“Behind me is the location for your upcoming assessment…”
Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s gentle yet powerful voice echoed across the now-silent platform.
The relevant rules had already been explained when he first invited Kanzaki Kumo and Himejima Gyomei to join the Demon Slayer Corps, and Kanzaki Kumo also remembered them from his past life.
However, Ubuyashiki Kagaya placed special emphasis on the fact that those who lacked confidence in their own strength could withdraw now and return to practice their swordsmanship.
If anyone felt their strength failing them during the trial, they could also return early; although they would fail the trial, they would at least preserve their lives.
Unfortunately, most of those who joined the Demon Slayer Corps harbored blood feuds with demons, and since they had already come this far, they were naturally unwilling to withdraw immediately.
Thus, few people took this final warning to heart.
And once they entered the mountain, it would usually be too late by the time they realized their strength was insufficient and wanted to withdraw.
As Kagaya announced the start of the assessment, everyone, filled with various emotions, stepped onto a small path beside Kagaya and entered the mountain.
Passing through the final barrier of Wisteria Flowers, they arrived at the area where demons gathered.
Taking advantage of the fact that the sun had not yet set, people scattered in small groups to find a place to stay for the first night.
Some loners who lacked confidence in their strength began to form temporary teams, while those with sufficient confidence in their own strength left alone.
As a swordsman who had received permission to participate in the Final Selection under Urokodaki Sakonji’s extremely strict assessment, Makomo was naturally confident in her own strength.
She also stepped into the mountain forest alone to find a suitable place to spend the night.
Kanzaki Kumo followed behind her, maintaining a moderate distance.
It could only be said that she truly lived up to her reputation as someone who, in the original story, could initially suppress the Hand Demon with her flexibility.
Even her ordinary running speed was faster than most people participating in this assessment.
Unfortunately, she was affected by the Hand Demon’s psychological warfare, lost her composure, and was brutally killed after the opponent caught a flaw in her movements.
Makomo quickly discovered Kanzaki Kumo, who had not made any effort to hide his presence, and she immediately quickened her pace.
She was not used to teaming up with strangers.
But she soon discovered that no matter how much she accelerated, she could not shake off the person following behind her.
If she accelerated any further, she wouldn’t be able to guarantee her condition for the night.
Therefore, she could only stop her footsteps and turn back to look at Kanzaki Kumo.
She remembered this man who was able to converse with the master of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Based on that alone, she was certain that his strength was not simple.
Now, seeing him follow her so easily further confirmed to her that he was very strong.
Is there something you need?”
Her voice was crisp, carrying a hint of detached coldness.
“It’s nothing.
I just saw that your strength is decent and wanted to ask if you’re interested in teaming up?” Kanzaki Kumo replied with a smile, standing not far away.
What else could he say?
He couldn’t exactly say, “I’ve read the script, and following you will lead me to the hidden big boss,” right?
“Not interested,” Makomo refused without hesitation.
Her parents’ lives had been taken by demons when she was very young.
Having grown up lonely and helpless, she harbored an instinctive wariness toward strangers.
After speaking, she didn’t wait for Kanzaki Kumo’s response and turned to continue forward.
Seeing this, Kanzaki Kumo didn’t continue to follow so closely, merely ensuring she remained within his line of sight.
And with his uniquely gifted vision, this “line of sight” was exceptionally large.
Furthermore, he was also keeping an eye on other participants within this range.
After all, he had made a friend of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, and since the man had provided excellent treatment for both him and Kuwajima Jigorō in all aspects, he was naturally willing to lend a hand within his capabilities.
In this manner, the participants, whether in groups or alone, all found suitable places to settle before nightfall.
While everyone waited, either fearful or nervous, to face the demons, Kanzaki Kumo also found a relatively sturdy tree branch and sat down cross-legged.
It was early summer, so it didn’t feel cold even after nightfall.
Vaguely, the sounds of crying and startled screams reached Kanzaki Kumo’s ears.
“Sigh…” Opening his eyes to look, he found the distance wasn’t too far.
Kanzaki Kumo sighed softly and rushed toward the three people being chased by a demon.
“Help—!”
These three were clearly the type Kuwajima had mentioned—those who are fine during daily training but can’t even hold a sword steadily once they actually face a demon.
Amidst their panicked flight, the three only saw a flash of lightning, and the ferocious demon had already been beheaded.
“If your swordsmanship isn’t up to par, go back and practice.
If you don’t dare to draw your sword to slay demons, go to logistics.
Leaving them with those words, Kanzaki Kumo didn’t bother saying more and turned to leave.
That demon’s strength was much weaker than the so-called “River God” in that village from before.
Kanzaki Kumo really couldn’t be bothered to comment on how these people could be so terrified.
This was actually the strength of most demons in Fujikasane Mountain.
They had been repeatedly wounded and weakened before being released, and combined with not having eaten for a long time, these demons had become starving ghosts—full of ferocity but lacking in actual strength.
Except for the Hand Demon.
If they couldn’t even handle this kind of demon, it was better to give up the idea of slaying demons early.
Going to logistics wasn’t shameful; without reliable logistics, how could those on the front lines fight with peace of mind?
After returning to the tree branch, there were no more people being hunted by demons within his line of sight.
Some had resolved their encounters and were changing locations to avoid other demons that might be drawn by the commotion of battle.
Some had better luck and hadn’t encountered a demon yet.
However, the mountain was only so big, and the number of demons was not small.
Furthermore, to these demons who had been hungry for a long time, the scent of humans was as enticing as a world-class delicacy—no, it was “demon-enticing.” Everyone would surely see a demon tonight.
Kanzaki Kumo didn’t mind saving people within his sight in passing.
As for those outside his sight, they would have to fend for themselves.
It was impossible for him to go to the great trouble of clearing out all the demons on the entire mountain.
Since these people chose to participate in the selection, they had to take responsibility for their own choices.
Moreover, he had to keep an eye on Makomo, the “Hand Demon Bait.” To help Kagaya, eliminating the outlier that was the Hand Demon was far more useful than ushering through a batch of under-qualified swordsmen.
In this way, Kanzaki Kumo occasionally stepped in to save one or several people being hunted by demons, leaving behind similar words, while also watching Makomo cleanly resolve the demons she encountered and begin moving her resting spot.
The first night of the swordsman selection passed like this.
The moment the sun came out, many people breathed a secret sigh of relief.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya fell into thought as he watched the departing figures of those few people who had voluntarily withdrawn from the assessment.
From their descriptions, he knew that Kanzaki Kumo must have stepped in to save them and said something to them, prompting those with insufficient strength to withdraw of their own accord.
Regarding this, Ubuyashiki Kagaya also felt gratitude in his heart.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”