NOVEL WEB Chapter 88: DSWS: Chapter 88
"Genya Shinazugawa's Past"
"Ugh, this is so boring." Aoki wandered aimlessly along the muddy path at Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Lately, it had been unusually calm; no demon activity, except for the encounter with Upper Moon Two, Doma, after which he hadn't seen any other demons.
Aoki noticed someone in the distance, likely a Demon Slayer.
He initially ignored them, until the person bumped his shoulder.
Seriously? I'm a Hashira! How dare you bump into me?
Annoyed, Aoki turned to see a person with dark spiky hair, a scar running from their left cheek to their nose, wearing purple clothing, and a fierce gaze.
The person, seemingly recognizing Aoki, coldly snorted and walked away.
Watching their retreating figure, Aoki found them familiar.
"Wait, it's not just the person; that glare is familiar too. A scarred brute often looks at me like that."
(Sanemi Shinazugawa, currently training in his mansion.)
Achoo!
"I think I've caught a cold."
"I, Sanemi Shinazugawa, have a cold? How embarrassing."
"Oh, I remember! That guy's name is Genya Shinazugawa. Wait, Shinazugawa?"
Realizing something, Aoki caught up to Genya Shinazugawa and patted him on the shoulder.
"What?!" Genya swung a fist back, but halfway through, Aoki's hand firmly grasped his arm, immobilizing him, just like during the final selection on Fujikasane Mountain.
Unlike then, Aoki didn't crush Genya's arm. He slowly released it, smiling.
"You remind me of a friend," Aoki said.
Genya rubbed his arm. "I resemble your friend? Who? Must be an idiot."
"Sanemi Shinazugawa."
Genya's sneer froze, his expression changing drastically.
"You must be related to him. It's not just the glare; your scars are similar, though yours are fewer."
Genya fell silent, his earlier arrogance gone.
"He's my brother," Genya whispered after a long pause.
He looked at Aoki with suspicion. "You say you're friends with my brother? He's a Hashira. Who are you?"
"Me? Aoki. Ever heard of me?" Aoki said, picking his nose.
Hearing "Aoki," Genya was shocked. The Devouring Hashira, Aoki—a name that echoed through the Demon Slayer Corps.
Even non-combatants knew he'd killed Upper Moon Six, changing the century-old stalemate.
However, Hashira rarely interacted with ordinary Demon Slayers, especially Aoki, who wasn't affiliated with any group, and his face wasn't widely known.
A Hashira standing before a regular Demon Slayer might go unrecognized.
"You're… you're the Devouring Hashira?" Genya asked, disbelieving.
"Yeah, that's me. Want me to ask the other Hashira if they know me?" Aoki said, still picking his nose.
"Say, you're Shinazugawa's brother. Why hasn't he ever mentioned you?"
Genya's expression darkened, as if recalling painful memories.
He then recounted his story to Aoki.
He and Sanemi were born into an ordinary city family with seven siblings; Genya was the second child.
After their abusive father was murdered, Genya and Sanemi vowed to protect their family.
One night, their mother went out and didn't return. Sanemi went to look for her. While he was gone, demons broke into their home.
Genya's younger siblings, too close to the door, were killed in the initial attack. Genya was also severely injured, receiving a large scar on his face.
The darkness prevented him from seeing the demons' faces.
Sanemi returned, fighting the demons, urging Genya to escape.
Unable to leave his brother, Genya followed him outside, only to find his dead mother and his blood-soaked brother.
Mistaking Sanemi for his mother's killer, and still grieving for his siblings, Genya screamed at Sanemi, calling him a "murderer," failing to notice his mother's body fading in the rising sunlight…
Later, learning about demons, Genya discovered the truth—Sanemi couldn't have killed their mother without a Nichirin Blade; he'd only severely injured her.
The sunlight was the true cause of death. However, when Genya tried to apologize, Sanemi had disappeared.
Years later, Genya joined the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge his siblings. His weak physique prevented him from learning breathing techniques, but he discovered a unique ability—consuming demons and temporarily demonifying himself to enhance his strength.
He decided to participate in the final selection.
Then came the events on Fujikasane Mountain.
After joining the Corps, Genya found Sanemi, now the Wind Hashira, but Sanemi's attitude had changed drastically; he was brutal and dismissive, refusing to acknowledge Genya as his brother.
Due to Sanemi's harsh treatment, Genya, believing his brother still resented him, avoided contact.
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