Tanjiro felt a bit nervous.
He glanced at Senior Brother Aoyama's crimson blade and couldn't help wondering—what color would his own be?
It didn't need to be anything special.
Something similar to Aoyama's would be fine.
Taking a deep breath, he gripped the hilt and drew the sword from its scabbard.
A dark color began spreading from the base upward, creeping along the blade inch by inch.
When the transformation finished—
The blade revealed its true color.
Black.
Pitch black.
Tanjiro rubbed his eyes.
He wasn't mistaken.
It really was black.
"Nani?! Ahhh! Black?! It's actually black?!"
Haganezuka suddenly vented steam from the pointed beak of his fiery mask, clearly furious.
He had placed great expectations on Tanjiro's blade.
After all, Tanjiro's hair was flame-colored. His eyes were flame-colored. He was a "Child of Bright Flame."
By all logic, even if it wasn't red, it shouldn't have turned jet black!
Tanjiro looked bewildered.
"Is… is black bad?"
Haganezuka lowered his head.
His shoulders trembled.
Urokodaki said calmly, "There's nothing wrong with black… It's just that we don't see it very often."
He meant to reassure him.
But to Tanjiro, it felt like a stab to the heart.
He turned to Aoyama.
"Senior Brother… my sword…"
Aoyama sheathed his own blade and wagged a finger.
"Don't look at me. I can't help you with that~"
Before Tanjiro could sink into despair, Haganezuka suddenly exploded.
"I was looking forward to seeing a bright red blade! Damn it!"
He leapt forward and tackled Tanjiro to the ground, locking him tightly with both arms and legs. One arm wrapped around Tanjiro's neck in a chokehold.
Tanjiro yelped in pain, clutching his black blade carefully, afraid of accidentally injuring Haganezuka.
"Please calm down! You're thirty-seven years old!"
"Senior Brother Aoyama—help—help me!"
Aoyama shrugged, spreading his hands.
"Not my problem. Nezuko just woke up. I should keep her company so she doesn't feel lonely."
Tanjiro's heart sank.
He should've known better than to expect help from Senior Brother Aoyama.
Impossible.
As Haganezuka shouted, "I'm thirty-seven!"—
A caw echoed from above.
A Kasugai Crow swooped into the house and landed.
"Aoyama Ren! Kamado Tanjiro! I shall deliver your orders!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened.
The crow… spoke?!
"Proceed to the town northwest from here!"
"Young girls are disappearing there!"
"Every night—every night—a girl vanishes!"
"Locate the demon lurking there and slay it!"
"This will be your first assignment as Demon Slayers!"
Aoyama stepped out from the room.
So, the mission had arrived.
He strode forward and grabbed the crow by the neck.
"In that case, let's depart immediately."
He turned and smiled faintly at the others.
Urokodaki.
Tanjiro.
Haganezuka.
All three felt a slight chill run down their spines.
Why did that smile look… a little demonic?
The crow flapped frantically, gasping for air.
"Um… Senior Brother Aoyama… I think it's about to pass out," Tanjiro said carefully.
Aoyama loosened his grip.
"Oh. Right. My mistake."
He said it casually, without the slightest hint of guilt.
The timing had annoyed him.
He had just sat down beside Nezuko and hadn't even said a full sentence before the crow burst in cawing loudly.
The crow gulped in air desperately.
If Tanjiro hadn't spoken up, it might truly have suffocated.
This smiling man—
Was dangerous.
Since they were heading to the northwest town, Urokodaki decided to give them a few final reminders as their mentor.
"You are now wearing the Demon Slayer Corps uniform," he said.
"It is made from a special fiber—breathable, resistant to moisture, and difficult to ignite."
"Even demon claws cannot easily tear it."
Tanjiro touched the fabric, astonished.
"It's that strong…"
Aoyama wasn't particularly surprised.
Back at Mount Fujikasane, the treasure chest from the system had already granted him a beginner combat suit. Compared to that, the Corps uniform wasn't much different.
Urokodaki paused before adding one more thing.
His gaze settled on Tanjiro.
"Your Nichirin Blade changes color according to its wielder. Different colors are said to possess different traits."
"But black blades… are extremely rare. There is very little known about them."
Tanjiro leaned forward anxiously.
"Very little known—and then what, Urokodaki-sensei?"
Before Urokodaki could continue, Aoyama placed a firm hand on Tanjiro's shoulder.
"Why dig so deep? Just believe in yourself. Why worry about the rest?"
Urokodaki exhaled quietly in relief.
It was good that Aoyama interrupted.
Some said black blades signified a swordsman who would never rise high within the Corps.
If he had said that aloud, it might have shaken Tanjiro's confidence.
Tanjiro glanced at Nezuko, who was peeking from inside the room.
He nodded firmly.
"You're right, Senior Brother Aoyama. No matter what color my blade is, no matter what happens in the Corps—I will turn Nezuko back into a human!"
Urokodaki looked at Aoyama with a hint of approval.
For once—
The troublesome brat had said something sensible.