"Eizo, what kind of place is this? The scenery seems quite nice" Shinichi remarked with interest as he surveyed the small island they had just landed on.
Eizo, perched on his shoulder, smoothed the feathers on his wings before answering loudly.
"This is Hachijo-jima, part of the Izu Islands!"
"Hachijo-jima? That's a rather unique name. But would a remote island like this really have a Demon?" Shinichi asked sounding curious.
"Not necessarily! It's just that many merchant ships and fleets have gone missing near Hachijo-jima without explanation, so we need you to investigate!" Eizo declared boldly.
Shinichi shrugged indifferently.
He had dealt with similar cases before—the Demon Slayer Corps wasn't all-powerful and often they couldn't immediately determine whether a Demon was truly responsible.
Most of the time, it came down to the initiative of the Demon Slayers themselves.
But then Shinichi suddenly remembered something.
"Eizo, wasn't there supposed to be another teammate joining us this time? Any idea where they are now?"
At this, Eizo flapped his wings and took off from Shinichi shoulder, soaring into the sky as if searching for the missing teammate.
Meanwhile, under the veil of night on Hachijo-jima, a frail figure staggered through the dense forest, illuminated only by the dim moonlight.
The boy pure white scholar robes were stained with dirt and sweat, his bare calves and feet covered in tiny cuts.
His dark hair, though tied up, was disheveled from his desperate escape.
Half of his face was concealed by bandages, but his mismatched eyes—one yellow, the other blue-green—stood out.
Strangest of all, a slender white snake coiled around his neck, occasionally flicking out its crimson tongue.
'Run! Get out of here! I don't want to die, I don't want to be eaten—I want to live!'
The boy mind screamed in terror as the nightmarish presence of that monstrous, shifting form tormented his sanity.
The rustling overhead was a lullaby of dread, the dim dungeon feels like a suffocating coffin and the cruelty and greed of his own clan like a blade poised to kill.
The cold touch of his companion, the snake "Kaburamaru," around his neck snapped him back from his fear.
He didn't dare look back—he only knew he had to run forward with everything he had.
Escape this merciless family.
Escape that terrifying... Demon!
***
Shinichi soon met his teammate—though he was surprised by who it turned out to be.
Clad in the black Demon Slayer uniform, a white haori with flame-like patterns fluttering behind him, his golden-red hair and owl-like vigor unmistakable—this was the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro.
"Rengoku-san? It's you? Wait, if a Hashira is already here, why do you even need me?" Shinichi said with a laugh.
Shinjuro crossed his arms, smiling as well.
"Long time no see, Shinichi. I've heard about your recent exploits—impressive work. But don't be too surprised to see me."
He continued "The Water Hashira recently retired, leaving another vacancy among the Hashira. As a result, my jurisdiction has expanded. Even a Hashira energy has limits, so sometimes we need assistance too."
During his time in the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinichi had only met the Flame Hashira before him and the newly promoted Stone Hashira.
As for the other Hashira-level swordsmen, Shinichi had never encountered them.
Now that Shinjuro mentioned the other Hashira, Shinichi grew curious.
So he asked "How many Hashira are currently in the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Shinjuro expression turned grave as he replied "After the Water Hashira retired, the Demon Slayer Corps only has me, the Stone Hashira, and the Wind Hashira left. However, if nothing goes wrong, an outstanding junior should soon be promoted to Hashira as well."
"What?" Shinichi was stunned.
He hadn't expected the vast Demon Slayer Corps to have only three Hashira-level swordsmen—was this a joke?
Even counting the soon-to-be-promoted Hashira Shinjuro mentioned, that would make just four.
Too few.
Compared to the Demons, the Demon Slayer Corps' high-level combatants were far too scarce.
Shinichi shook his head.
On the Demon side, there existed the Twelve Kizuki.
Shinichi wasn't sure about the strength of the Upper Ranks, but judging from the Lower Rank Four—Rokuro—he had encountered that day, even the Lower Ranks far surpassed ordinary swordsmen, let alone the mysterious Upper Ranks.
For centuries, the Demon Slayer Corps had never managed to slay an Upper Rank.
With their current strength, could the Demon Slayer Corps truly defeat Muzan, the progenitor of Demons? Shinichi expression darkened.
"Still, though the number of Hashira is small now, there are many outstanding juniors like you Shinichi. I believe the Demon Slayer Corps will grow even stronger in the future!"
Noticing Shinichi somber expression, Shinjuro offered words of encouragement.
True.
Who could predict the future?
Shinichi perked up and asked "Who is the one about to be promoted to Hashira?"
"Uzui Tengen—an exceptional junior. Rumor has it he was once a formidable shinobi, hailing from a long-standing ninja clan" Shinjuro declared proudly.
Shinichi eyes widened.
"Who?! Uzui Tengen?"
Instantly, an image of a man adorned in 'flamboyant' jewels flashed through his mind—that eccentric guy who kept spouting flashy nonsense.
He was becoming a Hashira? What a surprise.
As Shinichi pondered, Shinjuro walked over and patted his shoulder encouragingly.
"Keep at it, Shinichi. Your talent is equally remarkable. I'm sure it won't be long before the Demon Slayer Corps gains another powerful Hashira."
Shinichi smiled. "I will."
The conditions to become a Hashira were either slaying fifty Demons or successfully killing one of the Twelve Kizuki—both were incredibly difficult.
However, if Shinichi counted the first Demon he had slain, Karasuma, up until now he had killed nearly fifty Demons.
Yet his pride wouldn't allow him to use that as leverage to request promotion from Ubuyashiki.
In Shinichi view, to rightfully become a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, one must start counting from the day they officially joined—either slay fifty Demons or kill a member of the Twelve Kizuki.
This was Shinichi own conviction and pride.
And so, Shinichi and Shinjuro continued their conversation as they began their investigation on Hachijo-jima.
****
"Woof woof!"
Maru-ni, who had been wobbling along the road, suddenly straightened his round body and began barking fiercely in a particular direction.
The abrupt situation also caught Shinichi and Shinjuro off guard.
Suddenly!!
From the shadows of the nearby mountain forest, a massive figure burst forth!
Jet-black hair, crimson-yellow eyes, a hideous face that bore no resemblance to a human—its mouth stretched from ear to ear, revealing sharp fangs, while a long, slimy crimson tongue flicked in and out like a serpent.
Most horrifying of all, below its navel was the enormous body of a python, covered in fine scales.
Its razor-sharp green claws clutched a frail boy and it was just about to open its gaping maw to bite down on him.
"Forest Breathing, Third Form: Thorn Stab!"
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
In the blink of an eye, two slashes faster than lightning were unleashed!
------------------------------
Please read my new book : One Piece : Make Marines Great Again
Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator