Tsuyuri Sōsuke could recognize that the horse was a demon because he had a memory of encountering a similar being in the past.
The reason he lost one of his legs 20 years ago. The eyes of that horse demon and the beast that appeared on his way home tonight were too similar.
The moment he met its bloodthirsty gaze, his long-rusted reflexes sounded an alarm.
Instantly, he threw himself into the bamboo forest by the roadside.
Right after, a giant four-legged body charging toward the spot where he had been standing just moments before. If he had stayed put, he would have lost his life in an instant.
Of course, it wasn't a horse demon that would give up that easily. With vertically elongated pupils that were hard to believe belonged to a herbivore, it spotted Tsuyuri Sōsuke again through the gaps in the bamboo forest.
Unfortunately, he had no confidence he could dodge the next charge.
That he had been a Thunder Breathing user was a thing of the distant past.
Now with a prosthetic leg, he couldn't move agilely, and due to the incident 20 years ago, his internal organs were damaged, making it long impossible to use Breathing Techniques.
He hadn't neglected maintaining the Nichirin Blade he carried for self-defense, but now it was nothing more than a walking stick. There wasn't even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of winning against a horse demon.
He was thirty-six this year. The only consolation was that he was single, with no grieving parents or wife.
But his master would grieve. Sōsuke thought blankly, not taking his eyes off the horse demon.
His former master, who now nurtured juniors as a cultivator, was a man who had cried his eyes out even when Sōsuke lost one leg.
If he heard news of Sōsuke's death, he would grieve even more than that, and imagining that made his chest tighten.
The horse demon, fixing its gaze on its prey, scraped the ground. The four-legged beast kicked the ground high, charging through the bamboo forest.
'Ah, is this it?' It was the very moment he steeled himself.
He heard the groaning of bamboo.
"Huh?"
Was it the voice first? Or the horse demon's roar?
The horse demon that had been charging fiercely toward him suddenly tumbled to the ground. With a thud, as if kicked powerfully, its body was flung into the thicket of bamboo grass.
"Sorry. I'll borrow that sword for a bit."
As he blinked, a whisper brushed his ear.
A boy's voice that hadn't hit puberty. A voice he was hearing for the first time, yet strangely nostalgic. A peculiar sense of relief.
Suddenly, the Nichirin Blade disappeared from his hand, and immediately after, the neck of the horse demon trying to get up was severed. A slash swung at a speed so fast he couldn't even see the blade flash.
He remembered that swordsmanship. Tsuyuri Sōsuke knew the name of that Breathing. His swordsmanship, his Breathing, even his existence still remained in his heart with admiration.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Snow-white hair, as if a full moon had spilled over the earth, turned to look at him.
Seeing those shining crimson eyes, his name flowed from his lips without him realizing.
＊
"Rei senpai?"
"Huh???"
Taking a walk in the bamboo forest at midnight, I found someone being attacked by a demon! But looking closely, they're holding a Nichirin Blade? Then they might be related to the Demon Slayer Corps! Now I can join the Corps! Yay!
...That was what happened just seconds ago, helping without even properly seeing the person's face.
Who would have thought the person I helped was an acquaintance from my past life! Me, frozen stiff as my old name was called.
Huh? Was there a middle-aged uncle with a rugged beard that suits him well among the people Rei knew?
"...Ah, sorry. You resemble someone I know, so I slipped up."
"I, is that so? Ah, I'll return the sword. Thank you."
No, calm down. Stay composed, me. Rei lived 20 years ago from now.
Meaning, this middle-aged uncle would have been a pretty boy back then. So, the remaining possibilities are that he was a colleague or a junior corps member.
Searching through my memories, I observed the middle-aged uncle closely. One leg is prosthetic. Come to think of it, the sword I borrowed earlier was yellow. So, Thunder Breathing...
Thunder Breathing with one leg... Ah!
'This middle-aged uncle is Tsuyuri-kun...?!'
Tsuyuri-kun was a junior during Rei's time. We had teamed up on missions a few times.
Crap. I used Moon Breathing without thinking. Tsuyuri-kun, now Mr. Tsuyuri, is looking at me with intense suspicion.
Of course! White hair, red eyes, using Moon Breathing—that's super suspicious!
"Thanks for helping, kid. ...But who did you learn that swordsmanship from?"
"From a person named Mr. Michikatsu of the Tsugikuni household!"
"I see. ...Right, there's no way that person is alive."
I can't possibly come out and say, "Hello! Long time no see. I'm Rei's reincarnation!"
Honestly, it was so awkward I wanted to run away immediately, but I couldn't let go of the lead to join the Demon Slayer Corps that I had finally found.
