Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

Chapter 128 Don't you think it's noble? (4/4 (Two-in-One))

A group of people gathered around a burning campfire.

Su Mu focused intently on turning a roasted chicken that had already been prepared, occasionally adding some seasonings, and an enticing aroma wafted out.

In the flickering firelight, the man's handsome face was quiet and gentle.

Makomo, holding her Nichirin Blade, sat not far away. Her eyes first fell on the man's face, and then on the roasted chicken with its skin already golden brown.

The little tongue unconsciously licked itself.

The girl immediately realized that her actions were inappropriate, so she sat up straight and even secretly glanced at Su Mu. She was slightly relieved to see that he hadn't noticed her. However, she soon realized that she was wearing a mask and no one could possibly see her, so she was annoyed at her own overthinking.

She sat up straight, staring at Su Mu who was intently roasting chicken, and once again urged him, "You really shouldn't participate in the swordsman assessment at 'Mount Fujikasane'. It's extremely dangerous."

"Really?"

"Of course, it was really dangerous. Several of my senior brothers, including the very powerful junior brother Sabito, participated in the swordsman assessment at Fujikasa Mountain, but none of them were able to return."

"That looks really dangerous."

As Su Mu sighed, seeing that the roasted chicken was almost done, he took the golden-brown roasted chicken off the grill, tore off the fattest chicken leg and gave it to Kanao. He then tore off another chicken leg, hesitated between Tanjiro and Makomo, and gave it to Makomo, who was probably prettier.

Makomo took the chicken leg and continued to persuade him.

Tanjiro, however, accepted the chicken's rear end with a bitter expression, his eyes full of resentment.

Tanjiro had expected that the best chicken leg would be given to Kanao, but he was quite dissatisfied that the other chicken leg was given to Makomo.

"As a boy, it's natural to give way to pretty girls."

Su Mu smiled as he looked at Tanjiro, whose face practically screamed defiance.

"She's so amazing, it's unbelievable for a girl."

Tanjiro muttered to himself, took a bite of the chicken's rear end, and found it tasted much better than he had imagined. His eyes lit up, and he began to focus intently on the food in his hand.

Su Mu also tore off a piece of chicken wing, sat next to Kanao, and ate it silently, occasionally picking up the sake bottle and taking a sip.

"Are you even listening to me? Ghost hunters are really dangerous."

Makomo took a bite of a chicken leg, the taste making her beautiful eyes narrow slightly, and continued talking incessantly, her manner completely out of character for a young girl.

"You make a lot of sense."

Su Mu was getting a little annoyed by what she was being said, and looked up at Makomo.

"So you've agreed not to participate in the swordsmanship exam at Fujikasane Mountain?"

Makomo was somewhat excited.

"It makes a lot of sense, but I don't intend to listen."

Su Mu took another sip of wine and shrugged.

The man's shameless behavior made the girl puff out her cheeks in anger.

When she was eating, without the mask to conceal her face, the girl's pouting lips were clearly visible.

An ordinary girl wouldn't look very graceful in this pose; only a woman with a beautiful face would find it cute.

And Makomo is undoubtedly one of them.

Even Su Mu couldn't help but take another look.

Makomo probably realized this as well, and unconsciously turned her head away, revealing her fair and beautiful neck.

"Why do you insist on participating in this dangerous swordsmanship exam?"

Makomo took another bite of the chicken leg, muttering to herself.

"Don't you think that's noble?"

Su Mu shrugged casually: "Whenever night falls, when evil spirits emerge to devour people, there are always ghost hunters who appear to slay the evil spirits and protect humanity."

Makomo raised her eyes and looked at Su Mu: "Are you serious?"

His voice turned cold: "This will cost you your life. Have you thought it through? Are you willing to pay such a heavy price?"

""

Su Mu was just saying it casually; he participated in the "Tengxi Mountain" assessment not because of anything noble.

Moreover, Makomo had been getting a little annoyed with him along the way, so he retorted, "Ms. Makomo, you've been trying to persuade me the whole time, so why don't you persuade yourself instead?"

"What advice did you give me?"

"Why is it mandatory to participate in the 'Fujikatayama' swordsman examination?"

Makomo paused for a moment, then pressed down on the hilt of her Nichirin Blade: "I have a reason why I have to participate."

