Chapter 56 : Sabito and Makomo's wish

Makomo and Sabito Knew that their master had allowed Haruto to stay in Mt. Sagiri, so they were not much surprised when they saw him approaching them, although they were a bit wary of him, which was natural. They were also curious, wondering why Haruto approached them?

Haruto walked over slowly and approached the place where Makomo and Sabito were training. He couldn't help but stare at the boulder behind them, which already bore many blade marks. Thinking about it, those marks must have been left by Makomo, Sabito, and the previous disciples of Sakonji during their training.

"Did you need something from us?"  Since Makomo is rather shy around other, Sabito couldn't help but ask as they stopped practicing.

Haruto glanced at Sabito before his eyes returned to the marked boulder. "Oh, no. I was just checking out the place and saw you two practicing."

Sabito nodded, relaxing slightly. "Ah, I see. Well, feel free to ask us anything. Since master gave you permission to stay here, we will follow his wishes."

Haruto shrugged his shoulders, his gaze remained fixed on the boulder as he absentmindedly reached out to stroke its surface. The rock felt incredibly hard under his touch, a silent reminder of Tanjirou's difficult trial from Sakonji.

Sabito and Makomo exchanged puzzled glances, watching Haruto's unusual fascination with the boulder.

Haruto ignored their curiosity and slowly drew the Nichirin Blade from his waist. For starter he decided to use all his strength to cut the boulder. With a deep breath, he swung the blade towards the boulder. The strike cut wheezed through the air, accompanied by a resounding clang as sparks flew.

"So hard," Haruto muttered, feeling the impact reverberate through his arm.

"What are you doing?" Sabito asked, his confusion deepening. Makomo tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. Haruto looked up, meeting their questioning gazes. "I'm trying to see if I can cut through this boulder."

Sabito's eyes widened in confusion. "Cut through... this boulder?"

Makomo couldn't hide her surprise either. "But it's massive and incredibly tough. How do you expect to cut through it?"

Seeing Sabito's apparent disbelief, Haruto remained silent. In the anime, Tanjirou managed to cut through the boulder, earning him the chance to undergo the Final selection trial at Mount Fujikasane.

The reason behind Sabito imposing such trial on Tanjirou was in the fact that Sabito himself had been unable to cut the boulder. Later, during the time of his Final Selection trial, when Sabito faced the Hand Demon. Despite his considerable strength, Sabito's strongest blow failed to cut the demon's tough neck, resulting in his death. Well there were other things to, leading to that result like Sabito had already expended much of his energy clearing out the other demons in the mountain during the test, leaving him exhausted.

Haruto shook his head, dismissing his thoughts. He really couldn't understand why new recruits were sent directly against demons for their final test. Surely, there could have been safer methods to evaluate them, significantly reducing casualties among newcomers. In Tanjirou's case, his success in cutting the boulder demonstrated that it was indeed possible to cut the boulder.

Thinking back on Tanjirou's duel with Sabito, Haruto recalled how Tanjirou had smelled a critical line during their battle, enabling him to make a decisive cut. Without Tanjirou's keen sense of smell, Haruto couldn't rely on the same method. However, as a demon, he possessed superior physical strength and explosive power, setting him apart from Tanjirou in terms of abilities.

As Haruto continued to contemplate these thoughts, he tightened his grip on his blade, focusing intently on the rock before him. He cleared his mind and this time decided to consciously use the skill <Sword Talent>. Previously, he had let it run in the background, relying on the familiarity gained by it to wield his blade effectively. Since it was his innate skill, he wanted to try everything with it.

Activating the skill, Haruto felt his focus sharpen. Instinctively, he understood how to hold the blade, the angle of his swing, and the amount of strength needed. Raising the blade above his head, he gathered his entire body's strength and swung with lightning speed.

The blade sliced through the air with a whistle, striking the boulder like thunder.

*Crack!*

The sound of stone breaking echoed as the massive rock was cleanly split in half.

"It really... cut through," Sabito and Makomo exclaimed in disbelief.

"Could it be because he's a demon?" Sabito muttered, trying to make sense of what he had just witnessed. Was this feat achievable only by demons?

Haruto turned to face Sabito calmly. "Humans can do it too."

"Humans... can do this?" Sabito shook his head in astonishment. then he thought about people like master Sakonji and found the answer acceptable. It should be easy for the 'Hashira' like Master Sakonji to do such feats.

