Kiyokazu didn't answer immediately. He looked at Ume, then at the rusted dagger in her hand, before taking in the rest of the room.
There was almost no furniture. The tatami mats were a patchwork of repairs, and the door frames were scarred with scuffs and cracks. Despite the meager and dilapidated state of the place, it was clean. In the corner sat a small pot containing an unnamed blue flower, a lone splash of color in the gloom.
Under the restorative effects of Sun Breathing, Kiyokazu had regained enough strength to stand, or at least try to. However, he didn't rush to his feet. Doing so would only provoke the already high-strung girl.
He could tell Ume was afraid of him. He understood why; after his translocation, his body had mysteriously reverted to his mid-teens, perhaps fourteen or fifteen years old. In his current state, if he truly intended her harm, she would have very little chance of fighting back.
Considering this, Kiyokazu slowly raised his hands to show he meant no harm. His voice, still raspy from dehydration, carried a gentle, reassuring tone.
"Could I rest for just a moment before I leave? Not long. Just a little while. I really don't have the strength to walk right now."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted to the hand she used to grip the dagger. Her knuckles were white from the sheer force of her nervous tension.
Hearing his soft tone, Ume's posture relaxed slightly. The sheer aggression in her eyes faded, and she lowered the dagger an inch or two.
Sensing the opening, Kiyokazu continued, "But before I go, at least tell me your name."
Ume's beautiful blue eyes remained fixed on him, her voice distant and cold. "What use is a name! Just get out of here as soon as you can!"
"Izumi Kiyokazu."
Seeing her reluctance to share her name, Kiyokazu didn't push. Instead, he offered his own, looking at her with a sincere, steady gaze. "That's my name. If you won't tell me yours, then at least give me a chance to repay the favor someday."
"I don't need anything from you. Just leave once you've recovered. I don't want anything to do with you."
Having said her piece, Ume retreated to the corner of the room. She kept her dagger clutched to her chest, her guard still very much up.
Kiyokazu remained semi-upright on the bedding, continuously using Sun Breathing to regulate his body. As he did, the details of the technique flashed through his mind like a status screen.
Sign-in Reward: Sun Breathing (Complete Version)
Sun Breathing: The legendary Breathing Style created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni through the observation of the sun's movements. Known as the Progenitor of all Breathing Styles, every other style is a derivative branch of this one.
Effect I: [Burning Flame] – Every attack using Sun Breathing inflicts a permanent, continuous burning effect on demons that cannot be purged.
Effect II: [Ancestor's Method] – The user gains a 200% increase in learning speed for all other Breathing Styles. Furthermore, practicing other styles will deepen the user's comprehension of Sun Breathing.
Effect III: [Moment of Enlightenment] – The user possesses a natural advantage in awakening the "Bright Red Nichirin Sword" and the "Demon Slayer Mark."
Effect IV: [Godlike Physique] – Every breath taken reinforces the user's physical body. Stamina recovery during combat is significantly higher than that of other Breathing Styles.
Note: Upon completion of the sign-in, the host automatically masters all theoretical knowledge of Sun Breathing. Actual combat effectiveness depends on physical cultivation.
Sign-in Quest 2: Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters Reward: Awakening the Demon Slayer Mark! (If already awakened, the Mark's power will be significantly enhanced.)
Kiyokazu felt a surge of excitement he could barely suppress.
Sun Breathing was a technique that no one—save for Yoriichi Tsugikuni and the Tanjiro bloodline—had ever been able to master. Even the "Hinokami Kagura" passed down through Tanjiro's family wasn't technically the pure, original Sun Breathing in its entirety. This meant he was likely the second person in history, after Yoriichi himself, to hold the complete version.
But that power came with a terrifying price.
The moment Kibutsuji Muzan learned a Sun Breathing user existed, the demon progenitor would stop at nothing to hunt him down. And it wasn't just Muzan; the moment word got out, Kokushibo—Upper Moon One—would likely come for his head before Muzan even gave the order. After all, the history between Kokushibo and Yoriichi was... complicated, to say the least.
The thought of being hunted by every demon in the world made Kiyokazu's head throb.
Furthermore, according to the system's next quest, he had to go to the Demon Slayer Corps. Awakening the Mark was essential; it was the entry ticket to the "final round." A swordsman without the Mark had no hope of matching an Upper Moon in a one-on-one fight.
Even the Sound Hashira's unique "Musical Score" was a specialized skill, but in a true duel, he was still outclassed by the likes of Upper Moon Six. And then there were the other two pieces of the trinity: the Bright Red Blade and the Transparent World. Without a Nichirin Sword, his Breathing Style lost 80% of its lethality. And the only way to get a Nichirin Sword was to join the Corps.
As he mapped out his future, Ume noticed that he had kept his eyes closed for a long while. Her grip on the dagger finally loosened. He didn't seem to harbor any ill will, and holding a knife for that long was exhausting.
The silence didn't last. While Breathing Styles could regulate the body, they also burned through energy at an accelerated rate.
A loud, prolonged stomach growl echoed through the quiet room.
Ume looked up instinctively, catching Kiyokazu's sheepish expression.
"Don't even think about asking for food," she snapped. "I don't even have enough for myself."
"I... I wasn't expecting any," Kiyokazu managed.
But his body betrayed him as his stomach let out another thunderous rumble.
Hearing it again, Ume let out a long, weary sigh. She looked at him with a mix of annoyance and thinly veiled concern.
"You're such a nuisance! If I wasn't worried about you dying in my house, I wouldn't be doing any of this!"
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