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Narrator POV

"I have nothing more to teach you."

It had been a year since Tanjiro and Rimuru had arrived at Mt. Sagiri. One day, suddenly-

"The rest is up to you! Whether or not you can improve to the next level."

Urokodaki told them this.

Urokodaki turned away from the pair. "Come with me!" He said, walking away. Of course, Rimuru and Tanjiro followed.

Snow had started falling several days ago. The group tread through the forest before finally stopping in front of a large boulder.

It was daunting.

It was larger than an average adult.

It had a befittingly large rope wrapped around it, signifying that this boulder was indeed important.

"If you can slice this boulder, I will allow you to enter the Final Selection."

'Oh, is that it?' Rimuru thought, walking towards the boulder. He put his hand on his sword, ready to unsheathe it. He was going to slice it in half easily. Just before he was about to draw his sword, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Rimuru," Urokodaki said. "I won't allow you to do that."

"Huh?" Rimuru turned around. Urokodaki was standing there. "This mere boulder stands as a simple stepping stone for you."

"Rather-" Urokodaki continued.

"You will assist Tanjiro. If Tanjiro is unable to slice the boulder, you both will not be able to attend the Final Selection."

With that, Urokodaki started walking away, leaving them behind.

"Mr. Urokodaki, please wait!" Tanjiro called after him in a desperate voice.

Urokodaki didn't respond.

"Mr. Urokodaki!" Tanjiro continued.

Urokodaki simply kept walking. Eventually, he disappeared from Tanjiro's vision.

Rimuru grasped his sword, determined. "Rimuru!" Tanjiro said, turning to Rimuru. "Please teach me!" He bowed deeply.

Rimuru smirked.

"Alright then! You'll be able to cut this boulder in no time!"

"After all, I'm a pretty good teacher." Rimuru mused.

"Yes!" Tanjiro said, feeling a flame lighting up inside of him. He took a stance in front of the large boulder. He would be able to cut it. Raising his sword, he charged at the boulder.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The sound of metal clashing against rock rang through the forest. Tanjiro felt shivers run throughout his entire body. He wasn't even able to put a dent in the large boulder.

He stared at his blade, disappointed.

"Alright, hold on." Rimuru clapped. "You're not applying the forms or Total Concentration Breathing. Now, let's try again!"

"Yes!" Tanjiro said, once again taking a stance.

He charged the boulder again.

~

At the end of the day, Tanjiro was unable to cut the boulder.

He collapsed, completely exhausted. Even with Rimuru's support, the boulder remained unharmed.

It was just standing there... Menacingly.

He felt sore. His hands were blistered, he was absolutely parched, and he felt like he would faint at any moment. "Alright, I think that's enough for today." Suddenly, he felt a warm feeling. His exhaustion slowly starting to lessen.

He looked up to see Rimuru, a faint green glow coming from his hands.

This world doesn't have many magicules. However, he could manage this.

Tanjiro smiled. "Thanks, Rimuru." He said, getting up.

"Okay, let's focus on what we're going to eat now. Food is important, you know?" Rimuru said.

"Yeah-" Flashes of his family appeared in Tanjiro's head.

Tanjiro shook his head ferociously, trying to dispel the thoughts. He quickly picked up his sword and took a stance in front of the boulder. He needed to keep training. "Sorry, Rimuru. I'll be staying here a bit longer." Tanjiro said.

"Eh? Are you sure?" Rimuru said. He knew how important it was to not overwork yourself.

"Yeah," Tanjiro said.

"Alright. I'm not forcing you to do anything. Just make sure you're putting your own health into consideration as well."

With that, Rimuru left, leaving Tanjiro to his own devices.

~

Rimuru walked through the forest. The snow crunched beneath his feet.

Suddenly, he stopped. He sharply inhaled the cold air. Feeling the effects of [Total Concentration Breathing], he started.

In one swift movement, he drew his sword.

From an outsider's perspective, it would've looked like a rehearsed dance. From an experienced swordsman's perspective, they would be able to see the true mastery behind the act.

Weaving through the trees, Rimuru used his blade expertly. He finally finished the dance by dashing past a tree, his sword cutting through the tree as if it was air.

He skidded across the snow, sheathing his sword. Just then, the tree fell.

"I still got it," Rimuru said gleefully.

Feeling relieved, he let himself collapse into the snow.

Ever since he has come to this world, he has always been tasked with completing something; Whether that be simple or not.

His own naivety had brought him here. His own wish for entertainment.

Boredom. That's what drove him here.

In the end, it all leads to that. He simply had nothing to do, so he decided to meddle in another universe. He certainly faced the consequences for that.

Trapped in another world. Stripped of most of his ability.

How fitting of a punishment for such a selfish decision.

Rimuru stared at the stars in the night sky. 'I wonder how they're doing without me...' Rimuru thought as he recalled Tempest and its residents. He had no knowledge of their current state. The only thing that he could do was hope that they were all right.

'Oh, right.' Rimuru thought as he seemed to remember something. He sat up and raised his hand in front of him. Suddenly, something manifested in that hand of his.

A small leather-bound book.

His old journal.

He had been keeping track of what has been going on in this new world so that he wouldn't forget the experience he had here when he managed to find a way to get back to Tempest.

He flipped through the pages until he found his last entry:

Day 85:

Cruelty.

Rimuru sighed as he flipped over to the next page, manifesting a pencil in his hand.

He started writing.

Day 450:

-he summarized everything that had happened. The demons, the Kamado family, the training, all the events that had occurred were written down.

In the end, Rimuru stared at his work.

"A lot has happened since I've come to this world..." Rimuru said, storing the journal.

He sighed, standing up and walking away from his spot in the forest.

These next few months were going to be fairly eventful.

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