Demon Slayer: Guardian of the Forest

Inside a modest pavilion, Shinichi unfolded a small slip of paper. Written on it was an address—Fujikasane Mountain, the location of the final selection for the Demon Slayer Corps. However, as Moriki had confessed, his memory of the Corps' schedule had grown hazy after so many years away. He advised Shinichi to find a Demon Slayer nearby to seek further guidance.

Glancing at the note, Shinichi scoffed, casually tearing it to shreds. "Sorry, old man, but I'm not ready to join the Corps just yet." Perhaps the lingering bitterness from the events on Shirai Mountain held him back. Turning away from Fujikasane Mountain, Shinichi deliberately chose a path leading in the opposite direction.

After walking for what felt like hours, the evening descended. Shinichi arrived at an unfamiliar village, but something immediately felt off. Although dusk had barely begun and sunlight still faintly lingered, every house was tightly sealed, and the streets were eerily deserted.

Cradling the plump Shiba Inu, Maru, Shinichi's mismatched eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp precision. Behind those shut doors, he sensed furtive, wary gazes watching him.

"Interesting... Something's definitely up with this place," he muttered. Setting Maru down, Shinichi nudged the dog's rotund form with his foot.

"Get moving, you've gotten so fat lately. Chiho spoils you way too much," he teased.

Maru reluctantly waddled forward, transmitting his feelings through their bond: "Mean master! Bad!" But Shinichi paid no mind, his focus on the peculiar village as he adjusted the sword at his waist and walked deeper in.

The villagers avoided him entirely. Behind doors, whispered voices fretted.

"Grandpa, shouldn't we make that brother leave? Tonight… you know what happens!" a little girl whispered urgently through a crack in the door.

But her words were muffled as an old man quickly covered her mouth. "Hush! Don't say another word. That outsider being here might just save us tonight. With him around, we won't be the ones offering tribute to Silver Mirror-sama."

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the village plunged into an unnatural darkness. Not a single house dared light a lamp, and the silence hung oppressively, almost suffocating.

Shinichi halted, ears twitching. He glanced toward a distant corner of the village, his instincts piqued.

Suddenly, the soft creak of a wooden door broke the silence. A man peeked his head out cautiously, scanning the empty street before beckoning urgently to Shinichi. "Quick, come inside!"

Shinichi raised an eyebrow but complied, picking up Maru and stepping into the dimly lit home.

With a loud thud, the door slammed shut behind him, and the man exhaled in relief.

The interior of the house was pitch black, but Shinichi remained unperturbed. His heightened senses painted the room's details clearly in his mind.

"This way, young man," the man said apologetically, his voice thick with unease. He knelt, groping for a chain and tugging it. A trapdoor creaked open, revealing a narrow underground passage.

Shinichi followed silently into the dimly lit cellar. The man struck a match, igniting several oil lamps. The light refracted through numerous mirrors of varying sizes mounted on the walls, brightening the space.

"Would you like some tea?" the man offered, pouring a cup.

Shinichi declined with a shake of his head, his gaze never leaving his surroundings. After a moment, he broke his silence. "What's going on in this village? It feels... off."

The man sighed deeply, setting the teapot down. "You're right, something terrible has happened. There's... a monster in our village."

Shinichi's expression remained neutral, though his hand instinctively rested on his sword hilt.

The man hesitated, then gestured toward the blade. "You're a demon slayer, aren't you? Just like the others who came before."

"Oh? What makes you think that?" Shinichi asked, tilting his head.

"The sword," the man replied, pointing to the nichirin blade at Shinichi's side. "Two demon slayers came here before, carrying swords just like yours. They said they were from the Demon Slayer Corps."

"My name is Komiya Isuke," the man began. "This is Teranishi Village. Long ago, the eastern side of the village was home to a renowned temple, and travelers began calling our settlement 'the west of the temple.' The name stuck. My family has been mirror-makers for generations, passing down the craft to me."

He took a shaky breath, his face shadowed by despair.

"Life was peaceful until one night, a year ago. That was when... the monster appeared. A child vanished from one of the families here. The entire village searched for days but found nothing. After that, more children began disappearing, one after another. Now, over ten children have been lost. The villagers say it's the vengeful spirit of the ancient demon Silver Mirror, come to claim retribution."

"Silver Mirror?" Shinichi's sharp gaze narrowed. "What's the story behind that name?"

Komiya grimaced. "It's an old tale tied to my family's past. Over a hundred years ago, the most skilled mirror-maker in Teranishi Village wasn't my ancestor—it was a man named Silver Mirror. One night, his entire family was slaughtered in their home under mysterious circumstances. The villagers blamed my ancestor, his only apprentice, for the crime..."

Shinichi leaned back, pondering the man's story. A demon taking the name "Silver Mirror"? And why children? Something wasn't adding up.

But one thing was clear—if it truly was a demon, it wouldn't live to see another dawn.

(To Be Continued)