Kimetsu No Yaiba: Storm in Hell, Strongest Story of Marechi

Fujikasane and Celebrations

Mount Fujikasane, First Night

Sweat shafts slid on both sides of Harada's temple. Although the summer wind blows gently, but tonight the temperature can be counted as hot. The full moon shines brightly without being blocked by any clouds.

After his feet took hundreds of steps, he was now at the end of the stairs. Harada let her grass green bead wander, and noticed the atmosphere around. At least for this year, there are about 50 children taking this survival test, with an age range of 12 to 15 years.

Harada smiled stiffly, and was a little grateful for her height which was equivalent to that of a 14-year-old mostly. At least, he was not seen with one eye. Because behind his experience, Harada is still 10 years old today.

After both ears had heard enough about this exam, all participants were welcome to enter the forest. Sure enough, because after passing through the gleaming grove of wisteria trees, as far as the eye could see, he could see a vast and wild forest. Harada let out a long sigh, and ran eastward.

Because no matter how strong he was, the boy was extremely disgusted at the demons. Especially when the devil is hungry. The feathers on the nape of his neck stood up again when he recalled his frown to go to Mount Natagumo about 2 years ago. Even if he managed to get down from the mountain, but a nickname was directly pinned on him by the demon hunters. The magic boy, they said. Harada smiled wryly as she remembered that.

His fifteen-minute journey lasted in peace. Until his nose could smell a stench that seemed to be approaching him. Harada holds her nichirin which is now perched on her back with the help of her mother's obi. When a group of demons, which might be around 25 demons were already in front of his eyes, Harada unsheathed his nichirin and prepared.

"Arashi no Kokyu, ni no says:Itetsuku Kaze!"

Along with Harada which is getting faster, the temperature around it decreases quite dramatically. While the demons were surprised by the sudden drop in air temperature, as quickly as possible Harada beheaded the 25 demons who had approached him like a race.

It only took three minutes for the black-haired boy to finish his party. Now Harada's entire body was already filled with the splashes of the blood of the demons, and his breathing was also slightly roaring. Because he had just slaughtered 25 demons at once, and that was enough to make him tired even though he only used the second technique.

Harada swung her nichirin to remove the bloodstains on her blade, and sheathed it again and ran. At least later in the day, the 10-year-old boy wanted to take a nap even though it was on a tree. The plan is to move at night, and rest during the day. Because deep in his mind, Harada must begin to learn to follow the rhythm of the lives of demon hunters.

Second Night

The first day of this exam went well for him. After the welcome of the 25 demon lackeys earlier, the black-haired boy could relax a little. Because the interval of meeting with the devil until the morning is quite long, which is about 15 minutes.

Until now, when the moon began to return to the place of the dispute, the total demons that succeeded Harada beheaded had reached the number 40. Whether this is a good number or not, but he feels very tired now.

While walking leisurely, Harada patted both of her cheeks as hard as possible, trying to wake up and stay awake. It still takes about four hours to enjoy the warmth and protection from the sun.

The black-haired boy let out a long sigh, lamenting his fate as someone with rare blood. A question swirled in Harada's mind about her scent for the demons. Was he really flirting, until he had to be greeted by the demon troupe? Then when compared to others, Harada is classified as often met with the demons.

His head was back on its feet when he heard the sound of the snake's hiss. His two grass-green beads widened when he realized what kind of demon was before him. Harada does not want to know who kidnapped this demon, but he knows that this demon is a demon that is worthy of him. From his mouth as well, there was a smell of human blood that was still fresh. When Harada realized that there was a fresh blood stain in the demon's mouth, Harada became even more inflamed.

"Well, marechi! Oh my goodness, it's my lucky day!" knock out the snake demon. Harada slowly approached the demon until it was only three meters away.

"Hey, what does that smell like? Yesterday I killed 40 demons" Harada said. The serpent demon hissed.

"You know what, son? The stronger a marechi is, the better it tastes!"

"Basic disgusting."

"What's? I didn't hear."

"You're disgusting, demon ******!"

The green-colored snake demon gasped and directly charged towards Harada with a burning fury. The boy smiled in a slant, as he could see the gap in the swerving demonic movement pattern.

Harada immediately jumped up, but unexpectedly the demon also jumped up and threw Harada with his hands into the clump of teak trees that were quite old. After throwing, the snake demon was like preparing to swallow the black-haired boy. But who would have thought if the smile on Harada's face even widened, especially before he jumped to the side, and darted right up the snake demon's neck.

"Arashi no Kokyu, Ichi no words: Chimamire Kazaha!"

Harada slashed her nichirin in the air horizontally, and shot back to perform another slash on the snake's demon body. Because the manager, at least there are strong winds that fill the area. Within a five-meter radius, the wind was growing stronger. Before the serpent demon's head rolled on the ground, its light green body was slightly raised, then it was shaken by the wind.

Harada pulled out a handkerchief from the leather bag that was also on her back, then wiped the nichirin blade. The grass-green sliced child could smell a slight scent of poison while decapitating the demon. Harada let out a long sigh, then decided to sit under one of the teak trees.

