Chapter 5
The scene looked incredibly ambiguous, but neither of the two people present seemed to realize it.
Aori waited slowly for the black-haired swordsman to fix the hair behind his ear, then suddenly remembered something, shifted her gaze to Tomioka Giyuu's face, and asked expectantly, "By the way, didn't you say you were going to bring me a present?"
She rested her hands on the table, her nails neatly trimmed and cute, a delicate pink color even though they weren't dyed, as if they exuded a faint fragrance.
Her body slumped slightly, the wide belt wrapping around her slender waist, outlining an alluring curve. Azhi was completely unaware, and even leaned closer with some curiosity: "Let me see what it is?"
The soft touch seemed to linger on his fingertips. Giyu Tomioka gently stroked them and met Aori's expectant gaze.
He pursed his thin lips, took a box out of his pocket, and placed it in Azhi's hand.
The box itself wasn't particularly outstanding, but the contents inside were surprisingly good.
It was a string of red corals. Although its craftsmanship and value could not compare to those made by top artisans, the corals were of excellent quality, each one round and gleaming with a bright luster.
Giyu Tomioka's previous mission was near the sea, where there were many vendors selling jewelry. This coral bracelet caught his attention as soon as it was put up, and he bought it almost without thinking.
"So beautiful."
On her fair and slender wrist, she wore a string of bright red beads. The long straps swayed lightly against her skin with her movements, creating an indescribably sensual effect.
Azhi was overjoyed and took it without hesitation. After putting it on her wrist, she proudly dangled it in the light, and just as expected, said, "I really like it."
Seeing the girl's undisguised happiness, Giyu Tomioka was also moved and felt a little lighter.
He picked up the cup and took a small sip.
“Yiyong…” Azhi licked her lips, making them instantly moist, as they were missing a little lip rouge. She propped her chin up with one hand and leaned closer. “I want to ask you a question.”
"And you, is there any wish you really want to fulfill?"
This question was asked like it was by a child who didn't know the ways of the world, which was somewhat laughable, but Aori's attitude was very serious, as if she would really grant Tomioka Giyu's wish if he said it.
That flawless face drew closer, her thick eyelashes casting fine shadows under the light, her clean, clear eyes filled with him, so open that it seemed one could see into the depths of her heart through those clear eyes.
In contrast, Giyu Tomioka was also able to clearly see his own reflection in those eyes.
In that instant, it was as if he were looking directly into himself.
【A-Zhi, have you forgotten that we are not allowed to reveal any relevant information during the mission?】000 was stunned by the girl's direct question. If it had a physical body, its heart would have stopped beating.
The system is very strict about this; once it detects that the host has actively exposed relevant information, the task will immediately fail.
"Didn't you urge me?" Azhi was startled by the system's sudden voice. She took a deep breath, then frowned and accused, "I didn't reveal any mission information! Don't scare me like that!"
000: [...]
Azhi tilted her head, patiently waiting for an answer, but it never came. She frowned slightly, trying to elicit an answer: "Do you want lots and lots of money?"
That would be wonderful if that were really the case.
Azhi is now quite wealthy. Despite not having done anything special, she has somehow accumulated a lot of money over the years at Tokitoya, mostly from gifts from fickle wealthy businessmen.
But Azhi knew very well that the answer was definitely not that.
In fact, after Azhi asked the second question, 000 had already awkwardly disappeared. It didn't understand why Azhi, whose IQ wasn't high, also had low EQ.
—How can this person be so dense? Is this how you use the phrase "throw a brick to attract jade"? Are you sure you're not just adding fuel to the fire?
Yoshiyuki Tomioka was taken aback.
The girl, wearing wooden clogs, ran to the tatami mat and laboriously carried a wooden box out, placing it in front of Yoshiyuki Tomioka. When she opened it, the room was filled with dazzling light.
There are rare and precious jewels, the latest and most fashionable jewelry, and countless riches... The value of all of this is enough for one person to live a life of luxury in Kyoto.
Aori stared longingly at Tomioka Giyuu, pointed at the gold and silver jewelry in the box, and raised her chin slightly with a hint of pride, saying in a tone as if presenting a treasure: "Some guests are very generous; they gave me a lot of money."
His icy blue eyes suddenly darkened, becoming as unfathomable as a deep pool. Tomioka Giyuu slowly lowered his gaze, remaining silent, unable to articulate the feelings within him.
Ah Zhi was indeed different from all the women he had met. The women he had met had suffered hardships, witnessed darkness, and experienced grief, and they all possessed a strong and resilient side to varying degrees.
As for Azhi, she is very weak, and because of her innate sense of innocence, she carries a unique, even somewhat cruel, naiveté.
Sometimes Giyu Tomioka even felt that Ori and they were from different worlds.
Or perhaps... A-Zhi really isn't from this world.
