章 43: Chapter 43: Chain of Fate
"Yes, Grandpa Jigoro is my master. Ah, right! I almost forgot!"
When Zenitsu heard Maple's question, his attention shifted quickly. He recalled his "grandpa" and his instructions before he left…
"Zenitsu, if you meet Mr. Soul Pillar, remember to thank him sincerely!"
Grandpa's old voice resounded in his mind, making Zenitsu recall the accident two months ago.
The burly "Rock Pillar" personally visited Grandpa. Zenitsu, with his extraordinary hearing, detected the deep heaviness and sadness in Lord Himejima's voice as the "Rock Pillar" delivered the news. The news hit both Grandpa and him like a bolt from the blue.
At that moment, if Lord Rock Pillar had not continued to explain the situation, based on Zenitsu's understanding of Grandpa, he would have committed suicide as atonement.
A dead silence of despair.
That was what Zenitsu "heard" from his grandfather. Only after learning that the new "Soul Pillar" had killed Kaigaku did his grandfather recover from his will to die.
It was also on that day that Zenitsu suddenly realized something…
He didn't want to lose his grandpa, ever.
This realization was why, over the past two months, Zenitsu uncharacteristically focused on training, and why he participated in advance, slightly deviating from his "original trajectory".
However, Zenitsu obviously did not know about the "plot". He only knew that Lord "Feng" before him was his grandfather's indirect savior.
"Lord Feng! I am really grateful! Thank you for everything you've done for my grandfather!"
In that moment, Zenitsu solemnly performed a "dogeza", as if this was the only way to convey the depth of his and his grandpa's gratitude.
"I have received your gratitude, Mr. Zenitsu."
Seeing Zenitsu's gesture, Maple had already made some guesses and immediately understood the sequence of events…
Apparently, this was the "butterfly effect" of killing Kaigaku.
"Get up quickly. We will be colleagues after passing the selection. There's no need to be so formal."
Maple helped Zenitsu up while gently comforting the tearful young man. Although he wasn't much older than Zenitsu, this scene felt harmonious, like an older brother comforting his younger sibling.
"I'm sorry, Lord Feng. I can't control my emotions."
As he stood up, Zenitsu quickly wiped away his tears, hesitating as if wanting to ask something.
"Lord Feng, can I, can I follow you…"
Zenitsu began, but his voice gradually faded. He didn't finish his sentence, his cheeks turning red.
"What is it, Mr. Zenitsu?"
Maple's eyes flickered slightly, pretending not to have heard him. However, his green eyes were intently observing Zenitsu's changing expressions, as if waiting for the young man to make an important decision.
Agatsuma Zenitsu, having lost your "original" setback, can you overcome the shackles of cowardice?
"No, nothing, Lord Feng!"
As if after an intense internal struggle, Zenitsu seemed to muster all his strength before he voiced his decision.
"I won't bother Lord Feng anymore!"
Once he spoke, the confusion on Zenitsu's face cleared. Although Maple still detected a hint of timidity in him, this was a positive sign, signaling Zenitsu's beginning to change.
Maple was confident that, given time, he would witness the emergence of the "crazy and cool" "Fire Thunder God" in this world.
"[Mastering just a single thing]…"
Maple gazed at Zenitsu's retreating figure and sighed inwardly.
Even with his ability to travel to other worlds and his destined broad power system, Maple never shunned the pursuit of perfection.
However, there was one thing Maple needed to remind the departing young man of.
"Mr. Zenitsu, did you forget? It's currently nighttime, the time when demons are most active on Fujikasane Mountain."
"Eh, eh?! That seems… to be the case?"
Seeing Zenitsu halt in surprise, Maple chuckled, deciding not to tease the "poor" young man further.
"You should spend the night with me and leave tomorrow. After all, I did disturb your rest, right? I'd feel guilty if something happened to you after I left."
"Thank you very much, Lord Soul Pillar!"
…
"Lord Feng is surprisingly easy to get along with."
One night wasn't very long after separating from Maple, Zenitsu mused as he resumed his journey.
However, Maple hadn't parted ways with him as Zenitsu had believed. Instead, he used his spirituality to mask his presence and discreetly followed Zenitsu.
Although Maple felt that Zenitsu, being a chosen son of heaven, wouldn't face a fatal crisis, he wondered, "What if he did?"
The strategy in Maple's plan was to reduce the influence of the "plot," and the "end boss" on Fujikasane Mountain had not been defeated by Tanjiro yet. Maple wasn't willing to risk the possibility of things going wrong if Zenitsu confronted the hand demon.
In this otherworldly reality, every opportunity was unique, and Maple wouldn't gamble against time.
However, the interwoven threads of fate wouldn't shift due to Maple's desires.
"Zenitsu, I hope you won't be so unfortunate."
Regrettably, Maple's well-wishes didn't help…
That night, amidst heavy footfalls and terrified screams, Zenitsu encountered the hand demon, lured by the scent of demon-repelling flowers.
"You! You're a grotesque demon!"
Seeing the massive, mountainous demon with its brawny, gnarled arms, Zenitsu felt overwhelmed.
"How many demons were devoured by this one to possess such a malevolent aura?"
The immense pressure from the demon forced Zenitsu to step back, his heart urging him to flee.
The hand demon, facing Zenitsu, saw his intent to retreat. From within the mass of limbs, two bloodshot eyes glared with scorn.
"Hohoho…another demon slayer who participated in the 'selection'? I've devoured more than fifty morsels like you. It's a shame you aren't wearing that distasteful fox mask; you'd have tasted even better."
Suddenly, before the hand demon could finish, a bolt of yellow lightning aimed at its neck, and the blonde youth had moved behind it.
"Thunder breath 1st form – thunderclap and flash!"
Blood spewed.
The sword's gleam slashed across the well-defended neck of the hand demon. However, Zenitsu wasn't in his usual semi-conscious state, nor was he the more experienced version of himself who could unleash his full potential while conscious.
The overwhelming emotions hampered his technique, causing this lethal move to only partially sever the hand demon's neck, resulting in a grievous but not fatal injury.
"You little pest!"
The sheer intensity of the wound widened the hand demon's eyes, pushing it into a frenzied fury...
After so many years, its neck had been slashed again! It had nearly perished!
~~~
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