From the leather bag she was carrying, Harada took out a bamboo box, then opened the lid. There are quite a lot of onigiri there, and almost all of them are chili-flavored which is also useful for preserving them. Harada devoured two onigiri from the bamboo box.

When he was about to put the bamboo box back into the bag, Harada could hear the sound of footsteps approaching him slowly. Then when Harada turned to the left, right to the source of the voice, she could see someone approaching her with shaky steps. It seemed that the child, who Harada said was at least 11 years old, was starving.

Harada made a hand signal for the man to approach her. While the white-haired boy looked excited, and immediately sat down to the left of Harada. The tall, strapping child opened his bamboo box again, and said if the young blue-sliced child could eat until he felt full enough.

The pale-white boy screeched in excitement. Harada nodded to reassure him, until the white-haired boy at least devoured the three onigiri like a hungry bear. Harada gave a stiff chuckle when she saw the reaction of her guest. Between surprise and disbelief being one. But Harada was happy, because she finally found a colleague.

"What's your name? Then how old are you?" ask Harada. After closing Harada's bamboo box, the white-haired boy attempted to chew and swallow his onigiri as quickly as possible.

"My name is Hideki, Date Hideki. I'm 10 years old, if onii-chan?" hideki asked back.

"Harada, Akechi Harada's. Then don't call me onii-chan, I'm the same age as you."

Hideki looks enthusiastic again. Harada can only smile stiffly when she sees Hideki's smile, which seems to be very excited when it comes to finding peers. After the white-haired boy returned Harada's bamboo box and helped her pack up, the two 10-year-olds decided to walk together until the test of survival was over.

Actually Harada was a little surprised when Hideki asked him to walk along. Because the black-haired boy was afraid that he would endanger his new acquaintance. But Hideki has no problem at all with the number of hungry demons that come to him, as if he already knows that Harada is a very rare marechi.

Seventh Day, morning

It only took 5 days and 4 nights for the two children to get to know each other and be close. Even now, Hideki has begun to catch Harada who is getting tired. How not to get tired, because the 10-year-old had slaughtered at least 70 demon lackeys. Sakon ji-chan, aka Urokodaki Sakonji, said that there are 200 demons trapped in this mountain.

If combined with the results of the hunt Hideki who reached the number 50 demons, it can be ascertained if the Hashira must again fill this mountain with demons for the test in the future. Harada chuckled stiffly for a few moments, imagining the horrors that plagued the Hashiras upon awakening to the effects inflicted from his blood.

While on the other hand, the real Hideki was already khatam with the Akechi clan matter, could only smile awkwardly. After the two children ran for hours, the two pairs of grass-green and light-blue beads of the two were again greeted with a purple-colored canopy consisting of a myriad of wisteria flowers.

The two stepped out of the forest, and were greeted with a dazzling morning sun. Harada frowned and narrowed her eyes, while Hideki gave shade to her two young blue beads wearing both hands. The two of them stepped further and further to enjoy the sunlight and wait for the other participants to appear. But after waiting 15 minutes, not a single person showed up again.

Even after the appearance of the two purple-golden twins who also welcomed 50 would-be demon hunters a week ago, nothing else had appeared. This means only himself and Hideki get away. The two exchanged glances for some time, and were both horrified by this creepy fact.

"Congratulations for having survived for 7 days inside."

"Now choose your iron ore first, then there will be a measurement for your demon hunter uniform later."

The twins distanced themselves slightly, and showed a tray of 10 stones that were iron ore specifically used for the manufacture of nichirin. By relying on his nose, Harada advanced first and chose the iron ore in the left upper corner. While Hideki chose the one in the bottom right corner. Both Harada and Hideki handed over the iron ore they had chosen to the twins.

One of them said that making nichirin would take 15 days. Along with the completion of the little girl's speech about nichirin, from above the sky, two crows appeared.

The two crows were perched in different places. Hideki's crow was perched just above his head, while Harada's crow, which was partly white, perched sweetly on his wide right shoulder. One of the twins then said that the crow was their guide during the mission.

Hideki looked excited, while Harada just turned to the right, looking at the crow with a complicated expression. Even his Kasugai Crow tilted his head, looking puzzled by the reaction shown by Harada. Between the calm and sad that became one, as if the arrival of the crow made the 10-year-old sad.

The two girls then explained about the ranking in kisatsutai. Starting from Mizunoto to Kinoe, and all demon hunters will start from the level of Mizunoto, the lowest. But when Harada clenched her right hand, the kanji that appeared on the back of her hand read Kinoe.

Harada almost shouted. He may have to pose as Mizunoto later, as he plans to have fun before picking up his destiny as Hashira. This way of checking the ranking itself was taught by his uncle the other day, when Yoshinori was still at the Kinoto level.

The Time Skip

From Fujikasane, it takes at least a whole day for Harada to walk back to her new home. This new house is very close to the headquarters of the Kisatsutai. Kagami tells her that this house belonged to Urokodaki Sakonji when he became Hashira.