"Um, uncl... bro..."
"Don't force it. It's fine to call me uncle. If it bothers you, just call me Mr. Tsuyuri."
"Yes, are you related to the Demon Slayer Corps, Mr. Tsuyuri?"
"...I was, in the past."
Saying that, Mr. Tsuyuri lowered his gaze to his prosthetic leg. The leg lost in a horse demon mission—no, lost due to a vile corps member's even more vile scheme.
"What about it, kid?"
"I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
I looked at him with faint hope that he might introduce a mediator or a cultivator, but the only response was a shake of his head.
"Give it up, kid. It's Moon Breathing, right?"
"What's wrong with Moon Breathing?"
"...It won't look good."
With a stiff expression, Mr. Tsuyuri continued.
That 20 years ago, there was a swordsman who used Moon Breathing. But since Moon Breathing originated from demons, that swordsman was suspected of colluding with demons, labeled a traitor, and expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps.
The speaker was serious, but... uh, yes, I know all about it since I'm that person.
"That swordsman also had white hair and red eyes. He was treated harshly, seen as ominous due to his appearance. He was a kind and excellent swordsman... Similarly, you with white hair and red eyes won't have an easy time in the Corps. So give up, understand?"
"I see. No."
I feel sorry for Mr. Tsuyuri worrying about a kid he barely knows, but I have to join the Corps no matter what.
"Stubborn kid. Did you even listen to me?"
"Did I look like I was sleeping? The point is that if I hide my hair and eyes, it should be fine, right?"
"...That alone isn't enough. Change your Breathing to something else."
"I firmly refuse."
Me, Mr. Michikatsu's tsuguko?
Moon Breathing's successor???
Cheating with another Breathing is absurd. I want to remain a man as steadfast as bamboo in love and swordsmanship!
"Moon Breathing is my pride."
Mr. Tsuyuri looked at me.
I looked at Mr. Tsuyuri.
We stared at each other intently, like a contest of endurance.
"...Follow me."
The endurance contest was my victory.
・
・
・
Mr. Tsuyuri's house was on a mountainside after a long walk up. A small hut standing alone in the bamboo-covered mountains was his home.
He said he makes a living by creating various things from bamboo cut from the mountain. He makes bamboo dragonflies or bamboo barrels, and indeed, half-finished carvings were scattered around a corner of the house.
The scenery filled with bamboo alone made me feel a homely sense of relief in Mr. Tsuyuri's house, which I had set foot in for the first time today.
"My former master is currently nurturing cultivators. He happens to live at the top of this mountain, so I'll take you there tomorrow."
Good, one step forward to joining the Corps. Now that I'm here, all I have to do is pass the Final Selection.
As I struck a fighting pose in my heart, Mr. Tsuyuri suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Come to think of it..."
"We haven't even introduced ourselves. I'm Tsuyuri Sōsuke. Kid, what about you?"
"I am..."
I was about to say Meichiro, but suddenly closed my mouth.
Since I aim to become a demon slayer using Moon Breathing, I want to use a name other than Meichiro, one that won't be known to demons.
"Kōgetsu. ...My name is Kōgetsu."
To convey my will to behead that neck, to my respected master.
＊
The next day, at the house of Mr. Tsuyuri (the younger one) on the mountain top.
Due to the white hair, red eyes + Moon Breathing combo, I was suspected of things like "the hidden child of senpai... grandchild... no, the age doesn't match... could senpai be alive?" but anyway, I was safely accepted as a disciple.
Mr. Tsuyuri (the younger) already had one disciple. Meaning, a senior disciple equivalent to me.
The senior disciple with exceptionally good hair was briefly surprised by my appearance but soon treated me normally. He even showed kindness by saying, "If there's anything you don't know, ask me." A good person. I was grateful. I grew fond of him instantly.
I was swelling with anticipation for our future life together, but that joyful time didn't last long.
When Mr. Tsuyuri (the younger) told me to go all out so he could see my skill, and I seriously faced him, Mr. Tsuyuri (the younger) went flying.
"Masterrrrr?!"
Hearing the senior disciple's scream of shock, I regretted, 'Ah, I messed up,' but it was too late.
After fully receiving Mr. Tsuyuri (the younger)'s anger with "How am I supposed to nurture a swordsman stronger than me, you idiot stupid brother!" I was returned to Mr. Tsuyuri (the older), that is, Sōsuke's house.
In my memories, Tsuyuri-kun (the younger) was a boy with polite speech as default, clumsy and full of charm, but the flow of time is scary. It's more brutal than a gacha pickup that doesn't work (after completing payment).
