Chapter 16: Precision !

Before rebirth Ijin went through harsh training to the point where his knuckles cracked whenever he closed his fist. After rebirth, the training didn't halt but only increased day after day. With the properly disciplined physique, his new soul never found it tiring to burn sweat.

But whatever he did until now, couldn't be compared to what he went through just a couple of hours ago. In all honesty, he felt himself losing in the process, numerous times but somehow managed to accomplish the task he was given.

The sun already started peeking from the corner with the breeze getting slightly warmer. The time when the world gets out of their bed, a certain someone was panting like a broken record while lying on open ground.

Yeah, it was Ijin.

"....you actually did it huh. Even Kanao..ah..forget it. Thank you for the help. Your rest of the work would be handed over in the evening so until then replenish what you have lost." With a breathtaking statement, the blue-eyed teenager walked away. Leaving a dumbfounded Ijin on spot.

"M...more work..?" Suddenly he started doubting the decision of staying at the mansion.

'Will I survive for the next 11 days...?'

_______..._______

Not so long after, in a slightly dimmer room could be seen two figures. One of them was older to be called teenager and had clear violet eyes fixed on the work she had in hand. Her precise movement made her look like a beautiful portrait.

The other person was none other than the teenage girl who just left Ijin's side and came to report something concerning to the lady of the mansion.

"As you said Shinobu-sama, I asked him to get supplies and even handed him the weighing sacs. " Shinobu was the one who asked Aoi to assign those work to Ijin which the latter one took out without asking back. 

Even upon hearing the news Shinobu's hands didn't falter as she let the girl continue.

"In two hours, he brought everything I mentioned, and not only that, in the confusion, he even brought a wood block of two different kinds in the same quantity. To say he is hard-working would be an understatement. Even Kanao wasnt able to accomplish this much in so short time." Now the hand movement of the older one halted as she put down the wooden stick she was using to write something.

She blinked a couple of times wordlessly while pondering on the matter which the girl have brought up. Shinobu herself wasnt sure whether Ijin could achieve the task or not, but listening to the report she was genuinely surprised.

"Hmm... it looks like I underestimated him. Anyway, good job Aoi-chan. You can go back." With a respectful bow, the girl left, leaving a thoughtful Shinobu in the silent room.

Shinobu at first glance felt something amiss with the person named Ijichi. Whether it was his different appearance or his breathing technique she felt something strange about the young man.

After hearing from the silver-haired man, she used her resources to enquire about the land situated in the west, but with the lack of information, she wasnt sure how far she had to look. Resulting, in nothing solid to believe upon. 

Her suspicion of the boy, whose aura looked more mature than his facial age, made her worried and relieved at the same time for some reason. But even with all the risk and alertness, her instincts were raising against him, she knew Ijichi didn't have any malicious against her or humankind.

And that was all for her to let Ijichi stay in the mansion.

'I hope in the end I do not have to raise my sword against you...'

________...________

It was a bright morning when the sun was shining brightly with birds chirping merrily in the sky. After taking a refreshing bath Ijin felt himself somewhat relaxed. To say he was fatigued would be a huge understatement. He was thoroughly broken from head to toe.

Only he knew how tough it was to hold those huge wood logs and water jars up to the mansion while concentrating on his breath. It might not sound serious but a minor slip-up would have caused him a fatal wound or maybe eternal peace.

But even with that, he knew all this was for his own betterment so by utilizing all his accumulated sheer willpower, he reached his goal.

[Isn't it great. The training will help you with the upcoming mission too.]

Upon hearing the all-time majestic voice of the lady inside his head he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

'It's easy to talk while resting on a comfortable couch.'

[Well even if I say that I can understand your pain you won't believe me. So we should leave it at. Anyway, now what you are planning to do?] 

'You will see it...'

After the half-hearted conversation ended, Ijin dragged his sore body which fortunately was recovering fast given the soul boost he received after entering this world of fantasy. He was invited to eat breakfast in the hall with others which he gladly accepted.

He ventured through the halls with wooden ceilings and floors which despite looking old were tip-top in quality. He even found a couple of ancient decors which he has seen in encyclopedias only. 

Nothing was exaggerated that made the mansion retain its vintage beauty.

