NOVEL FROG [2] : Mika’s Determination, Joining the Demon
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The anime "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" tells the story of the battle between man-eating demons and the Demon Slayer Corps during Japan's Taisho period.
Unlike ordinary humans, demons have long lifespans, strong bodies, rapid recovery abilities, and extraordinary blood demon arts. Except for their inability to bask in sunlight, these demons could be considered perfect beings.
On the other hand, the members of the Demon Slayer Corps fight with breathing techniques and swordsmanship. They are ordinary people with mortal bodies. Therefore, the battle between humans and demons is extremely cruel.
"A demon?"
Confusion filled with astonishment echoed from Mika's mouth as his face showed an expression of disbelief.
Seeing Mika's expression, the Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka understood what had happened. The other party must have misunderstood him earlier.
Just as Giyu was about to explain, the demonized girl he had been holding suddenly broke free and rushed at the boy lying on the ground.
"Damn!"
As an experienced member of the Demon Slayer Corps, Giyu knew this very well. After losing too much blood, the demonized girl had fallen into a state of starvation. In this state, demons lose all rationality and will bite anyone nearby, even their relatives.
From his current position, Giyu realized that he might not be able to safely save the boy he had knocked down.
However, much to Giyu's regret, the girl did not bite the boy, but instead protected him. She then lunged at Giyu as if to defeat the one who had hurt the boy. However, she was soon knocked unconscious.
Still, the Water Hashira was deeply shocked by the demonized girl's behavior.
"A demon with reason!"
The voice came from Mika, who was standing behind Giyu. Ever since he was summoned, he had stood there and watched everything unfold.
"I am truly sorry for my earlier attack. I thought you were a dirty samurai bullying a girl. You must be a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, right?"
Realizing the situation, Mika seized the opportunity to try to join the Corps and began his performance.
Seeing that the other party remained silent, Mika continued as if unaware: "I've been looking for your tracks.
"My name is Mika. I was originally a hunter in the mountains, but one day I escaped an attack by a demon because I was out selling game. Since then, I have been wandering in search of demons and the legendary Demon Slayer."
"Can I join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Looking into Mika's bright eyes and examining his young appearance, the usually silent Giyu Tomioka finally spoke weakly, "A crossbow won't be of much use against demons."
"I know, but I have no other weapon. It's just a matter of life and death; we're all going to die sooner or later, right?"
Hearing Mika's answer, Giyu's heart was moved again. He knew that letting a boy like Mika wander around would inevitably lead to his death at the hands of demons.
With this thought, this Water Hashira, whose heart was as gentle as his cold exterior, made a decision.
Seeing that the other party had become silent again, Mika closed his mouth, leaned against a tree trunk and began to think about the current situation.
Soon, the boy who had been knocked down woke up. As soon as he woke up, he looked around anxiously, searching for his sister.
When he saw his sister lying safely beside him, the boy finally relaxed.
Seeing the boy awake, Giyu Tomioka, who had been lost in thought, suddenly said, "Go visit the old man named Sakonji Urokodaki who lives in the Sagiri Mountains. Tell him that Giyu Tomioka sent you."
"It's not sunny right now, so there shouldn't be a problem, but don't expose your sister to the sun."
After saying that and looking at Mika and the siblings, Giyu disappeared from the spot.
Unlike the confused boy, Mika, who understood the situation from Giyu's words, couldn't help but smile.
This way, he would be able to learn the breathing techniques and swordsmanship.
Thinking this, Mika went over to the confused boy and helped him up.
"How are you?"
"You were the one who shot the arrow and saved Nezuko."
Because of the positioning, the boy had seen Mika's actions clearly. Therefore, he was grateful to Mika.
"At that time, I thought that the other party was an evil, cold-blooded samurai, so I acted impulsively. By the way, my name is Mika. What's yours?"
"My name is Tanjiro Kamado, and this is my sister, Nezuko Kamado."
It really is him!
Mika thought to himself.
Who would have thought that this ordinary charcoal seller would become the strongest swordsman to kill the Demon King Muzan in the future?
Remembering Tanjiro Kamado's gentle nature from the anime, Mika's eyes filled with warmth.
Who wouldn't want to be friends with such a person?
"Nezuko turned into a demon, right?"
"Yes!"
Tanjiro's expression visibly darkened, obviously deeply affected by this event.
But he quickly regained his composure, remembering his exchange with Giyu Tomioka, and said firmly: "I will find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human.
"In that case, we must go to Sagiri Mountain!"
Looking at the overcast sky, Mika said quietly.
...
Mika then introduced Tanjiro Kamado to some information about the Demon Slayer Corps and helped him understand the purpose of going to Sagiri Mountain.
That is, to find a master.
The members of the Demon Slayer Corps in this world rely on breathing techniques and swordsmanship to fight demons.
Breathing techniques can unleash their physical potential, gradually pushing their bodies to their limits.
And swordsmanship gives them the means to fight even demons with blood demon arts.
These two are the core of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Therefore, only by completing the training in Breathing Techniques and Swordsmanship, and passing the Corps' selection, can one become a qualified member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The teachers who train novices in breathing and swordplay are called trainers in the Demon Slayer Corps.
These instructors, former members of the Corps, work tirelessly in various regions to cultivate new talents.
Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira who trained Giyu Tomioka, is the trainer Giyu pointed them to in the Sagiri Mountains.
"Everything is ready."
Packing the food and luggage she had prepared with Tanjiro Kamado, Mika looked at Tanjiro, who was carrying his sister in a box, and asked gently, "Do you want to have another look?"
Tanjiro shook his head.