I worried that the relationship between the Tsuyuri brothers might sour because of me, but seeing that they still borrowed soy sauce from each other after the "Master One-Shot Incident" (named by the senior disciple), I was relieved.
Going back and forth between the mountainside and the top was good training. Although the senior disciple was getting haggard from carrying pickling jars with press stones.
Since my skill as a swordsman was recognized, it was decided that I would wait until the Final Selection a few months later. During that time, I spent my days swinging my sword, training, helping Sōsuke with his不便 leg, and assisting with bamboo craftwork.
The excessively well-made bamboo dragonflies I created sold like hotcakes, so lately, I feel more time is taken up by bamboo dragonfly production than training.
"Why don't you just become a bamboo dragonfly craftsman instead of a demon slayer?"
"Absolutely not."
Sōsuke, worried about me with white hair, red eyes, and using Moon Breathing, often recommended paths other than demon slaying, but I refused.
After several such tussles, Sōsuke eventually seemed to give up and stopped trying to dissuade me from aiming to be a demon slayer.
"But hide that appearance. No matter what, hide it. Understand?"
"Yes, I'll wear a mask or a hood or a face cover!"
"That alone isn't reassuring. We need a better method..."
"Then how about a white turban and sunglasses?"
Please call me the Moonlight Mask of the Demon Slayer Corps. It was 90% serious and 10% joke, but Sōsuke's reaction wasn't good. He groaned and sank into deep thought.
And that Sōsuke left, saying only "I'll be away from home for a while," which was a month ago.
Sōsuke, upon returning home after a long time, immediately took something out and approached me.
"Sōsuke, what is that...?"
"Don't be scared. Stay still, Kōgetsu."
"Don't do it, don't come this way...!"
"Stay put. Here, open this wide so it's easy to put in."
"Nooo, don't touch me... I've never had anything like that put in!"
"What, it only hurts the first time. You'll get used to it soon..."
"Nooo, I said nooo...!"
Plop
"Gyaaaaaah! My eyes, my eyeeeees!"
"I told you not to move! There's still one left. Don't move this time!!"
"Noooo! I don't want to put that in my eyes! Noooo!!"
"We have no choice if we want to hide your eye color. Endure it, aren't you a man!"
"Pinning down a resisting minor and forcing their eyelids open, stop such savage acts, stop it, I say! What's enjoyable about violating my eyeballs, Sōsuke, I didn't know you were that kind of person, ah ah ah wait, I'm scared, I'm scared, I feel like crying, it's terrible! Wait, let me take a deep breath, let me go at my own pace, let me prepare mentally, my age = years of bare-eyed experience, so I'm shaken by this first experience, a heart pops out of my mouth flying toward the sky with wings spread, hoohah, I am the great King of Laputa (thud) Muskaaaaaah?!"
"What's Muska again?"
"The wearing method of these contact lenses is very dangerous, so never imitate it! Contact lens prescription is a medical act; always follow a doctor's instructions and use them correctly according to the dosage!"
"Who are you shouting at, you?"
・
・
・
It was my first time, so I panicked, but yeah, contact lenses. Colored contact lenses, no less. To be precise, 'something like contact lenses.'
"I thought of how to hide your eye color and had a skilled craftsman make them. Since they go in the eyes, I consulted a doctor too. Is your vision okay?"
"It's amazingly transparent, like I've been reborn. It feels like I've shed a layer through a horrible experience, I sense tremendous omnipotence. Now I fear nothing. I'm the strongest."
"You're such a materialistic brat after being so scared."
Sōsuke laughed as he applied hair dye to my white hair. He seemed to aim to change my appearance rather than just hide it.
"Good, how about this?"
Looking into the hand mirror he handed me, the reflection showed a boy with black hair and reddish-brown eyes. It is me.
Wow, erasing the white hair, red eyes specialty makes my presence plain. An extra aura oozing out. Even if my appearance is discovered, I won't stand out much.
But commercial hair dye is one thing, how much did these contact lenses cost? Contact lenses don't exist in Japan of this era yet. Considering research costs, material costs, labor costs, it must have been quite expensive.
"Sōsuke, thank you. ...But wasn't this expensive?"
"Idiot, don't worry about such things as a kid."
"But..."
"It's fine. I got to dispose of money I had no use for, so I feel refreshed. If I can protect you with that, it's cheap."
Laughing, he patted my newly dyed head and laughed again, saying hair dye got on his hand. I laughed along.
It was the night before the Final Selection, at age twelve.
