The Legend of the Sun Pillar

Chapter 09 - 2nd Season

Emerging from the shadows, Michikatsu approaches slowly and silently, his footsteps barely audible on the mansion's roof.

— Tanjiro-sama, are you feeling well? This is the fifth night you've come up here, and the others are worried about your health. Staying out in the cold for so long could lead to illness, even with your resilient body. - Michikatsu sits down near a pillar, still facing Tanjiro's back, expressing concern for the man who reminded him so much of his brother.

— Michi, I know I'm strong, and I can't deny that I've reached the level of strength my former master had, but... - melancholic, Tanjiro looks at his hands, clenching them into fists and channeling all his power into them.

The veins in his arms stand out against his skin with the force he's exerting. Any demon slayer witnessing this scene would say that Tanjiro possesses physical strength comparable to the strongest of the Lower Moons, maybe even of an Upper Moon, yet even with such power...

The young pillar feels stagnant.

— Yoriichi was a genius among geniuses. Ignoring his inhuman strength and heightened senses, his ability to comprehend information about the world around him was monstrous in itself. - Comparing himself to his master, Tanjiro sees his own journey as three lifetimes of effort to reach a level of understanding and insight that Yoriichi effortlessly achieved without straining a single muscle during training. — No inhuman strength or heightened senses can explain how a child could understand and predict the movements of a skilled swordsman simply by observing blood flow and muscle flexion. Michi, do you see? I've worked so hard to get here, but there's a limit to what a talentless person can achieve through sheer effort.

Michikatsu listens attentively to Tanjiro's every word, finally realizing that his envy of the past, his desire to match his brother's strength, all pale in comparison to Yoriichi's monstrous talent. Centuries of training and evolution as an Upper Moon, and yet Tanjiro's strength and skill barely approach Yoriichi's original power — a power that never wavered or faltered in battle until his last breath.

Not even in his simulated battles with Tanaka, the only one in the past who could merely keep up with his movements.

— My brother's martial genius truly cannot be compared to that of any other swordsman in this world. However... - observing more closely, Michikatsu smiles as he realizes something that Tanjiro might have been overlooking due to the many thoughts in his head. — If you feel incapable of further growth in strength, despite studying and training, don't you think it's because you're still only fifteen years old?

A brief silence enveloped the snowy night, and for long seconds, no words were spoken until Tanjiro turned to Michikatsu, surprised by his words — and also incredulous for not having considered this before.

"He's right! I may not be able to evolve further now, but that doesn't mean I'll remain stagnant forever. My body is still growing, and I'll continue to do so until I reach adulthood, which is when I'll hit my peak. Perhaps, when I get there, I can achieve new feats that surpass my master's strength", Tanjiro smiles, his expression and demeanor softer and calmer, as if all his previous worries vanished in the blink of an eye.

— Your experience truly adds to your value, Michi. I hope you keep working hard so that when the time comes, I can free you from your suffering and restore your normal life, as it should have been from the beginning. - Rising from where he was sitting, Tanjiro walked over to Michikatsu and placed his right hand on his shoulder. — I promise, I'll reward you for all your efforts, so don't abandon me until then.

— Copy that. - Michikatsu smiles in response, simply nodding his agreement with Tanjiro's words before fading into the night shadows, leaving Tanjiro behind.