Every morning, a few youngsters broke the silence of mist-shrouded Mount Sagiri without fail.
Boys climbed the mountain bare-chested with enormous rocks on their backs, while a girl darted through the woods like a phantom.
The young Demon Slayer swordsmen and aspiring swordsmen poured out their sweat on this mountain, all so they could sever one more demon's head in the battles to come.
Only after coming to Mount Sagiri did Haruto learn what hellish training really meant.
Compared to the training he had done in the Swordsmith Village, Sakonji Urokodaki's regimen truly proved why he was a top-class instructor.
Under his training program, Haruto quickly returned to peak condition after spending two weeks resting his injured ribs.
Gradually, however, Total Concentration Breathing was no longer enough to meet Mr. Urokodaki's demands.
The concept of "Constant Total Concentration" entered the picture.
"Constant Total Concentration" meant maintaining Total Concentration Breathing for extended periods.
Whether eating, sleeping, or using the toilet, they had to keep every cell in their muscles fully supplied with oxygen in a state of Total Concentration.
Although maintaining "Constant Total Concentration" was extremely difficult, the rewards were considerable.
Haruto could clearly feel his body growing stronger, and even his swordsmanship, which had seemed unable to improve any further, reached a new level.
The boys running through the mountains each day became a distinctive sight on Mount Sagiri, rain or shine.
Only when a Kasugai Crow or Parrot landed on someone's shoulder would one of the boys leave the group, don his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, and grip his Nichirin Blade as he headed to his assignment to slay a demon.
Over half a year later.
Three boys sat obediently in a row, while a girl with long, dark green hair stood behind them, smiling.
With a pair of scissors in hand, she trimmed the boys' cumbersome long hair.
Sabito's peach-colored hair was fine and soft, while Giyu's black hair was coarse. Haruto's hair was the most interesting: whenever she cut off its pale blue tips, the white ends would turn blue again within days.
A snow-white figure circled twice overhead before diving down:
"A request from the Stone Hashira! A request from the Stone Hashira!"
Haruto bent his index finger and let Cang Kong land on it.
His broad hands had accumulated quite a few calluses and scars, the result of a year spent training and hunting demons.
Cang Kong shook out his feathers and ate a strip of fish from the back that Haruto offered him.
"A request from the Stone Hashira! Suspected demon activity in Takinogawa Village! Assigned to Lower Rank member Haruto Takanashi! Proceed immediately! Proceed immediately!"
"So he still remembers I'm a Lower Rank member. A Hashira actually sent a request my way..."
He grumbled about the big monk under his breath, but his movements did not slow in the slightest.
He shook off the hair clippings, took a quick shower, and changed into his Demon Slayer Corps uniform and his Haori.
"Takinogawa Village? Where's that?"
"Kita-Toshima District in Tokyo Prefecture. If you run, it should take less than a day."
"Be quick getting there and back-Makomo will be taking the Final Selection soon."
Haruto smiled and ruffled Makomo's hair. "Don't worry. I'll bring you a present."
"That's not what I meant..." Makomo smiled helplessly.
"I want one too." Giyu Tomioka turned his head, fixing his blue eyes on Haruto with utter seriousness. "A present."
Sabito's silver eyes curved as he gave a radiant smile. "Come back safe."
"Presents" seemed to have become a promise among the youngsters. They did not actually need to bring anything back; returning safely was the best present any of them could ask for.
Mr. Sakonji sat in front of the house, still wearing his blue, wave-patterned Haori and Great Tengu Mask.
When Haruto said goodbye, he paused, then went inside and brought out a... fox mask.
It was just like the masks worn by the other youngsters in Urokodaki's household, all carved by his own hands.
Haruto had no scars on his face, so stars took their place as his distinguishing feature, carved into the side of the mask.
Sakonji Urokodaki silently held it out to him. After a few seconds, he said, "If you don't mind..."
The white-haired boy accepted the mask and put it over his face, just as Sabito did.
Hmm, it really doesn't obstruct my vision. No wonder Mr. Urokodaki wears his every day.
The expression beneath the Great Tengu Mask seemed to soften, and Haruto heard a quiet chuckle.
"Off you go. I'll have something tasty ready when you get back." Sakonji patted his shoulder. "Don't forget to go visit your Master."
As night fell, Takinogawa Village in Tokyo Prefecture's Kita-Toshima District sank into terror.
Rumors had recently spread through the village that wild beasts were descending from the mountains to eat people. Quite a few villagers had already been devoured at night.
But... how could that possibly have been a wild beast...
The physician at the apothecary had examined the scenes of the villagers' deaths. When he returned, he warned his wife and two daughters to keep the doors and windows tightly shut at night and never go outside.
Shinobu huddled in her older sister's arms, wrapped tightly in a quilt by Kanae.
Kanae held her firmly and whispered into her ear, "Don't be afraid, Shinobu. We'll be all right as long as the doors and windows are shut. No one will hurt us..."
Despite her reassuring words, she kept trembling, as though she had little confidence in them herself.
"How could that have been a wild beast... Blood covered an entire wall. Rather than an animal, it looked more like some deranged murderer had attacked them..."
Her parents' hushed conversation reached Kanae's ears, sending scenes from horror novels she had read flashing through her mind.
Instead, it was Shinobu who hugged her older sister, murmuring over and over, "They're only wild beasts. They can't break into the house..."
Something like a howl rang out in the village. The sisters clung to each other, shivering in their room.
Their father was already downstairs, standing guard with an axe, their mother beside him.
Whether it was a murderer or some wild beast, it should have had a hard time hurting them.
But a moment later, they heard something pounding on their wooden door.
Their father shouted downstairs, trying to scare off the attacking beast-or killer.
Crash!
The beast broke through the door.
Kanae and Shinobu's eyes widened in the darkness. They immediately scrambled up and rushed downstairs.
"Shinobu, stay here!" fourteen-year-old Kanae called quietly to her sister.
"I have to go down! If it's a criminal, I can help too!"
Eleven-year-old Shinobu was adamant. She grabbed the wooden stick kept in their room and charged down the stairs after her older sister.
But... what was it that the sisters saw...
A creature on all fours, its mouth smeared with blood and filled with sharp fangs, sprang at their father. It moved so fast that he was knocked to the floor before he could even react.
And then...
It bit straight through his neck!
Blood sprayed from his severed artery, splashing the entire wall crimson!
The thing biting him was no wild beast. It was a hideous demon with horns on its forehead!
"Aah-!"
Their mother let out a piercing scream. She looked at her daughters, who had rushed downstairs and stood at a loss, then at her husband, still struggling on the floor. Strength somehow returned to her hands, and she snatched up the fallen axe and swung it at the demon!
Shlick!
Before the axe could fall, their mother looked down. A long, thick, monstrous claw had already pierced her chest and torn out her heart.
The sisters did not even have the strength to cry for help. Watching the murders unfold before their eyes, they were so terrified that their minds went blank.
Kanae seized Shinobu's clothes and pulled her behind her.
If we both have to die... then let Shinobu be the last.
Dear gods, what depths of hell did this demon crawl out of...
The demon stuffed the entire warm, still-beating heart into its mouth, then turned its malicious gaze on the two sisters inside the house.
"A fresh... heart!"
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