"I have looked many times in the last few days. Now, I must find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human and raise her."
With that, Tanjiro Kamado's eyes became even more determined.
"The next time I return, it will be with Nezuko, walking proudly under the sun."
"You will definitely succeed."
Inspired by Tanjiro Kamado's determination, Mika said seriously.
------
As they walked briskly along the path in the fields, exhaustion could be seen on Mika and Tanjiro's faces.
However, their eyes still sparkled with excitement.
Before, both Mika and Tanjiro were just young boys. Mika was twelve and Tanjiro was thirteen. Mika was learning to be a hunter, while Tanjiro was simply a charcoal seller.
The two of them, who had never made such a long journey before, had faced numerous hardships along the way and finally arrived near Mount Sagiri today.
"Let us rest and regain our strength. We may have to camp in the mountains tonight," Mika suggested. Tanjiro nodded, found a shady place to put down his box and sat down to rest.
Mika took a canteen from his backpack and handed one to Tanjiro. While he drank, he looked around. They were not far from the Sagiri Mountains and there were probably some villagers nearby. However, there was no need to stay with the villagers since they were looking for Sakonji Urokodaki who lived in the mountains.
Spending the night in the mountains was unavoidable, even though it was dangerous.
"Tanjiro, once we enter the mountains, you must stay alert and aware of your surroundings!"
"I understand!"
Through Mika's explanations, Tanjiro had become well aware of the danger and cruelty of the demons, which made him afraid.
"Mika, do you really think there's a way to turn demons back into humans?"
Obviously, after hearing from Mika that there were almost no cases of demons turning back into humans, even someone as gentle and optimistic as Tanjiro was filled with worry.
"How should I know?" Mika replied calmly, looking at the distant mountains and feeling the breeze. "I only know that paths are made by the people who walk them. If no one walks, no paths are made."
"And we just have to keep walking towards our goal."
Turning to look at Tanjiro sitting on the ground, Mika put down his water bottle and shouldered his backpack again.
"Let's go, keep moving forward!"
"Yes!"
Unlike before, Tanjiro's face now showed a smile, brightened by Mika's words.
"Let's go to Mount Sagiri!"
...
"Mount Sagiri, you say? Just over the mountain in front of us. But it's getting late; isn't it too dangerous to enter the mountain at this hour?"
A nearby woman kindly advised when she heard Tanjiro's question. "There have been many disappearances in this area recently. Be careful."
"Don't worry, we can handle any danger," Tanjiro replied gently, dismissing her concern. He had already decided to camp in the mountains, carrying his sister's box and moving forward, with Mika following closely behind.
In dealing with strangers, Mika was not as adept as Tanjiro, so tasks like asking for directions or lodging were done by Tanjiro.
"Take care!" the woman called as they left.
"Thank you!"
With the worried looks of the villagers upon them, Mika and Tanjiro began their climb up the mountain.
...
"According to the villagers, there are either wild beasts or demons in this mountain, which explains the frequent disappearances," Mika said from the back of the group.
"Then we have to be very careful!" Tanjiro replied, holding his sister Nezuko's hand. As the sun set and darkness fell, Nezuko, who had stayed in the box during the day, was now outside, easing Tanjiro's burden.
"Don't worry too much, our fighting power isn't low," Mika reassured. Of the three, the demonized Nezuko was undoubtedly the strongest, so encounters with ordinary demons were nothing to fear. In the original story, Tanjiro and his sister were about to face a relatively ordinary demon.
Nevertheless, Mika mentally prepared strategies for dealing with the demon, knowing Tanjiro's kind-hearted nature.
"I smell blood."
"This path is too treacherous, someone might get hurt."
With that, the boy and girl dashed towards the temple ahead.
"I knew it," Mika sighed, rubbing his forehead before quickly following them. Loaded with equipment, Mika struggled to keep up with the siblings' pace.
When Mika arrived at the temple, he saw Tanjiro pinned down by a demon and Nezuko staring at the bodies inside.
Without hesitation, Mika drew his crossbow and shot at the demon's head.
"Someone else is here?"
Sensing the threat of Mika's weapon, the demon tried to dodge, but the bolt was too fast. It missed the head but pierced the demon's neck, knocking it off Tanjiro.
"Don't hesitate, Tanjiro! Grab your axe and prepare to fight."
"Yes!"
Even though he had heard about the horrors of demons from Mika, seeing one get up with an arrow in its neck shook Tanjiro. In contrast, Mika remained eerily calm, drawing a hunting knife and charging at the demon.
The arrow didn't kill the demon, but it hindered its movements and recovery. Seizing the moment, Mika decapitated the demon with his knife and kicked its head towards Tanjiro.
"The demon isn't dead yet. The head is yours, Tanjiro!"
Mika then stomped on the demon's body, firing bolts into its limbs and torso, pinning it to the ground.
"Damn it, let me go! I'll kill you!"
Before Mika could catch his breath, the demon's head cursed from behind him. Turning around, he saw that Tanjiro had pinned it to a tree with an axe.
"Looks like it's over."
Slowly exhaling, Mika's body began to tremble - not with fear, but with excitement. The thrill of fighting on the edge of life and death was something Mika found exhilarating, a feeling he might never forget.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro, also excited by the battle, noticed something strange about Nezuko and quickly brought her back. Then he approached the demon's head with a small knife.
"Are you going to deliver the final blow?" Mika wondered as he watched Tanjiro hesitate. Just then, a voice came from behind.
"You can't deal the final blow."
A warrior with a Tengu mask appeared behind Tanjiro. Mika's eyes lit up with joy as he recognized the old man before them as Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira and trainer recommended by the current Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka.