Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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"Originally, the goal of making Yoriichi Zeroshiki was to be a weapon to kill demons that could replace the members of the Demon Slayer Corps and avoid more casualties."
"It was a great idea, especially for its time."
Tecchin rested his hand on the doll's shoulder. His eyes dimmed as he sighed. "Unfortunately, after the production was completed, the weight of the doll was far beyond expectations.
The technology is not yet at the point where it can pursue enemies at long distances on its own.
Basically, no one can freely carry the doll to the battlefield to play a role. And then, there are also great defects in autonomous movement during combat..."
He slapped the doll and turned his head with a smile.
"So, the current Zeroshiki is a training doll for the members of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Tecchin's voice was confident and proud. "Don't look at him as some kind of an antique from 300 years ago.
Right now, it can still display a power close to that of a Hashira."
As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously swept over the group in front of him.
Gyomei, Shinjuro, Tanjuro...
Three Hashira-level swordsmen.
"cough cough!" Tecchin coughed twice and looked over to the Tokito family.
"Zeroshiki is suitable for swordsmen below the rank of Hashira to practice their swordsmanship. How about it, you guys? Want to try?
You helped save the village. As long as you don't destroy the doll, you can practice as much as you want!" Tecchin said generously.
"Wait a minute."
Soichiro suddenly spoke. He raised his hand to direct the attention to him. He looked at Tecchin with a puzzled expression.
"Who is it you said that the swordsman this doll is based on is again?"
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi, what's wrong?" Tecchin answered Soichiro's question with some confusion.
"..."
"Ah, no... it's nothing." Soichiro smiled and touched the back of his head awkwardly. He pointedly avoided looking into others' eyes.
He was the son of a woodcutter.
But his father surprisingly kept a record of their family tree pristinely.
When he asked his father about it,
He was told that their ancestors were the Tsugikuni clan, and their family started with two brothers, "Michikatsu" and "Yoriichi," in the Warring States period.
Although the second generation changed their surname to Tokito to steer clear of the Tsugikuni's name after the shame of their father suddenly disappearing, leaving his wife and child alone.
However, the handwriting of Tsugikuni Yoriichi on the family tree scroll was slightly newer than Tsugikuni Michikatsu's the last time he checked, as if someone wrote the words again.
'So that's how it is.'
Soichiro turned his thoughtful gaze on Yoriichi Zeroshiki.
He understands a little why his home was so close to this village that he had never heard of.
As for the one who came to their house, Tsugikuni Michikatsu-san.
Soichiro first thought it was just a coincidence for the man to have the same name as his ancestor.
But now...
Recalling all the strange and fearful things he had seen last night, the only thing he could not be sure of was what the truth was.
Another hand reached out into the air. This one is short and young, though.
"Yuichiro's here!"
"I have a question!"
Yuichiro has been keeping to himself and observing these strange people and their strange ways. He couldn't hold back the questions plaguing his mind.
"I don't understand it!" He shouted his frustration.
"What is the Demon Slayer Corps!? What Nichirin blade!? What demon!? What Hashira!?" Yuichiro rattled off a whole bunch of words that he had never heard before. "What are these meanings?!?"
"What were you discussing last night?!"
As he spoke, he turned to his brother and father. His expression was puzzled.
"And why are you guys going along with this!? We're not supposed to be here! Are you stupid!?"
Yuichiro ended his tirade as he was out of breath. Having not slept at all last night, he has dark circles under his eyes and is cranky.
All this excitement made him feel that he was the only normal person around.
Shouldn't they go home and forget about all this now?
Gyomei, Shinjuro, and Tecchin all looked at Yuichiro.
"Aren't you... members of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Soichiro placed his hand on his son's shoulder and hugged him close. "We're just woodcutters who live nearby." He answered Gyomei.
Gyomei didn't say anything more; he just turned toward Shinjuro for an explanation.
Since it was Shinjuro who led them from the forest.
Shinjuro sighed helplessly, feeling extremely drained. His hair seemed to lose some of its brightness.
He hadn't thought about it either.
The said woodcutter was holding a sword. He knows the breathing technique of the Corps and is trained in swordsmanship.
He even succeeded in pushing an Upper Moon to flee. And he said it was only three weeks since he trained in swordsmanship.
When Shinjuro met such people, and at such a critical moment of battle, he didn't have time to think about it and assumed that the Tokito family were members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
It would be a real shame not to make use of such combat power in a timely manner.
And so.
Soichiro was staring at everyone innocently.
Everyone looked at Shinjuro questioningly.
Shinjuro shrugged his shoulder.
"..." x3
"So that's how it is... we were being presumptuous and misunderstood."
Gyomei said the words on everyone's minds. He bowed apologetically to the Tokito family, tears flowing naturally down his cheeks. "I'm really sorry..."
Seeing Gyomei's tears falling like a waterfall, Yuichiro once again affirmed in his head the idea that he was the only normal person here.
"No need to apologize, Sir."
"I think it was quite a novel experience."
"But Yuichiro is right."
Soichiro stepped up as he smiled at Yuichiro with a voice full of pride for his son. He turned back to Gyomei.
"I'd also like to know what all this business means."
His voice was gentle, but there was an unexpected steel hidden in it. His eyes narrowed as he looked Gyomei and Shinjuro straight in the eyes. "Can you please explain it all to me, please."
Yuichiro blinked in surprise.
While he was astonished by his father's sudden coolness, Yuichiro didn't ask for his question to be answered!
He wants to urge his father and brother to get the hell away from these strange people!
'Life is Hopeless.' – Tokito Yuichiro.
Gyomei moved his prayer beads as he answered Soichiro. "Ah... what precious desire for knowledge... I understand." He decided it was fair to tell the family because of the error on their side.
"Long ago, about 400 years in the past, the Demon Slayer Corps was made..."
Everyone sits down in a circle as Gyomei explains the origin of the Corps, demons, and breathing techniques.
...
"Horrible appearance, cannibalism, sadistic mind..."
Yuichiro counted the characteristics of the demons. His brows furrowing tighter and tighter as he asked a question in his mind that lingered ever since his first encounter.
"Is it a characteristic of demons to have words in their eyes?"
"Yes." Shinjuro answered for him. "Demons with words written in their eyes are extremely powerful ones. If you see them, you need to run immediately."
Yuichiro was in a daze at this information.
"Then..."
"What about one that has six eyes and written words on them, but it doesn't eat people... is it a demon?"
He asked cautiously.
Gyomei abruptly stood up after Yuichiro's question, surprising everyone by his sudden movement. Tanjuro also skidded over to Yuichiro.
"Where did you meet him?" x2