＊
With encouragement from Sōsuke and Mr. Tsuyuri (the younger), and the senior disciple who postponed his selection participation, I headed to Mt. Fujikasane.
I borrowed the Nichirin Blade from Sōsuke. Even if the color is different, I can handle it with my own Breathing if I put my mind to it, so no problem.
This is my second time participating in the Final Selection, including my past life. When I was Rei, I was unnecessarily restless, but this time I was relatively calm.
I wore a hunting hat pulled down deep for sun protection, but since I wasn't dressed suspiciously like wrapped in a mask and hood, people's gazes were gentle.
Unlike last time, this time no one's badmouthing came to my ear—
"What's with that guy, wearing a mask like an idiot."
"He's such a little kid, how old is he?"
No, it's definitely coming. Not about me, though. I flinched at the word mask. I'm not even wearing a mask in this life.
Looking in the direction of the voices, there were boys around mid-teens with good builds. Following their gaze, a girl with a petite build stood there, as they said.
Even though the boys' taunts must be audible, she looked up at the wisteria flowers with a blank expression, unfazed. Seeing the mask adorning her head, my eyes widened.
A white fox mask with blue flower patterns. Urokodaki's carving style. Could she be Urokodaki's disciple? Should I try talking to her?
It was just as I took a step forward, following the nostalgia rising from deep in my chest.
"What can a girl do as a swordsman?"
"She'll obviously die first."
"Really. The mental state of the cultivator who sent such a kid is suspect— "Oops, my foot slipped!!" Whaaaat?!"
Before Boy A could finish speaking, I delivered a properly controlled flying kick to him. B and C, who seemed to be from the same school, shouted seeing Boy A fly away, but who cares.
I landed gracefully on the spot and presented a friendly smile to the girl. Hello hello, nice to meet you.
"Hi, that mask is cool! I'm jealous!"
"Wow, thanks. This mask, you see, Urokodaki... my master gave it to me."
Unclenching the fist she was about to throw at Boy A, the girl opened her lips softly. Oh my, so cute.
What poured cold water on the warm atmosphere was Boy A's shout.
"What are you doing all of a sudden!!"
Don't squawk. Be grateful instead.
If I hadn't delivered the flying kick on your behalf, you would have been hit by a girl. It looked dangerous. That was the look of someone about to deliver a Droplet Thrust to a man's vital spot.
That quick judgment, indeed Urokodaki's disciple...!
"You brat, which school are you from! Do you think you can get away with doing this to me?!"
"We're practically the next Hashira, nurtured by a former Hashira!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Unexpectedly, they're truly ignorant of the world... Shouldn't you learn manners before swordsmanship?"
As the girl's eyes grew sharp again, I shouted while shielding Boy ABC.
Don't get it wrong. I'm not shielding the girl from you guys. I'm protecting you guys from the girl!!
But this girl, she hasn't given up on the Droplet Thrust yet! Don't you value your sons?!
Don't underestimate her just because she's petite. This girl is a skilled fighter that Boy ABC can't handle. Not recognizing the skill gap is a fatal flaw for a swordsman, but they were completely unaware.
"We're on a different level than you brats trained under mediocre cultivators or that little kid!"
No disciple wouldn't get angry hearing their master insulted as mediocre. The girl frowned her lovely eyebrows.
"Could you not insult Urokodaki when you don't even know him?"
"Hmph, we can tell even without knowing. Just the fact that he'd make a little kid like you a swordsman shows he's not right in the head!"
"Girls are weak in strength, short, don't build muscle, and besides, they cry easily!"
"Teaching sword to such a kid is a waste. She'll just become demon food!"
"Frogs in a well making such a noisy racket... Three of them together, so noisy. Ribbit ribbit ribbit squawk squawk squawk"
"You keep getting on our nerves since earlier, you brat!"
The arrow of the boy trio, who had been ganging up on the girl, now pointed at me.
"We're stronger than anyone here! Because we were recognized by a Hashira!"
"No, clearly that girl is stronger. And so am I."
"Saying a shorty girl like her is stronger, are your eyes in your butt?!"
"On the contrary, where does she look weak? This girl is quite fast and strong."
"If you say that, want to settle it?!"
As Boy C charged, splattering saliva, the girl's eyes gleamed.
"Yeah, I'm really good at that, so I'll accept. Don't whine after losing."
"Don't do it, calm down. Even before enlistment, fighting among corps members is prohibited."
Restraining the girl filled with killing intent despite her small, quiet appearance with my hand. The faintly smiling face is completely scary.
Urokodaki, how did you end up raising such a terrifying kid.
