Chapter 35: Tanjiro Kamado

"Those who carry on the will of those who have passed must keep moving forward."

— Giorno Giovanna, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

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The smile on Sabito's face was a complex mix of emotions, joy, sorrow, and relief.

"Tanjiro, well done," Makomo's gentle voice chimed in. "Remember that strike!"

"You have to win, Tanjiro!" she added, her words carrying a deeper meaning. "You have to surpass him!"

With that, Makomo and Sabito slowly faded from Tanjiro's view.

However, Roy noticed that they hadn't truly disappeared. They were still there, watching over Tanjiro, just beyond his perception.

Tanjiro blinked, momentarily confused by their sudden vanishing. When he regained his focus, he realized he had successfully cleaved the boulder in two.

Just then, Roy noticed a figure rapidly approaching from the foot of the mountain. Given the timing, it was likely Sakonji Urokodaki.

As expected, Urokodaki appeared beside Tanjiro in a flash.

He stood in silence for a moment, observing the bisected boulder.

"I hadn't intended to let you participate in the Final Selection," Urokodaki admitted, his voice heavy with emotion. "I didn't want to see any more children die. I believed you wouldn't be able to cut this boulder..."

He then turned to Tanjiro and gently patted his head.

"You've worked hard, Tanjiro. You truly are an exceptional child."

"Waaah!"

Two years of relentless effort had finally been acknowledged. Overwhelmed with emotion, Tanjiro burst into tears, burying his face in Urokodaki's chest.

Despite his growth, he was still just a fifteen-year-old boy.

Seeing this, Roy decided to reveal himself. He and Saeko stepped out from their hiding spot.

Their footsteps crunched in the snow, alerting Urokodaki and Tanjiro to their presence.

Urokodaki's eyes narrowed as he observed the approaching figures. He was surprised that he hadn't sensed their presence earlier. Judging by the sound of their footsteps, they had been there for a while.

Both Urokodaki and Tanjiro possessed a keen sense of smell. Logically, they should have detected the newcomers before they were seen. However, the two had approached openly, without any attempt at concealment. This raised Urokodaki's suspicions.

Roy and Saeko stopped before them.

"Excuse me," Roy said with a friendly smile. "May we have a word?"

"Who are you?" Urokodaki asked, his eyes scrutinizing the pair. He sniffed the air, his nose capable of easily distinguishing humans from Demons. Satisfied that they weren't Demons, he relaxed slightly.

Tanjiro, curious, also sniffed the air. Though they weren't Demons, their scent was distinctly different from that of ordinary humans. He was intrigued by their identities.

"We are swordsmen from afar," Roy explained. "Might you be Demon Slayers?"

"Swordsmen from afar..." Urokodaki sniffed the air again, focusing on Roy. His nose could detect lies through scent. He found no deception in Roy's scent, leading him to believe their story.

"I am indeed a Demon Slayer," Urokodaki confirmed. "May I ask your purpose in coming here?"

Roy didn't hesitate. "We want to learn the Breathing Styles. In return, we offer our assistance in the fight against Demons."

Urokodaki pondered this for a moment. "Let's discuss this further down the mountain," he decided.

He wanted to observe them more closely before making a decision. The Demon Slayer Corps wasn't particularly strict about teaching Breathing Styles.

After all, every person who mastered a Breathing Style became another asset in the fight against Demons. However, they couldn't simply teach it to anyone; it wouldn't do to impart those powerful techniques to those with ill intentions.

With Urokodaki leading the way, the four descended the mountain.

Urokodaki made no mention of the traps along the path. This descent was meant to be a training exercise for Tanjiro, filled with various obstacles.

However, such traps posed no challenge to Roy and Saeko. As Devils, their night vision was even sharper than their daytime vision, making it easy to spot the hidden dangers.

They maintained a steady pace behind Urokodaki. Even when he increased his speed, they effortlessly kept up.

Tanjiro, on the other hand, struggled to match their pace, falling behind and gasping for breath.

After this test, Urokodaki, realizing that Roy and Saeko could easily keep up with him, slowed his pace. There was no need for further probing; he understood that these two were not weak.

The group arrived at the house at the foot of the mountain.

They had introduced themselves during the descent.

"Mr. Urokodaki, have you made a decision?" Roy asked, a confident smile on his face. "If the Demon Slayer Corps shares all the Breathing Styles with me, I can even help you eliminate the root of all Demons, Muzan Kibutsuji."

They were gathered around the fireplace inside the house. Saeko had taken on the task of grilling fish.

The aroma of the grilled fish wafted through the air, causing Tanjiro to salivate.

"Muzan Kibutsuji?" Tanjiro echoed, tilting his head.

The name was unfamiliar to him, but anything related to Demons piqued his interest.

"Yes, Muzan Kibutsuji is the origin of all Demons in this world," Roy explained to Tanjiro.

"I agree," Urokodaki finally spoke up.

"I agree to teach you the Breathing Styles. However, for the other styles, I'll need to inform Oyakata-sama."

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