Mt. Sagiri was named for the mist that shrouded it before sunrise. Sakonji Urokodaki, the Former Water Hashira, had lived here year-round as a trainer. Since sunlight only reached the mountain for half the day, Sakuji Urokodaki could better protect others here as well.
Tsugikuni Kuuga walked along the mist-shrouded mountain path and arrived at the residence of the Water Hashira trainees. A girl was carrying a bucket of water toward the house.
The girl wore a Plum Blossom Patterned Short Kimono, and her dark green hair swayed in the wind. She was Makomo, Giyu Tomioka's senior sister—a cute girl.
When Makomo saw that Giyu Tomioka and the other had returned safely, she hurriedly set down the bucket and ran toward the wooden house, shouting, "Master! Senior Brother and Junior Brother are back!"
Makomo's voice was ethereal, and she spoke softly, like a lark.
Upon hearing his disciple's voice, Sakuji Urokodaki rushed out at once. This was the first time in more than ten generations of disciples that someone had returned alive from the Final Selection, and Sakonji Urokodaki was overjoyed.
After rushing out of the wooden house, Sakonji Urokodaki did not even notice Tsugikuni Kuuga. He pulled his two disciples straight into an embrace. Sabito and Giyu Tomioka both froze; their usually composed master had never lost control like this before.
Makomo came over as well, the smile on her face never fading since she had seen Sabito and the others.
"Master! I understand how you feel, but it seems there's someone else here too!"
Only after Makomo reminded him did Sakonji Urokodaki come to his senses. He hurriedly released his two bewildered disciples and returned to normal.
"Please forgive my display, young man," Sakonji Urokodaki said awkwardly.
"It's only human. I understand. If it were me, I'd be even more excited!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said with a smile.
Tsugikuni Kuuga then bowed first. He greatly respected trainers like Sakonji Urokodaki. After all, they had devoted their lives to the Demon Slayer Corps, and even after retiring, they diligently continued providing the Corps with fresh blood.
"My name is Tsugikuni Kuuga, and I come from the Butterfly Mansion!"
Sakonji Urokodaki hurriedly helped Tsugikuni Kuuga up. He did not understand why this person was bowing upon their first meeting.
"This is our first meeting, young man. There's no need to be so formal!"
"It's all right! I'm showing respect to trainers like you!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said.
Sabito pulled Makomo over and introduced her to Tsugikuni Kuuga. "This is Makomo. She's younger than Giyu, but she arrived earlier, so she's his senior sister!"
Makomo walked up to Tsugikuni Kuuga and said with a smile, "Nice to meet you. I'm Makomo. Please take care of me!"
"Hello, adorable Senior Sister!" Tsugikuni Kuuga replied.
Tsugikuni Kuuga's words made Makomo a little embarrassed. After all, the two guys around her were hopelessly blunt and did not know how to compliment girls at all.
"By the way, Master, Kuuga saved us. Otherwise, Giyu and I might not have made it back!" Sabito said.
"Is that so? Then we'll have to make more delicious food today to thank him properly!" Sakonji Urokodaki said with a smile.
The Water Hashira group then returned inside, while Tsugikuni Kuuga said he wanted to look around Mt. Sagiri. Mr. Urokodaki readily agreed to his request.
Urokodaki watched Tsugikuni Kuuga's departing back with puzzlement. His sense of smell told him that Tsugikuni Kuuga was very strong—certainly stronger than his own disciples. He truly did not know how that boy had managed it, but he felt that perhaps this young man could bring an end to their thousand-year destiny.
"Master, what's wrong?" Makomo tugged at Sakonji Urokodaki's sleeve.
"Nothing. All right, get ready. We must treat that young man well!"
"Master, I'll help!" Sabito said, rolling up his sleeves.
Makomo pulled Giyu Tomioka, who stood nearby, off to chop firewood. In truth, Giyu Tomioka was the one chopping while Makomo watched from the side.
Yet this showed what true inner calm was. A beautiful girl like Makomo kept staring at Giyu Tomioka, but his heart remained utterly unmoved. No wonder he had been able to comprehend Water Breathing: Eleventh Form, Calm.
"Junior Brother, you look different now!" Makomo said.
Giyu Tomioka merely replied flatly, "Do I?"
"Oh, Junior Brother, you always act so distant. What will you do if you can't find a wife in the future? Sigh!" Makomo let out a sigh.
"I won't start a family until every demon has been killed," Giyu said seriously.
"You little blockhead!" Makomo teased.
At some point, she had already moved behind Giyu Tomioka, showing just how fast she was. Like Shinobu Kocho, Makomo was not very strong physically, so she also specialized in speed.
Makomo pinched Giyu Tomioka's soft cheek and ran off. Little girls did enjoy playing, after all. Giyu Tomioka continued chopping wood with the same calm expression.
At that moment, on the summit of Mt. Sagiri, Tsugikuni Kuuga sat on the ground resting. He had just experienced the Head Pillar's signature training, so he had fulfilled one small wish of his.
It had to be said that the mechanisms Mr. Urokodaki had set up were quite ingenious and excellent for training one's ability to evade. The sun had only recently set, so the forest was still thick with mist.
Tsugikuni Kuuga stood and walked toward the other side of the traps. Vast Mt. Sagiri was well worth admiring; its misty atmosphere always carried a hazy sort of beauty.
Walking through the woods and breathing in the fresh air, Tsugikuni Kuuga felt as though his whole body had come alive. Still, because he was near the summit, the air was somewhat thin.
As he walked, Tsugikuni Kuuga realized he seemed to have reached the depths of Mt. Sagiri. He decided to head back; once it became completely dark, he would surely get lost.
Just then, a girl's sobbing came from within the mist. Tsugikuni Kuuga followed the sound, and around the middle of the mountain, he spotted two black silhouettes in the fog.
One figure appeared to be an adult, while the one lying on the ground looked like a little girl. The crying was coming from there.
"Please, don't eat me! Sob, sob!" the girl pleaded in a trembling voice.
"But you look delicious," the man replied.
Upon hearing him, the girl became even more frightened. She slowly scooted backward, her body rubbing against the fallen leaves with a rustling sound.
At that moment, Tsugikuni Kuuga saw that the man in the mist had grabbed the girl by the throat and lifted her up. Then came the sound of clothes tearing.
What the hell, did demons have perverts too? Hearing the sound of fabric ripping, Tsugikuni Kuuga was completely dumbfounded. In this desolate wilderness, there was a man, a woman, and torn clothes—Tsugikuni Kuuga, as a proper gentleman, grinned.
What am I thinking? Isn't this just tearing off the packaging before eating? Perfectly normal. As he thought this, Tsugikuni Kuuga quickened his pace. Saving someone was what mattered; looking at girls was absolutely not on the agenda.
Before you continue