24 Chapter 24
The night passed by quickly, and as dawn broke, Ginryu prepared to leave the town after seeking directions from the inn owner.
Though surprised by Ginryu's request, the inn owner provided him with the closest roads leading to his desired location.
Ginryu discovered that Mount Fujikasane, the mountain he was searching for, was the large peak always visible to the north of his village.
It was so close that he believed he could reach it by day's end with his strength.
With the morning sun illuminating the sky, the streets came alive, bustling with activity as people went about their morning routines.
Aware that his presence had started to attract attention, Ginryu was determined not to linger in town for too long. With brisk steps, he resumed his journey to Mount Fujikasane.
In his eagerness to reach his destination quickly, Ginryu often deviated from the main road, taking walkable shortcuts that would shorten his journey.
He wanted to arrive at the nearest settlement around Mount Fujikasane before nightfall. Although he possessed the ability to transform into a bird and reach his destination faster, he chose to walk instead.
Having spent much of his existence confined to one place since his rebirth, Ginryu yearned to savor the journey.
Besides, turning into a giant bird-like creature in an era when superstitions prevailed did not seem like a wise decision.
Time was a luxury Ginryu had in abundance. The hours passed by like grains of sand in an hourglass, and soon he found himself near the foot of the mountain, arriving earlier than anticipated.
Uncertain about the exact path he should take to climb the mountain, Ginryu decided to explore, hoping to stumble upon the wisteria trees said to grow in the vicinity.
While wandering, the cubs he had been carrying began to grow restless, so Ginryu released them from their confines to run around.
Seeing no one around and no one to ask for directions to the nearest town, he continued to explore. After some time, he noticed a crow in the distance.
'Is that a crow from the Ubuyashiki clan?' Ginryu wondered as he stared at the bird. Suddenly, the crow took flight and perched on another tree, staring back at him.
Intrigued by the crow, the cubs chased after it. However, whenever the cubs got close, the crow would take off, landing on a higher tree and beckoning Ginryu to follow.
Curiosity piqued, Ginryu decided to pursue the crow. After journeying for a while, he arrived at a place adorned with stunning purple flowers.
"Are these wisteria flowers?" Ginryu exclaimed in awe as he marveled at the picturesque scene before him.
The sunlight reflected off the wisteria blossoms, and a gentle breeze carried the alluring scent of the flowers, reminiscent of lavender.
Ginryu found himself captivated by the beauty surrounding him, taking a moment to revel in the enchanting atmosphere.
The wisteria flowers, bathed in sunlight, embodied a serene elegance that mesmerized him. It was a sight that made his journey worthwhile and filled him with a sense of wonder.
Meow! Grr!
The sound of the cubs snapped Ginryu from his thoughts, immediately putting him on alert.
He could sense someone approaching, and the distressed cubs confirmed his suspicions.
With a quick glance, he noticed a man steadily making his way towards them. The man carried a sword, which was strapped to his waist, and wore a kimono with a black Haori over it.
Ginryu couldn't help but notice that this person's attire differed slightly from what he knew demon slayers typically wore in the original series.
It crossed his mind that perhaps the discrepancy was due to the era they were in.
As the man drew nearer, his steps cautious and guarded, he finally spoke up.
"Who are you, and what brought you here?" he inquired, keeping a safe distance of around three meters between them.
Ginryu wasted no time in responding, cutting straight to the point. "I go by the name of Ginryu. Are you perchance a member of the Ubuyashiki clan or the demon slayer corps?" he asked, hoping to confirm whether or not he was in the right place.
His intention wasn't to become a demon slayer himself, but rather to ally himself with them.
Ginryu held no fear for Muzan or his demons, nor did he particularly care about the well-being of humans.
However, he recognized the potential value of the Ubuyashiki clan's extensive knowledge regarding demon whereabouts.
Devouring demons would undoubtedly boost his own strength. Furthermore, allying himself with the clan would grant him insider information when the main plot began.
Tracking down Muzan on his own would be a tedious task, and the thought of doing nothing during the years of waiting until canonical events transpired didn't sit well with him.
Additionally, the Ubuyashiki clan's noble status meant they possessed considerable wealth. And wealth, in the form of gold, was invaluable for Ginryu's future dimensional travels.
Crossing into new dimensions would strip him of any pre-existing identity, so having money would facilitate his assimilation into different worlds.
The man, still uncertain about Ginryu's intentions, responded with a question of his own.
"How did you come by this information? Who told you?" he inquired, his wariness deepening.
Ginryu regarded him thoughtfully, wondering if he had been the one to direct the crow towards him moments ago.
Despite the man's cautious stance, with his sword at the ready, Ginryu himself was visibly unarmed. This led him to question the reason for the man's heightened state of alertness.
Searching the skies, Ginryu failed to spot the crow that had led him to this encounter. 'Hmm, how should I proceed?' he pondered silently, weighing his options.
Suddenly, the crow reappeared with several companions, circling Ginryu in a cacophony of caws.
The cubs seemed distressed by this and wanted to attack the crows, so he gently picked up the cubs and placed them back into his bag, despite their protests.
It seemed that the group of crows had a message to deliver.
"Bring this man to the clan," the crow spoke, its voice carrying an unmistakable command. The man, now less wary, took his hand off his sword hilt, realizing that he was being given instructions.
Ginryu, taking stock of the situation, realized he hadn't even asked for the man's name. But, truth be told, he had little interest in knowing the name of someone foolish enough to draw a sword on an unarmed individual.
'Well, I wasn't expecting an invitation, but whatever the case may be, it seems I will have the opportunity to meet the clan' Ginryu thought.
The man silently led the way, not even apologizing for his behavior. The man didn't realize that if a fight had broken out, he would have been killed by Ginryu in an instant.
