tanjiro?! I’m Inosuke! There’s nothing I can’t beat!!"

Just then—

Clack.

The front gate creaked open.

Tanjiro turned his head and blinked in surprise when he saw the man standing in the doorway.

"Mr. Tomioka?!"

Expressionless as ever, Giyu Tomioka gave him a slight nod before looking over at Ron.

"I’m heading out on a mission tomorrow. Are you free tonight?"

Ron’s eyes immediately caught the two large sake flasks in Giyu’s hand. He chuckled, recalling the events of the previous night.

"You’re here to share a drink?"

"Yeah. A thank-you for yesterday."

"Haha! More like trying to save face. Fine, let’s drink."

Ron grinned and walked over.

As the two were about to leave the courtyard together, Ron glanced back at the three exhausted youths. "If you want to keep coming, be here tomorrow at 8 a.m. sharp."

With that, he turned and left alongside Giyu.

The trio was left stunned, watching them disappear through the gate.

Tanjiro’s eyes widened slightly. "Ron and Mr. Tomioka know each other? I had no idea..."

"Was—was that the Water Hashira just now?" Zenitsu’s jaw practically hit the floor. "I can’t believe he’s so chummy with the guy known for being cold and emotionless..."

He turned to Tanjiro with a bewildered look. "Tanjiro, who is that guy exactly? Come to think of it... he’s not even wearing the Demon Slayer uniform. Is he really part of the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Tanjiro scratched his cheek sheepishly. "I’m... not entirely sure either. But I don’t think Ron is actually part of the Corps. All I know is that he knows a lot of stuff, he’s incredibly kind, and he’s seriously strong. Even Shinobu Kocho—the Insect Hashira—seems to be learning swordsmanship from him."

"...Even Shinobu Kocho is learning from him?"

Zenitsu’s eyes widened like saucers.

Just... how strong is that guy?

...

Over on Ron’s side—

Just like the night before, Giyu Tomioka ended up puking his guts out after trying to keep up with Ron in a drinking match.

"H-Hic... next time... I won’t lose... hurkk..."

Ron patted him on the back, looking slightly speechless.

I was just joking... You actually took drinking as part of your swordsmanship training?

Honestly, Giyu was even more of a natural airhead than Ron had imagined.

After handing him over to a nearby Kakushi member—

Ron strolled leisurely under the moonlight, heading back to his small courtyard with ease.

Shinobu Kocho was already waiting there.

After a round of sword sparring—

The two sat side by side on the rooftop, gazing up at the endless sea of stars above.

When Ron casually mentioned the past two nights of drinking with Giyu, Shinobu blinked in surprise, then let out a soft giggle, covering her mouth.

"So even Giyu has that kind of side to him, huh?"

"He’s... unexpectedly funny."

Ron chuckled and took a sip from his bottomless flask.

Shinobu glanced at his handsome side profile, then at the flask in his hand. "Um... mind if I have a sip too?"

Ron looked at her for a second, then passed the endless flask over.

"Thanks," she said politely, taking the flask. Her cherry-pink lips touched the mouth of the vessel as she took a delicate sip.

The cool, fragrant liquid slid down her throat, a warm intensity blossoming in her chest. The aroma lingered, filling her mouth with subtle sweetness.

Shinobu’s eyes shimmered slightly. "It’s... delicious..."

"Told you," Ron replied with a smile, his gaze drifting to her misty violet eyes. "Want another sip?"

Without hesitation, Shinobu took another.

But as soon as that second mouthful went down, a rosy flush spread across her cheeks, and the mist in her eyes gathered into visible droplets.

Ron raised an eyebrow in surprise.

One sip was fine, but two and you’re already tipsy?

Then he remembered.

People with weak vitality shouldn’t drink too much from the endless flask. The liquor inside was infused with spiritual energy—it could stir the blood. For those with poor circulation or depleted energy, it could bring on intoxication even faster.

Seeing that she looked like she was about to go for a third sip, Ron quickly reached out to stop her.

"That’s enough for now. One more and you’ll be painting rainbows like Giyu tonight..."

Shinobu swayed a little, clearly dizzy.

"You—"

Ron started to say something, but her head gently came to rest on his shoulder—she had already fallen asleep.

"...Nee-san..."

She murmured faintly. A single clear teardrop slid from the corner of her eye, glistening like a pearl under the moonlight.

Ron took another sip of wine.

And said nothing for the rest of the night.

...

The next morning.

Tanjiro and the others arrived at the gate of the courtyard.

And thus began several grueling days of training under Ron’s hellish regime. The three of them felt like they were on the brink of death daily—but the results were undeniable.

By the fourth day—

Zenitsu and Inosuke both managed to enter the state of Total Concentration – Constant.

And for the first time, Shinobu was able to truly experience the Transparent World—her foot now halfway through the door to that mysterious realm.

On the fifth day—

Ron began to teach Tanjiro the Sun Breathing style.

At present, Tanjiro only knew the twelve forms of the Hinokami Kagura, unaware that the elusive thirteenth form was actually the first form repeated—making the thirteen forms of Sun Breathing a seamless cycle.

Ron didn’t bother to explain that just yet.

He simply had Tanjiro begin refining the first form of the Hinokami Kagura again and again.

On the third day of this focused practice—

Tanjiro’s new Nichirin blade finally arrived.

And along with it came a mission order—

"Reports indicate the presence of demons aboard the Infinity Train. Tanjiro Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, and Zenitsu Agatsuma are to investigate and eliminate any threats."

Once the three finished preparing and arrived at the Infinity Train platform—

An unexpected figure stood waiting for them.

The three gasped in unison. "Ron?! What are you doing here?!"

Ron smiled at them. "Life at HQ was getting boring. Thought I’d tag along for a bit. Don’t worry—I won’t interfere unless things go seriously wrong."