Chapter 12: Red Blade Appears. Fujikasane Mountain Assessment

Putting the notebook and pen aside, he picked up the ordinary Nichirin Sword placed on the side. He now wanted to prove his guess yesterday.

Regarding the opening conditions of the Red Blade, is it really because of grip strength?

Looking at the ordinary Nichirin Sword in his hand, from the outside, it was no different from an ordinary katana. He gripped the hilt and pulled it out of the scabbard.

Clang!

He took the unsheathed Nichirin Sword in his hand to check. It was somewhat shiny, no different from ordinary weapons, and there was a small bit of damage.

"Let's try it!"

He held the ordinary Nichirin Sword in his hand, gripping it tighter and tighter, but there was still no change at all.

"Could it be that my guess was wrong?"

"……No, maybe my grip strength is not enough!"

He gripped the Nichirin Sword in his hand again, and the veins on his right hand were already bulging. This time the strength was five or six times stronger than just now, but this Nichirin Sword still had no change...

"Could it be that I really guessed wrong..."

Suddenly, he felt that the Nichirin Sword in his hand was somewhat different. It seemed that the blade was somewhat hot, and there were signs of slight redness.

"It seems that my guess was not wrong, but the strength was not enough! Then how much strength is needed to make the Nichirin Sword become a Red Blade?"

Subsequently, he looked at Xiao Yue and asked: "Xiao Yue, how much strength did the strength just now reach?"

"Master, the strength just now reached 700 jun, which is about close to jin."

"What?!! Such great strength still didn't reach the condition to open the Red Blade?!" Zero was somewhat helpless. He didn't know how much strength was needed to open the Red Blade to verify his guess.

He used his mechanical left hand to pick up the scabbard and prepared to insert the Nichirin Sword back into the scabbard. Although he felt somewhat helpless, at least it proved that his guess was accurate.

"If it wasn't for the interface suppressing my strength, maybe I could open it in my prime! But even if I open it, it consumes a lot of physical strength and wrist strength..."

Just now, when Zero was strengthening his grip strength, he felt that his physical strength and wrist had already shown signs of exhaustion.

If such a situation occurred in battle, then the enemy would take advantage of it, and he would be the passive one.

Just as he was about to insert the Nichirin Sword into the scabbard and give up, he looked at his mechanical left hand and came up with another way: "Maybe I can try this too!"

He used his mechanical left hand to grip the hilt of the Nichirin Sword, adjusted the automatic increase in strength, and he wanted to know how much strength was needed to reach the condition to open the Red Blade!

【800 jun... 900 jun... 1000 jun...】

Until the strength of the mechanical left hand reached about 1600, the Nichirin Sword in his hand began to become extremely red. He could feel the energy emitted from the blade of the Nichirin Sword, and even felt a trace of a hot aura similar to the sun.

"About 1600 jun of strength, equivalent to jin... which means it needs to reach more than 24 tons of strength to trigger the Red Blade?!"

Zero felt somewhat incredible! He already felt that the dimensional world he was in was not as simple as he imagined.

"How strong was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who could open the Red Blade and beat Muzan to a pulp hundreds of years ago?!"

"No, it's not that simple! There is also 【Demon Slayer Mark】 and 【Transparent World】, plus his 【Sun Breathing】 and his Nichirin Sword, so he could do it! After all, his Breathing Technique also possesses powerful strength!"

After thinking clearly about these problems, Zero gradually understood how powerful Yoriichi Tsugikuni was in this world. Then, as his opponent, how strong was Muzan Kibutsuji's strength?

"Sigh, it seems that if there is a chance to meet that Muzan Kibutsuji later, I also need to do some analysis to understand what his strength is like now?"

Ding! Clatter!

Zero didn't notice that his mechanical left hand was still gripping the Nichirin Sword. As a result, he didn't pay attention, and the Nichirin Sword had already shattered, leaving only a hilt in his hand.

Zero: (? _?)……

Xiao Yue:? _?. ……

Zero and Xiao Yue felt somewhat speechless. This ordinary Nichirin Sword... the quality is really poor!

He threw the Nichirin Sword, which only had a hilt left, aside as if nothing had happened.

