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The warm color of the setting Sun had spread across the landscape.

In front of a small hut miles away from any civilization, a gasping Tanjiro, an apathetic Rimuru, and an observing Urokodaki were seen. Tanjiro desperately tried to regain control over his own lungs. He was so tired, his throat burned, and he was no longer able to stand.

"N-Now, have I... passed the test?" Tanjiro breathed out.

Urokodaki simply turned around, unimpressed. He opened the sliding door to the hut and took off the small cloth that he was wearing, revealing his white hair.

"The test starts now."

"We're going to climb a mountain," Urokodaki said.

Tanjiro gasped in disbelief and fear. "More?" Rimuru mused. Rimuru just walked past Tanjiro and into the small abode. It was nice and simple. It had a small bed, a ceiling, a comforting environment. Everything that was needed was there.

Urokodaki carefully placed Nezuko on the small bed. She was void of life. If it wasn't for the rising of her chest and her heartbeat, she could be considered dead.

Tanjiro bent down next to the bed and turned to Urokodaki.

"I'm counting on you, sir."

~

'I'm so exhausted.'

Tanjiro, Rimuru, and Urokodaki had been hiking up the mountain. The Sun has long since set and the only sound was the soft crunching of the grass underneath their feet and the birds of the night.

'My legs are starting to buckle!'

Rimuru followed behind Tanjiro, observing his surroundings. There really wasn't much to look at. Everywhere they went, everything just looked the same.

Suddenly, Urokodaki stopped.

He turned around to face his soon-to-be students.

"Now, from here, go back down to the house at the foot of the mountain."

"This time, I'm not going wait until daybreak!"

A sudden mist had appeared, obscuring Tanjiro's vision. When the mist dissipated, Urokodaki was nowhere to be seen.

Tanjiro blinked. 'Is that all?'

Rimuru brought his hand up to his chin. 'So he wants us to head back down the mountain? Hmm, surely it can't be that simple. I know from Hakurou that such an easy task probably has some sort of twist to it.'

Rimuru looked up. 'We have until daybreak so that gives us plenty of time. Better get started!'

"Rimuru," Tanjiro said. "Let's get going!" He smiled and Rimuru couldn't resist returning it.

"Yeah!"

They both started dashing down the mountain.

Tanjiro was determined to make it down the mountain. 'I've already memorized Mr. Urokodaki's scent-' His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden tripwire. He stumbled over it as Rimuru jumped over the wire and continued on his path down the mountain.

Tanjiro looked around frantically. The sound of an object flying through the air could be heard. Tanjiro didn't have enough time to react before the rock came into contact with his face. 'Rocks?!' Tanjiro stumbled around in a daze.

Suddenly, he felt the floor give way as he fell into a pitfall trap. He tumbled down the hole as the dirt and gravel stuck to his haori.

Farther down the mountain, Rimuru was smirking. 'Universal Detect really is a useful skill.' Rimuru thought. Using 'Universal Detect,' he was able to see and sense things that others couldn't. Threats, people, resources, and even-

Sudden logs!

A large log triggered by a trap came down, threatening to launch Rimuru back several meters. Rimuru simply vaulted over the log and continued on.

'Sort of feels like cheating...' Rimuru thought, sweating slightly.

~

Tanjiro scrambled his way out of the pitfall trap.

'So, there are traps all around!'

'That's the deal, huh?'

As he was climbing out of the small hole, he felt his hand press down on another tripwire. 'Uh-oh!' He immediately jumped up, caution apparent on his face. He looked around in an attempt to find out where the trap was going to come from, but still, he couldn't avoid the-

Sudden log!

Tanjiro was immediately knocked to the ground. 'Crap, crap, crap!' Tanjiro internally panicked. The entire forest was littered with traps. 'If I keep walking into traps like this, I won't make it down the mountain by morning!'

'And besides, this mountain...'

'This mountain is...'

'The air's thin here!'

Because of the mountain's height and atmosphere, the air was extremely thin. In his already panicked and exhausted state, it was already hard to breathe properly. He was struggling for air.

'It's way thinner than on the mountain where I used to live!'

Tanjiro brought his hand to his chest. 'That's why I'm gasping for air like this and feel so dizzy!'

Tanjiro, wasting no time, immediately started dashing down the mountain again.

'Will I make it back?'

'I might pass out!'

'No!' Tanjiro skidded into a halt.

'Get your breathing under control... and sniff out each of those traps!'

His throat burned, his lungs ached, but... he could smell it.

The different traps littered across the mountain. They were all there.

Tanjiro gasped as soon as he caught the scent and immediately continued his descent. A wood-log was launched at Tanjiro, but Tanjiro just side-stepped to avoid it. He could smell them!

He could react!

However, there were still so many more traps. Several more logs were launched at Tanjiro from different angles. Tripwires appeared, trapdoors appeared, pitfalls appeared. Tanjiro slid, dove, ran, stumbled, ran, jumped. Tanjiro dodged them all.

Tanjiro jumped over wooden darts that were shot at him.

'Right! I've got it! I've got it!'

'Traps set by human hands have a slightly different smell to them!'

Suddenly, a large bamboo tree shot up out of the ground, hitting Tanjiro in the stomach and launching him into the air.

He winced as he landed painfully on his back.

'But that doesn't mean...'

Several different bamboo trees came coming down. Tanjiro could only prepare himself for the impact.

'I'm suddenly athletic enough.'

Tanjiro continued on, determined.

'Rimuru! Nezuko!'

~

Urokodaki carefully placed the blanket over Nezuko's shoulders.

He sighed as he stared at the blue-haired creature in front of him. He didn't know what it was. All he knew was that whatever it was, it certainly wasn't human.

It didn't seem like it had any harmful intent. All it did was just sit there and sip the tea that he had given it. It had arrived not long after he had abandoned them so that they could perform their test. Frankly, he was surprised that Rimuru had made it down so quickly.

He rested his head on his fist.

He had so many questions.

Suddenly, the sliding door to the small cottage slammed open, revealing a disgruntled Tanjiro. He had bruises and blood over him, as well as being covered in dirt and mud.

"I... have.... returned."

That was the last thing that he was able to say before he passed out.

Urokodaki stared as he remembered the letter that was sent to him.

~

Forgive my abruptness, Mr. Sakonji Urokodaki.

I'm sending a boy and a demon who want to become Demon Slayer swordsmen. The boy was brazen enough to attack me unarmed. His family was slaughtered by a demon, and the surviving younger sister has become one, but I have determined that she will not attack humans. As for the other demon, I'm aware of how ludicrous it sounds. A demon becoming someone that's sole purpose is to eradicate their own kind. But... There's something special about the demon. Something that gives me hope. I can sense something different about those three. Like yourself, the boy seems to have a keen sense of smell. The demon seems to be naturally gifted in combat. Perhaps they'll find a way to break through and become your heir apparent. I am asking you to train them. I realize that this is a self-serving request, but please forgive me. I hope that you will take good care of yourself in your endeavors.

Yours truly,

Giyu Tomioka

~

Urokodaki carefully observed.

A helpless boy and a confused demon.

The first rays of sunlight peeked over the mountains as Urokodaki made his decision.

"Tanjiro Kamado, Rimuru."

"I accept you as my student."

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