With the Final Selection approaching quickly, the entire Mount Sagiri entered a state of intense training over the following period.
Kurozawa also became busy.
He had a total of thirteen junior disciples, and aside from Sabito and Makomo, who were the top performers, the other eleven were quite ordinary in strength and hadn't mastered many Sword Forms.
Therefore, Kurozawa had to dedicate a lot of energy to teaching them, striving to rapidly improve their combat effectiveness.
However, to Kurozawa's disappointment, both the Breathing Technique and Sword Forms required considerable talent, and effort had very little impact.
These junior disciples weren't as exceptionally gifted as he was, nor did they have the slight boost provided by Potential Points; their progress was very slow.
"Master, I feel like aside from Sabito and Makomo, the other junior disciples aren't qualified to participate in the Final Selection."
"Especially junior disciple Giyu, with his timidity, he'll probably faint the moment he sees a Demon. How is he supposed to fight a Demon?"
Kurozawa asked Sakonji Urokodaki this a few days later.
He wondered why Sakonji Urokodaki, who understood the condition of his disciples, would let them go to Mount Fujikasane just to die in vain.
Kurozawa had this question in mind when he watched the original story in his previous life.
With such a large difference in strength, weren't they just going to the Final Selection to die for nothing?
At this moment, Sakonji Urokodaki replied without the slightest emotion: "The Demon Slayer Corps is short on personnel. Anyone who has trained for over a year must participate in the Final Selection."
"Furthermore, Kurozawa, how do you think every Demon Slayer Pillar grew strong?"
"They all slowly grew into powerful individuals through countless life-and-death battles in blood and fire, experiencing endless separations."
"When they participated in the Final Selection, some of them were even as weak as Giyu."
"The death rate of the Demon Slayer Corps is as high as eighty percent. How do you think that came about?"
"Demons are predators of humans and possess a natural suppressive force over humanity. Just picking up a Nichirin Blade and fighting them is already an act of immense courage."
"You must remember, not everyone is born with powerful talent. Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen are, more often than not, ordinary people."
On this day, Sakonji Urokodaki, who was usually taciturn, spoke a great deal, contrary to his usual nature.
Listening to Sakonji Urokodaki's words, Kurozawa fell silent.
This wasn't anime entertainment viewed through a screen, but a real, extremely cruel and bloody world. He was now also in this world.
"I understand," Kurozawa nodded heavily, facing Sakonji Urokodaki's teaching.
"Kurozawa, I don't know what happened to you, but I choose to believe you, and I also hope you can maintain your human emotional side."
"I have a mission to resolve. I will return when the Final Selection is about to begin."
After saying this, Sakonji Urokodaki turned and left, directly departing Mount Sagiri.
His words made Kurozawa recall a profound memory.
On the day he turned twenty, the same day Kurozawa awakened his Status Panel.
Sakonji Urokodaki smelled an unusual scent.
He was born with an Enhanced Sense of Smell that was unimaginable to ordinary people, capable of even smelling human emotions.
On that day, Sakonji Urokodaki drew his Nichirin Blade and burst into Kurozawa's room.
He smelled a scent on Kurozawa that he had never encountered before.
It was an indescribable, chaotic, pitch-black scent, even deeper and more terrifying than a Demon's aura.
According to Sakonji Urokodaki at the time, for a moment, he even thought the Demon Progenitor had descended upon Mount Sagiri and entered Kurozawa's room.
Facing Sakonji Urokodaki's questions, Kurozawa gritted his teeth and insisted he didn't know what had happened, only that he woke up to see Sakonji Urokodaki rushing into the room.
Sakonji Urokodaki gazed at the source of the chaotic scent, his hand holding the Nichirin Blade constantly tightening and loosening, loosening and tightening, experiencing who knows how intense a psychological struggle.
Ultimately, Sakonji Urokodaki gave Kurozawa a deep look and walked out of the room.
Since then, he had never mentioned that day again.
Kurozawa felt a bit down, thinking to himself, Even if I told you about the ability I awakened, you probably wouldn't believe it.
Shaking his head, he put these thoughts aside and dedicated himself to the great educational endeavor of teaching his junior disciples.