Ijin found his way to the eating space as he saw the three munchkins waiting for him eagerly as they instantly jolted toward him and held his hands.

"" Welcome Iji-san."" In only a single day, they have given him a nickname and become familiar like he was their lost brother. And Ijin was also liking it as good treatment needs to reciprocate equally.

He found five small tables by the wall with the sixth one at the head position. Without telling Ijin knew whose this main seat belonged.

But at that moment his attention was pulled by someone else. He saw a girl flicking a coin in between her fingers as she sat in seize in front of the eating table. Her lilac round eyes were partially covered with her inky black bangs. Her thin semi long hair was tied in a ponytail and folded toward her shoulder. She had a solemn expression with a shroud covering her aura completely.

"Good day, Kanao-san." He already heard her name from Aoi so greeting her like this didn't feel much suspicious.

She didn't reply just nodded at Ijin with her eyes dyed without emotions. Ijin felt lost at words before he walked toward one of the tables where the three little girls led him to.

Soon the lady of the mansion entered the hall and everyone stood up to greet her including Ijin.

"Ara~ You are also here. I didn't think that after moving so much you would be leaving the bed for a day or two. I am impressed Kiriyama-san." She was bluntly teasing him without letting her intention go hidden. Ijin smiled wryly before responding.

"I already had made a hole in the bed, so I thought it's better to push myself a little more." She didn't reply but only giggled before the chef a.k Aoi Kanzaki entered the hall with several pots in her hand.

Everyone settled down at their place as the breakfast got served. Eating while being in seiza was the first time Ijin was facing so he naturally found it uncomfortable to eat but he didn't let it show through his expression and ate elegantly.

After breakfast, Shinobu stood up to leave when suddenly Ijin called for her. Everyone present there had their eyes fixed on the sole male present who suddenly raised his voice.

"Yes, Kiriyama-san?" Kocho turned her body as she asked in a serene tone.

"If it's not a hassle then can you give me some sword training?" 

___________....___________

"You see this? Memorize its structure." Accepting his request, Kocho immediately asked Ijin to accompany her as they moved toward the backyard where several pieces of equipment were made for physical training.

What the violet eyes woman was gesturing toward was a two-block of sculptured wooden logs whose height reached more than 10 ft and width half of it. They were fixed to the ground with some sort of grayish substance making the blocks sturdy in their place.

Upon her remark, Ijin studied the wooden pillars thoroughly. Its surface was tough but not to the point where it couldn't be destroyed with numerous punches. But what made Ijin more curious was the slim gap between the two pillars. They were about 5 cm apart without any obstruction in between.

After gawking at the blocks he looked back at Kocho before he nodded, signifying his completion of the survey.

"Take this." Without him noticing she already had brought a wooden sword in her hand which she gave to Ijin. It was a normal sword without a carved hilt. It was sharpened at the edge but overall it was just a normal sword.

"Now make a stance facing in between these two logs." Ijin didn't ponder about her intention and followed her instruction.

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He gave a foot distance between both legs as he stretched his right leg in front and distributed the weight of his body equally on both limbs. He held the hilt of the sword with both hands as he pointed the tip toward the gap between the wooden logs.

'Hmmm...his stance does have flaws but...' Instead of improving them, Kocho stayed silent on the matter for some reasons.

"Now step forward and slice your blade without letting it touch a single obstruction. Remember your blade should only meet with plain air throughout the slash." Ijin nodded before stepping ahead and fiercely slashing his sword and as she asked he did it contactless.

"Good, now step at your primitive position." Ijin finding the thing going weirdly, stepped back and looked at the beautiful woman just some feet away from him.

"Now do it for the next 499 times without fail. If you touch the surface even once then start from the start. No cheating okay?" In a very jubilant tone, she stated something absurd. 

'500 times...with the same precision...' Ijin looked toward the blocks again, being not sure whether his mind would cope with so long or not, however before he could even recover from the previous shock another bomb came right into his face.

"And yeah, tie it around your eyes when you do it. It would be more fun when things become a little complicated right?" What she held toward Ijin was a black blindfold that was so thick that Ijin immediately realized how light would be disappearing from his perception for a while.

