"Understood."
Ryosuke petted the hummingbird's head.
The ranks of the Demon Slayer Corps, from highest to lowest, are: Kinoe, Kinoto, Hinoe, Hinoto, Tsuchinoe, Tsuchinoto, Kanoe, Kanoto, Mizunoe, and Mizunoto.
Mizunoto is the lowest rank for newly joined swordsmen.
Above the Kinoe rank are the Hashira.
It takes at least five years for a normal person to become a Hashira.
One must either slay 50 demons or slay a member of the Twelve Kizuki.
With less than a year of his lifespan left, Ryosuke didn't delay at all and walked straight into the house.
He changed into his corps uniform and haori, and simply packed his belongings.
Jigoro and the other two came to see him off.
Rika took out an indigo blue cloth amulet from her chest.
The stitches on it were slightly immature, with the word "Peace" embroidered crookedly.
Without a word, she stuffed the amulet into Ryosuke's hand, her small face flushed red.
"Brother Ryosuke, take this. I sewed it myself. Grandpa said it will keep you safe."
Ryosuke smiled and rubbed the top of Rika's head.
"Yeah, thank you, Rika."
"Tch!"
Shota curled his lips, feeling extremely unbalanced inside.
Ryosuke ignored him. After greeting Jigoro, he prepared to head down the mountain.
"Hey!"
Shota couldn't help but shout.
Ryosuke turned around.
He pointed at the sword resting at Ryosuke's waist, displaying the unique awkwardness of a young boy.
"You're going alone... will that... that weird sword of yours be okay?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, even he felt it sounded a bit mean.
But his youthful pride and competitiveness made him bite the bullet and continue.
"Don't die out there! You'll embarrass Grandpa!"
Thump!
Jigoro's cane struck Shota heavily on the head.
"You brat! What nonsense are you saying!"
"..."
Shota grabbed his head and backed away a few steps.
Jigoro looked at Ryosuke, his voice softening.
"Come back safely."
"Mm."
Ryosuke bowed to Jigoro, turned, and walked away.
"Brother Ryosuke! Be careful!" Rika shouted loudly.
Ryosuke didn't turn back, just raised his right hand and waved.
...
The night was as black as ink.
The hummingbird flew through the night sky, guiding the way for Ryosuke.
Ryosuke had already been traveling for half a day. His failing liver left him physically exhausted, throbbing with a dull ache.
"Damn it, this broken body..."
Ryosuke gritted his teeth, leaning against a tree trunk by the roadside to catch his breath.
The hummingbird landed on his shoulder, letting out tiny "chirp chirp" sounds.
"It's fine, I won't die."
Ryosuke wiped his sweat and then demanded in his mind, "Hey, System, come out!"
[Ding dong~ Dear Host, what are your orders~]
"Cut the crap! Let me ask you,"
Ryosuke took a deep breath, asking the most urgent question in his heart: "How many years of my lifespan do I need to cure my liver?"
[Not much, just ten years~]
"Ten years?!"
Ryosuke's voice suddenly spiked: "Say that again, damn it?!"
[Yes indeed~ Dear Host, ten years of lifespan can completely cure your stubborn illness, giving you a brand-new, healthy, and vibrant liver~]
"Ten years... heh... ten years!"
Ryosuke felt a wicked fire rush straight to his head; his lungs were about to explode from pure rage.
"I risked my damn life pushing past my limits, almost killing myself, just to kill a Hand Demon and get one year! And you casually open your mouth and ask for ten years?!"
"Do you think I'm a beast of burden?! Or are those demons just leeks growing in a field, ready to be harvested whenever?!"
[Host, don't be so agitated~ High investment brings high returns~]
[Think about it. A healthy body will allow you to unleash the full power of Thunder Breathing, slay more and stronger demons, and your lifespan will naturally come rolling in~]
The system persuaded him patiently.
"Screw you! Damn your ten years! I only have one year left right now! One year!!"
Veins throbbed fiercely on Ryosuke's forehead. "By your calculations, I'd have to kill at least ten demons at the level of the Hand Demon!"
"Fuck! I am definitely the most miserable transmigrator with a system ever!"
"Other people's systems either give out novice gift packs, let them draw lotteries, or give rewards just for signing in..."
"But you? I start off with a terminal illness, you force me to pay with my life, the treatment fee is outrageously expensive, and you still go 'hee hee hee' every day! I'll 'hee' your uncle!"
