First Demon Slaying Mission

Hotaru Haganezuka stared at the pitch-black Nichirin Blade in Kurozawa Danryu's hand, his voice tinged with surprise.

"Are black Nichirin Blades rare?"

Kurozawa merely gave it a few indifferent glances before sheathing it and setting it beside him.

To someone whose Power of Despair blazed around him, the Nichirin Blade was not his only source of strength.

"They're not exactly rare. But one as completely black as this? I've never seen one."

"This trip has really opened my eyes. I once heard that a Child of Scorching Red, with red hair and red eyes, might receive a Nichirin Blade as scarlet as fire."

"Now that I look at you closely, with your rare black hair and black eyes... could there be a Child of Deep Black as well?"

Kurozawa's hair had grown out a little over the past half month and was now cropped short and black. In this world, he had yet to see anyone else with black hair and black eyes, and Hotaru Haganezuka had not either.

By now, Hotaru Haganezuka was clicking his tongue in admiration at Kurozawa's Nichirin Blade. He had already forgotten about Kurozawa breaking the blade and was no longer angry about it.

Meanwhile, Kurozawa's eyes turned thoughtful.

If Kurozawa's memories were correct, Child of Scorching Red was a title for Tanjiro.

But Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade was not the fiery scarlet Hotaru Haganezuka had described. It was black as well.

"What could a blade's color possibly represent, even if it were rainbow-colored?"

Sakonji Urokodaki cut off Hotaru Haganezuka, who had been speaking with great enthusiasm.

The color of Kurozawa's Nichirin Blade reminded him again of the profound, somber aura of chaos surrounding Kurozawa, and his mood worsened involuntarily.

Sakonji Urokodaki could not believe there was no connection between them.

Caw, caw, caw! At that moment, a series of piercing crow calls came from outside.

A completely black Kasugai Crow fluttered its wings and flew to the doorway.

"That seems to be my Kasugai Crow."

Kurozawa held out his hand, still unwilling to give up on having the Kasugai Crow land on it.

However, the crow only warily flew back a little before perching on the threshold, tilting its head as it watched Kurozawa's movements.

Only after seeing that Kurozawa had no intention of approaching did the Kasugai Crow withdraw its wary gaze.

"Kurozawa Danryu, I have come to deliver orders!"

An utterly unpleasant voice, hoarse as though it were speaking with metal sand in its throat, came from the Kasugai Crow's open beak.

This black crow could actually talk! "Kurozawa, this is your first mission. Listen carefully," Sakonji Urokodaki reminded him.

Kurozawa nodded and looked at the Kasugai Crow.

"Hachijo Island! A large number of travelers have gone missing. Three Rank Tsuchinoto Swordsmen have lost contact. Proceed at once to investigate!"

After delivering the message, the Kasugai Crow immediately spread its wings and flew away, seemingly unwilling to remain for even a moment longer.

So it really can't stand me. Watch out, or I'll roast you and eat you. Kurozawa shot a vicious glare at the departing Kasugai Crow.

"Kurozawa, do you know Hachijo Island?"

Sakonji Urokodaki turned his head, his calm voice giving away no emotion.

"I've never been there, and I've never heard of it." Kurozawa rarely ventured far from Mount Sagiri, so he knew little about many places.

"I've only heard of it myself. It's an island to the east. Since the scenery is quite nice, many people travel there every year."

As Kurozawa and the others spoke, Kasugai Crows began flying through the sky one after another, descending upon Mount Sagiri.

The arrival of the blades was also the moment when Demon Slaying Missions were truly issued.

Compared to the vast number of demons, there were still too few swordsmen. Once they became official swordsmen, they had to tirelessly carry out all kinds of Demon Slaying Missions.

Demons could be found anywhere, from distant corners of the land to cities and mountain ravines, and swordsmen were needed to deal with them.

When Hotaru Haganezuka arrived, missions had also been delivered to every disciple on Mount Sagiri.

