The Transparent World

"Yeah. Why?" Chiba Yo replied matter-of-factly when he saw Tanjiro's reaction.

To him, this was something anyone should be able to do, but his words had frightened Tanjiro.

Was Yo planning to dissect me?

"That shouldn't be possible, should it?" Tanjiro asked Chiba Yo in all seriousness.

Tanjiro's words only confused Chiba Yo. Puzzled, he asked, "Can't you do that just by concentrating a little harder? You observe the blood flowing, the organs working, and the muscles contracting and relaxing. Then you can predict your opponent's next move."

Tanjiro was completely lost. He had no idea what Chiba Yo was talking about.

Seeing the confusion still written all over Tanjiro's face, Chiba Yo began to feel that something was wrong.

Could other people not do this?

"Can't you see the internal structure of my body right now? Can you not see any of the things I just mentioned? It's like entering a transparent world, where the true nature of every living thing is perfectly clear to your eyes.

"And your own presence becomes subdued, too, making you hard to detect," Chiba Yo asked Tanjiro again.

A transparent world... a subdued presence...

Hearing Chiba Yo's explanation, Tanjiro felt as though he was remembering something.

"You saw all of that, didn't you?"

A familiar voice rang out from the depths of his memory.

Dad...

Memories of the past surfaced in his mind.

Under the moonlight, Tanjuro leaped high with an axe in his hands, facing a giant bear that stood nearly nine feet tall on its hind legs. The winter cold turned his exhaled breath into a white arc.

A moment later, amid the jingling of bells, the giant bear's head dropped onto the snow with a thud. Then its body fell with a heavy thump.

Tanjuro landed on the ground as well.

From beginning to end, Tanjiro had smelled no hesitation from Tanjuro. He had remained utterly fearless, without giving off even a trace of killing intent, and stood quietly in the snow like a plant.

"You saw all of that, didn't you?"

Tanjuro turned to Tanjiro as he spoke.

"Never forget everything you just saw."

What had Dad wanted me to see back then? He definitely wasn't the kind of person who would show off his strength for no reason.

Could it be... that what Yo described was what Dad had wanted me to see? Was Dad teaching me how to see this transparent world?

"Tanjiro! Tanjiro!" Chiba Yo waved a hand in front of Tanjiro's eyes, calling his name loudly.

Ever since Chiba Yo had finished his explanation, Tanjiro had stood there motionless. He hadn't responded even when Chiba Yo called him. Chiba Yo was beginning to think Tanjiro had fallen into a trance and was preparing to slap him awake.

Looks like this is the only way. Don't blame me, Tanjiro. This is all to snap you out of it.

Chiba Yo slowly raised his right hand, making up his mind.

Just as Chiba Yo was about to strike, Tanjiro came to his senses.

"Yo, what are you doing?"

Tanjiro looked at Chiba Yo's raised right hand and asked in confusion.

"You're back. That's good. I was just about to snap you out of it." Glad to see Tanjiro had come to his senses, Chiba Yo lowered his right hand.

...How exactly were you planning to snap me out of it?!

Tanjiro felt rather fortunate that he had come to his senses in time.

"Yo, it seems the world you see is different from the one we see," Tanjiro told Chiba Yo. The memory had helped him understand a few things.

"So you can't see any of what I just described?"

Chiba Yo had begun to suspect as much and asked Tanjiro.

Tanjiro nodded, then continued, "My dad seemed to be able to see a transparent world like that, just like you. He could also make his presence as hard to detect as a plant.

"There was this one time..."

Tanjiro recounted the memory that had just come back to him.

"What Dad wanted me to see back then must have been the Transparent World you both could see. Unfortunately, I never understood it before, and even now that I do, I still can't do it," Tanjiro said, feeling a little down.

After hearing Tanjiro's story, Chiba Yo understood that what he could see was the result of an innate talent, not something everyone possessed. But for that very reason, even if he wanted to teach Tanjiro how to see the Transparent World, he couldn't.

"I'm sure you'll be able to see the Transparent World someday, too." With nothing else he could do, Chiba Yo patted Tanjiro's shoulder to comfort him.

"Yeah! I'll work even harder! I'll master everything my father taught me!" Tanjiro regained his determination in an instant, his voice firm.

"Then I'll show you the Hinokami Kagura now," Tanjiro told Chiba Yo.

"All right. I'll let you know if I notice anything," Chiba Yo replied with a nod.

Tanjiro then walked to the center of the training ground and was about to draw his Nichirin Blade when he remembered that it had broken during the battle on Mount Natagumo. His newly forged blade had yet to arrive.

"Um... my Nichirin Blade broke during battle."

Tanjiro scratched his head and looked at Chiba Yo, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Use mine for now." Understanding what he meant, Chiba Yo handed him his own Nichirin Blade.

"Thank you." Tanjiro thanked him, then drew the Nichirin Blade. Chiba Yo stood to one side, watching him closely and observing what was happening inside his body.

Recalling the Moon God Dance and the breathing method Tanjuro had taught him, Tanjiro closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

!

Chiba Yo, who was using the Transparent World to observe the inside of Tanjiro's body, was suddenly startled.

This breathing method... why is it so similar to my Breathing Style? Though there do seem to be slight differences.

Chiba Yo kept those thoughts to himself rather than immediately telling Tanjiro. After all, Tanjiro had only just begun his demonstration, and there were still plenty of things he couldn't be sure of.

Naturally, Tanjiro was unaware of the change in Chiba Yo's thoughts. He had already focused himself and begun performing the Hinokami Kagura.

In time with Tanjiro's breathing, a fiery red flame climbed the obsidian-black Nichirin Blade, enveloping its entire length.

"Hinokami Kagura: Dance!"

Tanjiro swung his blade forward in an arcing slash wreathed in flames. The scorching fire heated even the air around him.

That's right. It's Sun Breathing. It's basically the same as my Breathing Style, and it manifests in the same way.

And... these Sword Techniques are truly exquisite! Simple yet practical, drawing perfectly on the strength of the entire body to unleash their full power. Even the movements are exceptionally graceful.

Whoever designed Sword Techniques like these must have been a fighter at the very pinnacle!