The Yukizuri, named for its pure white body.
In the past, it was a spoils of war that Zeno seized from a swordsman.
Roy held the blade in his hand, weighing it. It was a bit light. He then slashed forward diagonally, drawing an arc.
The effect was immediate. A panel popped up, prompting him—"Physique +0.05"... Indeed, he had made a directional error, overlooking the essence of Sun Breathing—
It was a Breathing technique tailor-made for swordsmen... This could be seen from the new skill slot that unlocked on the panel.
"Congratulations, Host, you have unlocked 'Swordsmanship'."
"Current 'Swordsmanship' level: lv1 (1/100)"
'Hmm... is this an expected surprise or an unexpected one?'
Roy sheathed his blade.
At the same time, with a 'swoosh'... the dining table split into two halves, with him as the central axis.
Fortunately, Gotoh was quick-witted and supported it, preventing the food from scattering on the floor.
"Young Master, this sword is very sharp. It's best not to wield it in the bedroom," Gotoh reminded him.
Roy nodded in agreement. Indeed... it was a good sword, but unfortunately, it was a bit light, and he didn't know if he could bring it to the Demon Slayer world through 'reverse materialization'.
'How about... I try tonight.'
No sooner said than done. At ten o'clock that night, the grandfather clock chimed. Roy took a bath, changed into his pajamas, and lay on the bed, holding the Yukizuri.
After a day of 'electric shocks,' 'poison training,' and cultivating Sun Breathing, his body was extremely fatigued... thus, falling asleep this time was quite smooth.
Soon, he saw that familiar passage again.
However, this time, before passing through the passage, Roy specifically paid attention to his right hand.
Unfortunately, his right hand was empty, with no sign of the Yukizuri... Roy couldn't help but chuckle at himself, knowing he had overthought it.
According to the original author's setting, 'Materialization-type' Nen Ability users often have a tendency to overthink, leading to many neurotic tendencies.
For example, Shizuku, for example, Kortopi, for example, Kite, who was gender-swapped after being killed by Neferpitou, and his Gacha Nen Ability—'Crazy Slots'.
Now that he didn't have the Yukizuri with him, Roy felt light-hearted. He stepped into the passage and drifted towards the subconscious sea... As for the sword.
Demon Slayer has a Swordsmith Village. He could find a swordsmith to forge one, or at the very least... using the black Nichirin Sword that Tsugikuni Yoriichi left inside the Zero-Type puppet wasn't a bad temporary solution.
With a plan in mind, Roy soon saw the wooden door with the demon head ornament hanging above it again. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and walked in.
The familiar sensation of falling came again... When Roy opened his eyes once more, as expected, he was back in the familiar small cabin.
Beside him, Takeo and Shigeru were sound asleep.
Children don't sleep still. At night they're at one end, in the morning at the other. One puts a foot in another's mouth, another shoves a hand into a sibling's embrace. The blankets lay scattered on the floor, unnoticed.
Seeing this, Roy got up and helped tuck them in, the movement waking Tanjiro.
"Ni-san..." Tanjiro stared at him with wide, bright eyes, saying, "Can I come with you to the mountain today?"
'Can I say no?' Waking up at the slightest touch, Roy guessed the child hadn't slept soundly all night.
It was also hard on him. Suddenly seeing something beyond his comprehension, even he... would find it hard to remain calm.
He simply glared at him: "Then why aren't you getting up, waiting for me to put on your shoes?"
"Sorry... sorry..." Tanjiro scrambled out of bed, excited like a hen that had just laid an egg, clucking around Roy.
Roy ignored him, pushed open the door, and stepped out. What met his eyes was a vast, white snowy country, and his mother, Kie, emerging from the kitchen, pulling back the kitchen curtain.
Kie had her head wrapped, wore a scarf, and carried a bundle in her arms. It contained several steaming dango, which she shoved into Roy's arms.
"Eat them on the way. Don't wait until they're cold to remember them."
Also... "Tanjiro, what are you doing with that basket?!"
"I want to go into the mountain with Ni-san."
"You're not allowed to go."
"I'm going."
"Anata, aren't you going to do something?"
"If he wants to go, let him go with Eiichiro." On the veranda, Tanjuro appeared there at some point.
"You..."
Kie... looked at Tanjuro, then at the stubborn Tanjiro, and helplessly turned to Roy, reaching out to tighten the scarf around his neck, admonishing, "Take good care of your brother. Be back before dark."
At this moment, Grandma came out holding Hanako... Tanjiro opened his mouth to say, "I can protect myself, and I can protect Big Brother."
But then he remembered Roy's ghost-like figure moving through the forest, and the large tree that was easily pierced.
He wisely shut his mouth, only stealing glances at Roy.
Roy directly ignored his gaze, his eyes sweeping over his mother Kie, father Tanjuro, Grandma, and Hanako, one by one, and he smiled gently, saying, "I'll be back."
With that, he picked up the hoe, slung the basket over his back, and turned to walk towards the dense forest.
"Ni-san, wait for me." Clumsy Tanjiro chased after him.
Kie, Tanjuro, and Grandma watched from behind... The familiar cabin grew farther and farther away, but a warmth lingered in his heart, something Roy had never felt in the Zoldyck Family.
He enjoyed it greatly, cherished it, and even yearned for it. For the first time, the thought arose... perhaps staying in this world wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Huff~ puff~" Tanjiro quickened his steps and finally caught up.
The moment he opened his mouth, Roy knew what he wanted to ask, so he preemptively spoke, "Tanjiro, do you believe there are other worlds besides the earth we stand on?"
"Really, Ni-san?" Tanjiro was shocked.
Roy led him through the pristine white snow, leaving two lines of footprints in the forest... He said unhurriedly, "I once had a dream, and in that dream, I went to another world..."
"In that world, I had a new family, new parents, new siblings..."
"Our family made a living by killing..."
"I was raised as an assassin from a young age..."
"That day, when I woke up, I found that I had mastered many killing techniques without any teacher..."
"I then realized how real that dream I had was..."
"..." Tanjiro's mouth hung open. The cold wind blew down the accumulated snow hanging on the birch trees, hitting his head.
After a long while, the child Silly reacted, exclaiming, "That's truly amazing... just like Grandpa Saburo said there are demons in this world."
"No, that's real." Roy suddenly stopped.
Tanjiro couldn't brake in time and stumbled, bumping into his lower back.
The boy winced, rubbed his head, then his nostrils twitched, and his expression changed drastically!
"Blood... Ni-san, there's a strong smell of blood up ahead!"
"I see it."
Roy set down the basket, stood still in front of Tanjiro, leaning on his hoe, his narrow eyes squinting.