Capítulo 4: Path to strength
[Seiji's POV]
"Can you recall what the demon looked like?"
Why was everyone so insistent on traumatizing me? If they kept on reminding me like this, I might actually start crying to make sure they never bother me again.
I took my eyes off his moving lips and looked at the board he had in his hands. On it, the question he asked was written in bold hiragana.
I knew how to read Japanese even though it was not my native language in my past life. I was kind of a language freak back then, I knew how to read and write twelve different languages. It had something to do with being deaf and writing being the only form of communication I had with others.
I did not go to school in this second life of mine, but my past life's knowledge translated into an actual skill so even though I was seven, I was probably the most educated person in this village.
I looked up at the man who was holding the board and I analyzed his dress. He wore a black jacket which buttoned up to his neck along with black pants. He wore a white belt on which a katana was tightly strapped.
All in all, it was the standard demon slayer uniform.
"Why does it matter dude? You are ten days late anyway."
"Wait, what did you say?"
Oops, did I say that out loud? I reminded myself to be careful as I occasionally had slip-ups like that after going deaf again. I would blurt out my own thoughts and I wouldn't be aware since I couldn't even hear my own voice.
The demon really fucked up my ear.
"I said you won't believe me anyway. No one does." I said and he gave me a look that screamed 'That was not what you just said.'
But what was he going to do, argue with the seven-year-old who just lost his whole family? No, he shook his head and his eyes became gentle instead.
"I promise I will believe what you say. Do you trust me?" No dude, we just met a few minutes ago.
He moved closer to the futon where I was sitting and he gently put his hand on my shoulder while he supported his body with his other hand. He leaned towards me.
"I understand you, kid. I experienced the same thing you did when I was a child." He started, "And now, I am a demon slayer. I hunt those monsters so that they won't ever harm anyone again. So I need you to tell me what the demon looked like and what his powers were."
His eyes found mine and for the first time since I got the Transparent World, someone was able to hold eye contact with me. I wondered, did he remember I was deaf or did that fact completely cross his mind in his emotional state?
After a few seconds of silence which was awkward only for him, I replied.
"He looked like an old man with a hunched back. His skin was pale, almost blue and he was very very ugly."
"They all are." he chuckled.
"And for his powers." I said, "He could shout really loudly and it even caused my ears to bleed."
The demon slayer went mute in thought and he muttered to himself, "So a sound-based blood demon art huh?"
After that, he focused back on me and flashed a smile. "Thank you for your help kid. I will make sure your family rest in peace by killing the demon."
He stood up after that and fixed his uniform. He had come to the village today and was able to get permission to talk to me alone after asking permission. But now that he got what he wanted, he was going to leave.
But I didn't let him.
"Wait a minute sir." I called out and crawled out from the futon where I was resting. He turned back to look at me, he tilted his head in question.
"Yes?"
"How can I be like you?" I asked bluntly. "How can I be a demon slayer like you?"
He paused at the question and with my sharp eyes, I was able to see his hesitance to reply to me. On one hand, he did not want to give an answer to protect me but on the other, he knew what it was like to lose your loved ones to a demon. He understood the feeling of hatred and the need for revenge.
"Please." I added.
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He was a good dude. I never learned his name but I hoped I meet him again.
He really gave me a proper answer to my question. Although it was not as detailed as I would've liked and what he said was mostly what I already knew, I appreciated the help. Especially for telling me the location where the final selection would be held.
The way to become a demon slayer was simple. Firstly, you had to find a mentor to teach you sword skills and train your body. They could be any demon hunter but mostly, the mentors were veteran demon slayers or retired Hashiras.
After passing the training, you had to get your own nichirin blade. This was why it was necessary to get a mentor because you could only obtain one through them.
And then, you must go to Mt. Fujikasane to attend what was called 'the final selection' process. After passing that, you would become an official demon slayer.
Pretty straightforward if I am being honest.
The only problem was how to find a demon slayer to mentor me. It's not like demon slayers were common in the first place but a veteran or a retired Hashira were even rarer.
But then again, I could just go to the final selection directly and steal a Nichiren blade from one of the participants. Scratch that, I wouldn't even have to steal. If I remember the show correctly, many trainees die every year in the final selection so I could probably loot their dead body.
My main priority should be getting stronger.
I laid back on the futon and relaxed my body for a much needed rest. I thought since my body was already healing, it wouldn't be a problem if I trained. I was wrong and after a couple of days of training - doing push-ups and other exercises - my injuries got worse.
Basically, I couldn't heal when I was constantly using up all my energy and creating muscle tears while training.
I got so engrossed with getting stronger that sound logic slipped my mind. It was kind of embarrassing but in my defence, I thought it would be fine since it was a shounen world where breaking your limits with determination and friendship was the average Tuesday.
Alas, this was not fiction anymore, it was real. And even if it was, I was not the main character.
So with all those thoughts swirling in my ever-silent world, I closed my eyes and focused on resting. If I had to rest, I was going to rest like no one ever rested before.
Such was the path to strength.
So I slept.
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