... (＿＿)ノ｜

He packed up the shattered blade fragments, took out a white cloth from his nano-space, wrapped them up, and placed them on the side. Otherwise, if the fragments were not packed up and accidentally scratched anyone in this mansion, it would not be worth the loss.

He drew a line next to the word 【Grip Strength】 in his notebook, wrote 【1600 jun grip strength】, and then closed the pen and notebook and put them into his nano-space.

Finally, he packed up all the things and put them into his nano-space, leaving only the portrait of 【Yoriichi Tsugikuni】 he copied and the portrait given by Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and... the fragments of the ordinary Nichirin Sword with relatively poor quality, and a hilt.

After doing all this, he lay on the tatami mat and looked at the ceiling, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Master, do you still want to go to the study to look for information later?" Xiao Yue came to Zero and looked at Zero's face.

"Not for the time being. These pieces of information are still just my guesses, but for now, they are enough. I will make other plans for things later. Besides, we still have to leave the Demon Slayer Corps and go out for a walk to understand this world more."

"Hmm."

Just as Zero was considering what to do next, he remembered the assessment mentioned by Sanemi Shinazugawa when he met the Pillars earlier.

"I don't know what this so-called assessment is?"

After thinking for a while, he decided to ask Kagaya Ubuyashiki. After all, he was the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, so it was better to ask him about the assessment.

Arriving at the door, as soon as he opened the door, he saw Amane Ubuyashiki kneeling at the door.

Amane Ubuyashiki was still the same as yesterday, following Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, guarding here, and providing help directly if Zero needed it.

"Lady Amane, I want to see Oyakata-sama, please take me there."

"Yes, Lord Zero."

Led by Amane Ubuyashiki, he arrived at the inner room. He saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki kneeling on a cushion, and behind him were two girls also kneeling together, Hinaki Ubuyashiki and Nichika Ubuyashiki.

In front of them was a table, and three cups of tea and some snacks were placed there.

"Zero, you're here, please sit."

Zero came to Kagaya Ubuyashiki, sat on the cushion opposite him, and Xiao Yue sat on Zero's shoulder.

Looking at the cup of tea on the table in front of him, it was still hot.

Obviously, it had been prepared when he came, although he didn't understand, it was irrelevant.

The tea stalks in the tea stood up. He picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

"The taste of the tea is quite good. You seem to know that I was coming to find you?"

"I didn't know, it was just intuition."

"Is that so..." Hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's words, Zero didn't feel very surprised, just a little curious.

"Then, Zero, I don't know what you came to find me for?"

"There are indeed two things." He put the teacup in his hand back on the table and said the problem about the assessment.

Seeing this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki began to explain the content of the assessment to Zero.

The so-called assessment was the annual assessment held on Fujikasane Mountain. Fujikasane Mountain was very special, and wisteria trees bloomed all year round.

Evil demons hated wisteria flowers very much, and there were many demons imprisoned on this mountain. These wisteria flowers were plants used to seal the demons' actions.

But there were no blooming wisteria trees at the halfway point of the mountain, and that would also be the beginning of the assessment.

The evil demons in Fujikasane Mountain were basically low-level evil demons caught by Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, but for the assessment, it was enough.

Even if the evil demons in Fujikasane Mountain were gone, they would be replenished to prepare for the subsequent assessment.

The task of the final selection was very simple and very difficult. Personnel participating in the assessment would kill evil demons in Fujikasane Mountain and survive for seven days, then they could pass the assessment and become swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps...

Hearing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's explanation, Zero also understood what this so-called assessment was, and also made some of his own guesses.

But in the process of Kagaya Ubuyashiki's explanation, he discovered several problems with this assessment.

"Regarding the assessment, I have a few questions."

"Please speak."

"The first question: If those swordsmen participating in the Fujikasane Mountain assessment enter Fujikasane Mountain and find a safe place to hide and spend seven days safely, does this count as passing the assessment or not?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki also knew this problem. After all, there were Messenger Crows, so he could naturally understand this matter, and there were indeed some such people in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But this was the rule after all. As long as you pass the assessment, you can become a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman.

Zero looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes and already knew the answer. He sighed slightly.

"Rules are dead, people are alive! Without rules, there is no square. But similarly, sticking to the rules is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes the rules of some things can also be broken!"

