[Mission: Completely eliminate all demons on Fujixi Mountain]
[Task Completion Reward: Unlock Wood Breathing (Mastery); Demon-God Devourer level upgraded to D-level. D-level Demon-God Devourer can devour demons with blood demon art.]
[Penalty for failure: Host's lifespan is reduced by 20 years. (Current lifespan: 81 years remaining.)]
Just as Shin Arashi officially stepped into the depths of Fujixi Mountain, the Super-Dimensional Travel System suddenly issued a mission.
After reading the mission prompt, Shin was left speechless.
"System, are you trying to kill me?! What happened to just surviving seven days like everyone else? Why does my task say 'kill them all'?"
And that bit about having 81 years left to live—was that supposed to be comforting? Shin's face twitched. "Wait, that's all I get? For someone who reincarnated from another world, that's way too average! What happened to cheat skills and immortality?!"
He sighed internally. Sure, living to 100 sounded decent. But losing 20 whole years just for failing a mission? That was seriously messed up.
Originally, Shin had planned to take it easy—chill in the woods, maybe roast some mushrooms with Tanjiro, avoid demons, and then stroll down the mountain seven days later like nothing happened.
After all, how many demons could be on this mountain? A hundred? Two hundred max? And with such a large area, the chances of running into one were low. Plus, they only came out at night. That left twelve daylight hours of peaceful napping.
But now?
Now he had to hunt them all down.
"…This is a nightmare," Shin muttered. "I came to pass a test, not run a demon extermination campaign."
Still, the mission reward did catch his eye.
"Wood Breathing?" Shin rubbed his chin. "Doesn't sound like one of the big five. Not even a sub-style. Is this like… DIY breathing? Custom order? What even is it supposed to do—grow trees at enemies?"
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Senior Shin, are you okay?" Tanjiro called out, noticing Shin zoning out.
Snapping out of it, Shin quickly replied, "Ah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."
He turned to Tanjiro seriously.
"Listen, we'll have to split up once we go deeper."
"Huh?" Tanjiro blinked. "Didn't Master tell us to not split up?"
Shin waved a hand. "Yeah, well, normally we wouldn't. But this time's different. I've got things I need to take care of—dangerous things. If you come with me, you might get in trouble."
Tanjiro frowned slightly, but Shin continued before he could argue.
"You have the strength to make it through, Tanjiro. Believe in yourself. I'll leave water mark symbols on the trees I've cleared—those spots are safe. Just don't follow me. The places I go… will be crawling with demons."
Tanjiro hesitated for a second, then nodded solemnly.