"No, someone younger than you could also do it," Haruto replied, seeming to read Sabito's thoughts. He continued calmly, "Do you want to participate in the Final Selection trial and avenge your fallen brothers?"

Gasping, both Sabito and Makomo involuntarily took a deep breath. This was a decision they had already resolved in their hearts, but how did this demon know?

"If... you can't even cut through this rock, I suggest you reconsider the idea of participating in the trial," Haruto said, his gaze steady on Makomo and Sabito.

"Otherwise..... you will die."

The casual words from Haruto struck a nerve with Makomo and Sabito, their expressions turning grim.

Over the years, they had witnessed their senior brothers and sisters brimming with confidence and hope, eagerly anticipating their future as members of demon slayer corps, only to receive their belongings in their place after the test. Each time, it was a heartbreaking reminder of the Final Selection's merciless toll.

Senior brothers, senior sisters... They had all ventured into the trial with determination, never to return.

With time, Sabito and Makomo began to suspect a powerful demon lurking on the mountain, targeting their master Sakonji's disciples. Yet, despite the danger, their determination to participate in the trial did not waver.

They simply couldn't bear to see their master who raised them like a father, burdened with guilt any longer.

Each year, they could sense the anticipation mixed with apprehension in Sakonji's eyes as his students set out confidently. They felt the unwavering support in his clenched fists and encouraging gestures. But time and again, the outcome was devastatingly the same — death, their master's mood growing heavier with each loss, his silence and self-blame becoming more clear.

Though Sakonji never voiced it, they knew the weight of his guilt.

The day Makomo and Sabito, filled with resolve, approached their master to express their desire to partake in the trial, he had adamantly refused. They understood his reluctance to lose more of his students, yet they wished to ease the guilt in their master's heart.

They wanted him to know that those who perished in the trial held no bitterness towards him. They wanted him to understand that their choices were their own, driven by their unwavering resolve to confront the demons threatening humanity.

To prove that even in death, their brother and sisters never wavered in their dedication to their cause.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

"It's not your fault, Master," Sabito murmured, his voice firm with conviction. "We choose to face this trial."

Makomo nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting their shared determination. "We will prove that our fallen brothers and sisters fought with honor and courage."

They exchanged a glance, silently conveying their readiness to confront whatever trials awaited them.

"Master," Sabito continued, his tone serious, "you must not blame yourself for our choices. We carry our own burdens willingly."

With those words, Makomo and Sabito turned away, their determination unwavering. They were ready to face the tough trials ahead, aiming to honor their fallen brothers and relieve their master's guilt.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

So, when Haruto said, "they... will die," Makomo and Sabito reacted strongly, not because they were afraid of death, but because they were determined. They didn't want to keep their master waiting any longer, and they deeply respected him. The memories of their fallen senior brothers and sisters weighed heavily on their minds.

"We will not die... we will never die," Sabito said firmly, gripping his blade tighter.

"Really? Are you doubting me? Or do you think you can break this rock?" Haruto asked, his serious gaze peering from under the bamboo hat.

Sabito was strong, but he had weaknesses. His strong sense of justice and unwavering self-confidence were both his strengths and his burdens. During the Trial, Sabito exhausted himself out saving other examinees and fighting demons across the mountains, driven by his commitment to protect others.

Despite his efforts to defeat the demons in the mountain, his confidence led to a tragic outcome. When facing the Hand Demon, Sabito's attack couldn't cut its tough skin, leaving him vulnerable due to exhaustion. His death was the result of his relentless determination.

His sense of justice and self-confidence weren't flaws; they just needed more strength to support them. Unfortunately, neither Sabito nor Makomo had that strength at the time. Their fate was sealed from the moment they chose to join the trial.

"I may not be able to break this rock, but... I can't accept what you're saying," Sabito declared, drawing his Nichirin Blade. Its cold gleam shimmered under the moonlight.

"Even if I can't break this rock... I can still defeat you."

With all five fingers tightly gripping the hilt, Sabito took a step forward and bowed slightly.

"I am Sabito, disciple of Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki. Please give me your guidance."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shoutout to my patreons CHEONMA,Tony Brittain, Watcher32 ,Expert00, Narber4lgamma and Reed Pace. Thank you so much for your support.