After all, it is still impossible to explain why Azhi appeared in the training ground, and even her identity is full of doubts.
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In the dark, dilapidated forest, even the air was filled with a terrifying atmosphere.
Hidden in the shadows, the demons lurk, waiting for an opportunity. If anyone within them shows the slightest lapse in vigilance, they will be torn to pieces.
Giyu Tomioka had never been so close to death. The bleeding on his forehead made him dizzy. As he closed his eyes unwillingly, many people appeared before him, like a revolving lantern.
Death means failing the test, means being unable to join the Demon Slayer Corps to kill demons, and means his own undeniable failure and incompetence.
His consciousness was dragged into darkness, and the clarity in his mind was gradually dispelled. Giyu Tomioka knew clearly what was going to happen next, and he waited for the outcome with almost despair.
However, in the endless silence, he heard a sobbing cry that grew closer and closer.
"Don't die..."
The voice was filled with grief, as if the person had lost their most cherished person, followed by continuous sobs, and drops of water splashed on her face, leaving her feeling damp.
Is it raining?
Giyu Tomioka thought to himself in a daze. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as if they were glued shut, and his mind felt like it had fallen into a dark quagmire.
He was unable to think; the massive blood loss caused his body temperature to drop rapidly, as if he were in a frozen wasteland, his lungs feeling like they were about to freeze.
Just a second before he completely lost consciousness, a pair of hands suddenly landed on his chest. Just by touching them, an indescribable warmth surged from the point of contact.
The heat gradually spread from the heart, instantly dispelling the coldness and stiffness in the limbs, and the pain of the wound disappeared without the patient noticing.
The scene was nothing short of a divine miracle.
…………
His body felt lighter than ever before, as if Giyu Tomioka had never been attacked by a demon at all... no, it was a more comfortable state than when he was fully recovered.
Tomioka Yoshiyuki suddenly opened his eyes, and the woman, who was as hazy as mist, came into view with unparalleled clarity.
The girl's beautiful face was streaked with tears as she knelt beside him, murmuring, "Thank goodness, you're alright."
As she spoke, a tear rolled down her pale chin and landed on his hand. It was a little hot, and Tomioka Giyuu pulled his fingers away. "Thank you for saving me."
How could someone she didn't know cry so earnestly? It was as if he were an extremely important person to her.
The girl looked at him with moist eyes, and couldn't stop sobbing pitifully, but under Giyu Tomioka's gaze, she slowly shook her head and denied that she had "saved him".
She said she didn't know what had happened.
Yoshiyuki Tomioka was certain that the girl had some unspeakable secret. He pursed his lips and didn't press her for more information.
In the time that followed, Giyu Tomioka protected the unfamiliar girl and confirmed that she was indeed not a member of this trial—she had absolutely no ability to fight.
The girl's fair palms showed no signs of wear, as if they had never been used, which undoubtedly indicated that she must have had a certain status and lived a very comfortable life.
The clothing was not casual wear for easy movement, but rather a simple yet high-quality kimono, which was definitely not what someone coming to participate in the trial should look like.
They didn't encounter many ghosts along the way, or rather, almost all the ghosts had been eliminated, and the few remaining ones were hiding deep inside, not daring to come out directly, only waiting to pick up the scraps.
Giyu Tomioka killed them one by one without much effort.
Throughout this process, he stayed close by, holding the girl tightly around the waist. She was terrified; her petite body was still trembling slightly.
As Giyu Tomioka slays the remaining demons, he reassures them, "Don't be afraid."
Until he found his companions and saw Sabito fighting alone against the enormous Hand Demon.
The ghosts here have been eliminated, and it's clearly safer to leave the girl behind now than to continue the adventure with her.
Giyu Tomioka, gripping the hilt of his sword, also joined the battle.
…………
The "Hand Demon" was distracted. In that instant, it showed fear that was completely different from its previous ease. It seemed to be looking at the spot where Tomioka Giyu had just left the girl.
Giyu Tomioka is not entirely sure.
—Amidst the clear clang of blades, two young swordsmen wearing warding-off-disaster masks leaped high into the air, slashing at the "Hand Demon" that had revealed an opening from the left and right, thus slaying the evil spirit that had devoured several people.
All the demons of Fujikasane Mountain were killed, and no one died during the selection process. Sabito killed the most demons and won first place.
Without a doubt, all members in this cohort are qualified.
Those who survived were all beaming with joy as they awaited the announcement of the trial's results. Only the young girl stood alone under the wisteria tree, glancing over every now and then, her entire being radiating helplessness.
An investigation revealed that the girl was not a participant in that particular test. Furthermore, she appeared to have lost all her memories, only knowing that her name was "A-Zhi".
As for her true identity and how she ended up at Fujikasayama, that remains an unsolved mystery.
A note from the author:
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