Demon Slayer: I am a Demon

Chapter 97 If I had stayed a little longer, would things have been different? (4/4)

As the morning sun pierced through the clouds at Mount Sagiri and the warm sunlight streamed through the window into the room, Makomo slowly opened her eyes.

"Awoo!"

The girl hugged the soft blanket, making cute noises, her body wriggling in the soft bedding, but in the end, she reluctantly got out of bed.

"I really want to sleep in."

Makomo muttered something, but she moved quickly. She got out of bed, changed her clothes, washed up, and then went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her favorite chef, Urokodaki Sakonji.

After doing all this, the girl picked up her Nichirin Blade, walked out of the courtyard, and then gently clenched her fist towards the sky: "Makomo, you'd better do your best today!"

The girl's voice was soft, ethereal, and very pleasant to hear.

Makomo's daily training session began.

Soon, the soft shouts of a petite girl and the sound of a Nichirin Blade being swung echoed through the spacious courtyard.

As the sun rose, sweat gradually appeared on the girl's forehead, and her breathing became heavier.

Without the tengu mask, revealing a gentle face, Urokodaki Sakonji ate the breakfast prepared for him by Makomo in his room. He also heard Makomo training. While eating, he looked at the fox mask with Makomo's closed eyes and smiling face hanging on the wall.

He made many such masks, but eventually collected and sealed them away. Now, only two of these masks remain.

One is right in front of them, and the other is in the hands of Giyu Tomioka.

However, after the "Fujiyama" assessment, Giyu Tomioka sent a letter saying that he had a mission to hunt down demons and would not be returning for the time being.

Urokodaki Sakonji knew that Giyuu hadn't returned from a mission to hunt demons, but rather that he was too afraid to come back. Giyuu was deeply remorseful, but how could his master possibly blame him? He was too busy blaming himself.

"This year, the new 'Fujikatayama' swordsman examination is about to begin."

He muttered to himself and put down his chopsticks abruptly, his fingers unconsciously clenching. The sounds of his disciples training around him became incredibly noisy at that moment.

"call----"

Taking a deep breath, Urokodaki Sakonji put on his tengu mask, covering his gentle face. Under the fierce tengu mask, the old man's figure became majestic.

Stepping out of the room, in the courtyard, Makomo was still training, and you could see drops of sweat streaming down her forehead.

Very hardworking, very hardworking.

But the disciple's diligent training left Urokodaki Sakonji speechless.

"Master, have you eaten the breakfast I prepared for you?"

Makomo practiced several more times before stopping, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid. She looked at Urokodaki Sakonji and asked him with great concern.

"have eaten."

Urokodaki Sakonji nodded, looked at Makomo whose face was already covered in sweat, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "How about this year's 'Fujikatayama'?"

Seemingly anticipating her master's words, Makomo clenched her fist and declared excitedly, "Master, I will definitely succeed in this year's 'Fujikata-yama' swordsmanship exam!"

Urokodaki Sakonji opened his mouth, wanting to say something to dissuade him.

"By the way, Master, how's the information I asked you to find out last time?"

Makomo suddenly interrupted Urokodaki Sakonji, who was about to say something.

Urokodaki Sakonji fell silent for a moment.

"They must have hunted down quite a few evil spirits again, otherwise they wouldn't still not have contacted me."

Makomo sheathed her Nichirin Blade and walked up to her master. When they parted last time, Hiroshi Furukawa had said that he would invite Kyojuro Rengoku to dinner soon and that he would invite him along.

On the eve of her final examination at Fujikasane Mountain, she also wanted to ask the Flame Pillar for some advice, hoping to hear some different demon-slaying experiences from Urokodaki.

But since their last parting, there has been no news from Hiroshi Furukawa.

"already----.

""

Urokodaki Sakonji turned his head and looked away.

"Has he already gone off on another ghost-hunting mission? How infuriating."

, 7

Makomo pouted, somewhat complaining. Only in front of her most respected master Urokodaki would Makomo show her childlike side.

"He has already sacrificed himself."

Urokodaki Sakonji gently opened his mouth.

In an instant, Makomo's small hands clenched slightly. That journey of hunting demons together, though arduous and difficult, was also unforgettable.

During her first demon hunt, everyone took good care of her and diligently taught her demon hunting experience, as well as many things about wilderness survival. A man named Hiroshi Furukawa seemed to like her. Although she didn't like him, she didn't dislike him either; in fact, she admired and respected him.

She also worried about how to refuse Hiroshi Furukawa if he said he liked her during their next meeting. She even thought of how to avoid embarrassing or disappointing him.

But I never expected to receive such terrible news.

It's hard to accept and unacceptable.

"That entire squad was wiped out; not a single one survived."

Urokodaki Sakonji spoke again.

For a moment, Makomo swayed slightly. Were all her former comrades dead? Was it really that tragic?

So touching————

The girl gripped the Nichirin Blade tightly, her heart filled with helplessness and sorrow. From the very beginning of her memory, it seemed that her life had been a constant cycle of losing very important people.

One by one, our beloved senior brothers and sisters rushed to Tengxi Mountain, only to be lost.

Even Seito, who was closest to her, was lost a year ago at Fujikasane Mountain.

Even partners who had only recently started working together were all lost.

Every loss is related to ghosts.

Every important person in the world had their life cruelly taken by the ghost.

Now, all she has left are Yoshiyuki Tomioka and her master.

"How did he die?"

Makomo lowered her head, her toes kicking the stone steps, but her tone was deliberately relaxed, as if she wasn't sad at all.

Urokodaki Sakonji didn't see any pain on Makomo's face, but his nose could smell the sadness on his disciple.

The scent of sorrow was so intense.

Although I really don't want to tell you about such a sad thing, these things can't be solved by hiding them; one day I will have to face them.

If this were said now, perhaps the greatly affected disciple would no longer participate in the "Fujiyama" assessment?

He didn't want to lose his last disciple.

Amidst a sea of ​​worried gazes, Urokodaki Sakonji revealed what he knew.

Makomo then learned that Hiroshi Furukawa had died fighting a demon on the day they parted ways, which caused her heart to clench with pain.

If I had stayed a little longer that day, would I have been able to rewrite this tragic ending?

Will things change?

Would they then be spared from dying?

I feel so guilty, so incredibly guilty.

I feel an overwhelming sense of remorse for leaving so early. If I had stayed a little longer, perhaps this wouldn't have happened.

"Um, what about the ghost that killed them?"

Makomo raised her head, biting her lip, and looked at her beloved Master Urokodaki.

"It rained heavily that day, washing away all traces. The swordsman who arrived couldn't catch up, and the demon got away."

Urokodaki Sakonji told him the truth.

"Did they get away?"

Makomo gripped the hilt of her Nichirin Blade tightly, her teeth clenched: "No, I won't let that demon get away."

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