Starting a Journey

"Rio, from now on you will be going through something more difficult than your training…"

"You will meet and fight demons who have unique abilities…"

"If you can't win, then run!"

"Nothing is more important than life, if you die, there is nothing more. But if you live, you still have a chance to realize your goal."

In front of the gate, Jigoro gave advice and suggestions to Rio who was about to start his journey.

"Thank you for your care all this time Jigoro Sensei."

Rio bowed 45 degrees in front of Jigoro and sincerely thanked him.

If he hadn't met Jigoro back then, Rio wouldn't have become as strong as he is now. Maybe he would just find a random Demon Slayer Corps member and ask to be taught the Breathing Style.

But being able to be guided directly by a Hashira (Pillar), this is indeed a very great gift.

Jigoro who used to be grim-faced, now had a smile on his face and received his student's bow of respect.

He didn't know that in the future he would be able to meet his diciples again because the Demon Slayer's death rate was always high.

Remembering something, Jigoro said earnestly:

"Remember this is Rio, a demon's power comes from the number of humans they eat. The more they eat, the stronger they will be!"

"Their physiques will change, and they will acquire strange powers."

Rio doesn't know this information, he will always remember it.

Seeing Rio understand, Jigoro then handed the white Haori with lightning pattern to Rio.

[Author's note: Haori is an outer garment worn after a kimono or yukata]

"Sensei, this..." Ren asked confused to accept Haori.

"This Haori is the symbol of the disciple I once had, usually the Haori is yellow. But especially for you, I feel white is more suitable for you."

"Put it on."

Rio immediately put on that Haori, he was currently wearing a black t-shirt and black trousers.

With white hair and white Haori, now Rio looks dashing.

"It suits you very well."

"After you were struck by lightning, you are now even more handsome.

"Should I consider being struck by lightning as well in order to be younger?"

Jigoro rubbed his mustache seriously considering this option.

According to him, even though Rio wasn't ugly, he wasn't handsome either. At most Rio only had an average face, but look at it now!

After just one night, Rio changed drastically, his white hair, white skin no less soft and smooth than a noble woman and his face flawless.

Jigoro feels that if Rio goes to a brothel, he will be fought over by the women who work in the brothel.

"Jigoro sensei don't try what I did."

Rio's nonchalant voice woke Jigoro from his daydream.

"What do you mean?" Jigoro asked.

"Unlike me who was young, Jigoro Sensei was old and frail. If you are struck by lightning, you will most likely die on the spot."

"Unfilial disciple! How dare you curse me to death!"

Rio fled before Jigoro got angry and said from afar:

"I don't know when I can visit Jigoro Sensei, stay healthy so I can see you again!"

Seeing Rio slowly walking away, Jigoro's anger disappeared, a small smile appeared on his face.

"I pray you survive Rio...."

Staring at the newly rising sun, after sending Rio off, Jigoro returned to his residence.

Rio walked down the path, he didn't bring much stuff. Except for the Nichirin Sword in the scabbard hanging from his waist, and the few hundred yen Jigoro had given him, he didn't bring anything else.

Rio didn't want his identity as a Player to be revealed for now, he speculated that both the Players from the Demon Slayer Corps and the Demon side would fight and kill each other because of the Quest that the Reincarnation Room was about to release.

His hair and skin had turned white, and his face had become more handsome. Rio would take advantage of this to disguise himself as a native of the Kimetsu no Yaiba world.

Seeing his reflection in the river, Rio said confidently:

"With my current appearance, no users would think I was from the real world too."

"After all, no teenager has white hair in the real world unless he suffers from Albinism."

"Plus, I don't store my stuff in the system warehouse."

As the name suggests, with the system warehouse, Players could store their belongings into the system warehouse, this was similar to the In-game Inventory and the storage ring in cultivation novels.

"Still 40 days before the Quest deadline..."

"According to Jigoro Sensei, the selection exam to become a Demon Slayer will start in 20 days at Mount Fujikasane."

"I have to hurry to Mount Fujikasane."

"Is this Wisteria? This is very beautiful..."

After 20 days of traveling, Rio asked the people he met and asked the location of Mount Fujikasane.

Because in the Taisho era there was no Google Maps, Rio some strayed to the wrong place because of the directions given.

This was also the reason for Rio arriving at Mount Fujikasane on the day of the exam.

"Hopefully I'm not late, it's not funny if I fail to enter the Demon Slayer Corps because I'm late for the exam."

According to Jigoro, the selection exam will start at night because that's when the Demons become active.

Seeing the sun that was about to set, Rio decided to hurry up.

"Total Concentration Breathing!"

Rio inhaled oxygen without being contaminated by the surrounding pollution, then he ran up Mount Fujikasane at a speed of 60km/hour.

On the hiking trail, both left and right of the path are overgrown with Wisteria trees which add to the beautiful view of Mount Fujikasane.

Rio stopped using Total Concentration Breathing as he looked at the stairs in front of him.

"Looks like the exam ground is up there."

Not wanting to reveal his strength too early, Rio walked up the stairs slowly.

The stairs are not that far, once Rio has arrived, he is greeted by Torii which consists of two parallel bars supported by two vertical pillars, and painted in a bright orange-red color.

[Author's Note: Torii (鳥居) is a Shinto shrine gate that serves as a barrier between the area where humans live and the sacred area where gods and goddesses live]

Here there are dozens of teenagers who have arrived, some are in groups, some are standing alone.

Rio's arrival immediately attracted some people's attention, but after that they no longer cared and were busy with their own business.

Rio didn't intend to talk to anyone, he looked near the deserted Wisteria tree and leaned his body against the tree trunk.

(There are more than 70 participants in the selection exam this time, Jigoro Sensei said that usually the number of participants in the selection exam is not up to 20 people)

(However, this time, the number of examinees was several times higher than the number of participants in the previous exam. Obviously, most of them were dominated by players)

Rio observed the people on the spot secretly.

There were several people who he found very conspicuous, such as a tall black youth, Rio guessed this person was an African citizen.

There was also a beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue pupils, Rio guessed this girl was from Europe.

After determining the participant that was suspected to be a Player, Rio stopped his observation so as not to be suspected.

Closing his eyes, Rio patiently waited for the selection exam to begin.