Chapter 34: First Encounter with Tanjiro & Makomo!

"If you've got time to fantasize about a beautiful death, why not live beautifully until the end?"

— Gintoki Sakata, Gintama

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If you're interested, you can read up to ✨Chapter 52+ : p@treon.com/dragonnx

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Demon Slayer World.

Atop a mist-shrouded mountain peak, a flash of white light appeared.

Two figures materialized – Roy and Saeko.

Roy surveyed their surroundings.

Towering trees surrounded them, casting the forest in a dim light. It was winter, and snowflakes drifted down, melting as they landed on their shoulders.

Where are we?

Roy wondered, unsure where the system had transported them.

"Is this the other world?" Saeko asked, her eyes curiously scanning the surroundings. The dim light didn't hinder her demonic vision.

After a brief observation, finding nothing particularly interesting amongst the towering trees, Saeko turned her attention back to Roy.

Lost in thought, Roy suddenly felt Saeko's arms wrap around him from behind.

"Eh? Saeko?" Roy blinked, startled out of his contemplation.

"It's a rare opportunity to be alone with Roy," Saeko murmured softly in his ear, her chin resting on his shoulder.

Roy paused, realizing that he had never truly spent time alone with Saeko. They hadn't even been on a proper date like a normal couple. A pang of guilt struck him.

He turned around, embracing Saeko tightly. "Don't worry, Saeko! We have plenty of time. We'll be together forever!"

Roy made a mental note to spend more quality time with each of the girls individually when he returned.

Saeko's face lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes filled with warmth.

"Mm!" she replied softly.

Overcome with emotion, Roy couldn't help but lean in and kiss her.

After a tender moment, it was time to focus on the task at hand.

"Saeko, let's fly up and see if there's anyone around," Roy suggested. He figured the system wouldn't send them to a location irrelevant to the plot.

In other words, there had to be a place from the original story nearby, just like when he was transported directly to Fujimi Academy in the Highschool of the Dead world.

"Okay!" Saeko agreed with a bright smile.

They unfurled their Devil wings and took to the sky.

The sky was overcast, with snowflakes swirling around, limiting their visibility.

Despite this, Roy scanned their surroundings. However, the dense forest obscured any signs of human habitation.

Just as Roy was about to leave with Saeko, he heard the clash of swords.

"Someone's fighting!" Roy's eyes lit up as he turned towards the distant mountain where the sounds originated.

"Come on, Saeko, let's go see!"

Holding Saeko's hand, Roy flew towards the source of the commotion.

Soon, they arrived at the location and quietly landed nearby.

"Eh? Isn't that boy Tanjiro Kamado?" Roy exclaimed in surprise, recognizing one of the figures engaged in combat.

With dark red hair, a scar on his forehead, a gentle yet determined expression, and a green and black checkered haori, the boy was undoubtedly the protagonist of *Demon Slayer* – Tanjiro Kamado.

Then he looked at the other boy, with pink hair and a mask, who was sparring with Tanjiro. 

And beside them, observing the fight, was a small girl with long black hair and a somewhat expressionless, adorable face.

Without a doubt, these two must be Sakonji Urokodaki's other Students, Sabito and Makomo.

It seemed they had arrived two years after Tanjiro began his training with Urokodaki.

Realizing this, an idea sparked in Roy's mind.

He focused his attention back on Sabito and Makomo. He could tell that they were merely spirits. They had died in the Final Selection at the hands of the Hand Demon.

Roy couldn't help but marvel at the peculiarity of this world. They had been dead for years, yet they could still appear as spirits, capable of fighting Tanjiro. It seemed rather unscientific!

"Tanjiro Kamado?" Saeko questioned, tilting her head in confusion at Roy's outburst.

"Yes, that boy with the burgundy hair is Tanjiro Kamado," Roy explained, pointing.

Saeko nodded in understanding, not questioning how Roy knew this.

Meanwhile, the two figures in the clearing had grown serious.

Tanjiro, gripping his sword with both hands, faced Sabito, who stood before a massive boulder.

"I will win today!" Tanjiro declared with unwavering determination.

Sabito remained silent, his masked face revealing no emotion as he awaited Tanjiro's attack.

Tanjiro took a deep breath, unconsciously activating his Breathing Style. In the next instant, he charged forward.

There were no flashy sword techniques, just a simple downward strike.

Sabito raised his sword, but Tanjiro was faster, his blade slicing through the air.

"Fast!" Saeko gasped, impressed by the sheer swiftness of the attack.

She knew that before becoming a Devil, she could never have executed such a strike.

"That's the power of Breathing Styles," Roy explained with a smile. "And it's one of the reasons we're here."

Breathing Styles were mentioned in the Uesugi swordsmanship style that Saeko practiced, so she was familiar with the concept. 

However, these techniques had long been lost in their world. To her surprise, they existed here.

Saeko's anticipation grew as she watched the battle unfold with keen interest.

As Tanjiro's blade connected, Sabito's mask split in two.

Then, the boulder behind Sabito was cleaved in half. This was a deliberate act by Sabito, guiding Tanjiro's strike towards the boulder.

Cutting the boulder was a test Urokodaki set for his Students. Only those who could accomplish this feat were allowed to participate in the Final Selection and become Demon Slayers.

Despite his mask being split, Sabito, as a spirit, remained unharmed.

A smile spread across Sabito's face.

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If you're interested, you can read up to Chapter 52+ : p@treon.com/dragonnx

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