Sakonji watched as Sol guided Tanjiro, the expression hidden beneath his mask slowly growing complicated.
He cleared his throat, interrupting the lesson.
"It is getting late. We should continue on our way."
Tanjiro snapped back to attention and quickly hoisted the bamboo basket containing Nezuko onto his back.
"Yes, Mr. Sakonji!"
The three continued along the mountain path. Sol walked at the back, occasionally glancing at the surrounding terrain.
His footsteps were so light that it almost seemed as if he had blended into the mountain forest itself.
Soft golden light filtered through the trees, settling over Sol and the others. After a long day of travel, they finally arrived at a small wooden cabin before sunset.
"Hmph... ha... hmph... ha..." Tanjiro panted heavily, both hands braced on the ground.
"Th... this way."
He looked up at Sakonji.
"Can I be acknowledged?"
"The test has only begun. Go up the mountain."
Sakonji removed the white headscarf from his head and pushed open the wooden door.
Tanjiro froze in shock.
Becoming a swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps was far harder than he had imagined.
He entered the cabin, removed Nezuko from the bamboo basket, and gently placed her on the bed.
"I will take responsibility for watching over your sister. Prepare to go up the mountain," Sakonji said slowly.
"I beg you." Tanjiro lowered his head, his face filled with the pain of parting from Nezuko.
"This is Mt. Sagiri."
Sakonji pointed toward the mist covered peak standing before Sol and Tanjiro.
Sol glanced up at the mountain.
What a boring test.
He kept the thought to himself.
"Hoo... hoo... hoo... I am so tired. My legs feel like they will give out, and my head is starting to spin." Tanjiro wiped sweat from his face, his voice heavy with worry.
Could he really pass this test?
After walking for nearly an hour up Mt. Sagiri, Sakonji suddenly stopped and turned to face them.
"From here to the house at the foot of the mountain, Tanjiro, I will not wait for you this time. You must return before dawn."
A thick fog rolled through the trees.
Sakonji's figure vanished into it.
Tanjiro stood frozen.
The old man had completely disappeared.
He turned toward Sol, his eyes filled with hesitation.
"Mr. Sol, I..."
"Go."
Sol's voice was calm.
"This is your test."
Tanjiro took a deep breath and clenched his fists.
"I understand!"
He turned and rushed into the thick fog, quickly disappearing from sight.
Sol remained where he stood, the cold mountain mist brushing lightly against his face.
He was not worried about Tanjiro. The boy had an extraordinary sense of smell and an unbreakable will.
Sol slowly closed his eyes and began regulating his breathing.
He attempted to combine Water Breathing with his psychokinesis, searching for new possibilities.
Each breath came slowly and steadily.
Gradually, the surrounding mist began to move with the rhythm of his breathing.
Sol opened his eyes.
A faint vortex of fog had formed around him.
"Interesting."
He extended his hand.
The mist curled around his fingers like something alive.
Just then, Tanjiro's terrified shout echoed from deeper in the forest.
Sol frowned slightly.
In the next moment, his figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he stood on the branch of a tall cedar tree.
Below him, Tanjiro was trapped inside a deep pit.
"I see. There are traps."
Tanjiro struggled desperately, using both hands and feet to climb out.
The moment he escaped the pit, another trap triggered.
A large log swung toward him with a sharp rush of wind.
Bang.
Tanjiro was knocked flat onto the ground.
"This is bad! If I keep falling into traps like this, I will never make it down the mountain before dawn!"
He struggled to his feet, breathing heavily.
"And this mountain... the air is so thin!"
Tanjiro clutched his chest.
"It is much thinner than the mountain where I live. That is why breathing feels so difficult, and why my head is spinning."
He tried to calm himself, following the breathing method Sol had taught him, drawing his breath down into his lower abdomen.
The thin air made every breath difficult.
Still, he refused to give up.
Step by step, he moved through the fog.
High above him, Sol stood silently on the treetop, observing everything.
His presence had completely disappeared.
He looked like nothing more than another shadow within the forest.
"I must go back."
Tanjiro took a step forward, then suddenly stopped.
There was definitely another trap ahead.
He slowed his breathing and focused on the air.
His nose twitched.
Even in the thick fog, he could detect the faint scent of the traps.
"I found it!"
Tanjiro's eyes widened as he suddenly dashed forward.
Logs swung toward him one after another.
He dodged them, barely avoiding each strike.
Sol followed from a short distance, silently observing.
Tanjiro's improvement was astonishing.
Less than an hour ago, he had been clumsy and panicked.
Now he moved with growing precision.
"What an interesting ability."
A faint smile appeared on Sol's lips.
If he had a human shaped training dummy like Muzan, a single year would probably be enough for him to copy most of the abilities he wanted.
"It seems I do not need to interfere."
With that, Sol turned and disappeared into the fog.
He returned to the cabin at the foot of the mountain to wait.
The sky slowly brightened.
At last, Tanjiro stumbled back to the cabin.
He collapsed to his knees, gasping for air, his clothes soaked with sweat.
On a large rock nearby, Sakonji stood silently, the fading moonlight outlining his figure.
Inside the cabin, a small fire burned on the floor, quietly cooking something in a pot.
Sakonji knelt beside Nezuko.
When he heard the door slide open, he looked up.
Sol stepped inside, bringing the cold mountain air with him.
"Where is Tanjiro?" Sakonji asked, his voice muffled behind the Tengu mask.
"Still on the mountain."
Sol sat beside the fire.
"He learns quickly. He can already avoid most of the traps."
Sakonji nodded slowly and poked the firewood with a wooden stick, sending small sparks into the air.
Behind them, Nezuko shifted slightly on the bed.
Her breathing remained calm and steady.
For a demon, that kind of peace was unusual.
Sakonji looked at Sol again.
"Aren't you going to help him?"
"This is his trial."
Sol shrugged casually.
Sakonji's gaze drifted toward Nezuko.
After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
"That girl is very special. Do you know something?"
Sol leaned back slightly.
"Yes."
He spoke casually.
"She will probably be able to walk in sunlight eventually, and she can replace eating humans with sleep."
"This is likely the effect of the Blue Spider Lily, the flower Muzan has been searching for."
Sol's dark eyes met Sakonji's.
"Muzan is an imperfect being."
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