"oh!"

Su Mu made a sound without caring, then took another sip of wine and patted his stomach: "I also have reasons why I have to participate."

Seeing this, Makomo was so angry that she was almost speechless, and could only take a bite of the chicken leg in resentment.

Knowing that she couldn't persuade Su Mu, Makomo stopped trying to convince him.

Occasionally, Makomo would lift her gaze to the sky, and when the crows flapped their wings and landed again, she would not be as excited as she was yesterday to receive the letters they delivered.

She stood to the side, holding her Nichirin Blade, head tilted back, feigning disdain, watching Tanjiro excitedly take out the letter that Karasu had brought.

"Dear sir, Tanjiro, Kanao, and Ms. Makomo, hello."

"The weather is great today, and Mom made some delicious food that everyone loved. Even Master Urokodaki came to eat with us! Haha, sir, you know what? Master Urokodaki always wears a terrifying tengu mask, and Nezuko always thought he looked fierce. But sir, brother, you know what? Master Urokodaki's face isn't fierce at all, in fact—"

She's very gentle and looks like a girl.

Tanjiro looked up at Makomo, who was holding her Nichirin Blade, as he read this: "Does Urokodaki-senpai really look so gentle? Shouldn't he be fierce?"

"Of course I'll be very gentle."

Makomo, holding her Nichirin Blade, replied.

"Today is the third day since you parted ways. Urokodaki-senpai said you've arrived at Fujikasane Mountain. The assessment is tonight, so please be careful."

"Mom said she knitted new clothes for Mr., Brother, and Kanao. Mom also made a haori for Mr., it's really beautiful, and I like it so much. When Mr. comes back, he will look very handsome wearing it. My dear brother, don't be jealous."

Tanjiro put down the letter briefly, glanced at the adult, and muttered, "I'm not jealous at all."

Then, he continued reading, "Mr. Urokodaki has already found a plot of land next to his house and started cultivating it today. He wants to plant a whole field of rapeseed flowers. Mr. Urokodaki said that his apprentice likes this place the most and hopes that Miss Makomo will come over when the rapeseed flowers are in full bloom."

Tanjiro looked up and saw Makomo, who was holding her Nichirin Blade, standing to the side.

Makomo turned her head away, and with the mask covering her face, she couldn't see the girl's expression.

"Mr. Urokodaki said that the summit of Mount Fujikaze must be very cold at night, and he hopes Ms. Makomo will take care to keep warm. He also said that if she encounters any danger, she should not be reckless and must pay attention to her own safety."

Tanjiro continued to read.

"My master would never write such things."

Makomo looked up at the sky and muttered softly that her beloved master Urokodaki would never write such childish content.

Even though she said that, the girl's shoulders were trembling slightly.

"Perhaps Mr. Urokodaki didn't write it down, but that's definitely what he was thinking."

Su Mu said with a smile.

Makomo pursed her lips and looked in the direction of Mount Sagiri, as if she saw her master waiting for his disciple to return.

"I will come back."

She gently placed her hand on the hilt of the Nichirin Blade at her waist.

Mount Fuji is now almost in sight.

Even before getting close, one could smell the unpleasant fragrance of wisteria. As for Su Mu, this ghost, he didn't really like the scent of wisteria, but it was just a feeling of aversion and didn't cause him any discomfort.

"Is this Mount Fujikasane?"

Tanjiro looked at the mountain range in the distance. It was very steep and much larger than Mount Sagiri. From the bottom to the middle of the mountain, it was covered with wisteria trees, and as the wind blew, wisteria petals were scattered all over the ground.

"Fujishiyama".

Makomo looked up, her expression complex, at the place where her senior brothers, senior sisters, and Sabito had all perished. She slightly tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. At that moment, she looked up at Su Mu, who was also looking at the mountain range, and then glanced at Tanjiro and Kanao beside him: "When we reach the top, remember not to stray too far from me. I will protect you."

Su Mu, who was looking at "Tengxi Mountain", turned to look at the masked girl and gave her a gentle smile: "Thank you very much."

Makomo took a small breath, feeling a lot of pressure on her shoulders.

Zhen Gu didn't actually have much confidence in the "Vine Attack Mountain" test that his senior brother and sister had failed.

