One afternoon two years later, sunlight spilled across the platform on the mountaintop, bathing it in gold.
Teiichi stood there bare-chested, displaying an astonishing physique. His muscles looked as though a master sculptor had painstakingly carved them, without any exaggerated bulk, instead possessing just the right balance of proportion and beauty.
He wore loose trousers, but they did nothing to hide the strength and firmness of his legs. A long strip of cloth was tied tightly around his waist, making his posture look all the more straight and tall, like a pine.
At that moment, he gripped a specially made heavy sword. Its blade weighed fifty-five kilograms, enormous and heavy, yet in his hands it seemed as light as a feather.
As his arms swung, the heavy sword traced one sharp arc after another through the air. Each swing stirred violent currents in the surrounding air, producing a low, powerful sound.
Sweat kept seeping from his forehead and sliding down his resolute face, then flowing over his solid chest, broad shoulders, and thick arms in strings of fine droplets that sparkled with crystalline clarity in the sunlight.
Like tiny streams, those beads of sweat wound down the mountain-like contours of his back muscles before gathering at his waistband, soaking a large patch of fabric. Yet Teiichi did not stop. His gaze remained focused and firm, as though he had forgotten both time and fatigue.
"...998, 999, 1,000."
When the count reached a thousand, Teiichi looked closely at the hand gripping his heavy sword, then gently set it on the ground. He had specifically commissioned a craftsman to make this weighty greatsword to his measurements six months earlier. When he first began training with it, every swing had been immensely difficult, but after a full six months of tireless effort, he could finally wield it with ease.
"Phew..."
As he let out a long breath, Teiichi felt the muscles throughout his body relax.
"The speed at which my physical abilities are improving really defies common sense. Even with enough exercise and nutrition, something like this would have been unimaginable in my old world."
Of course, nutrition and exercise were not the only reasons. His Breathing Style had also played a major role.
Over these past two years, Teiichi had been able to maintain his Breathing Style for increasingly long periods. At this rate, it would not be long before he could attempt to reach the realm of Total Concentration: Constant.
He looked up at the sky, checked the time of day, then nodded and murmured to himself, "Mm, it's about time to head down for lunch."
With that, he quickly bent down, picked up his clothes from the ground, and put them on.
Once dressed, he picked up two weights, each weighing five kilograms, and deftly fastened them around his wrists.
Teiichi now carried thirty kilograms in total-five on each limb, with another ten wrapped around his waist.
With all his preparations complete, Teiichi raced toward the wooden cabin halfway down the mountain like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Before long, Teiichi reached the little cabin.
Seeing Teiichi push open the door and come inside, Shoma said, "Rest for a bit, then take a bath. Lunch will be ready soon."
Teiichi looked at his teacher and nodded. "All right."
During the meal.
Shoma glanced at Teiichi and said softly:
"Teiichi, I heard that a nearby village may have been attacked by a demon. I'm planning to go and investigate tomorrow.
"If everything goes smoothly, I'll be back the day after tomorrow;
"but if I run into any trouble, I might have to stay a few more days.
"You'll have to take care of your own meals while I'm away."
Teiichi, who had been eating with his head down, looked up at those words. With food still in his mouth, he mumbled in reply,
"Aren't you retired already? Why is the Demon Slayer Corps still assigning you missions?"
Shoma furrowed his brow and explained:
"The demon that appeared this time may be somewhat troublesome.
"They've already sent two members to investigate, one after the other. A Tsuchinoto Rank member and a Hinoe Rank member both lost contact, and there's still been no word from either of them.
"Normally, regulations would call for a Hashira to investigate.
"But the Hashira nearby have their own missions at the moment and really can't get away.
"So I have no choice but to go there myself and deal with this."
Upon hearing that even a Hinoe Rank member had been unable to send back any information, Teiichi finally loosened his grip on his chopsticks. He set down his bowl and chopsticks and sank into thought.
The question of how the Demon Slayer Corps and demons compared in strength had always lingered in his mind.
According to the original work, the Demon Slayer Corps had established a clear and strict ranking system based on the varying strength of its ordinary members:
First came the basic sequence of ten ranks: Kinoe, Kinoto, Hinoe, Hinoto, Tsuchinoe, Tsuchinoto, Kanoe, Kanoto, Mizunoe, and Mizunoto.
Beyond these, however, there was a special tier-the "Hashira."
It was considered special because it stood apart from those ten ranks and was highly revered.
Interestingly, the character for "Hashira" had exactly nine strokes. Perhaps because of this coincidence, the number of experts who could hold the rank of Hashira in any era was limited to nine.
