Demon Slayer: Guardian of the Forest

Shinichi glared at the fallen tea kettle, his face darkened with fury as an invisible pressure of anger filled the room.

"Old man, you'd better give me an explanation!"

The elderly Mori didn't flinch. Instead, he calmly set down his teacup, rose to his feet, and beckoned Shinichi with a slight motion of his hand, his expression a playful provocation.

"Bastard!" Shinichi roared, his frustration boiling over. Like a lit fuse on a powder keg, he lunged forward, swinging his fist straight at the old man. He knew Mori wasn't weak—his battle with Lower Moon Four, Taiping Saburo, had proven that. But this smug attitude? Completely intolerable.

Bang!

A frail-looking hand intercepted Shinichi's punch effortlessly. For a moment, Shinichi froze in shock. He'd put enough force into that strike to crack rock, at the very least. Yet Mori remained unshaken, standing with the same serene demeanor as before.

Before Shinichi could process what had happened, Mori's hand tightened around his fist. The next instant, a tremendous force yanked him forward. His momentum thrown off balance, Shinichi found himself stumbling helplessly.

In one fluid motion, Mori twisted his hunched frame into an almost impossible angle, positioning himself behind Shinichi. Then, with a precise kick to the back of Shinichi's leg, the younger man's balance crumbled.

Thud!

The impact of Shinichi's body hitting the ground echoed through the room.

Everything had unfolded in mere seconds. Stunned and sprawled on the floor, Shinichi scrambled to his feet, humiliation and frustration coursing through him.

"Again!" he growled, his crimson eyes blazing with anger as he charged once more.

Mori simply smiled, gesturing for Shinichi to continue.

And so, it continued.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The relentless sound of Shinichi's body hitting the ground filled the room. Eventually, even Junbo, who had been quietly observing with concern, couldn't bear the sight any longer. She hurriedly scooped up the little Shiba Inu, Maru, and left the room.

Maru, for his part, seemed utterly unbothered, wagging his tail as if sensing that the old man meant no harm. He happily ignored his master's plight, focusing instead on Junbo's warm embrace.

It was unclear how long the sparring—or rather, the one-sided beatdown—lasted. Shinichi stood panting, his fury simmering, while Mori remained unruffled.

"Had enough, young man? This old bag of bones can still go another round if you wish," Mori said with a teasing grin.

"You! You've done something to me, haven't you? Just like with that damn wisteria tea! My strength—my speed—it's all weaker than before! What did you do?" Shinichi barked, his sharp instincts already piecing together the truth.

Mori's face turned serious as he locked eyes with Shinichi. "Tell me, Shinichi. That night on Shirai Mountain, why did you choose to help us fight Lower Moon Four? Was it not because you hate demons as much as we do?"

Shinichi scoffed. "Of course, I hate demons. But don't act like you don't see me the same way! To the Demon Slayer Corps, I'm just another monster to be hunted. So don't even think about trying to rope me into your so-called breathing techniques. I don't need them! My own power is enough!"

Mori sighed deeply, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "But that power doesn't belong to you, does it? It's the power of a demon, not your own strength."

Shinichi's laugh was bitter, his crimson eyes narrowing. "I don't care where it comes from as long as it's enough to get my revenge!"

"And are you content to remain a demon forever? Tell me, young man—don't you want to feel human again?" Mori's words were like a dagger, piercing the silent tension in the room.

Shinichi's eyes widened, his defiance wavering. His voice trembled as he asked, "You... you can make me human again?"

Mori shook his head slowly. "No, I cannot return you to your human form."

"Then what's the point?!" Shinichi snarled, his fleeting hope crushed.

"But…" Mori continued, his voice carrying a weight that made Shinichi freeze. "While I cannot make you human again, I can give you back the sensation of being human."

Shinichi stared at him, hope flickering once more. "How?"

Mori gestured to the fallen tea kettle. "You're already experiencing it. Tell me, young man—how does it feel to drink tea, to taste something other than blood?"

Shinichi was struck silent. His eyes darted to the mirror Mori handed him. What stared back wasn't the monstrous visage he'd grown used to but something… softer. The veins that once marred his skin had receded, his sharp fangs dulled to a more human-like state. Even the blood-red hue of his eyes had faded, replaced by a gentler glow. His claws, though still pointed, no longer exuded malice.

He looked less like a demon and more like a somber, aloof boy.

Before Shinichi could process it all, a sweet-smelling dorayaki appeared in his view, held out by Junbo, who had returned silently.

"Try it," Mori said. "Feel what it's like to be human again, and then tell me your decision."

In the expansive shrine hall of the Mori estate, Junbo knelt beside Mori, cradling Maru in her arms.

"Master Kōdai," she asked softly, "Do you think Shinichi will agree?"

Mori gazed at one of the ancestral plaques, engraved with the name Mori Kōtō. A faint smile graced his lips.

"The choice of our ancestors was never wrong. That child will carry on the Breath of the Forest."