"Then what is your suggestion?"

"My suggestion is very simple: send a few high-level swordsmen to monitor those participating in the assessment in the dark, and don't take action unless necessary!"

Subsequently, Zero said his opinion. Anyone participating in the assessment, if they encounter life danger during the assessment, the high-level swordsmen hiding in the dark can save them.

But at the same time, they also lost this assessment opportunity and can only wait for the next assessment to come again!

This can both preserve their lives and let them become stronger during the period until the next assessment comes!

As for those who hide and spend seven days safely to mix days, it is recommended to give a warning.

Hearing these words, Kagaya Ubuyashiki also understood the significance of this matter.

Indeed, those participating in the assessment, if they lost their lives during the assessment, the loss would indeed be somewhat large. After all, they were also living lives.

But if it was done according to what Zero said, although the process was somewhat troublesome, those who passed the assessment would also become elite Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen later.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "Then what about the second question?"

"The second question: Can you guarantee that these caught evil demons will not have other situations?"

"Why do you say that?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki voiced his confusion.

Subsequently, Zero expressed his views on the Fujikasane Mountain assessment and the guess just now.

The Fujikasane Mountain assessment is held once a year, so those caught low-level evil demons will become stepping stones for joining the Demon Slayer Corps.

And if these caught low-level evil demons have individual existence of other situations, what should be done? For example: mutation?

The caught low-level evil demons are imprisoned in Fujikasane Mountain and cannot walk out. Those participating in the assessment will naturally become their food.

But what if the assessment has not yet begun, and those evil demons in Fujikasane Mountain have no food source?

Perhaps they will commit suicide after the sun comes out, and even in extreme hunger, a possibility will appear: cannibalizing their own kind!

Of course, there is another kind: eat the humans participating in the assessment, then hide and become powerful, until the next assessment comes, and then come out to eat these humans participating in the assessment, and so on.

"These are my thoughts. I don't know how you look at it, Oyakata-sama?"

Zero's words made Kagaya Ubuyashiki fall into deep thought. Indeed, don't fear ten thousand, just fear the unexpected. Wan Shi is possible.

"My suggestion is to regularly send high-level swordsmen or Pillar-level swordsmen to check the situation. Although it is somewhat troublesome, everything is best prepared." Zero gave his suggestion.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki thought about it and felt that Zero was right. It was not impossible to do so.

"Thank you, Zero!"

"You're welcome, then the last question: what happened to those swordsmen participating in the assessment who failed to pass the assessment?"

This question, Zero also thought about it before asking it out. Now it was just his guess, and it was somewhat unfriendly to say it, but life is only one.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki just smiled at Zero, neither admitting nor denying it. Zero already knew the answer. He didn't know why, but he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Although those people had nothing to do with him, they were all living lives.

Seeming to see Zero's sadness, he spoke: "Sorry, Zero, this is the assessment. Seeing those children die, I am also very sad. If possible, I would rather hope that it is I who die for those children..."

Before he finished speaking, Zero raised his hand to stop him from continuing. He also understood in his heart that Kagaya Ubuyashiki really regarded these people as his own children.

Otherwise, those people in the Demon Slayer Corps, whether they were combat swordsmen or logistics personnel, would not be so respectful and loving to him.

And Kagaya Ubuyashiki also remembered the past and names of every dead swordsman.

"Master." Xiao Yue also felt Zero's emotional fluctuation and reached out to touch Zero's face.

"I'm fine, Xiao Yue, rest assured!"

"Phew~" After taking a deep breath and calming himself down, he spoke: "Sorry, I was rude!"

"It doesn't matter, I can see that you are also someone who can fearlessly face the hardships for others. I can feel that you seem to have experienced many things, even more than what we have all experienced."

These words reminded Zero of the days when he fought with the other nine space-time patrolmen. At that time, Number One always blamed him for why he didn't cherish himself.

Every time he performed a mission, no matter how dangerous it was in front, he was always the first to rush over, but after the mission was over, he left alone.

All of this was seen by the other nine space-time patrolmen. They all knew Zero's experience, but he seemed to have forgotten the past, and even forgot his own name.

He often put 【It's good to be alone】 on his lips.

"Zero, didn't you say there were two things? What is the second thing?"