Through continuous self-training and training his junior disciples, time slowly flowed by, and soon twenty-five days had passed. Sakonji Urokodaki also returned to Mount Sagiri.
At the same time, he brought back thirteen Nichirin Blades.
These weren't ordinary training swords, but Nichirin Blades of various shapes, made from the same material as Sakonji Urokodaki's own Nichirin Blade.
At noon, the ancient trees covering the mountain were bathed in fragmented golden sunlight. In an open area at the foot of Mount Sagiri.
Sakonji Urokodaki slowly spoke to the fourteen people in front of him: "These Nichirin Blades are legacies of deceased Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen. You will use them temporarily for the Final Selection."
"Afterward, those who pass the Final Selection will receive their own exclusive Nichirin Blade. Those who don't pass... will no longer need a Nichirin Blade."
"In three days, you will set off for the trial location. During this time, try to familiarize yourselves with the Nichirin Blade in your hands."
After distributing the thirteen Nichirin Blades one by one, Sakonji Urokodaki looked at Kurozawa and said, "Come with me."
Following Sakonji Urokodaki's steps, Kurozawa walked into the house.
"I became a swordsman at 17 and obtained my own Nichirin Blade. Now, I am 64, and this blade has followed me for 47 years, accompanying me through countless crises and slaying endless Demons. I treat it like a wife or daughter."
"My body can no longer sustain high-intensity combat. The position of Water Pillar will open up soon."
"Kurozawa, take this. You are the disciple I've taught since you were young. In the eyes of others, you represent me. Don't tarnish my reputation in my later years!"
At this moment, Sakonji Urokodaki had not yet experienced the grief of his thirteen disciples dying one after another in the Final Selection. He hadn't become that old man who only wanted a peaceful life. Although his body was old, his spirit and energy were still full, and he was full of vigor and high spirits.
Kurozawa scratched his head, looked down at Sakonji Urokodaki, and gave an embarrassed smile: "Master, is this okay? You're just giving me the Nichirin Blade that's been with you for 47 years? You know me, I don't really like using Nichirin Blades."
*Slap!* Sakonji Urokodaki lightly tapped Kurozawa's forehead with the back of the blade, a rare smile playing on his lips as he playfully scolded him: "You little rascal, I'm just lending it to you!"
"Give it to you? What are you thinking?"
"I truly feel sorry for the Nichirin Blade that is about to become yours."
Given Kurozawa's habits, his Nichirin Blade would probably become a fishing tool to lure Demons, only to be taken out at the very end to cut off their heads.
Kurozawa thought for a moment, then smiled: "Indeed, putting myself in its shoes, I also feel stifled and indignant for it."
"Then can the Nichirin Blade material be made into gloves or something?"
"Gloves? I'm not sure, there's never been a precedent for that."
"Let me think... The Stone Pillar's weapon is a large axe with a chained hammer, which shows that Scarlet Ore and Iron Sand can be made into other shapes. I'll help you ask about it."
Sakonji Urokodaki pondered for a moment before replying to Kurozawa.
The Scarlet Ore and Iron Sand he mentioned is a unique material that can absorb sunlight.
Nichirin Blades made from Scarlet Ore and Iron Sand contain the energy of the sun, which is why they can inflict fatal damage on Demons who cannot survive in sunlight. They can also display different colors depending on the user's attributes.
Nichirin Blades are also called Color-Changing Blades.
Solemnly accepting Sakonji Urokodaki's Nichirin Blade, Kurozawa attached it to his belt. As he left the house, he turned back to instruct Sakonji Urokodaki.
"Master, don't forget, I want Nichirin gloves."
"Got it. Go get familiar with the Nichirin Blade. A weapon that isn't yours needs time to get used to."
"The gloves should preferably be transparent and as thin as cicada wings, the kind that doesn't affect my feel. I like the feeling of my fists connecting with flesh the most."
"Alright, I'll pass that on to the Swordsmiths in the Swordsmith Village."
"Can I get a few extra pairs? So I can have spares to wash."
"Get out of here!"
The protagonist's weapon will still be a Nichirin Blade, and he will learn Ougi Level Sword Forms later on. The mention of gloves here was just Kurozawa teasing and joking with Sakonji Urokodaki.
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