31 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

Genya, the Demon Eater.

Haruto had never heard that term before. Maybe Kagaya Ubuyashiki might know, but it wasn't exactly the kind of thing he could just write about in a letter.

The phrase had come from the stream of "bullet comments" in his mind. He'd have to wait until it appeared in real life to justify how he even knew it.

Demon Eater.

A person who consumes demons.

But how? Was it literal?

Living with Genya these past few weeks, Haruto had noticed the boy's remarkably keen sense of taste. Even a pinch of spice added to Makomo's soup wouldn't escape his notice.

But what did taste have to do with any of this?

Haruto had his suspicions.

The next time Sora (the parrot) brought news of a mission, Haruto called out to the sulking Genya.

"Want to come along?"

"You're joking, right?" Sabito gave Haruto a puzzled look. "He's still just a kid!"

"I'm eight! I'm not a kid anymore!"

Genya scrambled to his feet, clutching his old Nichirin sword with both hands. "I'll go!"

"Don't worry, Sabito. I've thought this through—I won't put him in harm's way." Haruto gave the soft-spoken youth a reassuring nod before patting Genya's shaved head.

"You think you can keep up with me? I'm not slowing down for you."

Genya hesitated, but nodded firmly. "Of course I can!"

Haruto didn't call him out on the bluff. Instead, he threw on his haori, and with Sabito's worried gaze following them, led Genya down the mountain.

The mission wasn't far—still within Tokyo Prefecture.

A demon had attacked a livestock farm, killing numerous cattle and the farm's owner. The demon's strength didn't even measure up to a Lower Rank. Haruto subdued it easily.

Now came the hard part: figuring out how to trigger Genya's supposed ability.

Demon Eater. Did it really mean eating demons? Literally?

Haruto glanced down at the bloodied, grotesque creature sprawled on the ground. Just looking at it made him feel queasy. Eating that? Wouldn't it cause food poisoning?

Once, demons ate humans. Was it now humans' turn to eat demons?

Sighing, Haruto drew his blade and prepared to decapitate the demon. But then he noticed Genya crouched beside the creature, his fingers trembling as he hovered close.

"What are you doing?" Haruto asked.

Genya hesitated, licking his lips nervously. "It… feels like it could give me strength."

"What?" Haruto's voice rose. "The demon?"

Genya swallowed hard. "I don't know why, but there's this voice in my head… telling me to eat it. Sensei, am I cursed?"

If anyone was cursed, Haruto thought, it was probably him, with these "bullet comments" rattling in his brain.

Scratching his head, he asked, "When you saw your mother… did you feel anything like this?"

Genya flinched at the mention of his mother, his head drooping slightly. "Back then, I was too scared and hopeless to think about anything else." He looked up, determination flashing in his eyes. "Sensei, let me try. Maybe this is why my body can't use Breathing Techniques."

Haruto sighed. At this point, he was curious enough to see where this led. He grabbed the half-conscious demon and dunked it into the farm's water tank, scrubbing it clean.

"What are you doing?" the demon shrieked, panicking. "What kind of nonsense is this? Humans eating demons?! That's insane!"

Haruto ignored the protests, muttering, "Should I use soap? This thing's been crawling around in dirt and filth—who knows what kind of bacteria it's carrying?"

"I'm not a mole! I'm a demon, damn it!" the creature screamed, flailing helplessly in Haruto's grip.

"Should be fine," Genya said, though his voice trembled. He licked his lips again, leaned in, and bit down hard on the demon's arm.

With a sickening rip, he tore off a chunk of flesh and swallowed it whole without chewing.

"OW! What the hell?! You're actually doing it?!"

The demon thrashed and wailed, horrified. "Humans eating demons? This world has gone mad!"

Haruto watched Genya intently. The comments in his mind insisted this was possible, but he'd never seen anything like it in reality.

Genya froze. Blood dripped from his mouth as veins bulged across his neck. His body began to shake violently.

"Genya?!" Haruto sprang forward, severing the demon's head and pinning Genya by the shoulders.

Genya clenched his eyes shut, his entire body trembling as if something within him was about to burst free.

Veins pulsed along his skin, and his trembling lips parted to reveal sharp fangs sprouting from his gums.

When Genya opened his eyes, his sclera had turned pitch-black, leaving only needle-thin pupils that locked onto Haruto's gaze.

Haruto's heart sank.

This… this is demonification.

"Genya!" Haruto shouted, gripping his student by the collar as his mind raced for a solution. Turning into a demon couldn't be this easy, could it?

By the Demon Slayer Corps' records, demons could only be created through Muzan Kibutsuji or one of the Upper Moons sharing their blood. Even consuming a lower demon shouldn't bypass that rule… right?

"I'm… fine," Genya said suddenly.

His voice was steady, though his monstrous eyes flickered with a strange intensity as he studied his hands.

"I don't believe you," Haruto shot back.

Sharp fangs, bulging veins, black sclera—none of this screamed "fine" to him.

"I'm serious, Sensei. I'm thinking clearly. I don't feel any urge to eat people."

Genya raised a hand, brushing his tongue over his fangs before flexing his fingers. "My heart's pounding, and I can feel power surging through me…"

Haruto cautiously released him. Genya stood, testing his newfound strength by swinging his Nichirin blade through the air.

Each movement was sharper, faster, more precise. It was as if his swordsmanship had suddenly leapt to another level.

After a while, the blackness faded from Genya's eyes, and the veins settled. Only the fangs remained, jutting awkwardly from his mouth.

"Maybe it's because the demon was weak," Genya mused. "The effect didn't last long."

Over the next few days, the fangs fell out as well.

Haruto wrote to Kagaya, detailing the strange phenomenon and asking if the Corps had any scholars specializing in demon physiology.

A reply arrived not long after:

"Haruto,

In the annals of the Demon Slayer Corps, there is mention of individuals like Genya. They were called Demon Eaters.

This rare ability allows one to temporarily adopt the traits of a demon by consuming their flesh. The stronger the demon, the greater the regeneration and power they gain. Some have even used Blood Demon Arts during this state.

The last known case of such a person was over 300 years ago.

As for your request to consult a scholar on demons…

The one who knows demons best is a demon herself.

Travel to Asakusa in Tokyo Prefecture. Seek out a woman named Tamayo. She will be expecting Genya."