Chapter 20: Promises and Homecoming
"Hahahaha! That coward actually confessed to a boy! This is hilarious!"
"Who knows? Maybe the kid just said that because he didn't want to accept?"
"The coward actually likes boys! Hahaha!"
The surrounding young men immediately began mocking Zenitsu mercilessly.
Zenitsu paid no attention to most of their comments. However, when someone suggested the child might have lied to reject him, he suddenly became animated.
"No way! I'm going to check for myself to verify! I hate being lied to!" Zenitsu, suddenly energized, actually tried to remove the black-haired child's clothing to confirm.
Seeing this, Tanjiro and Murata immediately restrained Zenitsu. Now was absolutely not the time to let him act on such an impulse.
"Zenitsu, stop this right now!"
"Tanjiro, don't stop me! I need to see if he's really a boy!"
Hakuya smiled wryly to himself. This Zenitsu really was exactly like his anime counterpart—completely unpredictable and shameless when it came to matters of the heart.
However, it seemed things were starting to deviate from the original storyline in unexpected ways.
Hakuya removed his fox-shaped warding mask and gently placed it on the white-haired child's head. He said seriously, "This is my pledge to you. Keep it safe until I return for you."
Hakuya wasn't worried that the white-haired child before him might actually be a boy—his system's mission parameters had confirmed otherwise.
However, Hakuya genuinely hadn't expected the black-haired twin to be male. If what the boy said was true, then the siblings were nearly identical except for their gender—quite unusual.
"Remember my name—Hakuya," he continued, addressing the white-haired child directly.
"Ubuyashiki Kanata," the white-haired child responded, studying Hakuya's refined features before sharing her own name.
Seeing that Hakuya had injured him just to protect and court a child, the mohawked youth raged, "You bastard! Damn you!"
He then drew his standard-issue blade with his uninjured left hand and charged forward.
"Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Limpid Stream Slash."
Hakuya had already sensed the movement behind him and immediately executed his self-created technique.
His Nichirin blade left and returned to its sheath at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.
A flash of cold light, followed by the sound of metal clashing—the blade in the mohawked youth's hand shattered into pieces.
At that moment, Hakuya slowly turned around and regarded the aggressive youth calmly, saying, "Didn't your master teach you to show respect to others? Especially when it comes to young children
"I'm only breaking your wrist to teach you a lesson. If you still want to keep use of your other hand, then stay quiet. Otherwise, next time I won't just be cutting your weapon."
The mohawked youth was completely stunned by Hakuya's display. He hadn't even seen Hakuya turn around before the attack had already destroyed his sword.
What level of mastery did Hakuya truly possess?
After personally experiencing Hakuya's overwhelming strength, the mohawked youth's rage completely deflated.
"I'll remember you! One day, I will definitely surpass you—just wait! My name is Shinazugawa Genya!"
The youth, Shinazugawa Genya, now regarded Hakuya as a mountain he would one day climb.
Seeing himself positioned as the obstacle Genya would need to overcome, Hakuya smiled faintly before responding, "It's good to have ambition. But surpassing me? That won't happen in this lifetime."
"My name is Hakuya, and I'm always available if you need another lesson in humility."
The other participants hearing Hakuya's words had only one thought: arrogance incarnate.
Yet they had to acknowledge not only Hakuya's overwhelming strength but also his complete confidence in that strength.
Anyone with weak self-esteem facing such words from Hakuya would likely live in his shadow forever.
Fortunately, Shinazugawa Genya's pride was strong enough that Hakuya's words didn't crush him. Instead, they strengthened his resolve as he declared, "I will surpass you!"
"Have you finished your conversation?" Kanata's twin brother interjected coolly.
After speaking, he glanced at both Hakuya and Genya. Seeing they had nothing more to add, he pulled away the red cloth covering a table and continued, "Now, please select your tamahagane ore for forging."
Hakuya didn't seem particularly concerned about selecting ore. Since he already possessed his superior Nichirin blade gifted by the system, a standard Corps-issued sword seemed unnecessary.
"Tanjiro, come select your ore," Hakuya called.
Tanjiro, accompanied by Zenitsu and Murata, stepped forward together.
The surrounding participants waited patiently for Hakuya and his group to make their selections first. In their eyes, Hakuya was the undisputed leader of this group. Since the leader hadn't chosen yet, the others naturally didn't dare rush forward.
"Hakuya-senpai, you should choose first," Tanjiro said respectfully, wanting his senior to have first pick.
Hakuya reached out and randomly selected a piece of ore without much consideration. Then Tanjiro began carefully examining and selecting his own ore—far more meticulously than Hakuya had.
Zenitsu, standing nearby, kept staring intently at Ubuyashiki Kanata, as if formulating some scheme in his mind.
After watching for a moment, Zenitsu approached Hakuya and whispered conspiratorially, "Hakuya-senpai, aren't you worried yours might be a boy too? Want me to verify it for you?"
Hakuya immediately gave Zenitsu a firm knock on the head and said calmly, "Zenitsu, don't bother with such nonsense. If you want to verify something, go check on that black-haired child you just confessed to!"
