Crossover: The Problematic Deity of Arcadia

— — — — — — 

When Ryo Yagami finished speaking, Shinobu Kocho—who had been quietly listening from the side—couldn't help but nod approvingly.

"Exactly. That's how it should be. In a battle for survival, it only ends when one side is completely wiped out!"

She clearly agreed with Ryo's perspective.

How could man-eating demons possibly coexist peacefully with humans?

Do humans coexist peacefully with chickens, cows, or fish? Of course not. When you're hungry, you eat. That's just the natural order of things.

So from the start, peaceful coexistence was never an option. This battle could only end when one side ceased to exist.

The reason her older sister thought otherwise… was simply because she was too kind. Too gentle. She didn't want to hurt anyone.

Hearing her sister's firm agreement, Kanae Kocho gave a wry smile. "Is that so?"

Most members of the Demon Slayer Corps shared Ryo's outlook. Over the years, Kanae had gotten used to it.

Ryo, meanwhile, remained calm as he spoke.

"Don't be too disheartened. Every world has its own circumstances. In this world, demons and humans can't live together. But in other worlds? There are countless places where they coexist."

"Other… worlds?" Kanae blinked, stunned.

She looked at Ryo, then recalled that strange diary, her lips parting slightly in realization.

Shinobu frowned, visibly confused as she studied him. Other worlds? Was he talking about Hell? What exactly was Ryo implying?

Ryo had helped himself to half the tea snacks and casually asked, "These are kind of unique. Did you use some special ingredient?"

"Wisteria," Shinobu replied with a bright smile. "I crushed wisteria flowers, drained them, and mixed them into the flour. That's how you get that flavor."

"Wisteria, huh?" Ryo raised an eyebrow, then gave her a curious look.

"I've heard those flowers are deadly to demons."

"That's right!" Shinobu beamed energetically.

Ryo smirked. "So, were you thinking… if I happened to be a demon, you'd just poison me right then and there?"

"Yup!" Shinobu still wore that chipper, upbeat expression. "There's no need to show mercy to demons."

Then her smile faded slightly as she suddenly bowed deeply. "I do apologize for doing that, though."

Ryo chuckled. "You're apologizing because I turned out to be human, right?"

"Exactly. If it had been a real demon, I'd have doubled the dose."

Shinobu raised her head, smiling gently.

Cold, ruthless, and unflinching—when it came to demons, Shinobu didn't hesitate in the slightest. Ever since her parents were killed by one, she had hardened her heart.

"Shinobu…" Kanae watched her sister with concern.

Her little sister had become more and more extreme lately, and Kanae, as her older sibling, couldn't help but worry.

Then Ryo smiled and asked, "Have you considered the possibility that I might retaliate?"

"Yes," Shinobu said without hesitation, bowing again. "All I ask is that you don't harm my family. Anything else—I'll accept."

After all, poison was poison, no matter how you framed it. Even if wisteria was harmless to humans and had a nice flavor, she'd used it with the clear intention of killing him if he was a demon.

"Anything?" Ryo gave her a strange look. "Including yourself?"

Shinobu flinched, her expression conflicted, but still answered, "Yes."

Just then, Kanae stepped in front of her. "Mr. Ryo… if an apology is what you want, then I'd like to take responsibility on my sister's behalf."

"Oh?" Ryo looked amused. "Well, I don't mind if it's both of you."

"Ehhh?!" x2

Both sisters froze, staring at him like he'd grown a second head.

This insanely powerful man… might also be a bit of a pervert.

Kanae blushed but clenched her fists, forcing herself to speak. "No. Just one!"

"Didn't you just tell me, Sis?" Shinobu interjected, standing up. "Take responsibility for your own mistakes."

"That's not the same thing!"

"It is the same thing!"

Ignoring the sisters' bickering, Ryo had already walked away. He crouched down beside a girl hiding at the corner of the hallway—Kanao Tsuyuri.

"Don't your two big sisters seem kinda dumb?"

Kanao glanced at Ryo, then at her flustered sisters. After a beat, she nodded and said, "Mm-hmm."

Kanae managed to hold it in, but Shinobu exploded in embarrassment.

"Kanao!!"

"Your sister's pretty scary, isn't she?" Ryo said with a grin, ruffling Kanao's hair.

Kanao looked at Shinobu, then back at Ryo, and nodded again. "Mm."

"You little…!" Shinobu was too flustered to even be mad anymore.

This kid only ever says "Mm." What am I even mad about?!

After rubbing Kanao's head for a while, Ryo stood up and casually said, "Alright. Let's put the whole apology thing on hold for now. I'll come collect when I feel like it."

"…You can do that?" Kanae muttered, her expression weirded out.

Meanwhile, Shinobu looked like she was dying of embarrassment.

That phrasing—wasn't he basically telling them to be on standby, ready for anything?

But Ryo ignored their awkward reactions and asked lightly:

"So, what would I need to do if I wanted a Nichirin Blade, learn Breathing Techniques, and… get my hands on a live demon?"

Shinobu immediately perked up and explained:

"Well, if that's the case, just join the Demon Slayer Corps. If you want to do all of that at once, participating in the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane should cover everything."

The Final Selection was a week-long survival test held by the Corps. Trainees had to survive seven days on a mountain full of demons.

Those who passed were officially recruited, and the Corps would craft a custom Nichirin Blade for them.

As for Breathing Techniques—the Demon Slayer Corps had plenty of those on hand.

And as for demons, Mount Fujikasane was crawling with them. Most were weak, but still suitable for study.

That's why she recommended the location—though more importantly, it was also her way of trying to recruit Ryo Yagami into the Demon Slayer Corps.

A man with his power, his kill-or-be-killed attitude toward demons, possibly even stronger than her Pillar-ranked sister… if they could bring someone like that into the Corps, the benefits would be immeasurable.

At the very least, they'd gain a powerful ally with the same goal: to exterminate demons.

"I see." Ryo glanced at her knowingly—he could pretty much guess what she was thinking.

"When does the next Final Selection start?"

Kanae looked over at her sister, then gave a slight shake of her head. "Afraid you'll have to wait for the next one. This batch already started… yesterday."

"Oh?" Ryo suddenly appeared next to Shinobu in a blur.

Shinobu gasped—completely stunned by his speed.

'I couldn't even see him move… not even a blur. Just—gone.'

Ryo casually wrapped his arm around her waist and, before she could react, turned to Kanae and said:

"Mind if I borrow your sister for an hour?"

"Uh… sure…?"

Kanae answered without thinking—by the time the words left her mouth, the two were already gone.

"…Wait, where'd they go?"

Kanae blinked, confused, then turned to Kanao.

"Kanao, did you see where they went?"

Kanao shook her head, then stared blankly back at Kanae.

A moment later, Kanae pulled her into a hug, rubbing her face against hers.

"Aww, Kanao, you're just too cute~~"

.

.

.