Kanao, who had just been flipping a coin, quietly watched the bright-smiling red-haired boy in front of her.
Just as Tanjiro was about to continue providing psychological counseling to the emotionless girl...
"When--"
The long, deep tolling of the bell suddenly rang out.
The sound of the bell lingered in the air above the sea of Wisteria.
The once bustling square, resembling a noisy market, instantly fell silent.
Everyone turned their heads.
Beneath the two enormous stone lanterns directly in front of the square, two eerie figures appeared out of nowhere.
They were two children wearing purple kimonos.
One had white hair, the other had black hair.
Both of them carried a paper lantern that emitted a dim, yellowish glow.
They look exactly alike.
Their faces were unnaturally pale.
They look just like two exquisitely crafted dolls.
"All prospective swordsmen."
The white-haired child spoke.
Her voice was ethereal and cold.
Welcome to the Mount Fujikasane Final Selection.
The black-haired child immediately continued the sentence.
Their voices completely overlapped.
A chilling, eerie feeling permeated the still night air.
"Many cannibalistic demons captured alive by the Demon Slayer Corps are imprisoned here."
"The selection rules have been changed this year compared to previous years."
Upon hearing the word "change," the fifty-odd prospective swordsmen below immediately perked up their ears.
Tanjiro also dropped his caring older brother expression.
He stood up straight.
He listened very attentively to the assessment explanation that concerned his future.
The Gemini examiners continued their announcements in that flat, emotionless voice.
"In order to adapt to the current severe situation of evil spirit activities."
"The entire examination hall at Mount Fujikasane has been forcibly divided into three levels of areas by the Wisteria Barrier."
"These are the outer perimeter, the inner circle, and the deepest core area."
A white-haired child carries a lantern.
She pointed to the pitch-black primeval forest behind her.
"The demons in the outer area are the weakest."
"If you choose to survive on the periphery for seven days..."
"After the assessment, you will be able to join the Kakushi Division as logistics personnel."
"Or they can choose to be sent back to their place of origin and receive training from Cultivator again."
The black-haired child's gaze swept across the entire room.
"Only by entering the inner circle and surviving seven days of intense fighting can one succeed."
Only you are qualified to receive the official uniform of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Only then can you become true demon hunters."
These words immediately caused an uproar in the entire square!
"Are you kidding me!"
A passerby swordsman was so frightened that he dropped his sword to the ground.
"Back then, you only needed to survive seven days in the mountains to pass!"
"Now they're actually asking us to willingly go into the inner circle and fight those monsters?!"
"This is practically suicide!"
Despair and fear spread rapidly among the people like a plague.
Countless people began to whisper among themselves, and some even began to consider giving up.
However--
The twin examiners completely ignored the swordsmen's protests.
"Finally, a warning about the core area."
At that moment, their voices took on a chilling, stern quality.
"The core area at the deepest part of Mount Fujikasane has been designated as an absolute restricted zone!"
"No swordsman is allowed to set foot in the core area!"
Unauthorized trespassers will be responsible for their own lives.
"..."
"Then, I wish you all great success in your military campaigns."
After saying that...
The Gemini examiners turned around immediately.
They carried lanterns and walked into the darkness.
A group of bewildered, prospective swordsmen were left behind in the night wind.
"Belch--"
Zenitsu Agatsuma rolled his eyes dramatically.
A long string of white foam came out of the corner of his mouth.
The timid blond boy was so frightened by the cruel rules that he fainted on the spot.
He collapsed to the ground like a dead fish.
His hands were still tightly gripping Tanjiro's thighs.
Even when he fainted, he didn't forget to cling to a leg to save his life.
"The pigs are advancing! The pigs are advancing!"
On the other side of the square.
Inosuke Hashibira absolutely no fear.
Instead, he became so excited that white vapor was billowing out of his nostrils.
"Restricted area?"
"Sounds like there are a lot of powerful guys waiting for me inside!"
"I don't care about any bans!"
"I'm going to go to the deepest part and kill the biggest prey!"
Inosuke brandished two serrated Nichirin Blade.
He was bouncing around wildly in place like a hyperactive child.
Looking around at the group of fellow test-takers, some terrified and others overly excited.
Tanjiro Kamado's expression became somewhat subtle.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold air of Mount Fujikasane.
He could vaguely smell the Demon Aura emanating from the depths of the forest.
A lot of!!
They were so densely packed, the sheer number was terrifying!!
But--
Tanjiro's brow furrowed even deeper.
"What a strange taste."
"The quantity is indeed large."
"But the quality is absolutely terrible."
"I can't smell any oppressive force that could make me feel threatened."
Tanjiro is a man who has personally undergone hellish training.
He had witnessed Giyu Tomioka's overwhelming power, where even his breathing could distort the air;
I have also experienced Sakonji Urokodaki's relentless killing intent, like a deep-sea whirlpool.
Compared to those two big shots.
The faint Demon Aura emanating from this Mount Fujikasane is just like a newborn baby sneezing.
"If this is all the kind of small fish we have in these mountains."
"Then we shouldn't waste too much time here."
"I... absolutely cannot let Mr. Giyu and the others down!"
Tanjiro's blood was boiling.
He had no idea how much effort Giyu Tomioka had put into this selection process in the core area.
Tanjiro now has only one thought on his mind.
He grabbed Zenitsu Agatsuma was still clinging to his lap and foaming at the mouth.
He hoisted the blond boy onto his shoulder like a sack.
He stared at the entrance leading into the depths of the forest, his gaze terrifyingly resolute.
Let's go...