“So…
so scary…
but that older sister is so pretty…
but still so scary!!!”
Zenitsu looked at Chika, who had just been pulling someone’s hair not far away, and couldn’t help but reach up to touch his own hair.
His hair was golden yellow, but it wasn’t that color from birth.
In this fantastical Demon Slayer worldview, absurd things happening was completely normal.
Speaking just about hair color, Zenitsu’s golden hair was the result of being struck by a bolt of lightning from the sky, which turned his hair yellow.
A similar example is the Love Hashira, one of the strongest members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Her hair is cherry blossom pink with grass-green tips.
It’s said this hair color was caused by her eating 170 sakuramochi every day for eight consecutive months.
The level of absurdity is no less than Zenitsu’s color change from a lightning strike.
After the commotion died down, the twin girls walked back together and lifted the cloth covering the table behind them.
On the table lay uneven, variously shaped stones.
These stones were called “tamahagane,” the raw ore used to forge the Demon Slayer Corps’ specialized weapon, the nichirin blade.
“Now, begin selecting your tamahagane.
This is the blade that will slay demons and protect you, so you must choose it yourself.”
The two spoke indifferently, and everyone fell silent as they looked at the many pieces of tamahagane before them…
well, all except one person.
Without hesitation, Chika stepped out from the line.
She calmly looked at the many pieces of tamahagane on the table, gave them a quick glance, and picked out one that looked slightly larger.
Reason?
There was no reason.
These pieces of tamahagane themselves didn’t have much difference.
The characteristic of a nichirin blade varies from person to person; it’s not based on the quality of the raw ore.
In the original story, Tanjirou used his superior sense of smell to select a piece of tamahagane.
Everyone thought Tanjirou was the protagonist, so this move must have been a lucky draw to get high-quality ore!
Who knew it would break not long after, and then the higher-ups gave Tanjirou a replacement blade.
So, this initial ore selection was mostly just for the sake of ceremony.
“I’ll choose this one.
Tanjirou, don’t overthink it either.
Just pick one based on your feeling,” Chika said, turning her head to speak to Tanjirou.
Tanjirou was stunned for a moment and said somewhat puzzled, “But this is the blade we’ll use to fight demons in the future.
Shouldn’t we consider it more carefully?”
“Consider what? You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Can you even judge tamahagane?
Anyway, if the blade breaks in the future, they can reforge it.
It’s not like the Demon Slayer Corps would just leave us to fight demons with our bare fists if a blade snapped, right?”
The first half of Chika’s sentence was directed at Tanjirou, while the second half was spoken as she turned her head towards the twins.
The twins nodded, tacitly agreeing with Chika’s words.
If a blade breaks, headquarters is responsible for reforging a new nichirin blade for the member.
Moreover, the hardness of these tamahagane pieces doesn’t differ much to begin with.
Rather than pinning hopes of slaying demons on the ore, it’s better to diligently hone one’s Breathing Technique and swordsmanship.
Tanjirou nodded and then also stepped forward to select a piece of tamahagane that felt good to him.
The others also followed the procedure and took a piece each.
Next, they would each return home.
The chosen tamahagane would be handed over to specialized swordsmiths for forging.
Once finished, the blades would be specially delivered.
This service definitely deserved a five-star review.
Meanwhile, at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, a man with a weak aura and a voice eerily similar to a certain overprotective husband had a crow perched on his arm.
Upon learning how this year’s Final Selection had unfolded, a gratified smile appeared on his face.
“This year’s new recruits are so strong.
The Demon Slayer Corps has successors.
I hope they can grow quickly…
cough…
cough…”
After leaving Mount Fujikasane, Chika and Tanjirou retraced their steps home.
In the original story, at this stage, Tanjirou was in full-body pain, hobbling back leaning on a stick like a crutch.
But now, he was just walking normally along the road.
The fact that he had passed the Demon Slayer Corps’ Final Selection still felt somewhat like a dream to him.
“What are you thinking about, walking so slowly?
Maybe Nezuko has already woken up, you know~”
“Nezuko…
Nezuko is awake?!”
“Maybe.
Just maybe.
But I have that feeling,” Chika said, pointing a finger to her own forehead.
Tanjirou deeply believed this.
Hearing Chika say this now, Tanjirou was instantly filled with motivation.
Two puffs of air shot from his nostrils, and he felt his whole body brimming with strength.
“Then let’s hurry back!”
“Okay.”
Chika and Tanjirou started running again, returning from the foot of Mount Fujikasane along the same path.
At first, Chika seemed more relaxed and faster, leaving the full-speed Tanjirou far behind.
But as time passed, Tanjirou caught up and even slightly overtook her.
This body tired more easily than an ordinary person’s.
Perhaps it followed the principle of equivalent exchange: increased physical exhaustion in exchange for superior physical attributes.
After all, before Chika’s transmigration, the original owner hadn’t undergone much training and was physically frail.
But since regaining mobility, Chika’s body hadn’t held her back during Breathing Technique training; instead, it displayed exceptional talent.
If every transmigrator gets their own unique cheat ability, then this physique could barely count as hers.
Although it might not be overwhelmingly invincible, Chika felt it was sufficient.
Though I don’t know if I can become a figure like Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who made Muzan tremble in fear, I absolutely must recreate that “red” that made Muzan fear!
Following behind Tanjirou, Chika breathed lightly, her gaze still clear and bright.
Running all the way from the foot of Mount Fujikasane to the foot of Sagiri Mountain, the two finally stopped.
By now, it was night with the moon high in the sky.
“Maybe if we go home now, we can still catch dinner,” Chika said, looking up at the moon and roughly calculating the current time.
Around six o’clock in the evening, just after dusk.
Passing by village houses, their noses had already picked up various scents.
The two weren’t particularly hungry, mostly just craving good food, as during the Final Selection days they had only eaten coarse grains to stave off hunger.
Chika and Tanjirou slowly walked up the mountain.
In their line of sight, the small cabin where Urokodaki lived was already lit from within.
Chika walked to the door, reached out her hand, and knocked gently.
Beside her, Tanjirou opened his mouth and shouted, “Master Urokodaki, it’s us!
We’re back!”
Before Tanjirou’s words had even finished falling, a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the cabin.
The door opened, and a “ball” rushed out from inside, hugging Chika outside the door.
“Mmmph!
Mmmph!!!”