Chapter 23

Training (鍛錬,) is the 23rd chapter of the Kemono Jihen manga series.

Summary
Gramps Tasaburo explains what the phantasm calculus is and tells that he is willing to lend that calculus to a strong boy unlike Kabane who was easily attacked by Gramps Tasaburo. Iyo arrives at the scene and tears up with the sight of Kabane being unconscious, telling that he hates Gramps Tasaburo for killing him evenn though Kabane is a creepy boy. Gramps Tasaburo tries to tell Iyo that she was mistaken. He then turns his attention to Zenkichi and scolds him for letting Iyo see the violence. Zenkichi humbly apologizes and defends that Iyo is next in line to become their leader and necessary that Iyo becomes desensitized to violence. Inugami however tells them that Kabane is fine as he is a hybid which left the rest shocked.

Shortly after, Kabane wakes up and returns back to normal. Iyo is shocked to see a Khoular to which Zenkichi tells her that Khoulars are not native to Japan. Kabane once again attacks Gramps Tasaburo but is easily defeated. Gramps Tasaburo then proposes a new challenge to Kabane, seeing that he is a Khoular, which is that Kabane can challenge him many times to steal the calculus but it should be one death per day only.

Kabane checks up on Kon who just wakes up from being unconscious. Kon is confused as to where she is to which Kabane tells that she is in a guest room and further tells her that he will be staying for a while at the Yashima temple. Remembering what Nobimaru said to her about retrieving the calculus, Kon tells Kabane that she will also be staying. The two then go out. Kon asks what will be they doing to which Kabane replies that they will be training. Kabane shares that he never did training before to which Kon offers him to help. They soon start their training of digging holes on the ground. Kabane asks Kon the point of their training to which Kon replies that it will strengthen his slashes. Kabane just continues to train.

From afar, Inugami looks over Kabane. He soon goes to visit Gramps Tasaburo and offers to drink. They soon talk about Kabane being a Khoular. During their conversation, Inugami notices Zenkichi hiding and eavesdropping to their conversation much to the latter's embarrassment.

Back in Tokyo, Shiki musters up the courage to ask Mihai for a favor. Mihai then tells him to show what the favor is. As Shiki tries to express his thoughts while going around with his words, he finally tells Mihai that he wants to become stronger and he sees Mihai as strong and smart and training him would be a piece of cake for Mihai. Shiki then gets down on his knees and begs Mihai to train him as he don't wanna weigh Kabane down. Mihai then tells him his favorite things and tells Shiki to remember it. Mihai states that as he is a busy person, he can't always sit by and train him and proceeds to tell Shiki to use a VR device. Shiki is then soon logged in in Mihai Quest.

As soon as loggin into the game, Shiki encounters a monster and decides to just step on it since he doesn't have a weapon. However, he is eaily overpowered by the tiny monster. Mihai reveals that the VR device registers the damage he takes from the game to his real body. Shiki continues to train using the VR device and vows to find Kabane's parents for him.

Back at the temple, Kabane is seen challenging Gramps Tasaburo but is again easily defeated. Kon and Kabane is seen together after and offered a meal however Kabana refuses to eat as he tells that he can't still hit Gramps Tasaburo even after all the slash training with Kon. Meanwhile, Zenkichi is seen observing Kon and Kabane from a tree. Iyo is seen playing when she smells udon and wants to try it. There he meets Kabane. Iyo then goes to the other side of the table where Kon and Kabane are sitting. Iyo then asks Kabane what's his relationship to Inugami to which Kabane replies that they have a employee-employer relationship. After hearing this, Iyo brags about her relationship with Inugami to Kabane telling that they are old friends. Iyo then challenges Kabane after they are done eating.

Iyo then challenges Kabane outside. She soons transforms herself into Gramps Tasaburo and attacks Kabane, which made Kabane fall. Iyo then transforms back to her self and tells Kabane about her power. Meanwhile, Kon is saved by Zenkichi during the match. After experiencing Iyo's power and thinking that he could practice Gramps Tasaburo's attack, Kabane offers Iyo to go out with him telling that with her power, he can train efficiently. Iyo then agrees and accepts Kabane's offer.

The next day, Iyo and Kabane are seen training. They soon take a break after many attacks. Kon approaches Kabane and asks him if he wants to dig holes with her. Kabane replies that training with Iyo seems better for him right noe and leaves Kon.