Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

The person speaking to them was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his early forties.

He sat between two burly, bearded farmers, his thin frame draped in a dark brown suit, making him look somewhat out of place.

The man wore round-framed glasses and had a mustache. His gaze was gentle: "I apologize for interrupting your conversation."

He sat much more upright than the two burly men beside him, his hands somewhat awkwardly clasped on his knees, a thick, hard-covered medical book resting beneath them, striving to maintain decorum in the crowded environment.

"I was sitting here and overheard you two talking about nightmares, and I noticed this young man seemed a bit uneasy..."

"As a doctor, I might have some occupational hazard; seeing someone suffering from illness makes me want to ask a few more questions..."

Asuka gave him a deep look, looking at the stranger who had suddenly struck up a conversation with some wariness.

"Really? You're a doctor?" Shinobu Kocho's reaction was different, her voice filled with respect.

She also comes from a family of pharmacists and has a natural affinity for medical staff.

The other person nodded slightly and carefully took out a simple leather ID holder from the inner pocket.

This action caused him to bump into the burly man next to him, making him somewhat embarrassed and repeatedly apologizing. He then unfolded his ID card holder to show Shinobu Kocho:

"Excuse me, I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Fujino Genkuro, a rural doctor."

"Judging from your attire and demeanor... are you a young couple traveling together?"

Upon hearing this, Asuka didn't react much, but Shinobu Kocho was taken aback. A blush crept onto her gentle smile, and even Kanao, standing to the side, cast a curious glance at her without making a sound.

Shinobu Kocho waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, you misunderstood. We...we're colleagues and friends, no..."

Dr. Fujino realized he might have said something wrong, and after awkwardly putting away his documents, he looked at Asuka and said, "I was being presumptuous. By the way, young man, may I ask about your condition?"

"Hmm." Asuka glanced at Shinobu Kocho, then nodded.

"Are your nightmares accompanied by palpitations, night sweats, or extreme fatigue? Did you experience any gastrointestinal discomfort, fever, or anything else before going to sleep?"

He asked very detailed questions, mostly from the perspective of Western clinical medicine. Even Shinobu Kocho felt that she had learned something new and quickly wrote it down in her little notebook.

"...Hmm, I think I understand. I suggest that in addition to traditional Chinese medicine, it would be best to have a check-up at a well-equipped modern hospital."

“You can try drinking some chamomile tea before bed during this time; it has a calming effect.” He beckoned to Mu Mu and wrote a prescription that looked like scribbles on a piece of sticky paper: “When you get to big cities like Tokyo, you can go to a pharmacy and show them my prescription; it will be helpful to you.”

"Thank you so much." Shinobu Kocho took the prescription and smiled. "I'll make sure he's careful. By the way, are you also going to Shinetsu?"

Dr. Fujino gently put away the paper and pen: "That's good. This time, I took advantage of my rare free time to visit relatives in Nagano Prefecture."

“I’ve been making a living in Sendai and Tokyo for a long time and haven’t been to Shinetsu region much. I’ve heard that the snow scenery there is beautiful, so I thought I’d stay for a while and see the local customs and culture.”

His tone carried a sense of tranquility and longing for nature, even though he was still trapped between two burly men and unable to move.

"That's really fate. We were also planning to go to Mount Miaogao there."

"Mount Myoko? That's a great choice! They say it's 'Little Fuji,' and it's also associated with the legend of the Snow Woman. It's definitely worth a visit!"

The two chatted about everyday things, and the originally boring bus ride passed by quickly.

Having started talking, Shinobu leaned forward slightly, subtly guiding the conversation with a tone as if sharing a secret:

"Mr. Fujino, since your relatives are there, I wonder if you have heard of a sect called the 'Eternal Bliss Cult'? I've heard it's quite popular."

"The Eternal Bliss Cult?!"

The gentle smile on Fujino Genkuro's face vanished instantly, as if he had been stabbed hard by something.

His brows furrowed tightly, the corners of his mouth turned down, and his originally gentle gaze suddenly became unusually complex.

His eyes held a mixture of obvious disgust and deep worry.

Chapter 73 The Three People on a Field Trip

Fujino Genkuro subconsciously adjusted his glasses, his elbow bumping into the burly man snoring beside him.

The other person looked at him with dissatisfaction, but found that the thin middle-aged man's gaze was somewhat unfriendly, so he didn't want to cause trouble, muttered something irritatingly, and turned away.

