Speaking of which...
Just when the atmosphere was still quite peaceful, a voice filled with doubt broke the tranquility of this post-disaster recovery.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Murata frowning, pointing at the nearly burned corpse not far away.
"If that thing really has the strength of Lower Rank, why... does it not have the numbers representing the Twelve Kizuki in its eyes?"
This question stunned everyone.
Yes, the most obvious sign of the Twelve Kizuki, whether it's the Upper Rank or Lower Rank, is that numbers are etched into their eyeballs.
This is a symbol of their status and strength, and also the honor Muzan Kibutsuji.
But that ghost, though incredibly powerful, didn't actually have any numbers in its eyes.
All eyes, without prior arrangement, once again focused on Giyu Tomioka.
After listening, Giyu Tomioka also started to think about it.
He walked to the dissipating head, squatted down, and carefully examined the lifeless red eyes.
Indeed, there are no numbers.
I don't know either.
He stood up, shook his head, and his voice sounded deep.
"Perhaps... Muzan has already reformed the Lower Rank Demon system, and this one is a failed product that was eliminated in the competition."
This speculation made everyone present feel a chill run down their spines.
Even a failed attempt that was eliminated was strong enough to wipe out their entire team of more than ten people.
Just how terrifying will the newly chosen Lower Rank demons be?
Giyu Tomioka's brows furrowed into a knot.
His mind raced as he recalled all the intelligence gathered over the past year.
Since the fierce battle in Crimson Sakura Village a year ago, there have been no clear sighting reports of Lower Rank Demons in the Demon Slayer Corps' intelligence network.
Muzan Kibutsuji, that cruel and suspicious progenitor of demons, may very well have already selected and trained a new batch of even more powerful and ferocious Lower Rank this year!!
If this speculation is true, it means that there are at least six more monsters comparable to, or even surpassing, the Split-Blade Demon, lurking in some unknown corner, waiting for an opportunity to deliver the most devastating blow to the Demon Slayer Corps!
Just thinking about this gave Giyu Tomioka a headache.
Muzan Kibutsuji's thoughts are always so hard to guess.
Instead of wasting time guessing, why not...
I don't want to think about it anymore.
He shook his head decisively, banishing all those chaotic thoughts.
Thinking too much is useless; we'll just have to deal with whatever comes our way. When we encounter them, we'll simply wipe them all out.
He turned around and nodded slightly to Masachika Kumeno, who was still grinning foolishly at receiving his idol's approval, and to Murata and the others who were looking at him with adoration.
"It's safe here now. The Kakushi Division will handle the rest later. You all... take care."
After saying that, he didn't linger. His figure flashed and he silently disappeared into the woods behind, leaving behind a group of team members who were still staring at each other, dumbfounded and unable to recover from the shock.
Even after leaving that bloody battlefield, Giyu Tomioka did not slow down at all.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting dappled patterns of light.
Just as he was about to leave the forest, a familiar, aged voice came from overhead.
"Gah--! Giyu--! There's a letter!! There's a letter from Miss Butterfly!! Gah--!"
An old raven, its Kasugai Crow somewhat ruffled, fluttered its wings and landed shakily on his shoulder.
It's Kanzaburo.
Giyu Tomioka stopped in his tracks.
He reached out and untied the small letter tube from Kanzaburo's leg.
When I held the mailbox in my hand, there was a faint fragrance of flowers and herbs.
Over the past year, he had maintained intermittent correspondence with the Kocho Sisters, who lived far away in Flower Valley.
Ever since he sent the package to Flower Valley that time, Kanae and Shinobu's attitudes towards him seemed to have changed subtly.
Especially Kanae.
Although he's not good with words and his reactions are a bit slow, he's not completely oblivious to people's feelings.
Through the thin sheet of paper, he could clearly sense that behind those beautiful lines of writing lay an increasingly obvious, yet cautious, girlish secret.
How should I... respond to this feeling?