Zenitsu clutched his head where Hakuya had struck him, then glanced at Kanata's twin brother. The more he looked, the more convinced he became that the child looked like a girl, not a boy.
"Ahh, I'd better just find another girl!" Zenitsu finally gave up after an intense internal struggle.
After Hakuya and his group finished their selections, the other participants took their turns. However, several young men didn't move forward at all, standing quietly to the side as if completely uninterested in obtaining a Nichirin blade.
"Why aren't you selecting ore?" Kanata's brother asked the group who refused to choose, puzzled.
"Well... we're too weak. We don't deserve a Nichirin blade. If it weren't for Hakuya-senpai, we would have died to demons long ago," a representative from the group spoke up honestly.
After this selection process, these young men had gained a profound understanding of their own limitations. They weren't trying to take advantage of the situation—they genuinely recognized that receiving a Nichirin blade would only lead to their deaths the next time they encountered a demon.
Perhaps from a desire to survive, or perhaps because they truly felt unqualified, these young men chose to decline joining the Demon Slayer Corps as active combatants.
Kanata's brother observed them thoughtfully, then after a moment's consideration said, "If you feel you lack sufficient strength, then join the Kakushi instead."
Faced with the Demon Slayer Corps' ongoing personnel shortage, he decided to accept these young men who—despite believing themselves too weak to pass Final Selection—had survived thanks to Hakuya's intervention.
The young representative asked, "What is the Kakushi?"
"The Kakushi handles the Demon Slayer Corps' logistical support. Besides miscellaneous duties, their primary mission is cleaning up after battles and providing medical aid. It's far safer than directly hunting demons," Ubuyashiki Kanata explained clearly.
Upon hearing the division was responsible for logistics, the young men visibly relaxed. The representative looked at the others, and seeing most of them nod in agreement, he said, "Alright then, we'll join the Kakushi and contribute to the demon-slaying cause in that capacity."
And so, this group joined the Kakushi. With their example set, several other young men who had been desperately pursuing Nichirin blades gradually calmed down. After internal struggle, some regretted their initial choice and clamored to join the Kakushi as well.
Seeing this trend, Zenitsu also wanted to join the Kakushi, but was immediately stopped by Hakuya.
If Zenitsu joined the Kakushi, the world's development would be seriously derailed, and his life might be completely altered by this decision.
"Zenitsu, you cannot join the Kakushi. The Demon Slayer Corps is your true calling. Your grandfather—Gramps Jigoro—must have such high hopes for you. Don't disappoint him!" Hakuya firmly restrained Zenitsu from joining the safer division.
"Hakuya-senpai, I'm so weak! It's safer for me in the Kakushi! Besides, I still want to get married someday!" Zenitsu made excuses desperately.
Though Zenitsu didn't understand why Hakuya would stop him from making this choice, the cowardly side of him genuinely didn't want to constantly face death.
"I was planning to introduce you to Tanjiro's younger sister, but since you don't want to join the Demon Slayer Corps, I suppose that won't work out," Hakuya said, dangling this temptation while giving Zenitsu a meaningful look.
Tanjiro felt confused seeing Hakuya offering to introduce Nezuko to Zenitsu. Nezuko was currently a demon! Would this become some kind of forbidden love story between human and demon?
He had no idea how Zenitsu would react upon discovering his sister's true nature.
"Tanjiro's sister is an absolute beauty! But I suppose you two simply aren't meant to be," Hakuya said with feigned regret.
Faced with Hakuya's temptation, Zenitsu immediately began fantasizing happily, displaying a foolish, dreamy smile.
Seeing the change in Zenitsu's expression, Hakuya knew the bait had been taken. As expected—just like in the anime—Zenitsu was completely defenseless against beautiful women.
Watching Zenitsu's ridiculous expression—like a lovesick fool—Tanjiro felt a surge of exasperation.
Even if his sister were human, could she really be happy with this guy?
"Hakuya-senpai, it's a deal! If I join the Demon Slayer Corps, you'll introduce me to Tanjiro's sister—no backing out!" Enticed by the prospect of meeting a beautiful girl, Zenitsu completely changed his position.
"You have my word," Hakuya promised.
Murata, however, held his own convictions and wanted to continue alongside Hakuya, Tanjiro, and the others, so he chose not to transfer to the Kakushi.
Finally, after Ubuyashiki Kanata and her brother recounted, approximately two-thirds of the participants had chosen to transfer to the Kakushi, with the remaining third choosing to remain with the Demon Slayer Corps as active combatants.
Those who changed their minds returned their selected ore.
Half an hour later, the Final Selection ceremony officially concluded, and the young men gathered at Mount Fujikasane gradually dispersed to begin their separate journeys.
Just as Hakuya prepared to leave, Ubuyashiki Kanata took the initiative to approach him. Then, under the watchful eyes of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Murata, Kanata embraced Hakuya and said softly, "Remember the promise you made to me."
Seeing this, Hakuya showed a genuinely pleased smile. He hadn't expected the system's influence to be quite this effective—to actually make this young girl develop feelings for him.
Hakuya gently touched Kanata's smooth cheek and said seriously, "I'm not joking. From this moment forward, you are my woman. Wait patiently for the day I return to marry you."