Despite that rule, in practice, Hashira positions were often vacant, and it was difficult to fill all nine.
That was because advancing to become a top fighter of Hashira rank required fulfilling one of two extremely difficult conditions:
Either successfully defeat fifty vicious, malevolent demons;
or defeat a powerful Lower Rank Demon.
Without question, these requirements presented an enormous gulf for many members, but they also effectively selected elite warriors who truly possessed extraordinary strength.
Demons, meanwhile, could be roughly divided into four tiers: Upper Rank Demons, Lower Rank Demons, demons with Blood Demon Arts, and ordinary demons.
There were six Upper Rank Demons, and those six had not changed in a hundred years.
Even the Demon Slayer Corps' strongest fighters-the Hashira-would struggle to escape death if they encountered an Upper Rank Demon.
Unless they encountered one close to dawn, in which case they might be able to hold out until sunrise.
There were also six Lower Rank Demons, but their ranks changed frequently.
That was because many Hashira earned their promotions by defeating Lower Rank Demons.
Stronger Hashira could even slay a Lower Rank Demon in an instant. Though somewhat weaker Hashira might need to fight a hard battle, they could still defeat a Lower Rank Demon in the end.
For ordinary members, however, Lower Rank Demons remained insurmountable foes.
As for demons with Blood Demon Arts, they could simply be understood as special demons with supernatural powers.
They could control all sorts of unusual forces, such as manipulating ice and snow, controlling plants, or burrowing underground. Their abilities were varied and bizarre.
Even so, provided they were not of Lower Rank caliber, Demon Slayer Corps members in the top three ranks still had the strength to fight them.
Last were the most common ordinary demons. They were numerous and were the enemies Demon Slayer Corps members encountered most frequently on their daily missions.
Swallowing his food, Teiichi asked in puzzlement, "Even the Hinoe Rank member couldn't send back any information?"
Shoma sighed softly and replied, "That's right. Why else would an old fellow like me have to go in person?"
Teiichi frowned slightly and murmured thoughtfully to himself:
"That doesn't seem right. If they ran into danger, couldn't their Kasugai Crows help deliver a message?
"And Kasugai Crows can even talk! Could those two members not have been assigned Kasugai Crows?"
Shoma patiently explained:
"Of course they were. Every member is assigned a Kasugai Crow.
"Normally, Kasugai Crows aren't harmed during combat, and they are indeed one of the Demon Slayer Corps' key means of passing on information.
"But that only applies to ordinary battles.
"If they run into particularly cunning demons that also have ways of dealing with airborne targets, then it's quite possible for their Kasugai Crows to be unable to get a message out."
Hearing Shoma say this, Teiichi's heart tightened. He fully recognized the gravity of the situation.
His brow furrowed slightly and his lips pressed together, but he did not ask whether his teacher could refuse the mission.
For the Demon Slayer Corps, their mission was to slay demons. Once they accepted an assignment, they had to go without hesitation.
Only when they knew the disparity in strength was too great to contend with would they consider not sending anyone, to avoid throwing lives away.
After all, sending members under such circumstances would be meaningless and might even lead to more needless sacrifices.
Since the mission had been issued, however, that meant there was at least some chance of victory and of completing the assignment.
A trace of worry showed in Teiichi's eyes as he said to Shoma with concern, "Then please be extra careful on this trip!" He kept his gaze fixed on his teacher, his eyes full of concern.
Kazeno Shoma sensed Teiichi's worry. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a reassuring smile.
"There's no need to worry too much. According to the Master's assessment, what we're dealing with this time is probably just a Lower Rank Demon.
"You should know that I've already successfully eliminated two demons of that rank.
"All right, put that aside for now and hurry up and eat."
Hearing that this might be a Lower Rank Demon, Teiichi instantly felt much more reassured.
Ordinary members < Lower Ranks < Hashira < Upper Ranks
Right, Shoma used to be a Hashira. Though he's retired now, his strength hasn't declined much. If it's a Lower Rank this time, this is in the bag.
"Mm..." Teiichi replied, stacking his now-empty bowl on the already rather tall pile of empty bowls beside him.
Two full days had passed since Shoma left on his mission.
Over those two days, Teiichi had continued his daily training according to his usual schedule.
Unlike before, however, with Shoma gone, there was no longer anyone to cook for him.
As a result, Teiichi had to spend more time each day hunting, gathering wild vegetables, and cooking his own meals.
That night, just as he always did, Teiichi lay in bed and gradually drifted off to sleep.
A desperate cry reached Teiichi's ears on the wind, breaking the peace.
"Is anyone there..."
"Is anyone there..."
"Please! Anyone, please save my mom..."
"Please!"
"..."