After telling Kocho walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Ijin in his spot. The wooden blade from his hand dropped as he registered what the heck he have to do.

'Fuck, let's do this...'

______...______

'485.....'

*SLICK*

'486...'

*SWING*

The sun was on the horizon with passerines returning to their nests and people walking home after work. The evening breeze brought a profound atmosphere with a slight drop in temperature.

It was around 7 hours since Ijin started swinging his blade in a definite manner and still was doing so. Saying he was tired would be a huge euphemism. He was thoroughly sore all over his body.

Since Shinobu gave him the instruction he was restlessly swinging his sword to accomplish the task. He even drank water in between while being blindfolded. Knowing that it would be disturbing to eat like this he skipped lunch.

The three munchkins were worried for him but he reassured them how it would help him in the future before they understood and left him alone.

He could have used Byakugan to finish the training in one go but to what avail? He wasnt here for any test nor to impress anyone. He was improving himself with all the work he was undergoing since the morning.

He knew what was changing in him, be it his posture or precision he was improving at a steady pace and he was conscious of it. So even his muscles cried in pain he never stopped and swung his blade like it was the only thing left in the world for him.

'498....'

'499....'

"500!!!"

With a huge roar, he slashed the gap without touching a single matter and accomplished his goal. His panting was resounding audibly with his legs trembling in dangerous stead. His muscles went numb as soon as his brain found the satisfaction upon reaching his goal.

*THUD*

Immediately he dropped to the ground or he thought so when suddenly two soft hands supported his back as he smelled a familiar jasmine scent beside him and without taking his blindfold off, he knew who she was.

"I dont think I disappointed you Shinobu-sa..." It was the last word that left Ijin's cold lips before he fainted in the arms of the lady who generally seemed calm but for some reason, right now she had a slight frown on her face.

________...._________

'Mm? Where am I?' Lifting my lids I found myself on a comfortable bed on which I was lying yesterday too. My body was screaming in pain that's why I didn't move much and ensured only that I was in the butterfly mansion.

'You there lady?' I asked my admin in my head as I laid back trying to relax my muscles as much as I could.

[You finally got up. I started to think whether I should give you an electric shock or sort] 

My eyes abruptly opened as I heard the unkind words of the woman.

'Can you really do that to me...?' I asked as it wouldn't be pleasant upon receiving shocks out of nowhere.

[Nah..just kidding. Anyway, you did great with the training. It seems the insect pillar has taken a liking to you. She never left your side until you finally relaxed and fell into slumber. She even wiped your face and injected a painkilling serum into your body]

I was thoroughly speechless. Being in the good books of Shinobu-san was never in my plans but getting to her good side somehow seemed pleasant.

'Anyway, I want to ask something...' After keeping that matter aside, I voice the thought I have come up with in the morning.

[Yes?]

'You asked me to slay demons on the final test event...but isn't it okay if I do it a day before the test. I mean it won't change the result right?' 

[Yes, you are right...but why one day prior? I mean won't it be good if you do the deed in natural circumstances?]

I knew what she meant. If I slay demons while being a candidate, then it wouldn't seem suspicious. But before that would be problematic.

'I just dont want to mingle humans in what I am going to do. And you know four main characters would be there too, what if I casually end up killing one of them?' I wasnt self-boasting but I knew with my experience I could take out Kanao in one way or another. And as I recall, Tanjiro would be weaker than Kanao during the final test. Well, I wasnt sure about the sleeping beast but the other three were supressable.

[Hmm..it does sound hectic. Okay do what you want,  just be mindful of your surrounding. The Wisteria family organizes the final selection and the examination site would be under their close supervision]

It was strange how the all-time stern admin was getting worried for me quite often these days.

'I think you quite underestimate this ex-mercenary. Don't forget what code I carried in that training camp'. I huffed before leaning back comfortably before u closed my eyes who still needed some hours of rest. 

'Let's see what challenge she has in the arsenal for me tomorrow...'

___________....____________

A/N: Ijin will try out his new powers in the next chapter so look forward to it.

I will take max one chapter before the main event of this world will commerce. Taking the length I usually give my chapter am sure to give proper closing to this world before Ijin jumps back to his original world.

Anyway, drop a comment if you are liking the story ~

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