[Current Main Quest: Prevent Tomioka Giyuu from killing Nezuko]
[Quest Completed]
[Quest Reward: Host has acquired Water Breathing Technique (Mastery Level)]
[New Quest: Pass the Final Selection and join the Demon Slayer Corps]
[Demon Slayer Corps: Founded by the Ubuyashiki family, an organization dedicated to exterminating demons]
[Penalty for Mission Failure: Confiscation of host's reproductive capabilities, forfeiting all intimate relations in this world]
[Reward for Mission Completion: Obtain a Time Reversal Item (Duration: Five Minutes); Acquire Water Breathing Forms One through Ten (Perfect Mastery)]
Just as Hakuya finished explaining his situation to Giyuu, the notification from his interdimensional system invaded his mind.
When he saw the penalty for failing this new mission, Hakuya's face went pale. If he failed, he'd basically become a eunuch!
Damn it! How could this be happening? He was a healthy young man! How could he lose that?
Besides, Hakuya had no idea how long he'd be stuck in this world. Without his manhood intact, he'd die alone and miserable. That tragic fate was absolutely unacceptable, so this mission had to succeed no matter what.
Naturally, Giyuu had no idea about Hakuya's internal panic. After listening to the explanation, he studied Hakuya thoughtfully for a moment. Finally, as if reaching a decision, he turned his attention back to Tanjiro.
"If you want to avenge your family, go find a man named Sakonji Urokodaki who lives at the foot of Mount Sagiri. Tell him Tomioka Giyuu sent you. There isn't much sunlight left today, so you should be fine. Just make sure your sister isn't exposed to the sun."
After delivering these instructions, Giyuu glanced once more at Hakuya. As a gust of wind whipped up a flurry of snowflakes, the Water Hashira vanished from sight.
Once Giyuu had left, Tanjiro approached Hakuya and dropped to his knees. "Thank you so much, Hakuya-san! I can't thank you enough!"
Hakuya didn't think there was anything to be grateful for. His actions weren't motivated by kindness—they were purely to complete his system mission.
After all, he barely knew Tanjiro or Nezuko. He had no emotional attachment to them whatsoever.
"There's nothing to thank me for," Hakuya said bluntly. "Your sister is important to me for my own reasons, so she can't die. It's that simple."
"Then... is it really possible for you to turn my sister back into a human?" Tanjiro asked hopefully.
"Uh..." Hakuya paused, considering his words. "Well, it'll take time. But before we find a method, you'd better become as strong as that guy who just left. Otherwise, I might not be able to protect both you and your sister at the same time. If you die, you won't be around to see her transformation, will you?"
The perceptive Tanjiro understood the underlying message. While Hakuya had been unconscious, Tanjiro had also spoken with Giyuu. Now, hearing similar advice from both of them strengthened his resolve to become powerful.
"So what are your plans now, Hakuya-san?" Tanjiro asked. The very fact he was asking showed that Tanjiro already considered Hakuya someone to follow.
Hakuya scratched his head. "Plans? How about you tell me yours first."
"I'm going to Mount Sagiri to find Urokodaki-san and learn how to fight demons," Tanjiro declared with determination.
Chapter 9: Dealing with the Aftermath
"That's perfect!" Hakuya replied.
"Really, Hakuya-san?" Tanjiro was clearly surprised that Hakuya would actually join him, and his excitement was obvious. With Hakuya in their group, his sister Nezuko would be much safer. "Please take care of us from now on. My name is Tanjiro Kamado, but just call me Tanjiro!"
"Hakuya," he replied calmly, meeting Tanjiro's gaze.
Afterward, Hakuya accompanied Tanjiro to find a proper place to bury his deceased family. Tanjiro and Nezuko held a simple memorial service while Hakuya waited at a respectful distance, not wanting to intrude on their private moment of grief.
Tanjiro's family had been very ordinary. His father passed away from illness when Tanjiro was still young, leaving the entire household dependent on his mother and Tanjiro as the eldest son. But now, this simple family had been shattered in an instant, and Tanjiro's only surviving sister had become a demon.
Although Nezuko no longer attacked people, the fact remained that she had transformed into a demon.
Tanjiro shared all of this with Hakuya while they dug graves together. Hakuya didn't talk much about his own past but simply listened as Tanjiro reminisced about happier times.
When they finished, Tanjiro brought his sister over to Hakuya. He examined Hakuya carefully, now wearing his late father's clothes, and his expression softened.
"Hakuya-san, you look just like my father in those clothes," Tanjiro said.
Hakuya bristled slightly. "Tanjiro, what are you trying to say?"
Tanjiro laughed apologetically. "I just mean—wearing my father's clothes, it almost feels like he's alive again."
"Couldn't you have found me something else to wear?" Hakuya looked down at the borrowed garments, wishing he could take them off right then and there.
However, realizing that wouldn't be practical, he held his tongue.
"My clothes are too small, and my younger brother's wouldn't fit either. Only my father's clothes will work. What's wrong, Hakuya-san? Do they bother you?" Tanjiro asked with concern.
Knowing there was no alternative, Hakuya stopped complaining. After all, he couldn't just strip down and freeze in these snowy mountains.
Seeing that Tanjiro misunderstood his reluctance as disgust, Hakuya quickly explained, "I don't mind at all. They just don't suit me very well, that's all."
Tanjiro thought for a moment. "You're right, there really aren't any other options at the house. I'll figure something out once we reach a town."
Hakuya didn't want to dwell on it anymore. "Let's get moving as soon as we're ready."
With that, the two of them—plus one demon—set off on their journey to Mount Sagiri to find Sakonji Urokodaki.
To travel during daylight hours, Tanjiro went to a nearby village and returned with a woven bamboo basket.
"Hakuya-san, I'm back!" Tanjiro called out as he returned to where Hakuya and Nezuko were resting. Hakuya was sitting cross-legged outside a small cave. Seeing Tanjiro's return, he simply acknowledged him with a brief "You're back."
Tanjiro nodded. Hakuya glanced at the bamboo basket, noticing light filtering through gaps in the weave. "Tanjiro, this basket won't work. Too much light is getting through. Demons really can't handle sunlight."
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P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)