This child has a lot of confidence.
Urokodaki Sakonji found himself looking forward to the possibility that Natsunishi was indeed an extraordinary genius, just as Kazami had described.
What the Demon Slayer Corps craved most were powerful geniuses and swordsmen. The more startling the genius, the further they could go on the path toward defeating Kibutsuji Muzan.
"This is merely out of my personal curiosity."
"Young Natsunishi, why are you so eager to understand the Breathing Styles of other sects?"
He was clearly so young. He could easily wait until he had mastered the techniques of Wind Breathing before attempting to forge his own path. If the child wasn't the type to aim for the stars without a foundation—as Kazami claimed—then there had to be an urgent reason behind it.
"Because I want to become strong."
"Why?"
"Only by becoming stronger can I defeat stronger demons."
"Then why not specialize in Wind Breathing?"
"Even if I practice Wind Breathing, which isn't perfectly suited for me, to its limit, I would likely only reach the level of a Hashira."
"Is being a Hashira not enough? That is the peak of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Looking at the old man in the tengu mask, Natsunishi countered with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Of course it isn't enough."
"If I only become a Hashira, let alone eliminating the Demon King, I wouldn't even be able to handle the Upper Ranks."
"If I don't transcend the level of a Hashira, how am I supposed to kill the Demon King?"
The room fell silent instantly. Not only the two children nearby, but even Urokodaki Sakonji's breathing hitched for a moment.
This child's ambition... was it truly this vast?
He didn't just want to kill demons to avenge a tragically murdered sister, nor did he simply want to climb to the top of the swordsmen and become a Hashira. Instead, he spoke of "killing Kibutsuji Muzan"—a feat an ordinary swordsman couldn't even fathom—as if it were the most natural goal in the world.
Even Urokodaki Sakonji hadn't thought in such terms for a long time. In all his years as a Cultivator, had he long ago lost the spirit he possessed when he first joined the Corps? With every swordsman he trained, the things he said most often were "Take care of yourself" and "Stay alive"... He had forgotten that they were swordsmen who existed for revenge and to slay demons.
It wasn't just Urokodaki who was reflecting. Beside him, Sabito and Giyu stared with wide, astonished eyes. They were currently still worrying about how to survive Final Selection safely. Fields like becoming a Hashira, surpassing a Hashira, or personally taking down the Demon King were completely beyond their current imagination.
"Amazing," Giyu whispered.
Coming back to his senses, Sabito patted Giyu on the shoulder and said seriously, "We can do it too in the future, Giyu."
Urokodaki looked at Natsunishi, a faint smile appearing on his aged face beneath the mask.
"A perfect score for an answer."
"I think I understand why Kazami admires you so much."
He handed a cup of hot tea to Natsunishi. The relaxed atmosphere allowed the elder to crack a joke.
"With three children now, I'll have to prepare more rice in the hearth."
Natsunishi acted as if he hadn't caught the underlying meaning and said very seriously, "I have money."
Between the small change he had hoarded over the year and what he had scavenged from "gear-dropping" teammates during Final Selection, he had enough to splurge at a high-end restaurant for a month.
Urokodaki: "It was just a joke. I don't care about a bit of money."
He had served in the Corps for many years and had accumulated a decent amount of savings, not to mention the pension the Master occasionally sent him as a retired swordsman. In short, the former Water Hashira, Urokodaki Sakonji, was not short on cash. He was even wealthy enough to hire local hunters to help him build training facilities in the mountains.
"I can cook, and I can handle the daily chores. I'm happy to do it."
Urokodaki: "That's not what I meant..."
Natsunishi: "My cooking is actually very good."
Urokodaki couldn't help but press his palm to his forehead and sigh. "Fine, then. Natsunishi, you shall help me prepare tonight's dinner."
Seeing this, Sabito suppressed a laugh. This senior seemed to be a bit oblivious in a social sense. He glanced at Giyu. The black-haired boy tilted his head, wondering why his friend's gaze was so strange.
...
As it turned out, Natsunishi's culinary skills were indeed something else.
"This taste..."
"It's not human..."