"Why are you asking about this?" he asked, somewhat puzzled.

This unusual reaction naturally did not escape the attention of the three. Shinobu Kocho felt that she might have grasped some clue and quickly asked, "Mr. Fujino seems to... have a rather bad impression of this sect?"

"It's not just bad, it's downright misleading!"

"I myself have never had any contact with their monks, but I have gleaned some information from letters from my family:"

"These people spend all day preaching fallacies like 'Living is for enjoyment, so don't do anything that's difficult,' and 'Don't take on arduous and painful responsibilities and obligations; live happily with a tranquil heart.'..."

"If it were just about promoting this doctrine of self-abandonment and sloth, that would be one thing, but its true purpose is probably to attract naive young people and those who are desperate to escape reality, so that they will follow in the footsteps of the leader and pursue eternal life after death!"

As a scholar, he despised these tricks that were pretentious and deceptive.

As a doctor, I deeply abhor the idea of ​​immortality and rebirth in paradise.

Fujino's words echoed through the swaying train. Even though his voice wasn't loud, it still attracted some curious glances from those nearby, which made him feel a little embarrassed and he calmed himself down.

He frowned, his disgust undisguised: "Whether they're after money or murder, these people are not on the right path! I advise you two to stay far away from such people!"

Seeing his appearance, the three Demon Slayer Corps members realized one thing.

The Eternal Bliss Religion must have problems.

Shinobu Kocho smiled apologetically and said in a low voice, "Mr. Fujino, you misunderstand. We're not trying to join that sect; we're just doing some research!"

"A field trip?" The doubt in Fujino's eyes had not dissipated.

"That's right. Actually, we are reporters from a tabloid under the Ubuyashiki Company. We are doing some fieldwork on local folk beliefs and just want to collect some different voices."

Her explanation was so natural, as if she were a real female journalist.

Then look at the innocent girl beside her who remained silent the whole time, and this cold, aloof young man who claimed to be having nightmares.

He certainly didn't seem like the kind of decadent person who escapes reality and pursues nothingness... Fujino Genkuro's gaze softened a bit.

He pushed up his glasses, his previously stern gaze softening, even showing a hint of 'I see' understanding: "I see... I'm sorry, I lost my temper..."

"If it's just an investigation and visit, that's fine, but that place is ultimately a mess, so it's best not to get too involved."

"And even if you wanted to conduct research, it would actually be quite difficult."

"What do you mean by that?"

When Asuka asked, Fujino explained, "Although the Eternal Bliss Cult has always peddled their negative doctrines, they rarely actually develop a core group of followers. At most, they accept offerings and consultations from some residents..."

“My family members are like that. They don’t actually completely believe in this sect. But you know how it is with older people, they’ll believe in a little bit of everything… We occasionally entertain these monks from the Blissful Religion.”

“They will appear in the town when they need it, but otherwise no one knows where their temples are. Even if you want to go and explore, there’s nowhere to go.”

“Since you’re doing this kind of investigation, why don’t you come back to my hometown with me? The elders in my family have lived here for decades and might be able to provide some more concrete information. It’s better than you wandering around like headless flies.”

This suggestion is exactly what I wanted.

Asuka and Shinobu exchanged a glance, and the Insect Pillar, with her superb acting skills, subtly flashed a look of gratitude in her eyes: "Really? That's a huge help! Thank you so much, Mr. Fujino!"

Kanao's gaze lingered on the four trees and the sound of the wind, before finally settling back on the rapidly receding mountains and forests outside the car window, now tinged with the rich colors of autumn.

The twilight of late autumn arrives exceptionally early.

As the train pulled into Nagano Station with a metallic scraping sound, a heavy, gray cloud blanketed the sky, obscuring the light.

As the flow of people disembarking surged toward the exit, Shinobu Butterfly subtly lagged behind a few steps by adjusting her clothes.

A black raven, like a ghost, silently landed on her raised forearm.

She quickly relayed all the information she needed to the other party, including the clues about the Eternal Bliss Cult that Fujino had mentioned, and that her group was about to change their route and head to the countryside in Nagano Prefecture.

“Mr. Tomioka should be waiting at the meeting point at Niigata Station. Tell him to come to Nagano Station so we can travel together!”

"Gah—!!"