"The second thing, I want to know if anyone in the Demon Slayer Corps now can use the initial Breathing Technique? That is, Sun Breathing and Moon Breathing?"

After thinking carefully for a while, Kagaya Ubuyashiki gave the answer: "No, the current Breathing Techniques are all five basic Breathing Techniques derived from the initial Breathing Technique, and Moon Breathing has never been heard of, nor have I seen it."

"Is that so..." Although he didn't get the answer he wanted, Zero still insisted on his original guess.

Just as Zero was about to stand up and say goodbye, Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke: "Zero, I have one thing I want to ask for your help."

"You say it, as long as it is something I can do, it's all fine!"

"I want to ask you to serve as the examiner for the Fujikasane Mountain assessment in three days."

Zero thought about it and agreed. Even if Kagaya Ubuyashiki didn't say this, he himself wanted to know what the assessment was like?

And he ate people's food, so he had to be soft-spoken. He was now a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and he ate and lived in other people's places. If he didn't agree to such a small thing, it would be too impolite.

"Hmm, I know, I will go in three days. By the way, where is the Fujikasane Mountain assessment?"

He knew about the Fujikasane Mountain assessment, but didn't know the location. If he went but didn't know where it was, it would be too embarrassing.

"The Messenger Crow will lead you to the assessment location."

"Messenger Crow?" Zero knew what a Messenger Crow was. He had checked the information with the analysis glasses before.

The Messenger Crow is a crow used by Demon Slayer Corps members to contact the headquarters. Each member has one, transmitting the latest news in real time.

Although the Messenger Crows look about the same, their personalities are different.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki turned his head and nodded to Hinaki Ubuyashiki. Subsequently, Hinaki Ubuyashiki stood up, came to the door, and clapped her hands. Not far away, a Messenger Crow flew over and landed on the wooden board at her feet.

But this Messenger Crow was very different from other Messenger Crows; it was a completely white Messenger Crow.

Zero was somewhat curious why this Messenger Crow was different from others and was white, so he checked it with the analysis glasses and understood what was going on.

【Albino Messenger Crow】

【Gender: Female】

【Subject: Corvidae】

【Genus: Corvus】

【Class: Aves】

【Introduction: This is a Messenger Crow with albinism. Except for the different feather color, it is no different from other crows in essence.】

"So it's just albinism, but it does look quite cute like this." Thinking of these, Zero stood up, came to this albino Messenger Crow, and picked it up.

It's just that this Messenger Crow seemed somewhat inferior, but Zero had already guessed some of it.

He estimated that this albino Messenger Crow was somewhat out of place because its feather color was different from other Messenger Crows, leading to not many companions willing to communicate and talk with it, so it became like this.

And what Kagaya Ubuyashiki said next also indeed confirmed his guess.

"Zero, this Messenger Crow is somewhat incompatible with other Messenger Crows because of its own reasons, but it is indeed a good child. I hope you can get along well."

"Hmm, I will. This Messenger Crow is also quite cute, I like it very much, thank you, Master."

He looked at the Messenger Crow he was holding, thought about it, and said: "Then you will be called 【Snow】 in the future. My name is Zero, this is my sister Xiao Yue."

Messenger Crow Snow heard this sentence, and there was a wave in its eyes. It had already prepared to be rejected by this Pillar-level swordsman as a liaison between the Demon Slayer Corps.

In the Kasugai Crow group, it often stayed alone, and no companions were willing to communicate with it.

Even if there were, it was just it taking the initiative to talk, but it was dismissed in a few words.

Until yesterday, Kagaya Ubuyashiki came to the place where the Kasugai Crows lived and told it that the Demon Slayer Corps had a new Pillar-level swordsman, and asked if it was willing to be his liaison.

Originally, it didn't have much hope, so it came to try.

But now hearing that someone was willing to get along with it and even gave it a name, it was very happy in its heart.

"Lord Zero, Lord Little Moon, please take care of me!" Kasugai Crow Snow's voice was somewhat crisp and sounded quite good.

Zero: "Xiao Yue, now you have another companion!"

Xiao Yue: "Hmm hmm!"

He looked at Kasugai Crow Snow he was holding, touched its head with his hand, and smiled: "Then Snow, lead me to the Fujikasane Mountain assessment location in three days. Now you go and play with Little Moon for a while, I still have things to do."