Kurozawa was not the only one.

"Since you have missions to handle, and I've delivered both the blades and the Demon Slayer Corps uniforms, I won't stay any longer."

"Lord Urokodaki, farewell. Please take care of your health."

Hotaru Haganezuka took Sakonji Urokodaki's broken blade away to repair it, then bade him a solemn farewell.

It was clear that he held an elder like Sakonji Urokodaki in great respect.

Naturally. A man like Sakonji Urokodaki, who had devoted his entire life to the Demon Slayer Corps and to exterminating evil demons, would be respected by anyone.

"Kurozawa, the appearance of a mission means that danger has already descended upon Hachijo Island."

"And the Kasugai Crow said that swordsmen who went to investigate have already disappeared. They are likely dead, which shows this mission is far from simple."

"I won't say much more. Be extremely careful. Gather the necessities and set out immediately."

That was the life of a swordsman. Once they received a Demon Slaying Mission, no matter what they were doing, they had to put everything aside and carry it out with all their strength, because each of them bore an even greater responsibility.

A second's delay could mean another person harmed by demons, another shattered soul.

Kurozawa nodded seriously, went inside to pack a few things, and changed into his Demon Slayer Corps uniform. He then put on a light blue haori over it, strode out of the house, and set off.

Just a few breaths after he stepped out the door, Sakonji Urokodaki's somewhat suppressed voice came from behind him.

"You little brat, I told you to bring the necessities!"

Kurozawa said in surprise, "I brought everything—some travel money, dried rations, my Demon Slayer Corps identification, and so on."

"Your Nichirin Blade!"

Still in its sheath, Sakonji Urokodaki tossed Kurozawa's Nichirin Blade to him.

Kurozawa caught it and burst into realization. "Oh, right. I left it in the hall and forgot to take it. Hahaha."

Was a Nichirin Blade really such an inconvenient thing to carry? Sakonji Urokodaki's forehead filled with black lines.

Hachijo Island, a dark dungeon.

A boy with a smooth white snake coiled around his neck and thick white bandages wrapped down from his lips crouched blankly in a dark corner.

His black hair hung flat against both sides of his cheeks like strips of kelp, revealing his eyes.

His eyes were peculiar, with a green left eye and a golden right eye.

Unfortunately, those beautiful pupils held the stillness of stagnant water, devoid of the vitality a young boy should have possessed.

"Kaburamaru, I'll take you out of this dungeon. You'll see the outside world. Believe me."

The bandages over the boy's mouth shifted slightly as he spoke to the white snake around his neck.

After looking around and confirming that no one was nearby, he dug a hairpin out of the straw on the ground. Then, with a calm expression, he silently used its pointed end to carve at the wooden bars.

This hairpin, carelessly dropped by one of the guards, was his only hope now.

Long ago, he had hoped that someone might save him, but now he had accepted reality and resolved to rely on himself.

Hachijo Island was not close by. It could even be said to be extremely far from Mount Sagiri.

After learning the route, Kurozawa estimated that it would already be good if he could return to Mount Sagiri within a month.

He ran through the mountain forests for more than three days before reaching Asakusa, the large city closest to Mount Sagiri.

Kurozawa had once visited Asakusa with Sakonji Urokodaki.

This time, however, he had come alone.

Standing at Asakusa City's gates, Kurozawa looked into the city.

His view was filled with bustling crowds.

Married couples taking their children for an after-dinner stroll, taverns and shops lining the streets, stalls selling snacks by the roadside—Asakusa City was exceptionally lively.

Though it was clearly nighttime, unlike the mountain forests that had already fallen silent, Asakusa City was lit everywhere by lights of every color.

Every so often, black cars sped across the brick-paved streets.

For a moment, Kurozawa felt as though he had returned to the city of his previous life.

Though this place was nowhere near as prosperous as the city from his former life, it had already begun to take shape.