During the Meiji era, it was said that demons roamed the land after sunset, preying on humans.
To combat this, the Demon Slayer Corps emerged—a group of warriors dedicated to slaying demons and protecting humanity.
Haruto, wearing a blindfold and earplugs, clung to the back of a Kakushi as they trudged through the darkness. For a child raised in the Swordsmith Village, this was his first journey beyond its boundaries.
(T/N: The Kakushi are a brigade of people who work as attendants to the Demon Slaye Corps. It's the guys in the black uniforms.)
The village was crucial to the Demon Slayer Corps, serving as their supply line for forging Nichirin swords. To prevent its location from being exposed to demons, all travelers were transported under strict secrecy by the Kakushi—another vital support team within the Corps.
Though Haruto grew up in the Swordsmith Village, he wasn't an actual swordsmith. Even so, his eyes and ears were covered before leaving, just like everyone else.
It felt surreal—being carried like cargo, handed off from one Kakushi to the next. The journey was deliberately convoluted, with each Kakushi covering only a portion of the route.
Whenever Haruto was transferred to a new carrier, he'd reach into his pack and pull out two rice balls prepared by his master, offering them to the previous Kakushi.
"Thank you for your hard work! Please enjoy these!"
He never saw their expressions or heard their responses, but each time, the rice balls were taken. That had to mean they genuinely appreciated his gratitude, right?
"Why are you so heavy…?"
The final Kakushi panted as they trudged along the forest path, following the directions of the messenger crow.
"You don't look particularly bulky, but this is harder than carrying Himejima-san…"
Finally, they reached their destination. The Kakushi set Haruto down by the roadside and removed his blindfold and earplugs.
His misty blue eyes, unused to light, narrowed momentarily before refocusing on the Kakushi—a girl whose face was mostly hidden by a cloth mask. She froze, her cheeks faintly reddening as she took in his appearance.
"You'll have to manage the rest of the journey on your own," she said, voice slightly flustered.
Seeing her drenched in sweat, Haruto felt a twinge of guilt. He rummaged through his bag and pulled out two more rice balls.
"Thank you for your hard work! Please enjoy these!"
"Haruto...Do you always carry so many rice balls? You've given them out the entire way. Do you even have enough left to reach Fujikasane Mountain?"
"Don't worry!" Haruto beamed as he patted his pack confidently. "My master packed 200 rice balls for me before I left!"
"...200 rice balls? o_O"
For some reason, the girl's expression grew subtly resentful beneath her mask.
"By the way, how did you know my name was Haruto?" Haruto scratched his head. "I don't think I introduced myself."
"The Kakushi talk during downtime," she replied. "We all know about the boy from Swordsmith Village heading to Fujikasane Mountain for the selection exam. But why would someone from the village choose to become a Demon Slayer instead of a swordsmith?"
"Probably because I lack any talent for smithing and eat way too much," Haruto admitted sheepishly, flexing his arms. "Don't be fooled by how skinny I look—I'm actually pretty strong!"
...For some reason, when she bid him farewell, her expression seemed strained, and she kept rubbing her lower back.
The life of a Kakushi must be tough, Haruto thought as he adjusted the pack on his shoulders.
Fourteen years—he had spent fourteen years in the Swordsmith Village since being reincarnated, and today, he was finally stepping out to begin his new journey.