He looked at the red and white haori he was wearing, his mind in turmoil, and his expression became complicated.
Does he truly deserve to accept that pure and beautiful affection?
With mixed feelings, I opened the letter.
The letter paper is made of fine washi paper, with a faint cherry blossom scent. The handwriting on it is neat and elegant, just like the person who wrote the letter.
[Mr. Giyu, it is as if we are meeting in person.]
Summer has passed, and autumn is in full swing in Flower Valley. The maple leaves in the yard have already turned a few intoxicating shades of red.
I wonder how Mr. Giyu is doing lately? Is the mission going smoothly? Please take good care of yourself and don't forget to eat because of fighting demons.
It's been a while since I received the package from my husband. I really like that purple butterfly hair clip; although I say it's "childish," I wear it every day.
Lately, my training with Shinobu has yielded some results. My swordsmanship Flower Breathing technique is becoming more and more proficient.
Thanks to Master's kindness, Ren and I are about to set off for Mount Fujikasane to participate in the Final Selection.
Although the path that Mr. Giyu has taken is far beyond our reach, Kanae will do her best to catch up with his figure.
When we pass the tests and become true Demon Slayer Corps, I wonder... if we'll have the chance to fight alongside you again?
This was written hastily, and my thoughts are not fully expressed.
May you be safe and well.
[Respectfully submitted by Kanae Kocho]
At the end of the letter, a sentence was added in very small print.
> P. S. I've already asked Chef Urokodaki about the recipe for salmon and radish. I'll make it for you when I get back.
The entire letter was written in elegant language and was very polite. Between the lines, it exuded the unique gentleness and reserve of a lady from a respectable family.
However, on the back of this letter, another passage was written in a completely different, even flamboyant, handwriting.
Hey!! Mr. Tomioka!!
My sister is like that, always saying things in a roundabout way! Honestly!!
Listen up!! My sister and I are going to participate in that Final Selection!! Seven days!! We'll be stuck on that damn mountain for a full seven days!!
When we come down from the mountain, you! Must! Be at the exit! Do you hear me?!?!
If you dare make us wait, or simply don't come at all... Hmph, my newly researched, secret medicine that can cause vomiting and diarrhea for three days and three nights just happens to need a test subject!! You just wait and see!!
Tolerate!
After reading the letter, a very faint smile appeared on Giyu Tomioka's lips, a smile he himself didn't even notice.
One is as gentle as water, the other as fiery as fire.
They really are... sisters with completely different styles.
However, that smile lasted less than three seconds before freezing on his face.
Mount Fujikasane... the Final Selection?
His mind went blank for a moment, and something important that he had completely forgotten suddenly came to mind.
It's over!!
He's been traveling all over the country lately, busy with missions and slaying demons. He... he completely forgot about the exact date of the Mount Fujikasane assessment!
His face froze instantly, and he grabbed Kanzaburo's shoulder, his voice filled with an unprecedented urgency.
"Kanzaburo!! From here to Mount Fujikasane, at full speed, what's the shortest time it would take?!?!"
The old Kasugai Crow stumbled as he caught it. It tilted its head, thought for a moment with its cloudy eyes, and then slowly replied:
"Gah!! Giyu, this is Hokkaido, far from Mount Fujikasane! Even if we don't sleep or rest, it'll take at least... at least half a month, right? Gah!"
Half a month?!?!
Giyu Tomioka's heart sank instantly.
"So... when will Kanae and Shinobu finish their exams?"
Kanzaburo thought for a moment, then, in a tone that sounded almost like a death sentence, he cackled.
"Judging by the dates, they should have entered the mountain yesterday. The Final Selection lasts seven days, so... in about five or six days, they'll pass the assessment and come down from the mountain! Hah!!"
"Giyu! You'd better behave yourself and wait to get scolded!! Hah!!"
Giyu Tomioka: "????"
He stood frozen in place, still clutching the fragrant letter in his hand.