Hotaru Haganezuka stared at the jet-black Nichirin Blade in Kurozawa's hand, his voice filled with surprise.
"Is a black Nichirin Blade rare?"
Kurozawa just glanced at it casually before sheathing the Nichirin Blade and placing it beside him.
For him, with the aura of the Power of Despair, the Nichirin Blade wasn't his only reliance.
"It's not that rare, but I've never seen one this completely black."
"Coming here this time has been an eye-opener. I once heard of the Child of Scorching Red with red hair and red eyes, who might obtain a Nichirin Blade as vibrant red as fire."
"Looking closely at you now, with your rare black hair and black eyes, could there also be a Child of Deep Black?"
Kurozawa's hair had grown out a bit in the past half month, now a military-style black cut. In this world of black hair and black eyes, Kurozawa hadn't met anyone else with them, and neither had Hotaru Haganezuka.
Now, Hotaru Haganezuka was clicking his tongue in admiration at Kurozawa's Nichirin Blade, having completely forgotten about Kurozawa breaking the previous one and no longer feeling angry about it.
Meanwhile, Kurozawa's eyes showed a pensive look.
Child of Scorching Red... If my memory isn't mistaken, Child of Scorching Red is what they call Tanjiro.
However, Tanjiro's Nichirin Blade wasn't the vibrant red Hotaru Haganezuka mentioned; it was also black.
"What difference does the color of the sword make, even if it's rainbow-colored?"
Sakonji Urokodaki interrupted the enthusiastic Hotaru Haganezuka.
The color of Kurozawa's Nichirin Blade reminded him again of the deep, heavy scent of chaos surrounding Kurozawa, and his mood worsened involuntarily.
Sakonji Urokodaki couldn't believe there was no connection between the two.
Caw, caw, caw... Just then, outside the house, a series of harsh crow calls came.
A Kasugai Crow, completely black, flapped its wings and flew to the doorway.
"That seems to be my Kasugai Crow."
Holding out his hand, Kurozawa still stubbornly wanted the Kasugai Crow to land on it.
However, the Kasugai Crow just flew back vigilantly, then stopped on the doorstep, tilted its head, and stared at Kurozawa's movements.
Only when it saw that Kurozawa had no intention of approaching did the Kasugai Crow withdraw its wary gaze.
"Kurozawa Danryu! I am here to deliver a directive!"
A terrible, hoarse voice, like someone speaking with metal sand in their mouth, came from the Kasugai Crow's open beak.
This black crow can actually talk! "Kurozawa, this is your first mission. Listen carefully," Sakonji Urokodaki reminded Kurozawa.
Kurozawa nodded and looked at the Kasugai Crow.
"Hachijo Island! Numerous travelers have gone missing! Three Rank Tsuchinoto Swordsmen have lost contact! Proceed immediately to investigate!"
After speaking, the Kasugai Crow immediately spread its wings and flew away, as if it didn't want to stay for even a moment longer.
Doesn't like me that much... Be careful or I'll roast you and eat you, Kurozawa glared fiercely at the departing Kasugai Crow.
"Kurozawa, do you know Hachijo Island?"
Sakonji Urokodaki turned around, his voice flat and showing no emotion.
"I haven't been there, nor have I heard of it," Kurozawa rarely left Mount Sagiri too far and wasn't very knowledgeable about many places.
"I've only heard of it myself. It's an island to the east. Because the scenery is nice, many people go there to visit every year."
As Kurozawa and the others were talking, Kasugai Crows flew over the sky one after another, landing on Mount Sagiri.
The time of delivering the swords was also the time when the Demon Slaying Missions were truly issued.
Compared to the large number of Demons, the number of swordsmen was still small. Once they became official swordsmen, they had to tirelessly carry out various Demon Slaying Missions.
Demons could appear anywhere, north or south, in cities or mountain valleys, requiring swordsmen to handle them.
When Hotaru Haganezuka arrived, along with him came the missions that were delivered to every disciple on Mount Sagiri.
Not just Kurozawa.
"Since you have missions to attend to and I've delivered the swords and uniforms, I won't stay any longer."
"Master Urokodaki, goodbye, please take care of yourself."
Hotaru Haganezuka took Sakonji Urokodaki's broken sword to repair and then bid a solemn farewell.
It was clear that he held great respect for an elder like Sakonji Urokodaki.
Indeed, someone of Sakonji Urokodaki's age, who had dedicated his entire life to the Demon Slayer Corps and to eliminating Demons, would be respected by everyone.
"Kurozawa, the appearance of a mission means danger has already enveloped Hachijo Island."
"Furthermore, the Kasugai Crow said that swordsmen who went to investigate have gone missing. It's likely they met a terrible fate, which shows this mission is not simple."
"I won't say much more. Be very careful. Go pack some necessities and set off immediately."
This was the life of a swordsman: as soon as they received a Demon Slaying Mission, no matter what they were doing, they had to drop everything and carry it out with all their might, because each of them bore a greater responsibility.
One second slower, and perhaps there would be one more person harmed by a Demon, one more shattered soul.
Kurozawa nodded seriously, went inside to quickly pack some items, put on his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, then added a light blue haori over it, and stepped out of the house with large strides, setting off.
Just moments after he stepped out of the door, Sakonji Urokodaki's somewhat strained voice came through.
"You brat, I told you to bring essentials!"
Kurozawa was surprised, "I brought everything, some travel money, dry food, my Demon Slayer Corps ID, stuff like that."
"Your Nichirin Blade!"
Still in its sheath, Sakonji Urokodaki threw Kurozawa's Nichirin Blade to him.
Kurozawa caught it and laughed heartily, "Oh, right, I left it in the hall just now, forgot to grab it, haha."
A Nichirin Blade, how could it be so inconvenient! Sakonji Urokodaki's forehead was lined with black marks.
...
Hachijo Island, a dark dungeon.
A boy with a smooth white snake wrapped around his neck and thick white bandages covering the lower part of his mouth was squatting blankly in a dark corner.
His black hair hung down on either side of his face like flattened seaweed, revealing his eyes.
His eyes were peculiar, with heterochromia, the left green and the right gold.
Unfortunately, these beautiful pupils were filled with a stagnant silence, lacking the vitality a young boy should possess.
"Kaburamaru, I will take you out of this dungeon and show you the outside world, trust me."
The boy's mouth bandages shifted slightly as he spoke to the white snake around his neck.
He looked left and right. Seeing no one, he dug a hairpin out of the straw on the ground, then calmly and silently used the sharp end to carve into the wooden bars.
This hairpin, accidentally left behind by a guard, was his only hope at this moment.
Long ago, he had hoped someone would rescue him, but now he had accepted reality and resolved to rely on himself.
...
Hachijo Island was not close; in fact, it was extremely far from Mount Sagiri.
After understanding the route, Kurozawa estimated he'd be lucky to return to Mount Sagiri within a month.
He ran through the mountains and forests, taking over three days to reach Asakusa, the largest city closest to Mount Sagiri.
Kurozawa had visited Asakusa once before with Sakonji Urokodaki.
This time, he came alone.
Standing at the gates of Asakusa, Kurozawa looked into the city.
Within his sight were bustling crowds.
Couples walking with their children after dinner, taverns and shops lining the streets, vendors selling snacks on the roadside stalls... Asakusa was extremely lively.
It was clearly night, but unlike the completely silent mountains and forests, Asakusa was filled with lights of various colors.
Occasionally, black cars would roar past on the cobblestone ground.
In a trance, Kurozawa felt as if he had arrived in a city from his previous life.
Although it wasn't as prosperous as the cities of his past life, it already had a preliminary framework.
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