Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

Chapter 129 Makomo, If I Were a Demon, Would You Still Do This? (2/4 (Two-in-One))

As the sun gradually set, the people waiting for the platform halfway up the mountain began to get restless. Faintly, they could hear the roar of the evil spirits coming from the mountaintop.

The voices of these ghosts carried a strong sense of hunger, as if they were waiting for someone to feed them, which made many people turn pale. It seems that a large number of people have never seen a real ghost.

"Da da da————"

As the crowd began to grow increasingly agitated, footsteps sounded.

At first, it was very mild and was even mixed in with some people's conversations, but gradually, everyone around quieted down and looked at the person coming down from the mountain.

The two identical people were dressed in white kimonos and carrying a palace lantern. Their figures were almost identical, and their appearance and temperament were nearly the same.

The only difference is that one has completely black hair, while the other has white hair.

Among them, a man with completely black hair stepped forward. The boy had a youthful face and was dressed in women's clothing. If one did not know his gender, one would probably think that he and the older sister next to him, Hina, were both girls.

The boy is Ubuyashiki Teriyaki, the third child and only boy of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the head of the Demon Slayer Corps, and Ubuyashiki Amane. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will succeed as the new head of the Corps in the future.

Due to the curse of the Ubuyashiki clan, the boy Ubuyashiki Teriya was born physically weak. Before he turned thirteen, he was raised as a girl, and his daily clothing and other aspects were basically the same.

Now, as Kagaya Ubuyashiki's health deteriorates, his son, Teruya Ubuyashiki, is gradually taking over the affairs of the Demon Slayer Corps, including the Fujikasane Mountain test, which is crucial for recruiting fresh blood for the rival Demon Slayer Corps.

Seeing everyone's eyes on him, Teruya Ubuyashiki felt the pressure and became a little nervous. He hesitated for a long time before speaking. It was Hina Ubuyashiki next to him who stood up, just like her younger brother.

Almost as soon as her younger brother opened his mouth, the older sister spoke in the same voice, which drowned out her brother's voice, so that Teruya Ubuyashiki only needed to open his mouth.

To everyone else, they were two people who were almost identical, with almost identical temperaments, and even their tone of voice and manner of speaking were almost identical, all emitting extremely ethereal voices.

"Thank you all for coming to participate in the final selection of the Demon Slayer Corps. On the top of Fujikasa Mountain behind us, the demons captured by the swordsmen are imprisoned."

"Please note that once you begin climbing this path, you will no longer be protected by the wisteria grove, and ghosts will roam freely at night."

"If you can survive seven days and seven nights on Fujikasane Mountain, you will have completed the final selection of Fujikasane Mountain and become a qualified Demon Slayer Corps swordsman."

Seeing that everyone had heard, Ubuyashiki Hinai and Ubuyashiki Teriyaki spoke again in unison: "Then, the swordsman examination of Fujikaze Mountain shall officially begin."

As they spoke, both Teruya Ubuyashiki and Hina Ubuyashiki, carrying palace lanterns, stepped aside and stood on one side of the road.

Those who came to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps assessment were naturally well aware of the rules.

With his black hair, blue eyes, and a magatama pendant, Kaigaku took the lead and disappeared from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.

A large group of people immediately followed.

A small group of people hesitated for a moment, but eventually went in.

A few others hesitated to take a step forward, their eyes filled with fear and terror. One of them couldn't bear the fear in his heart and fled down the mountain.

However, Teruya Ubuyashiki and Amane Ubuyashiki, who were standing on the side of the road, did not show any particular emotion as a result.

Makomo closed her eyes slightly, feeling a bit nervous and flustered for a while.

But when I opened my eyes, everything was calm.

She looked at Su Mu, Kanao, and Tanjiro, took a deep breath, and whispered, "When we reach the top of the mountain, don't stray too far from me, and don't wander around. I will protect you."

The girl's voice was light and airy, seemingly without much strength, but it contained a very strong determination.

Su Mu couldn't help but glance at Makomo. The petite girl herself wasn't even sure of succeeding, yet she was still thinking about protecting others.

"Take care of yourself first."

He muttered something under his breath. Although he felt his blood boiling, perhaps this was his own thirst for power, Su Mu suppressed this desire.

Otherwise, when he became a perfect being, he could have immediately sought out demons to strengthen himself.

However, the death of any demon, the demon dance, and Muzan all have a certain sense of it. Doing so can easily put oneself in a very dangerous situation.

He was well aware that he currently only possessed "almost perfect stats," but that this did not mean he was truly invincible or immune to being plundered.

Now, thanks to the Demon Slayer Corps' "Fujikata Mountain" swordsman test, which has been held for hundreds of years, even if Muzan Kibutsuji senses death, he will probably only think of these dead demons as just another demon killed in a new round of Demon Slayer Corps swordsman test.

