Chapter 5
"The air is filled with the scent of Demons; this is the place..."
A black-haired boy, wearing a haori with different patterns on either side of the character for 'destroy,' slowly arrived at the entrance of the family's home and murmured.
"Akito, are you sure this demon can only be killed when the sun is out? What if we can't kill it...?"
Haruno's father looked at the demon, which was still struggling, and couldn't help but ask.
"Uncle, don't worry. Once the sun comes out, we'll put the demon's head under the sunlight, and that will eliminate it."
At this point, Akito's strength had mostly returned.
This made Akito feel that the recovery ability of this body was truly impressive.
"By the way, Akito, why do I feel like you're particularly familiar with these demons? Logically speaking, you shouldn't have seen them before..."
Haruno's father sighed.
"But thanks to you, if it weren't for you, we might have been done for. I said I would protect you, and in the end, you protected us."
"Uncle, these are minor matters. I'm familiar with demons because..."
Akito was about to make up an excuse when suddenly a sound of footsteps came, and in an instant, everyone tensed up.
"What's going on? Why are there footsteps outside? Is there another demon?"
Akito thought to himself.
Haruno's father exchanged glances with Akito and quickly signaled Haruno and her mother to hide in the box.
"You don't need to worry. I'm here to eliminate the demon, but it seems the battle has already ended. I arrived a bit late..."
A black-haired young man entered the room and sheathed his azure blade.
"Yoshiyuki Tomioka!"
In an instant, Akito's breath quickened; he hadn't expected to meet the highly popular cold guy from his previous life so soon.
"I wonder if Tomioka Giyu has become a Water Hashira by now..."
Noticing the change in Akito's breath, Tomioka Giyu asked in confusion, "Do you know me?"
"Wow, you noticed that? But with your standard poker face and the special haori, it's hard for a Demon Slayer fan like me not to recognize you..."
However, Akito certainly wouldn't say that out loud and had to hide the shock on his face.
"No, I just wanted to ask if you're a member of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Don't get me wrong; I heard from others that there are specialized demon slayers who wear haoris with the character for 'destroy' and wield blades that can slay demons..."
"I saw you dressed like that, and you also mentioned something about the demon being late, so I guessed you were part of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Akito explained.
"Mm."
Tomioka Giyu didn't say much more, only responding lightly.
"You've done well. Ordinary weapons won't kill a demon even if you sever its head; only sunlight can destroy these evil beings."
Haruno's father was puzzled by the conversation between Akito and Tomioka Giyu. He had told Akito about the legends of demons, yet it felt like he had been deceived; Akito seemed so familiar with demons and this so-called Demon Slayer.
But he didn't voice his thoughts, assuming Akito must have learned about it from somewhere else.
Before long, the house fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
"Tomioka Giyu is indeed a man of few words..."
Akito thought.
"Um... can I join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Akito took the initiative to speak.
"You want to join the Demon Slayer Corps? Can you tell me why?" Tomioka Giyu asked.
"I... my father and mother were both killed by demons. I want to avenge them, but I know I alone don't have the ability to kill demons, so I want to join you..."
A hint of pain appeared on Akito's face.
"I understand."
Afterward, Tomioka Giyu stared at Akito for a moment, then slowly took out a blue envelope and said, "Take this and go to Kirisaki Mountain. Find the person wearing a tengu mask, and whether you can join the Demon Slayer Corps will depend on you..."
"Thank you so much! I believe I can definitely join the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Akito was overjoyed as he took the envelope.
"I hope so, but remember, even if you join the Demon Slayer Corps, don't forget your original intention..."
"I will!"
...
Unknowingly, the sun rose, and warm sunlight streamed through the window into the room.
Everyone saw the demon turn to ashes when exposed to sunlight, and they couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion.
They hadn't expected that the demon they had fought for their lives against would be so fragile.
"This... this Demon has really been eliminated?"
Haruno's father still found it hard to believe that such a powerful creature, which almost killed him, was actually destroyed by sunlight. This was undoubtedly stimulating his nerves.
"Alright, the matter here is over, I should leave now."
With that, Tomioka Giyu left the village.
Akito watched Giyu's departure, his eyes filled with envy.
"That back, those graceful movements, he truly is strong... I wonder when I can be as strong as him."
"But what surprised me the most is that after the Demon was eliminated, I actually gained 100,000 sword swings..."
Looking at the 820,000 sword swings on his personal panel, he felt a secret joy in his heart.
System: Swinging the sword can make you stronger (not activated)
Activation conditions: 1,000,000 sword swings (not reached)
Character: Akito
Sword swings: 823,469
(Description: Keep it up, young man, earn enough 1,000,000 sword swings and you can become a god.)
"I believe I can activate the system soon..."
"Akito, are you leaving us?" Haruno asked with red eyes.
"Yes, Haruno, I need to avenge my parents..."
Akito couldn't help but clench his fists.
"Then... will you come back?"
"I will. Once all the Demons are eliminated, I will return."
"Then I'll wait for you to come back!"
"Okay."
The two made a promise, but Akito didn't take it too seriously. After all, he might be gone for years, and by then, Haruno would probably have forgotten him...
Little did he know, in Haruno's heart, Akito had already taken up residence in her small heart.
"Akito kid, your parent's death wasn't caused by a beast, but by an Demon, right?"
"Yes, uncle. If it weren't for my parents, I might have been killed long ago. That's why I practice swinging my sword every day, to become stronger and avenge my parents!"
"Good boy, you've worked hard. If you ever feel tired outside or can't stay anymore, just come back. You can consider this place your home."
"Okay."
Akito didn't expect Haruno's father to say such words, and he was deeply touched, secretly determined that once he had the power to protect others, he would never let them suffer harm from Demons.
Soon, everyone in the village learned that Haruno's family had been attacked and they all helped to repair the damaged houses.
Akito also returned home to pack his things and set off on the road to Mount Sagiri.
"Akito brother, have a good journey, and don't forget me!"
"Kid, be careful on the road!"
"Akito, pay attention to safety on the way."
After bidding farewell to Haruno's family, he headed straight towards Mount Sagiri.