Side Mission: Lord of Mount Fujikasane (2/3)
Objective: Kill fifty demons (20/50)
Reward: 200 Dream Points
Black ash drifted slowly through the air, and the withered leaves touched by flame released a strangely pleasant scent as they burned.
"Phew…"
Mo Wu exhaled a stream of heated breath. Sheathing the Nichirin Blade, he stepped forward across the black ash scattered on the ground and walked deeper into the forest.
Along the way—
The blazing Nichirin Blade flashed out in an instant, and a demon hiding behind a tree was cleanly beheaded.
"A stray that slipped through the net."
After flicking the blood off the blade, Mo Wu returned it to its sheath and lifted his gaze toward the brilliant starry sky.
What he wanted was actually quite simple—just to stay alive.
Although his current strength was enough to allow him to barely survive this mission, Mo Wu knew very well that if he continued within this so-called space, sooner or later he would die in a future mission because he was not strong enough.
The only thing he could do now was grow stronger without end, seizing every possible chance to improve.
So first, he would set a small goal.
He would begin by killing every disgusting demon on this mountain.
"My grandpa clearly knows how weak I am. Why did he still send me here?"
A blond-haired boy sobbed quietly beneath a large tree. However, when he heard the screams and the howls of demons echoing nearby, his crying gradually stopped, afraid the sound might attract one of them.
"Seven days… seven whole days! How am I supposed to survive alone on a mountain full of demons for seven days?!"
Covering the cheek his grandfather had slapped swollen earlier, the boy's eyes slowly lost their light.
"In the end… someone as useless as me would only drag Grandpa and Senior Brother down for the rest of their lives, right?"
"Maybe being eaten by a demon wouldn't be so bad…"
Thinking this, sadness gradually filled the boy's face.
The only regret was that he hadn't gotten married yet.
He hadn't even held a girl's hand before.
Miss Haruko… Miss Masako… Miss Kazuko… I miss you all…
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A little crybaby hiding all alone?"
A mocking voice came from nearby, accompanied by a heavy smell of blood.
The blond boy's face stiffened instantly. His pupils shrank, and his legs began to tremble uncontrollably as he slowly turned toward the bushes where a demon had suddenly appeared.
His terrified eyes met the demon's playful gaze.
In that instant, the boy's courage completely shattered. Without hesitation, he turned and ran as fast as he could.
"Interesting little brat. Still able to run."
The demon, who had just finished a satisfying meal, didn't mind playing with its prey. It kept its speed steady, maintaining just enough distance as it followed behind the boy, curious to see how long he could last.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
Thirty minutes.
An hour later…
"Damn it! How long can this brat keep running?!"
Looking at the blond boy ahead of him—who somehow kept accelerating despite the demon repeatedly increasing its speed—the demon's face finally showed genuine surprise.
Normally, prey collapsed after twenty minutes of panicked running.
But this brat had been running with him for nearly an hour—and he still looked capable of speeding up.
"Please stop chasing me… my meat really doesn't taste good."
Feeling his legs growing weak, tears streamed down the boy's cheeks.
I really can't go on…
So I really don't deserve to live, do I?
Wait…
What's that ahead?
Seeing a figure holding a Nichirin Blade approaching from the front, the boy quickly shouted,
"Don't come closer! Behind me—there's a demon behind me!"
However, shouting like that drained the last of his strength. His legs buckled, and he fell face-first onto the ground.
Hearing the footsteps of the pursuing demon drawing closer, the boy's face—pressed against the dirt—unexpectedly revealed a peaceful smile.
If I die, Grandpa will have one less thing to worry about.
Senior Brother will receive more attention in training.
And I even saved someone before dying.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Yet after lying there face-down for quite some time, no pain came.
The boy blinked in confusion.
Do demons nowadays take time to admire their food before eating it?
"How long do you plan on lying there?"
A strange voice sounded from beside him.
The blond boy slowly lifted his head and looked forward with blank eyes.
Countless dead leaves swirled around a man standing nearby with his upper body bare. Moonlight filtered through the falling ash above, illuminating his powerful physique.
At that moment…
He looked like a god.
"What's your name?"
After evaporating the blood from his blade, Mo Wu turned and looked at the boy who was still frozen in place.
Hmm… he looks a little familiar.
As Mo Wu slid the blade back into its sheath, beads of sweat dripped from his arms onto the boy's youthful face.
The blond boy snapped back to reality and looked at the towering figure before him.
"Big brother! My name is Zenitsu Agatsuma!"
He immediately hugged Mo Wu's leg.
His instincts told him that if he stuck with this man, his life would probably be saved.
Mo Wu: …
A question mark practically appeared on Mo Wu's face as he looked down at Zenitsu.
So this is the era of Tanjiro after all.
Which means…
Sabito… sigh…
Mo Wu silently sighed in his heart. He had once thought that if he had the chance, he might change that tragedy and let Sabito survive. If possible, he even wanted Sabito to find a way to save Tanjiro's family.
But now it was impossible.
After all…
Pulling the blond boy who was clinging to his leg upright, Mo Wu said helplessly,
"What exactly did you come here for?"
"I didn't want to come either, big brother! But Grandpa insisted I had to!"
Zenitsu's miserable expression practically begged for sympathy.
But Mo Wu wasn't buying it. With one hand he hauled Zenitsu to his feet, then spoke in a meaningful tone.
"Zenitsu… right? Work hard and make yourself stronger."
"Otherwise one day, you won't even be able to protect the people close to you."
After leaving those cryptic words behind, Mo Wu said nothing more and turned to continue walking forward.
The true reason he had fought his way along this path was the foul stench ahead.
If he guessed correctly, that demon was the boss of the Mount Fujikasane dungeon—
The Hand Demon.
The one responsible for the deaths of all of Sakonji Urokodaki's disciples.
"I wonder if this blade of mine, combined with Sun Breathing, can actually cut through him."
Looking at the Nichirin Blade in his hand—now strengthened to +2—Mo Wu murmured softly.
Sabito had died because his final strike failed to cut through the Hand Demon's neck.
That was something Mo Wu needed to pay attention to.
Though it might also have been because his blade had dulled from killing too many demons.
"Big brother, wait for me! I'm scared!"
Zenitsu's voice trembled with tears. His brain had heard Mo Wu's advice, but the eerie pressure of the forest had overwhelmed him so badly that he couldn't process it.
Seeing Mo Wu walking farther ahead, Zenitsu looked around nervously and hurried after him, afraid to let the man out of his sight.
Ignoring Zenitsu behind him, Mo Wu walked forward with a frown, staring absentmindedly at the empty air before him.
Side Mission: Lord of Mount Fujikasane (2/3)
Objective: Kill fifty demons (36/50)
Reward: 200 Dream Points
His progress was… surprisingly fast.
After all—
End Countdown: 5:32:13