Jeffrey Castillo
patreon
FG Chapter 34: Pass the Test
🕑 Added 2025-09-30 10:22:44 +0000 UTCYeah… do you need a reason to kill demons?
When it’s life or death—either you or me—Sabito had warned Giyu that very way back then. And Giyu took it to heart. The pity is… once he passed the test, he lost the chance to avenge Sabito, Makomo, and every fellow disciple in this hut.
So all these years, Sabito has waited. Makomo has waited. Shinsuke, Fukuda, Inoue… all waiting.
Now, it finally feels like there’s a glimmer of dawn.
Urokodaki Sakonji was silent for a few seconds, then laughed under his breath…
Should he say the boy was clueless, or just arrogantly bold?
In any case, aside from the previous Ubuyashiki, it had been over a decade since anyone had insulted him to his face. Back then he’d slain a decoy Ubuyashiki had set up in advance, and the Corps missed their chance to pursue Upper Rank Two, Dōma.
“If things in this world were as simple as you say, the Demon Slayer Corps wouldn’t have been tangled up with demons for so many years.”
The old Water Hashira poured a cup of hot tea and slid it over. Tanjiro had already drunk his fill outside, so he thanked him and left it. Not Roy—he’d just forced a round of growth, his reserves were badly depleted—hungry and thirsty. He didn’t refuse Urokodaki’s kindness; he tested the temperature with a sip, then tipped the cup back and finished it.
Mountain tea isn’t refined, but it’s wild enough. Roy pushed the cup back, asked for another, and said, “To me, the reason it’s dragged on so long is simple: neither side is strong enough.
“If one side had absolute superiority, the balance would break at once.”
Hashira vs. Upper Moons; foot soldiers vs. foot soldiers—on paper, under Ubuyashiki the Corps looks to be on the back foot. But the lingering shadow of Yoriichi and the existence of Sun Breathing still make Kibutsuji Muzan hesitate to purge them, and that’s why we have today’s stalemate.
Urokodaki simply handed Roy the teapot, clearly unwilling to dwell on the subject. He went to the kitchen, washed and cut some potatoes, dropped them into the pot, and said mildly, “Every disciple of mine has to pass a test.
“After lunch, run Mt. Sagiri. If you’re back by sundown,
“I’ll take you as my student.”
“Heh, showtime,” Shinsuke crowed, ditching Tanjiro to whirl around Fukuda. Fukuda, annoyed, grabbed him by the neck and throttled him a bit—then both remembered the point and grinned wickedly at Roy…
Since Sabito’s death, Urokodaki’s heart had broken. He doubled down on pits and traps to kill the urge to take on students again… By now Mt. Sagiri was less “Sagiri” and more “Death Mountain.” Beyond a few routes marked out for villagers, it was all “knife nets” and “sword arrays.”
Sabito followed once and was chilled to the bone. His companions teased him for it—if their great vengeance went unavenged, it would be his and Makomo’s fault for driving Master mad…
Besides—
It was winter now; the days were short. Urokodaki wanted Roy back by dusk—far less time than the full night Tanjiro got in the original tale.
All the better… Roy rose, shouldering every gaze, opened the door, and stepped out.
“Sorry—I’m on the clock. I’ll go now.”
“You’re not eating?”
“Who said I’m not?” the boy called, vanishing into the storm. “By the time the stew’s done, I’ll be back.”
“…”
“Hey—this guy… is cocky!”
Shinsuke and Fukuda traded looks. The rest of the spirits too—casting glances, then all flitting out after him…
Makomo noticed Urokodaki’s gaze lingering on the door. She nudged Sabito with a finger. “Hey—should we follow and watch?”
“Didn’t you say you believed in him?”
“What if…”
“No ‘what if.’” Sabito’s grip tightened slightly on his katana. “A man should stand by his word.
“If he can’t pass, that’s on him.”
Besides…
“With Shinsuke, Fukuda, Inoue and the others tailing him, it’s not like he’ll lose his life…”
He’d barely finished when—
a few cold gusts blew in and Shinsuke, Fukuda, and the whole peanut gallery tumbled back in, hands on their knees, panting. “Gods—we’re beat! That guy’s too fast. Couldn’t keep up at all.”
They… lost him?
Sabito blinked, baffled. He craned his neck to peer out the door; beside him Makomo hid a giggle behind her hand.
…
“A man shouldn’t trip in the same pit twice.” Father Tanjuro had told Roy that. Coincidentally, his other father, Silva, had said much the same, only “twice” became “once.” Summed up:
“An assassin dies if he makes a mistake even once.”
Which applied now…
If Roy’s reflexes hadn’t been quick, a rope snare in the shrubbery would’ve tripped him into a “blade pit.”
And barely five minutes after his bold words, he’d already stepped on seven sword arrays, dodged ten falling logs, and been ambushed by grass-ropes eight times…
Lucky for him his foolish little brother carries “protagonist armor”—otherwise any average person would’ve died a hundred times over.
Shff—
A Serpentine strike crushed the last log hurtling in—
[Notice: The Snake Awakens+1]
Kicking the snow from his boots, Roy reappeared in view of Urokodaki, Sabito, Makomo, and the gathered spirits. His hair hadn’t been out long enough to frost; he plunked down as if nothing, and Tanjiro met him with teary eyes.
An over-sharp nose has its downsides: even unable to see Sabito & co., Tanjiro could feel the heavy chill of them. Instinct made him uncomfortable—never mind facing Urokodaki, whose tengu mask hid every expression.
He was one breath from clinging to Roy’s leg. “Nii-san, don’t leave me alone again,” he said, voice trembling.
“Okay.”
“You’re leaving at dawn.”
Tanjiro: “…”
He almost heard his heart crack. Nii-san, who’d hurt him, ignored it—lifted the lid instead, eyes only for the stew.
Gurururu…
In the clay pot,
the rabbit had gone tender to the bone; the potatoes were just right—neither hard nor mush.
As if to celebrate Roy’s return, begging to dive into his stomach.
“Master, can we eat?” The boy smiled at Urokodaki, sun-and-mountain earrings swaying faintly at his ears.
Urokodaki blinked, as if still catching up, then nodded after a long moment and asked his name.
“Kamado Rōichirō… Master, just call me Rōichirō.”
So said the boy.