I don't want to get a red card expulsion before the selection even starts over a petty fight like this. Look, that kimono-clad lady over there is staring right at us.
But that person, not a face from the Ubuyashiki family... Could she be the wife of the current Lord Kagaya? A beauty like a birch tree spirit.
"Then let's do this. A competition between us and you guys on who can behead more demons."
"Okay, sure."
"Huh, wait. Am I naturally included too?"
Even though I butted in first, I got dragged into a strange competition. Honestly, I don't want to. I don't want to handle demon necks like some sports match. It's not a ball-throwing contest.
Seeing me backpedal for such reasons, Boy ABC puffed up their nostrils and got cocky, probably thinking they've already won. Should I shove ABC chocolate into those noses.
"What, no confidence? Coward."
"The outcome is already obvious."
"You probably only learned trashy swordsmanship anyway. Pity you serve a worm as a master."
"...Hah? Who said worm about my master?"
Insulting me is tolerable, but mocking Mr. Michikatsu too, you've got some nerve.
Do you know who my master is? Tsugikuni Michikatsu, the Moon Hashira of the demon slaying golden age, the Sengoku period. The famous Mr. Michikatsu of the Tsugikuni household, known as a samurai when standing, a swordsman when sitting, the head of a martial family when walking.
If I don't get angry when my master is insulted, how can I be called a disciple, a successor?
"It wasn't my intention, but I'll participate. I'll show you clearly that it's not swordsmanship to be mocked by lowlifes like you."
Rather than leaving it to guys who treat demon beheading as a game, I'll behead them all myself. In the end, it's the same act, so it's purely self-satisfaction.
Just as sparks were flying between the girl and me vs ABC Boys—
"Looks like something fun. Let me join too!"
With a bright voice out of place in the tense atmosphere, someone put an arm around my shoulder. A boy who looked a year or two older than me. On his cheek, cheerfully smiling, were two deeply engraved scars.
"I'm on this side! Then it's fair at 3 vs 3. You guys, even if you win 2 vs 3, you can't brag about it anywhere, right?"
Pointing at Boy ABC with his finger, the boy declared with an exaggerated serious face.
Though an odd intruder, Boy ABC didn't seem to think of excluding him. Seeing them look down on the boy, they probably considered him beneath them.
Let me tell you, this boy is quite a skilled swordsman too. Though he looks slender, his shoulders and arms are sturdy, and his hands are full of calluses. He showed clear signs of considerable training.
"Ah, right. Just competing would be boring. Let's put something on the line! How about the losing side buys beef hot pot for the winning side?"
As if having a brilliant idea, the boy clapped his palm. "How about it, good, right?" he said, looking alternately at me and the girl.
Beef hot pot— nice. I'll eat until their pockets are empty. I'll even order takeout for Sōsuke and the others.
But to the boy's suggestion, Boy ABC sneered.
"Putting that on the line isn't fun either. Only your wallets will be emptied."
"Might as well put something else on the line."
"Yeah... how about the losing side gives up on joining the Demon Slayer Corps?"
The boy, the girl, and I looked at each other. No words, but our eyes were unanimous.
"""Deal!"""
Thus, we nodded almost simultaneously.
Better than beef hot pot. I don't want to give swords to such mentally immature guys.
I guess I have to go all out from the start, climax style. I'll aim for demon necks with the momentum to turn Mt. Fujikasane bald. I'll send them off in an instant, as painlessly as possible, so forgive me.
Thinking they've already won even before the competition starts, Boy ABC left the spot in high spirits, erecting defeat flags harder than bamboo, saying things like "We'll finish it in a day, let alone seven," "This is their grave," "After this selection, we'll go eat beef hot pot," etc.
Now, it's about time for the kimono-clad lady to start explaining the selection. It probably won't differ much from last time, but I thought I'd listen anyway, and just as I was about to turn my head, my clothes were lightly tugged.
Turning, there was the girl. The scar-faced boy also had his clothes tugged and simultaneously looked back at the girl.
"Sorry for dragging you in."
With her small height looking up, the girl apologized, lowering her eyebrows apologetically. Up close, she's really small. How old is this kid? Younger than me, maybe.
"It's fine, it's fine. They underestimated my master too, same as me."
"I joined in myself, so don't worry about it! Um..."
No one here knows each other's names. Seeing the boy trailing off, we stated our names.
The girl with a pitiful smile like a small flower, and me with a carefree grin.
"I'm Makomo. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Kōgetsu. Tsuyuri Kōgetsu."
"Yeah, Makomo and Kōgetsu. I'm Kumeno Masachika. Let's get along!"
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