[Host, please stay calm. Emotional agitation will accelerate the consumption of your lifespan~]
The system reminded him helpfully.
"Get lost!!!"
Ryosuke cursed angrily, stretched his legs, and began running wildly.
After a night of swift travel, a hint of white appeared in the eastern sky.
He had arrived at Mt. Hinode!
Ryosuke let out a long breath, planning to scout the mountain first.
But right in front of a temple, Ryosuke's footsteps came to a sudden halt.
He smelled an overwhelmingly strong stench of blood!
"Oh no!"
Ryosuke's pupils shrank, and his heart sank to the bottom of his chest.
Scattered memories regarding the "Mt. Hinode Temple" flashed through his mind.
The future strongest Hashira who would face demons with his bare flesh, standing as firm as a mountain!
Gyomei Himejima!
The starting point of his tragedy seemed to be right here!
Ryosuke abruptly barged inside.
The faint morning light barely illuminated the living hell before him.
Torn prayer flags, scattered toys, overturned food boxes... silently told the story of what had transpired last night.
Blood flowed like a river inside the room. Seven or eight children's corpses had been torn to pieces.
A burly man knelt on the ground, bathed in blood, mechanically pounding the demon beneath him with his fists, one blow after another.
Even though the demon's head had been smashed to a pulp and its body was turning to ash in the sunlight, the blind monk kept moving, as if he couldn't feel any pain.
Not far behind the blind monk, a shivering little girl was curled up.
Once the demon had completely dissipated, Gyomei fumbled and turned toward Sayo's direction, seemingly wanting to confirm her safety, seeking a single shred of comfort and validation.
"Government officials handling a case! Idle people step back!"
Almost simultaneously, a group of officers aggressively rushed in.
The leader swept his gaze over the scene, his eyes landing on Gyomei, who was covered in blood.
"What happened here?"
Sayo immediately cried out: "That man! That man is a monster, he killed everyone."
That man?
Who else could it be but this monk here?
The leader looked at Gyomei, his face immediately twisting into disgust and an expression of 'I knew it'.
"Arrest this murderous maniac!"
Several government officers quickly pinned down Gyomei's shoulders.
Gyomei didn't struggle; his face was entirely numb.
The accusation was like an ice pick, viciously piercing his heart.
His wooden face lost all its color, and his massive body swayed.
Gyomei opened his mouth to defend himself, but the girl's faint sobbing made him freeze in place, unable to force out a single word.
"It wasn't him!!"
Ryosuke stepped forward, his voice urgent.
"Wait! It's not him! The murderer is a demon! It's the demon that just turned to ash! He is the protector! The person the girl just mentioned was also the demon!"
"Get lost!"
The leader shoved Ryosuke aside, his eyes sweeping disdainfully over his face and the sword at his waist.
"Where did this wild brat come from? Stop spouting nonsense here! Demon? What demon?! Would a protector end up looking like this? Would a protector let all those children die?!"
He pointed at the corpses covering the ground and the still-crying little girl.
"The evidence is conclusive! If you dare to obstruct official business again, we'll arrest you too!"
The blood roiled in Ryosuke's chest, a violent killing intent nearly swallowing his reason whole.
These idiots!
The Demon Slayer Corps has strict rules forbidding drawing swords on ordinary people! Harming humans is strictly prohibited!
But Ryosuke couldn't hold it in!
Do I risk my life every damn day killing demons just to protect you bunch of idiots?!
"Young man..."
Gyomei's words made Ryosuke freeze.
He squeezed out a faint smile and nodded toward him: "Do not be impulsive on my behalf and commit the sin of killing."
"..."
Ryosuke's chest heaved, his teeth chattering, feeling entirely powerless and helpless.
He watched with wide eyes as Gyomei was dragged away by chains, stumbling forward.
That massive body was hunched over at this moment, filled with unspeakable grievance and despair.
Right at the moment Gyomei Himejima was about to be dragged out of the temple gates, Ryosuke roared with all the strength in his body.
"Great Monk! Keep your head up!"
"You were never a murderer!!"
"You were protecting them! You are fighting for humanity!!!"
Gyomei's massive body shuddered violently.
He turned around with great difficulty, a trace of a relieved smile appearing on his bloodstained, scarred face.
He couldn't see, but he heard it.
That voice pierced straight through the darkness and injustice.
Gyomei pressed his hands together, bowed slightly toward Ryosuke, and offered a monk's greeting.
"Thank you... young man."