A night in the intercalary month. Covering the mountainside is a wave of wisteria flowers out of season. Running up the stone steps that continue from the foothills, an open area appeared.
People had gathered there. About twenty children not much different in age from me. Except for a young child in furisode standing at the very back, all of them had swords at their waists or backs.
They and I will now take the test. To become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, we must spend seven nights here.
Finally arrived at the Final Selection!
Hello, everyone! I just turned twelve not long ago! Long time no see, Mt. Fujikasane. It's my first time since coming for drug experiments in the Edo period!
According to Urokodaki, if you survive seven days and nights on this Mt. Fujikasane, you can officially become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Urokodaki encouraged me, saying, "You'll be fine," but places like tests or selections make me nervous anyway. Since there was no such procedure in the Sengoku period, it's even more unsettling.
Fidgeting, I stroked the hilt of the sword at my waist. The Nichirin Blade that Urokodaki prepared for me. It's a sword newly made by requesting a swordsmith when I said I was going for the selection. The blade was dyed purple as expected.
Thank goodness. I was worried that my breathing aptitude might have changed due to reincarnation.
Besides preparing the sword, Urokodaki took care of many things for me. He even handed over a mask he carved himself, calling it a talisman mask.
It was a wooden fox mask with a black base, red around the eyes, and a moon pattern painted in gold on the forehead.
To be honest, my mood was at its peak. Why do fox masks stimulate such chuunibyou sensibilities so much?
When I was excitedly wearing the fox mask, I remembered as if it were yesterday—though it actually was yesterday—that Kuwajima said, "What, it's not a rabbit mask," and invited me to the bamboo forest.
A mask so elaborately made that it wouldn't look out of place displayed in a shop. Thinking that Urokodaki made it for me made me even more grateful for his consideration.
Above all, I liked that it could hide my face. If as soon as the test started, the demons came rushing like high school girls targeting limited-edition desserts, shouting, "That one has white hair and red eyes! Eat him, eat him!" it would be troublesome.
So I wore this mask, covered my hair with a handkerchief, and then put a hood over it in full armor. Now my appearance won't be exposed. I applied medicine too, so UV protection is perfect. No problem whenever the sun rises.
"Wow, what's with that guy."
"Does he plan to fight in that outfit?"
"Wearing a mask too, does he think it's a festival?"
……To others, it must look incredibly suspicious!
Hoping for the test to start quickly, I was blankly staring at the wisteria flowers when I sensed someone running up from the stone steps. Without thinking, I looked that way, and the first thing that caught my eye was familiar flame-colored hair.
'…The Rengoku family's genes are indeed amazing.'
Just by looking, I could be sure. It's a person from the Rengoku family. Come to think of it, the Flame Hashira who often visits the estate said, "This year, the eldest son is taking the selection."
Then that child must be that eldest son. His name was Shōjuro, right?
Perhaps he was the last participant, as if waiting for his arrival, the child in furisode standing at the back began explaining the Final Selection.
A child who doesn't even look five years old speaking clearly is impressive. And it's late at night, but he's working hard. I should have brought some candy.
While thinking that, the explanation ended, and the furisode child bowed deeply.
"──Then, please go and come back safely."
""We'll go and come back safely!""
………Huh?
Only me and one other person responded to that farewell. The other participants left with cold glances as if saying, "Are these guys idiots…" and rushed into the mountains one after another. I was the only one left behind.
Wait, there was one more guy who answered! Don't leave me alone, I'm lonely! It's totally awkward!
No, but, when such a young child politely greets, you shouldn't ignore it, right? You should respond cheerfully to greetings, right?
Thinking that, I glanced at the furisode child, and he was standing blankly, as if he didn't expect the greeting to be returned.
Ugh, embarrassing… I feel like my spirit is breaking.
"Um, ah, well…… g-good luck……?"
"Thank you…."
Don't be considerate. It makes me want to die.
・
・
・
Now, first, let's pull myself together and enter the mountain.
Exterminating demons is important, but first, I need to find a place to camp. Above all, I have to endure seven days and nights. If I don't secure a place to sleep and water first, it's dangerous.
Especially since I have restrictions during the day, I want to find a place like a cave where I can avoid the sun before daybreak if possible.
Fortunately, I found a cave quickly. A demon that was occupying this place attacked, but I cut it down, so no problem.
I lightly thought that now I could make this my base, defeat the approaching demons, and spend seven days and nights, but──
──Kyaaaaaaaak!
──Waaaaaaah!!
──Save meeeee!!
Screams don't cease from various places. It's still the first day, everyone.
Come to think of it, for the Final Selection, you have to survive seven days and nights to pass, but is there something like a retirement system? Is it possible to give up and get help if it gets dangerous?
Are there no examiners or monitors in the first place? I didn't see any before the test started.
……Should I try testing it?
"Ahem (fake cough)…… Kyaaaaaaa! I can't do this anymore! I give up! Someone help meeeee! (falsetto)"
Meeee, meeeee, meeeee…….