Giyu had just put a vegetable in his mouth when he froze, chewing carefully. He proceeded to shove several meatballs into his mouth in quick succession.
"I've never eaten anything this delicious."
Sabito was no exception. With his mask off, he appeared much more childlike. "What did you add besides salt? This aroma... Senior, it's a waste for you to be a swordsman."
Seeing Giyu beside him looking like he was about to choke from eating too fast, Natsunishi quickly ladled a bowl of soup and handed it over.
"It's 'Kōtou' (dashi). I simmered mushrooms and kombu to make a flavor-enhancing concentrated broth."
By the hearth, the three residents of Mount Sagiri were enjoying the dinner Natsunishi had prepared.
[Wild Game Mountain Bandit Hotpot]
A base made from long-simmered mushrooms and kombu (which he bought after the selection). It was filled with plenty of seasonal mountain vegetables, homemade simple fish balls and meatballs, and hunted wild chicken, all seasoned with miso and soy sauce.
[Citrus and Shio-Koji Grilled Fish]
The remaining fish wasn't wasted. It was marinated in wild garlic, mountain pepper, and wild citrus juice. Although the marinating time wasn't long, the precise heat during grilling and the perfectly charred, crispy aroma made up for it, giving the flavor a bold charcoal scent without losing the juicy, tart fruitiness.
Ultimately, the plates were unusually clean; all three even used the leftover broth to mix with their rice. Urokodaki Sakonji even remarked, "Kazami didn't give you a recommendation just because of this, did he?"
While the group enjoyed their feast, deep in the mountains near Nara, at the Ubuyashiki Estate...
"I didn't expect Mr. Kazami to cultivate such an interesting child."
Putting down the letter, Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled and chatted with the Kakushi member beside him.
"He isn't satisfied with just referencing one Breathing Style, but chooses to want to learn them all? Perhaps he is a scholar-type genius."
Kakushi: "The Master is right."
"Previously, Brother Imori mentioned this child as well, and his evaluation was equally high. There are many swordsmen with great strength who can defeat many demons alone. There are also many who extend a helping hand to others in moments of crisis and do not withhold their kindness. But to possess both is rare. If there is an opportunity, I truly wish to meet him."
Kakushi: "The Master is right."
Ubuyashiki: "Roughly how many demons have fallen by his hand?"
Kakushi: "The Master is ri—"
The drowsy Kakushi realized he had misspoken and stopped awkwardly. His ears turned bright red; the face under his mask was likely flushed too. Ubuyashiki did not scold him but instead offered comfort.
"Tanaka, I was inconsiderate. I shouldn't have kept you here chatting while you are so exhausted from your long journey. If you are tired, let us continue tomorrow."
The Kakushi said hurriedly, "No, no, I'm not tired at all. Master, you were asking about young Natsunishi? This new swordsman is indeed quite capable. Our colleagues at Lake Ashi asked other swordsmen; at least eighty percent of the demons in the selection area were slain by him. Besides that, some swordsmen were dispatched to nearby areas for missions, only to find the demons had already been eliminated upon arrival. Based on the overlapping routes, it was likely Natsunishi's doing. In total... it's nearly thirty demons. Among them were two demons that had mastered Blood Demon Arts."
So, this child already had the track record of a Tei-rank (Hinoto) swordsman upon passing the selection? Kagaya pondered.
Although he had never personally fought demons on the front lines, he knew deep down how powerful those creatures were—especially the monsters that wielded Blood Demon Arts. While most swordsmen who completed the selection had the ability to slay a demon alone, they faced a near-certain death when up against one with a Blood Demon Art.
And this child... even when facing demons with Blood Demon Arts, it seemed he hadn't yet been pushed to his limits.
"Another child with talent comparable to Gyomei's?"
Speaking of which, even the smiths in the Swordsmith Village were curious about this child. After all, his somewhat "willful" request had given the smiths a rare burst of activity.
Once the boy achieved some more results, he would be given a rank corresponding to his merit. Since the sacrifice of Mr.Fudo, the Corps was truly lacking swordsmen who could shoulder the heavy burdens.