Actually Kagaya wanted to give him a completely new home, because the tall and sturdy child would later be appointed Hashira. However, with courtesy, Harada requested that Kagaya step down from her appointment to become Hashira for two years after she passed the final exam.

The reason itself is simple, because Harada wants to have fun first and confesses that I am still at the level of Mizunoto. Though the level is now directly jump to Kinoe. Harada himself is confused by this, but he prefers to think if Kagaya wants to give him maximum protection.

Or at least, that was what Harada understood. Because inside that house, which actually fit for 7 or 8 people, there were quite a lot of sea and cloud ornaments on each wall. Because Harada loved the sky and the sea, Harada left the interior of the house as it is, and now she also lives alone.

At least he is free to do anything. Like at the moment. After arriving from a long journey, Harada put nichirin and her leather bag on the tatami table, then lay her body near the table. Because he was too tired, his eyelids that felt very heavy forced him to close. Harada fell asleep for a long time, and only woke up when she felt someone poke both cheeks.

When Harada opened her eyes, right before her eyes, the nose of Sakonji's Tengu mask was right in front of her eyes. Harada smiled awkwardly and slightly retreated, then sat down and looked around.

It wasn't just Sakon ji-chan who was there. But also Shinjuro, along with his two younger siblings Hikaru and Hikari. Harada who was still half conscious smiled stiffly. While his two younger siblings immediately embraced Harada from two sides, and buried their faces into his brother's heart.

"Nii-chan, Shinjuro ji-chan said that the exam was a real battle simulation" Hikaru said.

"Sakon ji-chan said so too! We are worried!" timpal Hikari's. Harada gave a stiff chuckle, then stroked the tops of his two sisters' heads gently.

"You're overreacting, after all, where might the nii-chan who can hold back a high-class demon be inferior to a lackey demon."

Hikaru and Hikari let go of her embrace, then looked at her brother with puzzled looks. Harada just chuckled stiffly and said that her words were not important. Shinjuro who was sitting cross-legged while leaning against the wall sighed softly, trying to hide his reaction.

When Harada realized that, a smile broke out on her face, as if she was thanking Shinjuro for keeping her fight with Douma a secret the other day. When their eyes met, Harada smiled again. Shinjuro smiled faintly. Like saying if keeping secrets is the main skill of the Rengoku clan.

"How fragrant. Who's cooking?" ask Harada.

"That's Kochou, we'll celebrate your return, Harada," Shinjuro replied.

"Hide on nii-chan first. Your body stinks!"

"Kagami has prepared the hot water actually. Take a shower, just join in to eat."

Harada just nodded slowly. The two manics looked back at the entire room before standing up. Sakonji shifts his Tengunya mask to the right temple. While unknowingly, his two younger siblings pulled both of Harada's hands towards the bathroom. Before leaving the main hall, Harada saw that Shinjuro was laughing small with the three of them.

Hikari is seen preparing clean clothes for Harada. While Hikaru checked the temperature of the water in the tub. His younger brother apparently remembered that Harada did not like hot baths. After the two of them finished, Harada asked the two of them to join the others while she bathed.

When Harada cleans up, the memory of everything she experienced during the summer of this year was unexpected. Harada let out a long sigh, then tried to relax. For the next 15 days, he will have a full break before carrying out life-threatening missions as part of a kisatsutai.

After Harada took a shower and got dressed, she immediately walked out of the room. In the main room, the black-haired boy had been greeted by people who sincerely loved him. Harada immediately sat down between Hikaru and Sakonji. While Kagami and Hikari look to be arranging the table and preparing food.

The six of them ate with happy hearts. Hikaru and Hikari look enthusiastic about the story from her brother. While on the other hand, Kagami responded to the moment where 25 demons approached Harada with a serious face.

Because the black-haired girl had only heard about the flashy reactions of the demons that Harada had experienced. Both Sakonji and Shinjuro nodded slowly, agreeing with Kagami's concerns. But Harada considers that it is not something serious, even though she admits that it will be a double-edged sword for her.

"But just in case, take wisteria flower powder with you. At least it'll protect you when you sleep alone outside" Kagami said. Harada just nodded.

"Regardless of all that, what are you going to do for those 15 days?" ask Shinjuro.

"We-sama, Rengoku Shinjuro, for whatever sake! Let the kid rest!"

That last sentence was uttered by Sakonji with a smoothness. On the other hand Kagami is preparing to divorce the two men, worried that the two of them will mess up here. Harada steadily said that she would spend her 15 empty days resting. Shinjuro looked a little disappointed. But Sakonji unhesitatingly stomped on Shinjuro's feet violently, as if scolding Hashira for the fire.

Even though he returned unharmed, the 10-year-old boy had drained a lot of his energy. In addition, he is still in his infancy. Besides physical activity and good food intake, he also needs rest for his sanity.

Harada did not say anything about her ranking being directly ranked Kinoe. The black-haired boy would let these Hashiras in front of him realize it later. Because in Harada's point of view, it is better to harbor an impropriety than to indulge it.