The test here seems to be a curse on them. Over the years, apart from Giyu Tomioka, no Urokodaki disciple has been able to pass it, and none of them have even survived.

She had no confidence in herself, let alone in protecting others.

While Su Mu and his group remained where they were, people began to walk past them, heading towards Tengxi Mountain.

"Let's go."

Su Mu said something to Tanjiro, and then stepped forward.

Kanao followed closely behind her uncle, her eyes curiously taking in everything around her.

Tanjiro gripped his axe tightly, looking rather nervous. This was the first time in his life, aside from facing an adult, that he would have to confront a demon directly.

Like her, Zhen Gu was also filled with trepidation; she was just as nervous.

Swordsmen from all over the country gathered at the halfway point of Fujikasa Mountain, where a wide platform had already been set up.

When Su Mu and his group arrived, they attracted a lot of attention. Some people smiled at them, while others looked disdainful. However, no one bothered them.

Several people came up to greet him, and Su Mu responded politely.

On this platform, most people are alone, but some have gathered together, which caught Su Mu's attention.

-

Among that group, the leader was a man with blue eyes, black hair, thick eyebrows, a magatama pendant around his neck, and a dark gold Nichirin Blade with lightning patterns hanging from his waist.

At this moment, amidst the compliments of the crowd, he appeared quite arrogant.

"Who is that person?"

A teenager who had just arrived for the assessment asked the person next to him a question.

"Him? He's Kaigaku, the former 'Sound Pillar' Jigoro Kuwajima's top disciple. He was personally trained by a 'Pillar'."

The person next to him responded in a low voice.

"So it was Kaigaku."

Su Mu glanced at Kaigaku, who was the second person after Kokushibo to defect from the Demon Slayer Corps and become a demon, and who, through Kokushibo's introduction, became the Upper Moon Six of the Twelve Demon Moons.

However, Su Mu wasn't too concerned about Kaigaku's defection from the Demon Slayer Corps and becoming a demon. After all, the reason he became a demon was because he encountered Upper Moon One, Kokushibo, during a mission. Being isolated and helpless, and faced with overwhelming power, he had no choice.

Upon hearing that he was a disciple trained by a "Pillar," the young man who had just arrived also showed great respect: "No wonder, no wonder. As a disciple trained by a 'Pillar,' this assessment will probably be very easy for him. No wonder everyone is surrounding him."

"Yes! My trainer is just a Rank A swordsman. I really envy him having a Pillar personally training him."

"You're alright. My 'trainer' is just a retired 'Class C' swordsman, not even as good as you."

Another person whispered, clearly unwilling to give up.

"Oh----"

Another young man approached and sneered, "So what if they're disciples trained by the 'Pillars'? They're not necessarily that powerful."

Many people around looked at the boy.

The boy looked up and patted the hilt of his sword: "The assessment at Mount Fuji relies on one's own strength, not on the mentor. No matter how powerful the mentor is, if the disciple is not good enough, he still cannot pass the assessment."

The boy said coldly, "Do you know Urokodaki-senpai of Mount Sagiri? He was a powerful water pillar, slaying countless demons, but he retired to become a trainer. He taught many disciples, but none of them passed the test, and none even survived."

"No way, being taught by a mere pillar, not only failing the assessment but also failing to survive? That's incredibly incompetent!"

"Ha, if I were to be guided by 'Pillar' and still fail the assessment, I'd probably be so ashamed I'd want to bang my head against a wall and die."

Hearing what the people around her were saying, Makomo, who was standing next to Su Mu, was clearly a little emotionally unstable, and her hand unconsciously tightened on the hilt of the Nichirin Blade at her waist.

Su Mu looked up at the girl, then reached out and gently patted her shoulder.

The girl looked up at Su Mu, then lowered her head again, silently clenching her teeth.

Su Mu didn't say anything comforting to Makomo, nor did he intend to teach these people a lesson, since this was the truth.

At that moment, he simply looked up, gazing towards the summit of Mount Fuji.

As a ghost, he could clearly sense the presence of his former kind, although he never considered these ghosts, who couldn't even control their own desires, to be his kind.

At this moment, he could feel his blood surging and his body parched.

He is too weak now, and he desperately needs these even weaker ghosts to nourish him.