Riku settled Kamado Nezuko on the bed inside the wooden cabin. This kid was something else—bouncing along the whole way and still managing to sleep like a log.
"This father and son duo really trusts me, huh? Don't they know I survive by eating oni?"
Glancing at the peacefully snoring Kamado Nezuko, Riku couldn't help but mutter to himself. Weren't they worried he'd just gobble her up? Unbeknownst to him, after walking a short distance away, Urokodaki Sakonji had doubled back with Kamado Tanjiro in tow.
They kept a careful distance from the cabin—close enough to catch the scents wafting from it, but far enough that Riku wouldn't pick up on theirs. Having slain oni for years, Urokodaki Sakonji's mastery of his keen sense of smell far surpassed that of the rookie Tanjiro.
"Urokodaki-sensei…"
Tanjiro's legs felt like they were filled with lead, his head foggy. At first, he didn't grasp what was happening. But as his mind cleared, his expression grew complicated. He realized Urokodaki-sensei was suspicious of Riku—and maybe even Nezuko.
Urokodaki ignored Tanjiro's unease. He saw nothing wrong with his caution. After crouching for a while longer, the old man finally stood and left. His nose told him both Riku and Nezuko's scents were calm—nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"These oni hunters must have their own training system," Riku mused.
Back in the cabin, unaware he and Nezuko were still under suspicion, Riku was working out. A true grind king, he never let idle time go to waste. As he trained, he reflected on his observations. Urokodaki Sakonji's physical condition at his age was nothing short of remarkable. It made sense—facing oni, supernatural beings stronger than humans, required oni hunters to have a specialized training system to even stand a chance.
"The real question is, can I, as an oni, practice this system?"
That was the crux of it. Urokodaki hadn't mentioned anything about it, only saying he'd teach Riku how to kill oni better. Did that mean he could train in it, or did Urokodaki himself not know?
Lost in thought, Riku churned through push-ups until he caught Urokodaki's scent returning.
"You're training? Does that even work?" Urokodaki asked, visibly surprised as he watched Riku blaze through push-ups.
"Don't oni get stronger by eating humans? Can they actually improve through effort?"
"Little by little, it's gotta add up," Riku replied, standing and dusting off his hands. He hadn't gained any stat boosts from training yet, but he firmly believed in its value. Training was a long-term game—nobody got ripped after just a couple of days. That wasn't training; that was juicing.
"Well said," Urokodaki nodded approvingly. "No matter the task, persistence is key. Keep at it, and you'll see results."
"You use a blade too, right?" Urokodaki asked, glancing at Nezuko to ensure she was tucked in properly before turning his attention to Riku's sword.
"Uh, not really. It's just a handy chopping tool," Riku admitted honestly, not trying to oversell his skills. He handed over the 150-yen blade to Urokodaki.
Urokodaki drew the sword, inspecting it closely. "Fine craftsmanship, unique technique, razor-sharp—a true killing weapon." His praise caught Riku off guard. For 150 yen? More like 15,000 yen! Unique technique? At that price, it was probably mass-produced in a mold—hand-crafted was out of the question.
"But this blade can't kill oni. You need a Nichirin Blade, like mine," Riku added, already aware of the fact. He didn't strictly need one, though. His goal was to incapacitate oni so his Shadow Wolf could devour them. Killing them outright would ruin his meal. His current blade worked fine for slicing without killing. Still, having a Nichirin Blade as a backup wasn't a bad idea—if he faced a stronger oni he couldn't subdue, a quick beheading would be the way to go. Shadow Wolf's devouring was effective but slow, requiring most of the oni's body to be consumed before their regeneration stopped.
"Exactly. Only a Nichirin Blade can do it, and you must sever the neck," Urokodaki confirmed, nodding. "Nichirin Blades are forged from Hihiiro Suna Tetsu (Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand) and Hihiiro Koseki (Scarlet Crimson Ore). They're the only weapons that can harm oni."
"I learned that from an oni's mouth," Riku said, recalling how one had screamed about Nichirin Blades after being struck, confirming their effectiveness.
"Truth is, I can't teach you much about oni that you don't already know," Urokodaki admitted candidly after a brief pause. "But when it comes to techniques and experience in slaying them, I've got plenty to share."
As an oni hunter, he couldn't teach an oni like Riku about their own kind—heck, he was tempted to ask Riku for insights. A unique oni like him was a first.
"Want to learn how to wield a blade?" Urokodaki offered, handing the sword back.
"Absolutely, I'd love to!" Riku replied eagerly. Learning from Urokodaki would save him a fortune—and a master like him, who'd spent a lifetime with a blade, wasn't someone you could just hire. With that kind of money, Riku would rather upgrade his cybernetic parts.
"Good. I'll teach you how to use a blade, starting from the basics," Urokodaki said decisively, leading Riku outside to an open area in front of the cabin.
"A sword breaks easily. It handles vertical force well, not lateral. When you swing, the force must be applied vertically along the blade, perfectly aligned with its edge," Urokodaki explained, drawing his sword and demonstrating with crisp, fluid slashes. The blue blade left trails of light in its wake.
"Now you try," he said, stepping back.
Riku froze, his expression blank. Was that it? Just… swinging the sword? Had he missed some profound secret, or was this literally just basic slashing?
(Chapter End)