Shinichi suddenly clutched his chest as an intense suffocating sensation overwhelmed his chest.
Something inside his chest seemed to churn violently and the sound of his heartbeat echoed clearly in his ears.
Veins bulged across Shinichi face, neck, and forehead.
One hand braced against the ground while the other gripped his collar tightly as he gasped for air.
His little Shiba Inu, Maru-ni, startled by his master sudden state, whined anxiously and circled around him.
"You! You!... What did... you do!?"
Elder Moriki remained unhurried and began to recount a story slowly.
"Over four hundred years ago, the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, determined to eradicate demons, pioneered Breathing Techniques. With these powerful techniques, they successfully vanquished countless evil demons. During that early era of Breathing Techniques, many formidable swordsmen emerged, along with numerous powerful styles.
The Moriki family inherited Breath of the Forest also originated from that time. However, centuries later, this old man has become the last inheritor of the Breath of the Forest. Young man, today I shall tell you about the ancestor who founded this breathing style."
A trace of sorrow flickered in Elder Moriki eyes as he recalled the first time he heard this story—it was also the happiest period of his life.
Opposite him, Shinichi suffocating sensation eased slightly, though a growing weakness spread through his body.
"That ancestor was not an outstanding swordsman at first. On the contrary, in his youth, he was more like a spoiled noble. But on the day he came of age, his personality underwent a drastic change. Within just a year, he amassed immense wealth, revitalized the family and elevated the Moriki clan to become one of Kyoto most renowned families.
By chance, the ancestor learned of the existence of demons in this world. Despite his success and comfortable life, he resolutely abandoned it all to become a swordsman. Within a year, he created the Breath of the Forest."
At this point, a proud expression crossed Elder Moriki face, but it soon darkened again.
"Yet, it was also at the height of the ancestor glory that disaster struck. On a stormy, snow-laden night, he vanished while on a demon-slaying mission. When he finally returned to the family... he had fallen and become a demon himself..."
"What? Turned into a demon?"
Shinichi, who had been indifferent to the story until now, widened his eyes in shock, momentarily forgetting his weakness.
"Yes. The pride of the Moriki family, that genius ancestor, became a demon. On the night of his return, he slaughtered the entire clan—only his two children, hidden in the cellar, survived.
By then, the Moriki family teetered on the brink of extinction.
Yet, that same night, the ancestor, now a demon, disappeared. When he reappeared over a decade later, his two children had grown up and managed to pull the Moriki family back from the edge of ruin.
But one night, the ancestor who had fallen into a demon returned to the family once more.
However, that night, the ancestor did not kill anyone.
Instead, over the following year, he passed down the Breath of the Forest he had created in his lifetime to his descendants, urging them to ensure its inheritance through the generations.
As for himself, the ancestor took his own life with this Nichirin Blade one evening. His final words before death were an atonement for his sins."
Elder Moriki sorrowfully drew the emerald-green Nichirin Blade from its sheath.
Shinichi stared blankly at Elder Moriki.
This story—how could it sound so absurd?
An ancestor who had turned into a demon passed down a breathing technique to his descendants?
Elder Moriki continued "The Moriki family has upheld our ancestor teachings for centuries. For generations, our entire clan has dedicated itself to slaying demons. Every Moriki descendant has joined the Demon Slayer Corps and over hundreds of years, the blood of our family has stained its history.
Yet, perhaps due to our own inadequacies, not a single Moriki descendant has ever truly inherited the Breath of the Forest. Even those skilled enough to become Hashira refused to bear the title of 'Forest Hashira.'
How unpredictable fate can be—the once-prosperous demon-slaying family now has only this old man left. But destiny may have been predetermined.
Young man, before this old man enters his coffin, I have finally met the one truly capable of inheriting the Breath of the Forest—you! Young man, you are the chosen one!"
Boom!
A sharp pain suddenly pierced Shinichi head.
In his mind, the figure clad in a green haori flashed by.
"What? Could that person—no, that demon—be the Moriki family ancestor? How is that possible? Is this some kind of novel? Who would believe something so ridiculous?"
Shinichi heart pounded violently.
Though he didn't want to believe it, the inexplicable figure in his mind was no illusion...
Elder Moriki stopped his storytelling, giving Shinichi time to process his thoughts.
Just then, the room door was gently knocked and Ryukawa Chinatsu entered carrying a tray laden with fragrant, sweet dorayaki and a large pot of tea.
Soon, she arranged the dorayaki and tea on the small table before Elder Moriki and Shinichi.
Thoughtfully, Ryukawa Chinatsu had also prepared a small plate of aromatic meat rice for Maru-ni, Shinichi pet.
Seeing his master unharmed, Maru-ni wagged its tail happily and began eating heartily from the plate.
Watching the fluffy little head of Maru-ni, Ryukawa Chinatsu swallowed hard but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation to give him a gentle pat.
The tea exuded a faint, soothing fragrance.
Elder Moriki lifted his cup, gesturing to Shinichi.
"Young man, try it" he said before downing the tea in one go.
Still lost in his inner turmoil, Shinichi absentmindedly followed suit, raising his cup and drinking it all at once.
The tea tasted slightly bitter with a hint of sourness—far from pleasant.
Shinichi immediately frowned.
"This is awful..."
But then he froze.
He... hadn't spat it out?
He had just drunk an entire cup of tea???
Shinichi stared at the teacup in his hand, his eyes widening in disbelief.
How was this possible? It had been so, so very long since he had eaten or drunk anything!
Becoming a demon meant he couldn't consume any food other than human flesh, yet now—he could actually drink tea!
Overwhelmed by the sensation of being human again, Shinichi couldn't contain his excitement.
He grabbed the entire teapot and gulped down the tea in large mouthfuls. Though it didn't taste good, the mere ability to drink something felt incredible.
After draining the whole pot in one go, he wiped his mouth contentedly.
"This is unbelievable... What kind of tea is this?"
Elder Moriki held his teacup with a faint smile.
"This is wisteria tea. For demons, wisteria is a deeply detestable thing. In fact, a certain concentration of wisteria toxin can even kill weaker demons."
Clang!
The copper teapot fell to the floor.
Shinichi satisfied expression froze.
"Wisteria tea?"