The most pitiful scream of my life echoed through the mountains. The sound of branches brushing was only indifferent. No help came, and there was no sign of people far away. Even with such a cute voice.
Hmm…… There's no retirement system, is there!!
I immediately ran toward the nearby scream. Is this for real? No retirement system and no examiners?
Of course, demon hunting is a life-risking job, so I understand that the test must also risk lives. But if it's okay for young people aspiring to be demon slayers to die one after another, that's a completely different issue!
Where I followed the scream, there was a boy fallen on the ground and a demon trying to pounce on him.
Using Breathing, I immediately cut the demon's neck. Fortunately, the boy wasn't seriously injured. It seemed he was attacked while running away with his back turned.
Without even hearing the boy's thanks, I ran toward the next scream sound. My footsteps were hurried.
To be honest, I was angry. The Demon Slayer Corps is already an organization not recognized by the government. In such a situation, don't they know how precious people are who know of demons' existence and have the spirit to fight against them?
Treating such people like consumables in a test sounds like nothing but a low-quality joke. Who came up with this test system! Was there no one to stop them, you bastards!
Arriving where the next scream sound was heard, this time, a girl was being ganged up on by two demons.
A demon in front, a demon behind. I first dealt with the demon behind the girl who was hesitating with her sword, and with that momentum, cut the neck of the demon charging from the front.
Screams were still echoing from various places. What should I do, can I save everyone?
I know. I know.
That someone who can't even protect themselves can't defeat demons or protect people.
What I'm doing now might not align with the purpose of the test. It might only increase the number of incompetent swordsmen.
But if there's a life that can be saved without dying, you should save it, right? I was a doctor in my past life, you idiot! Move aside, Lord Shabana is passing through!
"Uwaak! Eek, what's that, someone, someone save meee……!"
My ear caught that scream when I had defeated about ten demons. While treating an injured child, I grabbed my sword and ran toward that direction.
"What, why this, h-here was supposed to have only demons that have eaten two or three people, right?!"
As the half-crazed scream said, there was a bizarre demon there.
Most demons have human forms. But that demon did not have a human form.
Numerous arms bulging out all over its body. Around the demon's neck, wrapped in an enormous number of arms, two arms were tightly entwined like a scarf.
"Such a mutated demon… there can't be… h-how, how!"
I could understand why the boy forgot to grip his sword and fell on his butt. Thinking there were only demons that inexperienced swordsman aspirants could defeat, when such a mutated existence appears, of course, the will to fight would be broken.
An arm that popped out from the demon's belly rushed at the boy like a snake. Cutting it down with a single strike, I pushed the boy back and stood before the demon.
"Get up and run. There are people over there, so get help."
"Ah, aah……!"
I thought what if his legs gave out and he couldn't stand, but the boy obediently ran away. Good thing his recovery is fast.
I was wary that the demon might attack the fleeing boy, but for some reason, the demon didn't move and stood there, fixing its overflowing crimson gaze on me.
Now, I need to quickly defeat this demon and go to where the next scream is.
That was when I adjusted my grip on the sword.
"Urokodaki……"
"Huh?"
"Urokodaki, Urokodaki, Urokodaki……!"
"Uh, yes?"
"You bastard Urokodakiiiiiiii!!!"
Uh, are you an acquaintance of Urokodaki?
I had never seen a black fox mask before in my life. I don't remember seeing it even when I was human.
But I remembered that wood grain. It was etched into my eyes horrifyingly clearly. Along with the color of the crimson tengu.
It's been over ten years. Memories from the Keiō era, before the Meiji era.
I— ah, yes. I was imprisoned in this wisteria prison because of that guy wearing a tengu mask.
Urokodaki. That man's name is Urokodaki.
Even though I forgot all my memories from when I was human, my appearance, even my own name, that man's name and the tengu mask stuck in my head and wouldn't fall off.
"You bastard, Urokodakiiiiiiii!!!"
The crimson, so crimson tengu mask. That was the beginning of my hatred.
"Do you think I'd forget the wood grain of that mask! You, from the looks of it, are Urokodaki's disciple!!"
"I'm not a disciple, I'm a lodger!!"
I swung my arms and struck at the brat spouting ridiculous words. The brat leaped up lightly and dodged. At that jump reminiscent of a tengu, my molars gritted.
That Urokodaki bastard, Urokodaki bastard, Urokodaki bastard!
"Trapped in this cage for over ten years, I never thought such a day would come!"
The years spent in the wisteria prison were literally hellish days.
No food, only cannibalism among kin, and as a demon, without a lifespan, you don't die unless you go under sunlight. A garden of hell where going mad would be happier.
"I'll kill you, I'll kill all of that bastard's disciples! I'll vent my grudge against Urokodaki on you, fox brat!"
I was afraid of being eaten by other demons.
To not be eaten, I ate demons first.
I was afraid of being killed by the Demon Slayer Corps.
To not die, I ate people.
Doing so, naturally, I became the strongest demon on this mountain.
I had evolved into a mutated demon with a distorted human form.
Now, no one can kill me. No one can eat me. But what came to my chest was not relief but despair. I was afraid of the fact that I would continue to survive from now on.
Dying was scary, but this hell not ending was equally scary.
Perhaps I will continue to live on. For the sole reason of not wanting to die, I will struggle in this hell.
Unable to escape from this wisteria prison— yes! Because you, Urokodaki, didn't kill me!
"Not just you, but all the disciples after you, I'll eat and kill them all! Extermination for brats wearing fox masks!"
Ah, Urokodaki. Regret it. Regret that you should have killed me then.
Your disciple dying is your fault for failing to kill me! Cry, lament, despair. You should have killed me, not imprisoned me in the wisteria prison!
"So I said I'm not a disciple but a lodger!"
Cutting down the arm flying like a spear, the brat shouted. Among the brats I've seen so far, this one was the strongest. Movement was quick, and the blade was sharp.
Even if I extend several arms, most guys can't keep up with the judgment, but this brat has no such weakness.
But I wasn't anxious. Because I have an advantage. Having seen about a hundred guys dreaming of being demon hunters, I had pierced through the weaknesses of swordsmen.
"Become my meal, fox brattttttt!!!"
Spreading all arms except the two wrapped around my neck, I charged at the brat. The brat adjusted his grip on the sword. I was sure the unseen gaze under the mask was fixed on my neck.
"Moon Breathing——!"
The brat's blade fluttered. The eerie wisteria-colored blade was sucked into my neck.
Yes, that's it. Foolishly aim for the neck. Stupid fox brat.
I've seen over a hundred brats I killed, brats other demons killed, combined. And I've seen over a hundred swords. In that, I realized.
Like experienced swordsmen and novice swordsmen, there are differences among swordsmiths. As swordsmen have strength and weakness, swords have strength and weakness too. There are thin and thick, soft and hard. There are sharp and dull.
Did you mistakenly think a new sword is good? Stupid fox guy.
Being new means it hasn't endured history.
This brat was strong.
"Ah——"
But the sword was weak.
The sword broke.
So what does that mean.
I already experienced that in the Sengoku period.
"Ahahahahahahaha!!"
My sword broken in the middle, just like in the Sengoku period. As if mocking it, the demon swung its arms, but I didn't waver.
Adjusting the angle of the blade so it wouldn't shatter further, I cut down the arms. Hmm, I can cut.
Perhaps not expecting a counterattack, the demon's laughter stopped. It looked at me with disbelieving eyes.
If it had broken from the base, it might be different, but the blade still remains. Then I can still fight. Even if broken, the sharpness of the blade hasn't disappeared.
Taking one step, the demon's arm bent.
"Moon Breathing——"
Two steps, the demon's arm struck down where I passed.
"First Form——"
Three steps, the broken blade cut through the night, giving birth to the moon.
"Dark Moon, Palace of the Night——!"
On the fourth step, no footsteps were heard. Only the demon's head that had been circling in the sky fell to the ground along with blood.
Ah, I won't let my guard down like in the Sengoku period. Considering the possibility that it might move even after its neck is cut, I tried to keep distance from the demon's body—but I couldn't.
From the headless demon's body, arms fell off one after another like peeling fruit skin. Seeing what was revealed inside, I gulped.
A child's body. A small body around the same age as Rui was inside.
'…Was it a child.'
The headless body staggered toward me. Stretching out small arms as if searching for something.
Grabbing that hand was due to a simple impulse. Because I remembered Rui's figure reaching out and urging me to hug him, saying "Big brother."
"…Big brother."
Suddenly, I heard such a voice. From the demon's head rolling behind.
"…Sleep well."
Without looking back, I answered like that. The demon's hand I was tightly gripping crumbled like sand and flowed down from my fingertips. The demon's body cut by the Nichirin Blade disappears like that. Not even bones remain to hold a memorial.
Long ago, I learned from my master not to be deceived by a demon's appearance. I heard the same from Urokodaki. Even if they take a child's form, demons are monsters that eat humans and live for decades.
Still, I can't help but pity them who were once children in that very form. This child who couldn't become an adult looks so pitiful—is it because it's the first time I've seen a child demon?
"…Why is Lord Muzan increasing demons?"
What does he want to do by creating such tragedy.
Even if I ask, he won't answer.
No matter how much I think, I couldn't understand the thoughts of him who transformed with the doctor's drug.
"Somehow, it's draining……."
Becoming a Demon Slayer Corps member, defeating demons, is no different from facing his evil deeds.
How much would Lord Muzan, who was so gentle before taking the doctor's drug, cry if he saw his current self. Just thinking—thinking about it makes my chest ache to the point where I don't want to.
If possible, I want to go back to the past and beat up the doctor who is the root of all evil. If possible, I want to eradicate him.
Sigh, I'll definitely find you and give you a good scolding, so wait, Lord Muzan.
Light filtered through the trees. Morning was approaching before I knew it.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register