The raven's dark eyes flashed in the twilight, its wings flapped silently, and it was instantly swallowed by the vast darkness.

Asuka's gaze followed the disappearing black dot until Fujino's voice urged her from ahead, bringing her back to her senses.

"Gentlemen, this way."

Fujino Genkuro's relatives lived in the countryside, and he had to take a horse-drawn carriage along the winding mountain road for a while, which was a rare opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the mountains and fields.

At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the mountainside, illuminating vast expanses of bright red maple forests, inspiring Fujino Genkuro to write poetry:

"The setting sun shines on the deep valley, red leaves drift and play in the stream, and the sound of pine cones falling fills the air."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Shinobu Kocho and the other two, anticipating the final touch.

Birds devoid of artistic inspiration are lost in confusion, while Shinobu Kocho ponders the poetic realm, carefully considering the words and phrases.

Kanao, who had remained silent until now, gazed at the lone goose on the distant mountain and spoke softly:

"Birds Return to the Mountain..."

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Fujino Genkuro paused for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed, "I didn't expect this little girl to be fluent in haiku?"

Kanao smiled but did not answer, which made her seem even more like a literary girl.

The carriage finally stopped at a fork in the road; the narrow dirt road ahead was no longer wide enough for the carriage to pass.

After paying the driver, Fujino Genkuro pointed to the path formed by tall beech and maple trees: "We're here. It's not far ahead, just a few minutes away."

The path winds its way uphill, disappearing into the denser shadows of the mountain forest.

The three followed Fujino onto the path, where thick layers of humus and fallen leaves lay beneath their feet, soft and silent.

The bird suddenly felt a chill creeping over it.

It wasn't because the mountain wind was cold in late autumn, but because he sensed a slight discomfort through his spiritual pressure.

"Watch out, something's wrong."

He didn't say anything, but patted Shinobu Kocho's hand and gave her a wink.

His fingertips were already resting on the hilt of the knife at his waist.

After walking for a while, Fujino pointed to the outline of a dark wood roof that was faintly visible through the trees ahead:

"Look, there it is. It's an old house, a bit out of the way, but it's still quite quiet."

The instant his words fell—

A chilling aura, enough to set off alarm bells for birds, swept over us.

Asuka drew her sword, and the blade of the Nichirin Blade gleamed with a deep green light.

"Prepare for battle! There's a ghost!"

Chapter 74 Acting as a lackey for a tiger

The spiritual pressure sensed instantly enveloped the entire mansion, and Asuka felt a shiver run through her soul.

The ghostly aura was incredibly strong, almost as powerful as the Upper Moon demon from that day!

Asuka's eyes instantly sharpened as she swept them toward Fujino Genkuro, who was leading the way.

Is this man, who claims to be a doctor and actively provides clues, really alright?

“Mr. Fujino.” His voice was low and menacing as he spoke to Fujino, the dark green blade of his sword beginning to gleam with an eerie light: “Are the people inside truly your relatives?”

Fujino Genkuro, who was rambling on about his relatives' situation, was startled by Asuka's cold tone and sudden action, and the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat.

To his horror, he discovered that the two female companions beside the man had also drawn samurai swords gleaming with a cold light from their personal bags, which made him feel that something was wrong!

"You! What are you doing!" He looked at the gentle female reporter, Shinobu Kocho, whose smile was so unfathomable that it sent chills down his spine. "Why...why are you carrying knives? Who are you people? Ronin? Bandits?"

Dr. Fujino appeared both excited and confused, instinctively spreading his arms to protect the large house with its tightly closed doors behind him.

The situation was urgent, and Asuka had no time to explain, let alone reassure a suspicious outsider.

"Kanao! Keep an eye on him!"

Kanao responded immediately, her movements as swift as the wind. In a flash, she was right next to Fujino, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Fujino panicked and tried to break free, but the little girl's strength was far greater than he had imagined, rendering this adult man completely immobile! He could only watch in utter astonishment as the bird rapidly approached the mansion!

He tried to shout a warning, but Kanao gagged him with a handkerchief, and he could only make muffled sobs.

As Kanao made her move to control Fujino Genkuro, Asuka had already rushed to the wooden door.

Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his foot and kicked hard!

Bang--!!

The bolt snapped open with his immense force! The wooden door swung open, kicking up a cloud of dust!

Several people were sitting cross-legged on prayer mats in the courtyard.