Even though the cautious Muzan Kibutsuji ordered the Twelve Demon Moons to come and check the situation, they could only look on in awe at the wisteria trees covering the entire mountainside.

He possesses an almost infinite lifespan, a life even more perfect than that of Muzan, so there's no need for him to face such a terrifying creature before he matures.

Compared to themselves, the Demon Slayer Corps was more eager to find Muzan Kibutsuji and engage in a decisive battle.

Su Mu suppressed his thirst for power, his expression remaining calm, and led Tanjiro and Kanao toward the path leading to the summit.

Makomo was actually the first to act, walking in front, but soon she realized that Su Mu was not in a hurry at all and had no intention of following her. She could only bite her lip and stop, worried that if she was not careful, these weak people would be killed by the ghost.

Soon, Su Mu stopped in his tracks as he passed by Teruya Ubuyashiki and Hinai Ubuyashiki, looking at the almost identical people.

Upon seeing Su Mu stop, Teruya Ubuyashiki also looked up.

Su Mu glanced at the future head of the family, then at the delicate-looking young woman with white hair standing to the side.

Su Mu smiled gently at the two of them and then led Kanao and Tanjiro to the top of the mountain.

Makomo followed closely behind.

"Does your sister know which 'trainer' this disciple was trained by?"

After Su Mu and his group left, Teruya Ubuyashiki turned to look at his older sister beside him.

-

Ubuyashiki Hina has white hair, slightly blue eyes, and snow-white skin. Combined with her white hair, she gives off a feeling similar to a white-haired character in a very anime-style painting.

"There are many people taking the exam this time. Although most of them have some information, there are always some who come through other channels. I haven't met any of them before, but I do know something about the girl following behind them. Is Kagaya interested in them?"

"I just feel that the other person should be able to pass the test and will become a very powerful swordsman in the future."

As Teruya Ubuyashiki watched the departing figure, he murmured, "The other swordsmen participating in the assessment were either excited, nervous, fearful, or expectant, but this person gave me a feeling of—"

The boy frowned, pondering for a moment: "If the 'Pillars' were to come to Mount Fujikasa, they would likely be quite at ease facing the demons on the mountain."

"Yes, it's a very relaxed feeling."

Hina Ubuyashiki looked at her younger brother and said softly, "It's amazing that my little brother can already sense these things."

"He's still far from being as good as his father."

Teruya Ubuyashiki looked into the distance, his eyes filled with worry.

His father's health was deteriorating, and he was under great pressure as the soon-to-be successor to the position of head of the household.

His father, at his age, had already recognized Gyomei Himejima's talent and now he has become the strongest Stone Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.

And he, so far, is simply following the established procedures to take over his father's arrangements.

Can he fulfill the responsibilities of a good father?

Can he shoulder the heavy responsibility of "lord"?

Compared to the beautiful scenery of wisteria blossoms covering the mountainside below, the summit of Tengxi Mountain appeared quite desolate. Su Mu curiously surveyed everything around him.

"It's getting dark, let's prepare to face the ghosts."

Makomo looked up at the setting sun, her voice urgent.

Su Mu turned his head and looked at the mask on Makomo's face, and said with a smile, "I think the best preparation would be for Miss Makomo to take off your mask."

"What?"

The real man behind the mask frowned deeply.

"Over the past few days, I've witnessed Miss Makomo's strength firsthand. Compared to the other swordsmen who came for the assessment, they are far superior—"

"How about Miss Makomo? I think Makomo's senior brothers and sisters, including that Sabito, must all be very strong, right?"

Makomo placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist, her head slightly lowered: "Senior brother, senior sisters are all quite strong, but so what? We are all a disgrace to Master Urokodaki."

The "pillar who slew countless demons" retired in his later years to become a "trainer," but none of the disciples he taught could pass the test.

They couldn't even survive.

Before, when I was staying in the Misty Mountain, I might not have felt this strongly. But now, having arrived at the Fujikasa Mountain and hearing the conversations of the swordsmen participating in the assessment, every word felt like a stab to my heart. I wanted to refute them, but everything was true.

"Do you still believe it's your own problem even now?"

Looking at Makomo, whose head was hanging low, Su Mu shrugged slightly: "Perhaps, all of this really is Urokodaki-senpai's problem."

"Absolutely not."

Makomo suddenly looked up, her eyes resolute.

Su Mu, however, looked at the setting sun and said, "I've been to Senior Urokodaki's residence and seen more than a dozen warding-off-misfortune masks hanging on his house, just like Miss Makomo's. They must have belonged to your former senior brothers and sisters, right?"

"Those were all made by our master himself, in the hope that they would drive away misfortune and gather good fortune for us."

However, it looks more like a mask that brings misfortune.