Xiao Yue/Snow: "Yes."

Just like that, Xiao Yue and Snow played and frolicked in the courtyard, looking quite sunny.

"Then Zero, I will leave things later to you! In addition, your residence will be completed in two days."

"Thank you, Oyakata-sama, then I will take my leave."

After saying goodbye to Kagaya Ubuyashiki and his family, he returned to the Butterfly Mansion.

In the Butterfly Mansion courtyard, he took out his pen and notebook, reorganized all the collected information, finished all this, closed the notebook, and put it into his nano-space.

He looked up at the sky, not knowing what to do next, so he simply connected the nano-space to project it with the 【Analysis Glasses】 to see if there were any other weapons or items he hadn't noticed.

"Hmm? What is this?"

Zero saw three other items in the nano-space through the projection: a black launcher, a black motorcycle, and a black armored battle vehicle.

Because they were blocked behind the tall body of the 【Dark Alloy Battle Mecha】, he hadn't noticed them before.

"Speaking of which, when did I manufacture these two vehicles? Take them out and have a look."

The space around the empty space in front of him fluctuated, and a sci-fi black motorcycle appeared in front of him.

This was a motorcycle two meters long, one meter high, and weighing 800 jin. There were two high-speed four-tube rotating machine guns on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle.

The whole body was black, and it was also matched with some red dark-patterned streamers.

He immediately used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze the data of the motorcycle in front of him.

【Name: Dark Alloy Battle Motorcycle】

【Weapon: Four-tube high-speed machine gun】

【Introduction: This motorcycle was manufactured by Zero after spending a year before becoming a space-time patrolman reserve member for the first time. It can adapt to most harsh environments, is equipped with a four-tube high-speed machine gun that can cause a lot of damage to monsters, and can perform long-term galloping and combat after adding energy crystals.】

"??? Zero's head had a lot of question marks, not understanding when he manufactured this.

"How many weapons did I manufacture... but it doesn't seem to be a bad thing, at least for this world, these weapons are enough for me and Xiao Yue to have the power of self-protection!"

"Although the fact that my strength was suppressed by the interface made me somewhat helpless... but these weapons are enough!"

After thinking clearly, he put the 【Dark Alloy Battle Motorcycle】 back into the nano-space and took out the black launcher to check.

【Name: Dark Alloy Missile Launcher】

【Ammunition capacity: 10 rounds】

【Introduction: This item was manufactured by Zero casually when he was idle. Each missile can not only cause a lot of damage to enemies within a range of 2 meters. Adding ice energy crystals can freeze enemies and cause damage to restrict movement, and adding red energy crystals can produce continuous burning!】

"(ー_ー)!! Uh... casually manufactured when idle... how idle was I at that time to casually manufacture this..."

"Don't use this one. It's fine to blow up evil demons, but it would be a loss if it accidentally blows up ordinary people or innocent animals! Or if it causes a fire, it would be bad..."

He put the 【Dark Alloy Missile Launcher】 back into the nano-space and took out the black armored battle vehicle.

Boom!

A space fluctuation, a huge white armored battle vehicle fell steadily into the Butterfly Mansion courtyard, making a loud noise.

Zero used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze the data of this vehicle... ===== CHAPTER 13 =====

【Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds】

【Description: This item was manufactured by Zero on a whim during his spare time. Each missile can not only deal massive damage to enemies within a 2-meter radius, but adding Ice Energy Crystals can freeze enemies to cause damage and restrict their movement, while adding Red Energy Crystals can produce continuous burning!】

"(ー_ー)!! Uh... manufactured on a whim during my spare time... Just how much free time did I have back then to just casually manufacture this..."

"It's better not to use this. It's one thing to blow up evil demons, but if I accidentally blow up ordinary people or innocent animals, the loss would outweigh the gain! Or if it causes a fire, that would be bad..."

He put the 【Dark Alloy Missile Launcher】 back into the nano-space and took out the black armored combat vehicle.

Boom!

With a ripple in space, a massive white armored combat vehicle landed steadily in the courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion, emitting a loud noise.

Zero used the 【Analysis Glasses】 to analyze the vehicle's data...