"Master, why does the First Form require holding the Nichirin Blade with both hands? Can't I use just one?"
"Master, does the Second Form: Willow of life really have to cut the skin? If the Ninth Form is stronger, why do you still use the Second Form?"
"Master, you said the Thirteenth Form was created based on Maru-ni, but Maru-ni is clearly a Shiba Inu."
"Master..."
"Master..."
"Master..."
"Ma—"
"AHH!! ENOUGH!"
Snap!
Shinichi was utterly exasperated as he reached out and pinched Yuichiro chattering mouth shut like a duck's bill.
"Are you some kind of endless 'why' machine? Where do all these questions come from? I remember your brother Muichiro said you were the quiet type—so why are you so talkative now?" Shinichi sighed.
But with his mouth clamped shut, Yuichiro could only mumble incoherently while gesturing wildly with his hands.
Seeing that Yuichiro clearly wanted to speak, Shinichi released his grip—only for the boy's next words to nearly make him spit blood.
"Master, how did you know Muichiro said I was quiet?"
"SHUT UP! Yuu, starting today, I'm setting a new rule—no more saying 'why'!!"
"Huh? Master, wh—"
SPLURT!! (The sound of Shinichi vomiting blood.)
"Woof woof!" (Maru-ni's excited barking at the spectacle.)
*****
Ever since leaving the Moriki estate, Shinichi had taken on his first disciple—and currently, the only one he had accepted in this world—Yuichiro Tokito.
Together with the Shiba Inu Maru-ni, master and disciple embarked on their journey.
Because Shinichi needed to train Yuichiro, he delayed his trip to the Swordsmith Village and instead took the boy to the region under his jurisdiction.
After communicating with headquarters via the Kasugai Crow and receiving permission, Shinichi officially began mentoring his disciple—teaching him while carrying out Demon-slaying missions.
Teaching through live combat—Shinichi might have been the first in the Demon Slayer Corps' centuries-long history to do so.
Though Shinichi no longer had a proper Nichirin Blade, the short sword Mori no Ryuu was more than enough to handle most Demons.
Even if they encountered an Upper Rank again, Shinichi was confident he could at least ensure Yuichiro's survival.
"Go, go! Go swing your sword five thousand times over there!" To spare his ears further torment, Shinichi decisively shooed Yuichiro away to train.
"Okaaay..." Dejected at his master's dismissal, Yuichiro picked up his wooden sword and trudged off, stripping off his upper garment to reveal the faint outlines of developing muscles.
Swing after swing—there was no denying that Yuichiro was quite endearing when he focused.
Watching him, Shinichi was reminded of his own days of relentlessly training Breathing Techniques, drenched in sweat.
"Caw! Caw! Shinichi! A Demon has been sighted in the forest near the village to the southeast! Headquarters orders you to lead a team and eliminate it! The assigned Demonslayers are already on their way to rendezvous with you!"
After flapping his wings and delivering the command, Eizo gracefully perched atop Maru-ni head.
At this moment, Maru-ni was sound asleep when suddenly he felt a sharp pain on his head.
Confused, he opened his big round eyes and immediately spotted that annoying crow standing on his head, pecking at him with its pitch-black beak.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
Instantly, Maru-ni puffed up like an enraged ball, leaping three feet into the air with furious howls as he lunged at Eizo.
But Eizo merely flapped his wings a few times and effortlessly soared into the sky, watching the chubby Maru-ni rage helplessly below.
He even took the opportunity to mock him loudly, "Caw caw caw, stupid dog, you can't catch me~"
Shinichi had no interest in mediating the feud between Maru-ni and Eizo.
In his view, it was good for Eizo to tease Maru-ni—at least it got the latter moving more and helped him lose some weight.
Right now, Shinichi was casually sitting on a rock, propping his chin on his hand as he watched Yuichiro train.
A faint glimmer flickered in his heterochromatic eyes and his expression revealed a trace of awe.
Talent was truly a strange thing—sometimes elusive, yet at other times utterly breathtaking.
From the time they left the Moriki Estate to now, barely a month had passed, yet Yuichiro had already grasped the first five forms of Forest Breathing.
Though he hadn't mastered them completely, the mere fact that he could execute these five sword techniques within a month was nothing short of extraordinary.
Even Shinichi himself had been no better at that stage.
In some aspects, Shinichi back then had even been far inferior to Yuichiro now.
And Shinichi's physique wasn't that of an ordinary human—he was a demon with inherently formidable physical strength.
Yet Yuichiro was purely human.
Could it really be the so-called bloodline at work?
Shinichi thought back to the blood samples he had handed over to Tamayo and Shokyu a month ago—one from Lower Moon Six, Kamanue and the other from Yuichiro himself.
So far, neither had given him an answer, leaving Shinichi to speculate on his own.
"4,997... 4,998... 4,999... 5,000!!"
With the 5,000th swing of his wooden sword, Yuichiro exhaled sharply before gasping for breath.
His upper body was drenched in sweat, his semi-long hair sticking to his back.
Despite the exhaustion, Yuichiro didn't mind it at all.
The more tired he was, the better the training—and the more it proved his master cared for him.
He was thrilled that Shinichi took his training so seriously.
"Master, I've finished my swings!" After catching his breath, Yuichiro ran up to Shinichi, blinking eagerly as he stared at him.
Uncomfortable under Yuichiro's puppy-like gaze, Shinichi coughed twice before speaking.
"Ahem, good. You did well, but this was just a warm-up. However, this afternoon's training is postponed. You'll be accompanying me on a demon-slaying mission. During the mission, you must follow my orders and not act recklessly. Understood?"
"A mission with you? Really? That's amazing! Don't worry, Master, I won't hold you back!" Yuichiro clenched his fists, excitement shining in his eyes.
"Alright, alright. If you could just ask fewer 'whys' to your master in the future, you'd be saving me a lot of trouble. Here, have something to eat."
Shinichi took out quite a bit of dry provisions from the silver mirror and handed them to Yuichiro, who politely said thank you before starting to eat voraciously.
After the intense training, Yuichiro's appetite was quite substantial.
Only at times like these could Shinichi catch a glimpse of childlike innocence in this eleven-year-old boy.
More often than not, Yuichiro's maturity was rather heartbreaking.
"Um, Master, I heard from the doctor that eating too many sweets is bad for your health and teeth. Shouldn't you be more careful about that?"
"Stop nagging! What does that doctor know? Your master has his own considerations—just eat your meat pie!"
"But why—"
Thunk! (The crisp sound of a flick to the forehead)
"Don't say that word again!!"
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