Ryōsuke had never found a Kasugai Crow's mission report so pleasant to the ear.
It was like a royal pardon.
His body moved faster than his brain.
"Understood! I'm departing immediately!"
He practically rolled and scrambled, using both hands and feet as he charged into the house, grabbed his pack, and bolted straight down the mountain.
"Ryōsuke! You—"
"Ryōsuke-ge!"
"Yasui Ryōsuke!!!"
Three voices rang out at the same time as three people chased after him.
Ryōsuke didn't slow down, waving frantically over his shoulder.
"Grandpa! Shōta! Rika! I'm off! Urgent mission! See you later!"
By the time the words left his mouth, he'd already vanished around a bend in the winding mountain path.
"Ryōsuke-ge! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"
Rika stamped her foot angrily, her voice full of a young girl's aggrieved stubbornness.
Ryōsuke stumbled mid-run, nearly tripping.
For a split second, he could clearly picture it—
Rika puffing out her cheeks, eyes red-rimmed, like a kitten whose tail had just been stepped on.
The emotional damage was worse than facing Dream Calamity head-on.
Ryōsuke shrank his neck instinctively and ran even faster.
Can't afford it, can't afford it—retreat!
Traveling day and night soon pushed the awkward chaos of Peach Mountain, along with a少女's complicated feelings, temporarily out of his mind.
Following the Kasugai Crow's guidance, Ryōsuke moved between towns and countryside, searching for the local Kakushi contact point.
That was when a voice full of surprise suddenly called out from behind him.
"Ryōsuke-san?! Ryōsuke-san!"
He turned toward the sound and saw Moriyama Akira peeking out from behind a wall, waving vigorously.
Ryōsuke stopped, mildly surprised.
So his partner this time was this guy—the legendary "hard-carry-free rider."
Moriyama jogged over, clearly excited.
"It really is you! That's great! I thought the back looked familiar—and that black haori too! We haven't met since Mount Fujikasane. Didn't think we'd run into each other here!"
"You got assigned here too?" Ryōsuke asked, his gaze instinctively sweeping the surroundings.
The mission briefing had been vague—only "suspected demon activity," with no reports of casualties or disappearances.
Moriyama nodded repeatedly, his face full of confusion and frustration.
"I've been here three days already, but I haven't found a trace of a demon!"
"I checked both the county and the outskirts thoroughly—nothing. Not even a hint of demonic aura."
"And the locals all say no one's gone missing. It's really strange. If there is a demon, it's hiding way too well."
Ryōsuke didn't answer immediately.
Something about this situation was off.
No demon traces. No missing people. No casualties.
Everything was too normal—so normal it felt deliberately concealed.
He suspected the demon's Blood Demon Art might be spatial in nature, like Kyōgai or Nakime.
Or perhaps something like Gyokko—able to hide itself within objects.
But more than that, Ryōsuke found himself curious about the boy in front of him.
Demon Slayer Corps missions were usually assigned based on rank and headcount.
Ryōsuke was now Kō-rank.
Which meant Moriyama Akira must be—
Ryōsuke frowned slightly.
"What rank are you now?"
"Huh? Oh!"
Moriyama scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.
"Shin-rank."
"Shin-rank?!"
Ryōsuke was genuinely surprised.
He'd climbed to Kō-rank by killing the Flying Head Demon, several lesser demons, and assisting Rengoku Shinjurō in slaying Dream Calamity.
Even Shōta—who'd fought tooth and nail nonstop—was only Shin-rank so far!
And this guy… who'd basically coasted through Mount Fujikasane with luck and average strength—
He was Shin-rank too?!
Fast didn't even begin to cover it. It was absurd.
"I don't mean anything by it," Ryōsuke said, studying him. "I'm just curious—how did you rank up?"
Moriyama looked even more embarrassed.
"Uh… haha… honestly, it's kind of shameful. I've just been ridiculously lucky."
He nodded vigorously, like he'd finally found someone to confide in.
"My first mission—Kasugai Crow said the target was an abandoned warehouse west of Osaka. I took a wrong turn and somehow ended up in a mass grave south of the city…"
"And guess what? The demon was there! And it was already hacked to pieces!"
"It desperately needed human flesh and blood to recover, so it was digging up graves and eating corpses—didn't even notice the time. The sun came up and burned half its body. It was rolling around screaming in pain!"
"So I just… walked over and finished it off."
Ryōsuke: o_0
"Second mission," Moriyama continued, apparently realizing how unbelievable this all sounded.
"The target was deep in the mountains. I was chasing it when I slipped and fell into a pit—turns out it was full of kids the demon had captured."
"When I got them out, the others had already finished the fight… I rescued the children and got credited for a major contribution."
Ryōsuke's mouth started twitching uncontrollably.
What kind of luck is this?!
I'm out here risking my life killing demons, and you're speedrunning on free wins?!
"And there was another time," Moriyama went on, fully committed now.
"The Crow said the demon was by the river. When I arrived, it somehow slipped and fell straight into the rapids, smashed into rocks, and cracked its head open…"
"I drew my sword and beheaded it."
He spread his hands helplessly.
"So I kind of just… cleared a few missions in a daze and ranked up to Shin."
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Ryōsuke sighed, feeling both numb and absurdly resigned.
Sure, his presence had changed the original timeline—Shōta and Moriyama survived.
But the original story already had one absurdly lucky man: Murata, the eternal Road Pillar.
And he used Water Breathing too!
Same generation as Giyu and Sabito!
What is it with Sagiri Mountain—mass-producing protagonists and chosen ones?!
A ridiculous thought crossed Ryōsuke's mind.
Could it be that because "kings don't cross paths," Moriyama's luck buff had failed at Mount Fujikasane in the original timeline?
This is getting way too abstract.
Ryōsuke couldn't help thinking of Sabito and Makomo.
Two geniuses who should have shone brilliantly—cut down early by the Hand Demon.
Now that the Hand Demon was gone, their fates…
They should be completely different.
"Ryōsuke-san?"
Moriyama called softly when Ryōsuke stayed silent too long.
Ryōsuke snapped back to reality and changed the subject.
"Oh—right. How's Urokodaki-san doing?"
"Oh! Master's doing great! He even took in a new girl recently—her name's Makomo. She's super cute."
Talking about Sagiri Mountain clearly put Moriyama in a good mood.
"Oh! And yeah, I have three junior brothers—Sabito, Giyu, and Murata. The first two are incredibly talented, they pick things up really fast!"
"As for Murata—he's not very gifted, but I'm closest with him. Really fun guy, haha~"
They'd be taking the Final Selection at Mount Fujikasane next year.
Ryōsuke's expression sharpened as a thought instantly took shape.
Peach Mountain was… complicated lately anyway. Going somewhere else to lie low didn't sound bad.
He spoke after a moment.
"After this mission, I want to go to Sagiri Mountain with you."
Moriyama froze.
"I want to visit Urokodaki-san on behalf of my grandfather, Kuwajima Jigoro."
"Oh! Sure, sure!"
Moriyama nodded eagerly.
"Master mentioned you before! Said Fujikasane went smoothly thanks to you—he's wanted to thank you in person but never had the time."
"Once this mission's done, we can head back together! Master'll definitely be happy to see you!"
Ryōsuke nodded as well.
Sagiri Mountain was a must-visit.
The people whose fates he'd changed—every one of them would be crucial allies in bringing down Muzan.
Just then, an unusual scent flooded the air.
Ryōsuke and Moriyama froze simultaneously.
The smell was far too strong—far too familiar.
The scent of a demon.
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