"Goodbye then," Kanata said farewell without further words and returned to her brother's side.
"Hakuya-senpai, please teach me the secret to winning over girls!" Zenitsu said enviously, once again grabbing onto Hakuya's legs.
After watching Kanata depart, Hakuya looked down at Zenitsu clinging to his leg and said coldly, "Zenitsu, if you don't let go right now, I won't introduce you to Tanjiro's sister."
As expected, Zenitsu immediately released him.
Hakuya, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Murata then said their farewells and went their separate ways.
Hakuya and Tanjiro prepared to return to Mount Sagiri to share the good news with Urokodaki Sakonji. They would rest at the cabin for several days while awaiting delivery of their specially crafted Nichirin blades from the swordsmiths.
It was already evening when Hakuya and Tanjiro returned to Mount Sagiri. As they approached the cabin where they'd lived and trained for two years, they heard the door open, and Tanjiro's sister Nezuko emerged.
"Nezuko! You're awake!" Tanjiro was the first to cry out, overcome with excitement and joy.
Nezuko glanced toward Tanjiro and Hakuya. After a moment's scrutiny, she ran toward Tanjiro, who rushed forward to meet her.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Tanjiro stumbled after only a few steps. Nezuko caught and embraced him.
The siblings held each other tightly, and Tanjiro's pent-up emotions quickly overwhelmed him, causing him to burst into tears.
"You fell asleep so suddenly! And you wouldn't wake up for so long. I thought... I thought I was going to lose you!" Tanjiro, who had suppressed his emotions for two full years, finally broke down in front of his sister.
Hakuya stood quietly, observing this touching scene of sibling reunion. Urokodaki Sakonji, returning from collecting firewood, happened to witness the moment. After exchanging a brief glance with Hakuya, Urokodaki dropped his firewood bundle, walked over to Tanjiro and Nezuko, and embraced them both.
"You're back... that's good. You're both back," Urokodaki murmured with profound relief.
With both Hakuya and Tanjiro returned safely—and both having survived what so many of his previous students had not—the heavy burden Urokodaki Sakonji had carried for years finally lifted.
Of all Urokodaki Sakonji's disciples, besides Tomioka Giyuu, Hakuya and Tanjiro had become the second and third to survive Final Selection.
Because nearly all his previous disciples had failed to survive the selection process, Urokodaki had long blamed himself for inadequate teaching, living in constant self-reproach.
Now, the safe return of Hakuya and Tanjiro became the key that unlocked the shackles binding his heart.
After Tanjiro vented his long-suppressed emotions, both he and Hakuya bathed and changed into clean clothes.
Urokodaki Sakonji prepared dinner for them—Tanjiro's favorite hotpot with various toppings.
As for Nezuko, she remained quietly at Tanjiro's side like a small child, though her demon nature meant she couldn't partake in the meal.
During dinner, Urokodaki asked Hakuya and Tanjiro what had transpired on Mount Fujikasane.
Tanjiro looked to Hakuya, who nodded, giving him permission to speak while Hakuya quietly enjoyed his food.
Understanding Hakuya's wishes, Tanjiro recounted everything Hakuya had done on Mount Fujikasane.
Upon hearing the full story, Urokodaki looked at Hakuya with an unusually serious expression. After a long, heavy silence, he angrily questioned, "Hakuya, have you forgotten everything I taught you?"
Hakuya, sensing his master's anger, paused his eating, met Urokodaki's eyes directly, and said, "Master, I haven't forgotten a single thing you taught me. It's just that I'm not like your previous students—I won't die during selection. Don't forget, Master—I promised you I'd outlive you by a hundred years! I'm still planning to have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren! When the time comes, I'll bring my son, grandson, and great-grandson to visit your grave and pay our respects to you!"
Listening to Hakuya's outrageous response, Urokodaki wanted to scold him further but found he couldn't. Hakuya was not only his most talented disciple but also his most silver-tongued.
It was precisely because of this combination that Urokodaki found Hakuya so endearing despite his frustration.
Tanjiro couldn't help but chuckle at Hakuya's audacious words. Unlike Hakuya, Tanjiro hadn't thought quite so far ahead.
However, seeing Hakuya's example, Tanjiro—also a devoted disciple of Urokodaki Sakonji—echoed enthusiastically, "Master, I'll also bring my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to visit your grave together with Hakuya-senpai!"
Urokodaki felt simultaneously helpless and deeply touched, unable to hide his joy. Finally, he could only smile and say, "You two little brats only know how to talk nonsense!"
"Master, I encountered a demon on Mount Fujikasane who seemed to know you. That demon appeared to harbor a deep grudge against you. I believe those senior disciples who never returned were all killed by this creature. It seemed to identify them through the warding masks you gave us," Hakuya mentioned seriously, bringing up the Hand Demon.
"Yes! That demon was grotesquely deformed, with an abnormally large body and hands growing all over it. The Nichirin blade you gave me, Master, actually broke when I struck its neck," Tanjiro added with lingering fear.
Hearing this description, Urokodaki was both surprised and troubled. A deformed demon that knew him personally?
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Power Stone or Review!
P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01