Sabito

After walking out through the Torii Barrier Gate of the shrine, Kurozawa found a nearby ancient tree with lush branches and leaves. He spent several minutes burying the corpse beneath it.

With his physique, digging a hole to bury someone was as easy as eating and drinking.

Looking down at the nameless grave, Kurozawa said, "Rest in peace. I hope you won't be so unlucky in your next life."

Next year, bright flowers would probably bloom on this tree beneath the dazzling sunlight.

Just then, Sakonji Urokodaki slowly emerged under the moonlight.

His Tengu Mask looked solemn and heavy, utterly expressionless.

"Looks like you've already dealt with the demon. How did it feel?"

His calm voice came from beneath the mask, completely flat in tone, yet Kurozawa could hear the concern within it.

"I took care of it in no time."

"Master, I'm reserving the next Pillar position in the Demon Slayer Corps."

Kurozawa chuckled and handed the Nichirin Blade back to Sakonji Urokodaki.

Sakonji Urokodaki looked over Kurozawa's neat clothing and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"Don't get too full of yourself."

"That was only a worthless demon."

As he spoke, Sakonji Urokodaki turned and headed back toward their residence.

Kurozawa quickly followed, casually boasting, "Got it. Next time, I'll kill an Upper Moon for you to see."

Hearing such arrogant words, Sakonji Urokodaki gave Kurozawa a faint sidelong glance, then clicked his tongue softly.

The sound was nearly inaudible, but Kurozawa still caught it.

He leaned closer to Sakonji Urokodaki and said, "Master, if I heard right, were you just looking down on me?"

"Yes, you heard right." Sakonji Urokodaki nodded directly.

"Hey, Master, did you have to be so blunt?" Kurozawa shrugged helplessly.

"Just because I can't do it now doesn't mean I won't be able to later."

"I look forward to that day." Sakonji Urokodaki said it casually.

"No way, Master. You don't believe in me at all."

"I, Kurozawa, am exceptionally talented. What can't I do? One day, I'll bring you an Upper Moon's head to use as a teapot."

"If you don't die at an Upper Moon's hands, thank heaven for that."

Under the cold moonlight, master and disciple walked home one behind the other, chatting as they went.

According to the Demon Slayer Corps' records, there were twelve strongest demons known as the Demon Moons, the Twelve Kizuki, who served as direct guards to the Demon Progenitor.

The Demon Moons were divided into Upper Moons and Lower Moons. The six strongest Demon Moons were the Upper Moons.

Every Upper Moon had inflicted incalculable losses upon the Demon Slayer Corps.

Almost every few years, a Pillar from the Demon Slayer Corps would die, most likely at the hands of an Upper Moon demon.

Some Upper Moon demons that had lived for centuries had claimed the lives of at least dozens of Pillars.

What made them most troublesome was how carefully the Upper Moon demons hid themselves. Their tracks were rarely exposed. If they encountered ordinary swordsmen, they could not even be bothered to attack. Only when they encountered a Pillar would they kill the Pillar, leave the area, and continue living somewhere else.

The Lower Moons among the Twelve Kizuki changed from time to time, but no Pillar had ever killed an Upper Moon.

Kurozawa had watched only a few episodes of Demon Slayer in his previous life. Forget the Upper Moons, even the Lower Moons had not appeared yet, so he did not know the Demon Moons' exact strength.

But from Sakonji Urokodaki's descriptions, the Demon Moons were all extremely powerful.

"With your current strength, you can be considered among the best in the Demon Slayer Corps. If you encounter a Lower Moon, you may consider fighting it. But if you encounter an Upper Moon, give everything you have and try to escape." Those were Sakonji Urokodaki's words to Kurozawa not long ago.

However, Kurozawa believed that with his rate of improvement, let alone an Upper Moon, he might even have a chance to surpass the legendary Demon Progenitor.

Because they chatted as they walked, neither moved quickly. It took them more than ten minutes to reach Sakonji Urokodaki's wooden house.

A pale yellow firelight shone inside, and three figures could be seen through the window.

When they entered, they found two boys and one girl seated around a low dining table.

The girl had teal eyes. She was Makomo.

To Makomo's left sat a gentle-looking boy, Sabito.

Sabito wore a haori patterned with interwoven yellow, orange, and green turtle-shell designs. Seeing Kurozawa and Sakonji Urokodaki return, he hurriedly rose to greet them.

"Master, Senior Brother Kurozawa."

Sabito's eyes were unusual. His silver pupils were beautiful, always carrying a gentle smile.

To Sabito's left stood a boy with a somewhat timid expression, Giyu Tomioka.

He seemed uncomfortable around many people and half-hid behind Sabito.

Ruffling Sabito's hair, Kurozawa smiled. "How is it? Have you taught Giyu Total Concentration Breathing?"

Before Sabito could speak, Giyu Tomioka said softly, "N-No, I'm rather stupid. I haven't learned it yet."

Kurozawa smiled and reassured him, "When I was your age, I was still clumsily practicing Breathing Techniques. There's no need to rush."

Giyu Tomioka had become Sakonji Urokodaki's disciple a year ago, yet he had still failed to master many sword forms. His Water Breathing was merely fairly proficient, far from outstanding.

Compared to Sabito, who was the same age as him, the gap was very obvious.

Moreover, Giyu Tomioka was extremely timid by nature.

Having personally witnessed his older sister being killed by a demon, the child had been left with severe psychological trauma and had become deeply cowardly.

However, Kurozawa knew that Giyu Tomioka possessed tremendous potential.

In the original story, after Sabito died protecting Giyu Tomioka during the Final Selection, Giyu Tomioka changed. He began tempering himself with near-madness, paving the way with demon corpses and bones to become the future Water Pillar.

If Kurozawa remembered correctly, Giyu Tomioka's final strength would far surpass Sakonji Urokodaki's current strength.

But now, Kurozawa would not allow Sabito and Makomo to die during the Final Selection. He did not know whether Giyu Tomioka could still become that cold and stern Water Pillar.

Perhaps because of his arrival, Sabito would replace Giyu Tomioka's future position and become the new Water Pillar.

That was assuming Kurozawa gave the position of Water Pillar to him.

"In one month, it will be the Final Selection. Sabito, Makomo, and Kurozawa, the three of you should remember to look after your other junior brothers and sisters."

"The Final Selection will not be difficult for you. As long as you walk out alive, you will become official swordsmen, choose your own steel, and receive your own Nichirin Blades."

"My body is aging, and I am nearly unable to continue serving as the Water Pillar. When the time comes, I hope one of you will inherit my legacy. Do not disappoint me."

Sakonji Urokodaki suddenly spoke, his tone solemn.

"Don't worry. I'm here." Kurozawa nodded and clenched his fist, making it crackle.

At Mount Fujikasane, the site of the Final Selection, there were many demons captured by powerful members of the Demon Slayer Corps to serve as trial targets.

Kurozawa knew that Sakonji Urokodaki had taken part in capturing demons. In the original story, it was precisely the demon Sakonji Urokodaki had captured that caused him a lifetime of suffering.

Hand Demon, we'll be meeting very soon. A dangerous glint flashed through Kurozawa's narrowed eyes.