The Legend of the Sun Pillar

Chapter 04 - 1st Season

A week had passed until a Kasugai Crow appeared, presenting a mission to Yoriichi. After completing all preparations—such as acquiring supplies for the journey and polishing his nichirin to remove impurities from the blade—Yoriichi set off for the training location where Kiri was teaching Tanjiro about Water Breathing. Upon arriving at the site, he was surprised to see the Pillar sitting on the ground, breathing heavily, while Tanjiro rested peacefully on a rock, running his fingers over the marks left by his strikes as if studying their shapes and textures.

— Tanaka, it seems you've been giving my friend Kiri quite a hard time. - Yoriichi announced his presence. Kiri, who was seated, quickly stood up and bowed briefly in greeting. — Kiri, has his training been completed?

— To be honest, Master Yoriichi, the training ended on the second day... I used the remaining time to refine his techniques, but I never imagined he would reach such a high level of skill in such a short period. - Kiri was truly surprised by the rapid progress of the red-haired boy.

Tanjiro was also surprised. He knew that the combat experience he gained in his previous life would help him strengthen even faster, but he didn't expect it to be this 'easy.' However, much of the credit belonged to the Transparent World—combined with Tanjiro's powerful sense of smell, it allowed him to perceive things at levels even Yoriichi couldn't come close to.

Yoriichi approached Tanjiro to get a better look at his muscles through the Transparent World. Indeed, they were stronger, and Tanjiro's lungs, in Yoriichi's vision, would be able to withstand the Sun Breathing at full strength for a few minutes—and even if the strength were reduced, using it normally wouldn't be a problem.

— That's enough; let's go, Tanaka. - Yoriichi handed him a simple Nichirin, used by hunters who didn't possess Breathing techniques, and then led him down a small road.

Together, they walked a long distance until they reached a village of lumberjacks and farmers—where firewood and rice were the main sources of livelihood.

— Master Yoriichi, what's the mission report? - Tanjiro asked, already focusing on his sense of smell to detect anything suspicious in the village.

Even though it was still daytime.

— Two bodies were found dead not far from this village. Residents said they were two brothers who went out to collect firewood and never returned, so the chances of them being intercepted by a demon are quite high.

— But wouldn't a regular group of hunters suffice for that?

— In a way, yes, it would, but this case is a bit special. It's possible that this demon is a user of Blood Demon Art, and because of that, they didn't want to take any risks. They sent me directly to ensure the threat is eliminated.

"Then Master Yoriichi is like a guarantee of elimination... Wherever he's sent, it's a guarantee that the mission will be completed. They place a huge burden on his shoulders, and yet he doesn't complain even once!", Tanjiro thought as he looked at Yoriichi, who wore a serious yet neutral expression to avoid frightening the villagers walking the streets.

It took some time until nightfall finally arrived. With all the villagers now hidden in their homes, the demon hunt had become safer — and more precise for Tanjiro, as there were no longer as many scents in the streets that could mask the demon's smell.

— Because of the recent attacks, the villagers aren't risking going out at night. If the demon has recently fed, it won't appear tonight. But if it's hungry... It will definitely attack one of the houses. Tanaka, let's split up. You take the houses to the north, and I'll cover everything else. - Yoriichi said. After uttering these words, he vanished into thin air as if he were a ghost.