"Sis, this uncle is really dreaming."
Right after Kurozawa finished speaking with a proud look, a pleasant but serious voice sounded behind him.
"Shinobu, ambition is a good thing, but don't casually badmouth others."
Uncle Kurozawa's breath caught in his throat, almost choking him.
He turned around and saw a pair of sisters who looked similar.
The elder one looked about eighteen or nineteen, but based on the generally more mature standard for swordsmen, her actual age was probably no more than sixteen.
She had beautiful eyes with purple mixed with strands of pink, a very pretty face, wore a colorful butterfly-patterned haori, and had purple butterfly hair clips on both sides of her hair.
Although she wasn't old, Kurozawa saw a familiar aura about her.
Her eyes, curved in a gentle smile, gave Kurozawa the illusion of a kind older sister from next door, or a sweet younger sister-in-law.
To the left of this older sister from next door was likely her younger sister, also a very beautiful girl.
However, unlike her older sister, the younger sister was serious and stern, with a determined and strong look on her face. Her eyes were also purple with greyish-white, which was very unique and eye-catching.
They wore identical outfits, both colorful butterfly-patterned haori, and the younger sister also had butterfly hair clips on her head.
"Hello, my sister is being impolite, I apologize on her behalf," the older sister said to Kurozawa with an apologetic and gentle smile.
Before Kurozawa could speak, the younger sister frowned and said, "Sis, I wasn't wrong, there's no need to apologize."
The older sister once again showed an apologetic and gentle smile. Compared to her smile, the Wisteria Flowers blooming all over the mountain seemed somewhat overshadowed.
And looking at her younger sister, she was a bit stubborn and serious. Once she set her mind on something, even her older sister couldn't persuade her otherwise.
Kurozawa remained silent, looking at the sisters in front of him.
Gradually, these two overlapped with the memories from his previous life.
The older sister, Kocho Kanae, and the younger sister, Kocho Shinobu. Kurozawa hadn't watched much of Demon Slayer because the anime had only updated 5 episodes at the time. However, some people who had read the manga had posted many spoiler threads, and Kurozawa had read some of them.
Kocho Kanae was killed and devoured by an Upper Moon Demon.
After that, because Kocho Kanae had said before she died that she loved seeing Kocho Shinobu smile, Kocho Shinobu, who didn't usually smile, developed the exact same gentle smile on her face after Kocho Kanae's death. Her personality also started to resemble Kocho Kanae's, and she slowly lived like her – at least, on the surface.
"It's fine, children's words carry no weight," Kurozawa lowered his head and looked at Kocho Shinobu.
Unlike her 6 years later, at this time, Kocho Shinobu's body from her neck down to the tops of her feet formed a perfect flat plane.
At this moment, Kocho Shinobu looked like a little girl, completely different from the tall and well-endowed Kocho Kanae next to her.
The phrase "children's words carry no weight" made Kocho Shinobu bristle like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.
"I'm not a child! I'm a prospective swordsman participating in the Final Selection, just like you!"
"Instead of calling others small, shouldn't you reflect on why, at your age, you're still participating in the trial with children like us? Don't you feel ashamed?"
These words came out like a rapid-fire cannon, leaving Kurozawa completely speechless.
I'm in Demon Slayer, 21 years old, and being called an uncle hurts. So, you're the sharp-tongued Kocho Shinobu.
"Hey, our Senior Disciple is only participating in the trial now because he waited specifically to protect us. You're not allowed to talk about him like that."
Hanada Shizuka leaned forward, puffed out her chest, and looked down at Kocho Shinobu with a triumphant expression as she spoke up for Kurozawa.
"You! Hmph!"
She lowered her head and glanced at her perfectly straight body curve, then compared it to Shizuka's already well-developed figure. Kocho Shinobu, who was still in her undeveloped stage, glared fiercely at Shizuka, let out a cold snort, and said nothing more.
Kurozawa reached out and pressed down on Shizuka's little head to prevent her from falling over due to leaning too far forward, then said, "How about we make a bet? We'll see who kills more demons during this trial."
"You and your sister can team up against me, how about that?"
Kurozawa didn't argue with Kocho Shinobu because actions speak louder than words.
However, at this moment, a person wearing the Hidden Slayer Corps uniform ran over, approaching Kurozawa.
"Lady Flower Pillar, the Master requests your presence. Please come with me."
These words were spoken to Kocho Kanae.
Kocho Kanae nodded and said with a smile, "I know where the Master is, you can go first, I'll be there shortly."
Flower Pillar? Did I hear correctly?
Pillar... the peak of swordsmen... She's already a Pillar this early? Kurozawa was full of questions.
Kurozawa knew that Kocho Kanae was a Demon Slayer Pillar when she died, but he didn't expect her to be one already at this point.
Having failed to show off, Kurozawa was so embarrassed that he just wanted to cover his face and run away.
"My name is Kocho Kanae. I passed the Swordsman Trial three years ago and am now the Flower Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. There's no need for a bet, I believe you can win. This is my younger sister, Kocho Shinobu, who is here to participate in this Swordsman Trial."
"I can sense that your body is constantly using a Breathing Technique, and you've reached the level of Total Concentration: Constant."
"If you have the chance, please take good care of Kocho Shinobu within Mount Fujikasane. She talks tough, but she's actually a little afraid of demons."
Showing no intention of making Kurozawa feel awkward, Kocho Kanae slightly bowed and made her request to Kurozawa with a smile.
In her eyes, there was some curiosity.
Participating in the Swordsman Trial at the Total Concentration: Constant stage... Kocho Kanae had never seen a prospective swordsman who had already stepped one foot into the threshold of being a Pillar... It's quite rare.
"Senior Disciple, this beautiful older sister is a Demon Slayer Pillar. It's my first time seeing a Pillar other than Master, and she's so young."
Hanada Shizuka leaned close to Kurozawa and whispered, completely unaware that anyone could hear her words.
"No problem, I promise you that if I encounter Kocho Shinobu on Mount Fujikasane, I will help her."
"That would be much appreciated." Kocho Kanae smiled, once again making the wisteria flowers on the mountain pale in comparison.
Kurozawa swore that his promise was purely out of respect for the elderly and care for the young, and had absolutely nothing to do with Kocho Kanae's captivating smile.
"Hmph, I don't need some old man to protect me," Kocho Shinobu said, glancing sideways at Kurozawa.
Afterwards, Kocho Kanae left alone to meet the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Demon Slayer Corps Leader, while Kocho Shinobu found an empty room nearby and settled in.
"Senior Disciple, the Flower Pillar has such a nice personality. She's a Demon Slayer Pillar at such a young age, even stronger than you."
"I really hope I can become someone like her one day."
After Kocho Kanae left, Hanada Shizuka reluctantly withdrew her gaze.
It was clear that she had been captivated by Kocho Kanae's unique girl-next-door aura.
My little fan club... is gone, Kurozawa lamented inwardly.
"Let's go, let's find a place to stay first."
At this moment, Kurozawa finally discovered a dark truth.
That is, his talent was exceptionally poor. After a simple estimation, Kocho Kanae had mastered the Total Concentration: Constant stage of the Breathing Technique in at most 5 years.
But Kurozawa himself... under the guidance of Sakonji Urokodaki, he started learning the Breathing Technique at five years old and only reached the third stage, Total Concentration, at twenty.
It was only through Potential Points that his strength advanced rapidly within a year, pushing Total Concentration to the Total Concentration: Constant stage.
"No, I can't accept this. I must try to break through to the fifth stage of the Breathing Technique myself!"
"If I can't do it in one year, I'll do it in two. If I can't do it in two years, then so be it. Potential Points are still better."
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