Chapter 138: Time Conjecture x The Pain of Parting
Clack.
Separated by a single window, Roy ignored him and turned off the bedside lamp. The room was instantly plunged into darkness. The boy instructed Goldie to wake him if anything happened and prepared to sleep, intending to conduct an experiment.
The "curse" had alerted him to a problem he had overlooked ever since awakening his Nen ability, the "Gate of Cognition"—Time!
It seemed like one day in the Hunter world equaled one day in the Demon Slayer world. But was it possible that one day in the Hunter world equaled two days... three days... or even four in the Demon Slayer world? If so, it meant Roy could race against time. Without affecting reality, he could accelerate his progress in the Demon Slayer world, further speeding up his own growth!
With this thought, Roy folded his hands over his stomach and closed his eyes.
Demon Slayer World.
After sending Giyu Tomioka off late last night, Sakonji Urokodaki lay on the bed. In the corner, Roy was sound asleep.
In the small cabin, the ghostly wind gradually subsided. Perhaps sensing something, Sakonji felt a pang of loneliness, a void where there used to be company. The missing pieces... were Sabito and Makomo.
Tonight, a rare break in the fog over Sagiri Mountain allowed the bright moon to pour down its light. Sabito and Makomo, unusually, were not in the cabin. They were on the roof. One stood, hand on his sword, back straight, admiring the moon. The other was curled up, hugging her knees, gazing at the stars. Neither spoke.
Whoosh... The mountain wind blew, no longer as bitingly cold as midwinter.
Makomo's amber eyes reflected the moon. Hearing the faint sound of Roy's breathing from inside, she murmured, "Do you think... if we asked Eiichiro not to kill that monster, he would agree?"
What if he does? What if he doesn't?
Sabito opened his hand, catching a strand of moonlight. He knew what the girl was thinking. Giyu was gone, and Eiichiro would be leaving soon. The Final Selection was imminent. Even if Eiichiro agreed to spare the Hand Demon, another "Eiichiro-jiro"... or "Eiichiro-saburo" would come along and finish it.
The Demon Slayer Corps did not tolerate demons. If not for the purpose of using them to train new swordsmen, that monster, along with all the other demons on Mount Fujikasane, would have been exterminated long ago!
"The world belongs to the living. Prepare to disappear."
The fox-masked boy's words were cruel, but he knew a quick, sharp pain was better than prolonged suffering. For a naive girl like Makomo, hurting her once was better than torturing her endlessly.
Makomo buried her head in her knees. "Don't worry, I won't say something so stupid. We all died because of that monster. I won't be selfish and ask Eiichiro to spare it."
"You're wrong."
Sniffle...
A ghostly wind swirled onto the roof. Makomo, hearing the noise, looked up. It was Shinsuke, Fukuda... all of them. They gathered silently around her.
"We all don't want to leave," one of them said.
"Eiichiro gave us hope. If, in the end, we get to choose who ends this for us..."
Sabito released the moonlight, letting it melt back into the night. "I choose Eiichiro," he said calmly.
"I choose him too!" Shinsuke, ever the loudmouth, was surprisingly casual. "Anyway, if we have to go, we all go together. At least it won't be lonely on the way."
"Who would want to go with you?" Fukuda spat, disgusted. "You'd better stay far away from me."
"I won't! I'm sticking with you!"
"Is that so... Why wait for Eiichiro? I'll just kill you right now!"
"Bring it on!"
Whoosh~ The two began to wrestle, stirring up a ghostly wind. Their antics broke the tension. Makomo's expression softened. She looked up at the moon, silently praying for it to set just a little bit slower. Even one extra minute would be good. At least they could stay in this world a moment longer... to be with their master, with Eiichiro, with this wonderful world... just for a little while.
Inside the cabin.
Sakonji Urokodaki rolled over, staring at the rafters, unable to sleep. He lay awake all night. As the first hint of dawn appeared, he got dressed, went to the river in the dim light, and caught a few fish. Walking back, he spoke to the empty air, "Child, there's no need to be reluctant."
"Master doesn't have many years left either. I'll come find you when it's my time."
Makomo, having seen him leave, had floated down from the roof, following him, stepping exactly where he stepped, her small feet covering his large footprints as they neared the cabin.
She stopped, tears welling up. She forced a smile. "Okay, Master." She took a deep breath and followed him. Just then, the red sun breached the horizon, filling the sky with dawn light. A ray shone through a crack in the window, illuminating Roy's peaceful face.
The boy, having used "deep sleep" to leave the Hunter world, arrived in the Demon Slayer world. He blearily opened his eyes and the first thing he did was look at the back of his hand. It was clear, no "mark" had appeared. He let out a breath of relief. It seemed the [Curse] only affected his "lifespan" and couldn't interfere with the activation of his "Nen ability." This was undoubtedly good news.
"You're awake. We're having sashimi this morning," Sakonji said, busy in the kitchen as usual.
"Okay." Roy scanned the room. No Giyu Tomioka. Sabito, leaning against a pillar, saw his confusion. "Your brother Giyu left last night. Now that you're leaving today, I'm sure you'll see each other again soon."
"Senpai knew I was leaving today?" Roy glanced over, surprised. He noticed, unusually, that everyone was present. Even Shinsuke-senpai and Fukuda-senpai, who were always fighting, were quietly perched on their own rafters. The usual chaos was gone.
Sabito smiled. "Master said there's nothing left to teach you. From now on, you're on your own."
"What about the final test?"
"Giyu-senpai already lost to you. What final test do you need?" Makomo, seeming to have regained her spirits, rolled her eyes at Roy. "Eiichiro, are you planning to split Sagiri Mountain in two?"
"Haha, maybe he will!" Shinsuke floated down, slinging an arm over Roy's shoulder. "If this guy keeps training, splitting a mountain in one blow isn't impossible!"
"Heh heh heh..." The teasing lightened the mood.
Roy chuckled. "If that day ever comes, I'll ask all of you, my seniors, to bear witness."
"Us? I'm afraid we won't be around to see that day..."
The boy's words were like a mute button. The laughter died, and even Sakonji Urokodaki, slicing fish in the kitchen, went silent. The old man's knife paused. He let out a long sigh.
"Why wouldn't you see it?" the boy's voice suddenly cut in.
"If I said I have a way to ensure all of you can see it... I wonder... would my senior brothers and sisters be willing to try?"
Swish!
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