Slayer of the Five Leaf Clover

Chapter 7: Graduation

After Urokodaki announced that there was one test for me to take before he sends me to Final Selection, he said, "Follow me." I did just that, and we walked until we came up on a large round boulder with a big yorishiro wrapped around it. Urokodaki said, "You won't have any time limit. If you can cut this boulder in half, I will allow you to take the Final Selection." I was puzzled by the announcement he gave me. 'Cut a boulder in half? Is that even possible? My sword will probably break.' I thought as I looked at the huge rock. I noticed movement in the corner of my eye, and turned to see Urokodaki walking away. After that, he never taught me anything again.

It was pretty clear that he wanted me to figure out the answer on my own. I first did a couple of strikes to see how tough it would be, and I thought, 'That proves one thing, this is gonna be a pain in the ass." For six months, I had been practicing everything that Urokodaki taught me, and learned how to apply the techniques. I etched all of them down to my bones. I did so because my first thought about how to proceed was to master everything I learned up to that point. After those six months, I tried to cut the boulder again. I got a good distance from it before i raised my sword, took a deep breath and charged forward. Once I got close enough, I brought my sword down with all my might. A second later, the boulder split in two. I was ecstatic that I managed to pull it off.  A minute after I sliced the boulder, Urokodaki walked up to it to see that I did it, after a second he said, "Truth is, I was hoping you wouldn't have been able to cut this boulder in such a short time. I wanted you to wait until you were at least 13 before you go to Final Selection. Because of how dangerous it is, I didn't want you to take it so early in your life. But after seeing how quickly you progressed, my worries have lessened greatly." He patted my head and continued, "Asta, you are my most talented pupil. Good job, my boy. You made me proud." I was so happy that someone actually said that to me. I started crying tears of joy, because it was the first time anyone ever said that they were proud of me. Urokodaki pulled me into a hug and said, "Final Selection is in 6 months, so use this time to refine all that you have learned. And then, once it's time, please come back alive." I nodded and said, "I will, I promise." My teacher let me go, and we went back to his house. Later at night, we were about to eat dinner, and Urokodaki made quite a big Hotpot, just the smell of it made me drool. I was curious about why he made so much so I asked, "There's so much food, what's the occasion?" He answered as he filled up a bowl and handed it to me, "You've completed your training, so we're celebrating. Time to eat." I took the bowl and said, "Thank you, I'm starving." I took a bit of the food and my taste buds were jumping with joy at how delicious it was. I finished my bowl in seconds, and asked my teacher for more. That continued until I had eaten half the pot, by then I was full. Urokodaki laughed at how much I ate and asked, "Did you enjoy the hotpot, Asta?" I replied happily, "Yeah, I never had anything that delicious in my life!" "A growing boy with an appetite like your's will get bigger and stronger, the bigger their meals are...........same goes for demons." His tone went from joyful to serious as he said that last part. I too became serious hearing it. He explained, "The more humans a demon has eaten, the more powerful he will be." I asked, "So, they grow stronger the more they eat?" He replied, "That's right. They get stronger, physical traits change, and some learn to use strange spells known as Blood Demon Arts........ But for now you should focus on refining your skills. So, that if you ever do run into one, you'll be able to handle the demon more easily." I nodded and told him good night.

Less than six months later

I had been improving my sword skills as much as I could, but it was then time for me to go to Final Selection. Urokodaki told me that it would take a week on foot to get to where the exam would be held, so I had to leave early. We were outside his house when he was about to send me off. Before I left, he gave me a fox mask with three red stars on the forehead.