Chapter 1: Chapter 1: I Refuse to Become Kaigaku!
Waking up in a strange era, everything felt both unfamiliar and unsettlingly familiar.
When he first transmigrated into this world at the age of five, all he knew was that his name was Kaigaku. Beyond that, he remembered almost nothing.
Orphaned, homeless, and destitute, Kaigaku wandered the streets, scavenging for food, sometimes eating well, sometimes starving—his life a picture of despair.
Yet Kaigaku's soul hailed from another time, and with his modern intellect and sheer willpower, he managed to survive in Japan's Meiji era.
As he grew older, Kaigaku dreamed of using his future knowledge to build a fortune and make a name for himself. But reality hit hard, and those dreams crumbled when fate dealt him a harsh blow.
That blow came when he was 16, on one fateful night.
That night, Kaigaku had worked late to earn some extra money. But walking home under the cover of darkness, he encountered a demon.
Yes—a real demon. A man-eating monster.
Its face was twisted, fanged, hideous. It only appeared at night, feasting on human flesh and blood.
Kaigaku froze in terror. There was nowhere to run, no hope of escape. His heart filled with dread. Am I really going to die here? I, Kaigaku, a transmigrator, destined for greatness—am I going to perish without even making a mark on this world?
No! Not like this!
It was as if the heavens themselves had heard his desperate plea. Just as the demon was about to devour him, an old man descended from the sky, his katana flashing with lightning. With a single strike, he decapitated the demon, reducing it to ash.
Kaigaku sat there, stunned, watching the old man, whose body was crackling with the remnants of electricity. His mind went blank.
Demons? Lightning swordsmen? This… this world isn't ordinary. I've transmigrated into something far beyond normal.
Wait. Demons… lightning… old man… and I'm… Kaigaku?
The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He finally understood where he was.
This was the world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. And he was that despicable traitor, Kaigaku.
A sinking feeling overwhelmed him.
In Demon Slayer, many of the villains had tragic backstories, making their actions somewhat understandable, if not forgivable.
But then there were those who were truly irredeemable—villains who deserved nothing less than condemnation. Kaigaku was one of them.
In the original story, Kaigaku, an orphan, had grown up stealing to survive, developing a selfish and self-serving personality.
He was later taken in by Gyomei Himejima and raised at a temple, but his selfishness didn't change. After stealing money from the other children, he was cast out. That same night, Kaigaku encountered a demon. To save himself—and to exact revenge—he extinguished the protective wisteria incense at the temple and let the demon inside, while he escaped.
Everyone at the temple was slaughtered, except for 4-year-old Sayo. Gyomei fought the demon to protect her, managing to kill it by dawn. But because of Kaigaku, Gyomei was wrongfully imprisoned.
As he grew older, Kaigaku became a student of Jigoro Kuwajima, learning Thunder Breathing. But his selfishness remained, and he grew envious of his junior, Zenitsu Agatsuma, often bullying him.
During a mission, Kaigaku encountered Kokushibo, the Upper Moon One of the Twelve Kizuki. Cowardly, he kneeled before him, begging for mercy. Half-coerced, half-willing, Kaigaku drank demon blood, transforming into a demon, betraying both the Demon Slayer Corps and humanity.
This betrayal forced Jigoro, his master who had raised him with care, to commit seppuku in shame.
In the end, during the final battle at Infinity Castle, Kaigaku, arrogant and selfish until the very end, was killed by Zenitsu, putting an end to his wretched life.
Kaigaku was one of the few irredeemable villains in Demon Slayer—beyond forgiveness, beyond salvation.
The thought of it all filled Kaigaku with despair.
Was he really doomed to live out this cursed life, despised by all?
No! Absolutely not! I won't let it happen! Now that I've transmigrated here, I'll change everything! These tragedies won't unfold, not as long as I'm here!
Kaigaku's resolve hardened. He pushed himself off the ground and looked at the old man who had just saved him.
The old man held a Nichirin Blade, the air around him humming with Thunder Breathing. His hair was white, and a bushy mustache adorned his face. One hand grasped a cane, and one of his legs was a prosthetic. Despite his age, his energy was youthful and vibrant.
There was no doubt. With these distinct features, this man had to be Jigoro Kuwajima—the former Thunder Hashira and now one of the instructors of the Demon Slayer Corps.
This was someone Kaigaku needed on his side!
Throwing aside all pride, Kaigaku bowed deeply.
"Thank you, sir, for saving my life!"
As if moved by fate, Jigoro studied Kaigaku. Noticing the unwavering determination in his eyes, the old man felt an immediate connection to the boy.
"Young man, what's your name?"
"My name is…" Kaigaku hesitated.
The name "Kaigaku" symbolized cunning, deceit, and betrayal—the name of a man who had lived a vile and evil life.
No. He couldn't be Kaigaku anymore. He would change.
"My name is Horigaku!" he declared firmly. "Yes, that's who I am now."
"Horigaku, is it?" Jigoro smiled, clearly pleased. "That's a fine name. Boy, how about you become my disciple? Learn from me."
That's exactly what I wanted to hear!
Elated, Horigaku didn't hesitate for a moment. "I'd be honored, Master!"
Jigoro was moved by the boy's eagerness, smiling warmly. His joy practically radiated from him, as if flowers had bloomed around them.
After a brief moment of emotion, Jigoro regained his composure and spoke seriously. "Are you sure? My skills aren't easy to master, and once you've learned them, you'll bear the responsibilities that come with them."
Horigaku's resolve didn't waver. "I'm certain. You must be one of the legendary demon slayers from the Demon Slayer Corps, right? I'm ready to learn from you. I'm ready to fight demons and protect humanity!"
Seeing the boy so determined, Jigoro couldn't hide his excitement anymore. Laughing heartily, he ruffled Horigaku's hair affectionately.
"Good lad! From now on, I'm your master! I'll teach you everything I know and make you the strongest demon slayer!"
Even though Horigaku knew of Jigoro's kind nature from the original story, experiencing it firsthand was still overwhelming. He chuckled awkwardly.
"Master, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but can you stop messing with my hair? It's turning into a bird's nest…"
"Hahaha, what's the harm in that?"
"Master, please! A little dignity!"
And so, Horigaku, who had been lonely and wandering since his transmigration, was officially taken in by Jigoro Kuwajima. Together, they returned to Jigoro's secluded home in the mountains, where Horigaku began his training.
Determined to meet his master's expectations, Horigaku poured all his intellect and physical talent into learning. Day by day, he honed his body and mind, mastering the fundamentals of Thunder Breathing.
His path had changed, and now, his future was in his own hands.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ozzz_6657
Ozzz_6657 I'm truly excited about this hidden gem! Demon Slayer fanfics are rare, and this one is already completed, so I can't wait to bring the whole story to life through my translation. Many Chinese fanfics are incredibly thrilling, but poor translations often take away from the beauty of the original writing.
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