Su Mu calmly looked at Makomo: "Now that I'm here, I've realized that the masks you're all wearing are remarkably similar!"

"What do you mean?"

Makomo frowned.

"Perhaps, there exists a demon on this mountaintop that specifically hunts demons like you who wear fox masks to ward off disaster? After all, judging from Makomo's strength, I personally believe that her senior brothers and sisters must also be quite strong. But someone with such strength, let alone passing the test to become a swordsman, couldn't possibly not even survive, right?"

Makomo's body trembled slightly. In fact, not only her, but even her former senior brothers and sisters, and even Seito, had doubts. Even Master Urokodaki had the same confusion, never thinking that his disciple could not even survive.

But everyone is only looking for problems within themselves.

Perhaps this is the element of having the heart of a strong person.

They only think that they might not have done well, and they only think about how to do better.

Perhaps there were doubts about the assessment at Fujisakuyama, but the assessment here has been conducted for hundreds of years, and the other swordsmen who participated in the assessment had no problems. Could it be that only Urokodaki's disciple had a problem?

Perhaps they felt that they were just an accident, or perhaps they had no experience facing evil spirits in the wild, or it was the first time they had faced a ghost alone, or they had encountered a ghost attack.

Humans are fragile after all. Excessive blood loss can lead to death, as can a severe injury to a part of the body that is not treated in time, not to mention fatal injuries.

Even the most powerful swordsmen are no exception, not even the Pillars.

Accidents are not uncommon.

but----

Is it really?

One accident after another, one accident after another targeting Master Urokodaki, even Sabito, who was so powerful that he almost wiped out all the demons on the mountaintop, was also caught in such accidents.

"Isn't Ms. Makomo here with the intention of investigating everything?"

Su Mu said in a low voice, "Take off the mask, or put it in a very conspicuous place. If there really is a ghost targeting Senior Urokodaki's disciple, it should stop."

Makomo gritted her teeth, hesitated for a moment, and then took off her mask.

She has a delicate and lovely face, long eyelashes, rosy skin, and a beautiful face shape. However, compared to most pretty girls who give off a very attractive vibe, Makomo's beauty is more about giving off a friendly, approachable feeling.

The girl moved with a light and graceful gait, landing on a tree branch like a bird. She then lightly touched the branch, leaped to the top of the tree, and with a slender hand, hung the closed-eye fox mask on the treetop.

A gentle breeze caused the fox mask with its closed eyes and smiling face to sway softly.

Occasionally, a swordsman not far away would look up, see the mask, feel a little strange, and then continue with his own business.

Makomo removed her mask, her petite figure landing beside Su Mu. She looked up at the tall man and asked, "Do you really think it's not our problem?"

"Everyone seems to think that we let Urokodaki-sensei down, and some even think that Urokodaki-sensei isn't suited to be a trainer?"

Why don't you think that way?

Su Mu smiled and said, "Most strong people only look for problems within themselves, but there are also some who are not strong, like me, who never look for problems within themselves."

As she spoke, she looked up at the smiling fox mask with its eyes closed at the top of the tree: "I just felt that Miss Makomo is not only beautiful, but also very strong. How could someone who is a senior brother or sister to Miss Makomo be any less capable?"

"Am I really that good?"

A blush crept onto the girl's cheeks. She wanted to turn her head away, but couldn't help glancing at the man to make sure he was telling the truth.

"Of course, after all, we'll still need Ms. Makomo's protection. In my eyes, Ms. Makomo is very admirable."

Su Mu looked down at Makomo, whose cheeks were slightly flushed: "A beautiful and powerful female swordsman."

Makomo was a little embarrassed. She turned her head away, her cheeks puffing out unconsciously, but her hand was on the hilt of the sword at her waist. She said softly, "I will protect you."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Um.

"6

"I have a question?"

"you say."

"If I were a demon, would you still act this way?"

"Sir, you're joking. How could you possibly be a ghost?"

Makomo shook her head.

"Maybe."

Su Mu looked at the fox mask with its eyes closed, which was shaking lightning at the top of the tree: "There are too many things in this world that cannot be guaranteed. Just like Makomo's senior brother and sister, and that powerful Eye Rabbit, who would have thought that such people would also perish in the small Tengxi Mountain? They could have become very powerful demon hunters, but they never even took the first step."

"Sir, you're not a ghost."

Makomo shook her head: "Why bother considering something that's clearly not true?"

Su Mu smiled but didn't say anything.

Tanjiro, who was standing nearby, heard this and looked at Makomo, who had a confident expression, but hesitated to speak.

However, when Tanjiro's gaze fell on the adults and he thought about the recent changes in the Kamado family, who would have thought that such a good demon really existed in the world?

My lord, actually—you really don't look like a ghost at all.