As a lover of cold weapons, Lance had spent plenty of time during his training period among the eccentric dragon‑smiths Bones, Iron, and Drake. He'd seen them forge many magnificent weapons, once even watching them temper a massive blade they called "Kagura."
They'd let him touch them, but never truly wield one. Even the lightest twin swords weighed over ten kilograms; larger blades like greatswords, axes, and hammers reached dozens more. He'd simply been too weak then.
So now, seeing an ordinary‑sized katana within human reach, excitement surged in his chest.
Maybe the girl had blocked it earlier, and that's why he hadn't noticed, but now it was right there before him.
Still… asking to examine a guest's weapon probably wasn't appropriate.
He tried to suppress his curiosity, though his expression betrayed it. Even Nezuko tilted her head, puzzled by his stare. Meanwhile, Tanjirō lowered his eyes, gripping his spoon tightly.
He'd ordered just one plate to feed himself, but after his first bite, he realised this meal was far beyond what he expected. Familiar ingredients transformed into something completely new, stirring emotions he hadn't felt in years.
By the time he finished, his chest ached—not from food, but from memory. His family, gone forever; his little siblings, he'd once shared sugar candies with on festival days. Tears welled before he realised it himself.
A gentle hand landed on his head. He looked up slowly...Nezuko.
Even though she was now a demon who couldn't speak, to him, that gesture looked exactly the same as when she used to smile warmly at their family.
"Nezuko…"
Lance, still distracted by the katana, only noticed the touching scene when Nezuko's movement drew his eyes back. But the atmosphere had turned strange. The girl, whom he'd first mistaken for a ghost, was patting the boy's head. The boy sat motionless, shoulders trembling slightly.
Lance frowned. Crying? Did I mess up the food somehow?
He glanced at the floating data.
"Fried Rice – Completion 78%."
Exactly right. No mistakes, no odd ingredients. Confused, he asked carefully, "Sir, are you okay?"
The question snapped Tanjirō out of his daze. Realising that Nezuko's face was blank again, he understood the moment he'd just seen had been no more than his imagination.
Even so, he smiled faintly.
"Thank you, boss."
Lance blinked. That cheerful smile only made him more uneasy. Did I accidentally put something weird in the dish?
But at least he managed to answer evenly. "It's a chef's duty to make every guest happy. No need to thank me."
"To make every guest happy… Nezuko…"
Lance's routine mantra hit deeper than expected. Tanjirō's smile wavered; a shadow crossed his face.
Then the system interrupted again.
"Side Quest – Eating in Silence."
"Description: When humans become demons, normal food no longer sustains them, forcing them to prey upon mankind. But a young demon travels with her brother, a Demon Slayer, searching for a way to return to normal."
"Objective: Create a dish capable of nourishing 'Nezuko.'"
"Difficulty: C."
"Reward: Blueprint – Nichirin Blade; Access to Scarlet Ore and Scarlet Iron Purchases."
The sudden mission nearly made Lance jump.
He'd already sensed that the girl wasn't ordinary, those odd mouth accessories gave it away but actually not human? A being that fed on humans?
Still, the system's notes eased his fear. These two were travelling to find a cure. The brother was part of a group that hunted demons.
Even so, his eyes flicked uneasily toward Nezuko, who sat silently like a porcelain doll. A real demon…?
After calming down, Lance considered his options. The quest wasn't mandatory; he could ignore it. But to take it on, he needed information, which meant talking to the boy.
Dangerous? Possibly. Tempting? Definitely—especially with that "Nichirin Blade" reward.
Curiosity battled caution… and lost.
When Tanjirō finished his plate, leaving it sparkling clean, he bowed politely. "Thank you, boss! It was delicious!"
That open smile vanished any trace of menace. Lance decided to take his chance.
"I'm glad you liked it. By the way, could I ask you something?"
"Hm?"
Tanjirō tensed, but noticing Lance's gaze fixed not on Nezuko but the sword at his waist, he relaxed a little.
"If it's about my blade, I don't mind. Go ahead."
"Is that a Nichirin Blade?"
Lance didn't actually know what the term meant, it could describe a whole class of weapons or a single famous sword but the mission hint made it a safe probe.
Tanjirō, however, froze. His master had said civilians weren't supposed to know about the Corps or their gear. Even demons were treated as folklore by normal people.
Could it be…
"Boss, were you once part of the Demon Slayer Corps? I'm Kamado Tanjirō, a new recruit! Please take care of me!"
Nezuko just blinked beside him, while her brother bowed deeply.
Lance nearly flinched from the pure sincerity radiating off him. What a naive kid… At least he wasn't hostile.
"No, you misunderstand. I'm just a regular chef. I only heard stories about those things, so I got curious."
Tanjirō straightened up stiffly, the sound almost mechanical—Lance swore he could hear a faint "crack, crack."
"So… you're not with the Corps?"
Feeling a little guilty, Lance nodded.
Tanjirō's heart dropped. In his mind, revealing his identity to a civilian meant disciplinary action, maybe even execution. And Nezuko…
Seeing his panicked, guilt‑ridden expression, Lance finally understood that the boy's organization must be secret, punishable if exposed. But unlike what Lance had feared, the kid didn't seem violent at all....just very, very naive.
"Don't worry," Lance said gently. "I won't tell anyone."
"Eh?! Really?! Boss, thank you so much!"
Seeing the boy about to bow again, Lance quickly reached out to stop him. The kid was polite... maybe too polite.
"As an apology, let me make a late-night snack for your companion."
Of course, Lance already knew they were siblings, but since the boy hadn't said it aloud, blurting it out would've been dumb. Still, when he mentioned a "companion," Kamado Tanjirō froze, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he fumbled for an excuse.
"Uh… Nezuko's my sister. Her appetite isn't great…"
Looking at the boy's nervous face, Lance really wanted to comment on how bad a liar he was. But instead, he just gave Tanjirō's shoulder a reassuring pat.
"Don't worry. I know a dish that really wakes up the appetite. Just wait a moment."
With that, Lance turned and walked into the kitchen. His expression grew serious, not only because of the sudden side quest, but also because he truly hoped that the girl could eat something. According to the mission, demons restored strength by consuming humans, yet she was resisting that instinct. He could imagine how hard that was. Helping a little was the least he could do.
If it was purely about restoring energy, then his teacher's ("Hunter's Buffet") would have been perfect. it was built around high‑energy ingredients meant for monster‑hunting warriors. But that felt meaningless here; she didn't need normal food, she just couldn't eat it.
To make her eat, he had to awaken her appetite.
If he was going to tie his path to this strange little restaurant, then he'd give everything he had to each dish.
Meanwhile, Tanjirō, watching Lance disappear confidently into the kitchen, could only strike a helpless sigh.
He'd already let slip talk of the Demon Slayer Corps earlier—which might yet be recoverable—but if Nezuko's identity as a demon were exposed, things could spiral out of control.
A voice in his heart whispered, What if this man can truly make food sister can eat normally again?
Impossible. His teacher had said that was beyond hope.
Yet despite himself, Tanjirō couldn't help but hope.
(Chapter End)