"Shh... shh..."
A series of light footsteps and another series of rapid, forceful footsteps echoed from the dense forest, growing louder as they approached.
A gentle breeze dispersed the remaining smoke and dust, revealing two distinctly different figures.
Walking on the left, Shinobu Kocho was draped in colorful, flowing butterfly feathers. Her steps were light and elegant, and she carried a lunchbox in her hand. Her delicate face was adorned with her signature sweet smile.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, walking on the right, still had his green haori wide open, and the crisscrossing scars looked particularly ferocious in the moonlight.
The blue Nichirin Blade was casually slung over his shoulder, with a few smears of undried blood still clinging to the blade, and his face was so dark it looked as if someone owed him millions.
"Cut..."
Sanemi Shinazugawa, with his neck tilted to the side, strode forward and kicked him!
"Are you dead or not?! If you're not dead, give me a sound!"
"Weren't you acting all high and mighty inside just now?! You almost burned down all the trees on this mountain!"
"Why are you lying in this mud puddle like a castrated, dead dog? You don't even have the strength to get up and bow to me?!"
Tanjiro, who was on the ground, was kicked and slid forward half an inch. He struggled to turn his face, which was half buried in the mud, to the side, revealing his mud-covered nose and two teardrops hanging from the corners of his eyes, a weak protest:
"No... Mr. Shinazugawa... please don't kick other people's butts... it really hurts..."
"Huh?! Pain means you're not completely dead yet!"
Sanemi crossed his arms, and although he was hurling insults, a barely perceptible tremor flashed in the depths of his violent eyes.
He snorted coldly, sheathed his Nichirin Blade, put his hands in his pockets, awkwardly turned away, and muttered a word of approval through gritted teeth:
"... Well, to be fair..."
"That fight just now showed some manly spirit! It wasn't for nothing that I cleared the area for you, you little bastard!"
"You've passed!"
To hear the word "qualified" from the mouth of this hot-tempered, powder keg-like Wind Hashira is rarer than a rooster laying an egg!
Just as Sanemi awkwardly expressed his approval, a melodious, bell-like laugh came from the side.
"Oh dear~ Mr. Shinazugawa is as dishonest as ever~"
Shinobu Kocho walked over with light, quick steps.
She crouched down, and her large butterfly-wing-patterned dress scattered along the edge of the mud, yet remained completely unstained.
Shinobu extended two fingers and lightly poked Tanjiro's mud-covered cheek without any hesitation, a dangerous glint in her purple eyes:
"Tanjiro ~ The way you fought inside just now really scared me~"
Shinobu tilted her head slightly, her voice sickeningly sweet, but the content of her words sent chills down Tanjiro's spine:
"While sincerely bowing and apologizing to the demon, you roasted it with those terrifying flames for a full ten minutes... In the end, you forced one of the Twelve Kizuki, who feared not even death, to kneel on the ground, weeping and begging to be beheaded by you..."
"This kind of compassionate heart, like that of a bodhisattva, is like that of a ruthless demon king from the abyss who devours people without spitting out the bones! I can't help but applaud and cheer for you!"
Upon hearing this uniquely personal expression of concern, Tanjiro's face instantly turned bright red. He wished he could dig a hole in the mud and bury himself in it, stammering an explanation:
"Miss Shinobu... you've really misunderstood me... I really just wanted to help him pass on to the afterlife..."
Okay, okay, I was just kidding!
Seeing the boy's honest and almost tearful appearance, Shinobu Kocho chuckled.
She stopped teasing the exhausted boy and quickly untied the lunchbox in her hand.
The moment the lid was lifted, two steaming rice balls, each the size of an adult's fist, came into Tanjiro's view!
"Here, these are supplies for the good kids who worked hard and defeated the strong enemy!"
"It contains a special restorative medicinal diet made by the Butterfly Mansion, which can quickly replenish your depleted sugar and stamina."
"Once you've eaten your fill, just lie down and sleep. The assessment will be over soon, and the Kakushi Division will take care of the rest."
"Thank you... thank you, Miss Shinobu!!"
The moment Tanjiro smelled the aroma of rice, his stomach rumbled like thunder.
He hurriedly stuffed the rice ball into his mouth, and the blissful feeling of his stomach being filled with food brought tears to his eyes again.
After feeding Tanjiro, Shinobu Kocho stood up.
She patted off non-existent dust from the hem of her haori, turned her head, and looked toward the winding mountain road leading to the exit of Mount Fujikasane.
The girl's composure vanished in an instant, replaced by a cunning glint of determination!
'Yay! Mount Fujikasane's mission is now successfully completed!'
'My elder sister is currently on patrol duty in a major northwestern town hundreds of miles away, and it will be at least three more days before she returns to headquarters!'
This means... for the next three days, the entire Butterfly Mansion... will be empty except for Mr. Giyu Tomioka!
Shinobu bit her rosy lower lip, her hands twisting together inside her sleeves:
'My sister, that philandering cat, has already tasted the sweetness of success; how can I possibly remain second to her?!'
'Tonight! Right now! The timing, the location, and the people are all in my control!'
'Hmph~ Mr. Giyu Tomioka, you'd better wash your neck clean and wait for me in your room~'
Shinobu let out a mischievous giggle.
She didn't even have the energy to greet Sanemi next to her; she just tiptoed!
"Whoosh--!"
Shinobu Kocho spread her butterfly wings and charged out of Mount Fujikasane without looking back, heading straight for the Butterfly Mansion headquarters!
All that remained was a gust of fallen leaves swept up by the air currents, and Sanemi Shinazugawa with a head full of black lines.
"What the hell? What kind of epilepsy is this crazy woman having?"
"Running faster than a ghost! Is the Butterfly Mansion's kitchen on fire? You're crazy!"
Sanemi shook his head, preparing to leave the battlefield as well.
However!
Just as Sanemi stepped out with his right leg, a gentle breeze blew, bringing with it a complex scent wafting from the depths of the inner forest.
"Um?!"
Sanemi's steps came to an abrupt halt!
Because in that night breeze...
Besides the stench of evil spirits and the fragrance of Wisteria, there was also a distinctly clear smell of gunpowder residue mixed in!
"Gunpowder?! That kind of low-grade junk that only ordinary hunters would use?!"
"And... this... is Genya?!"
"How is that possible?! Didn't I already lock him in the cellar?!"
"I clearly warned him!"
"Why?! Why is this idiot here at the Mount Fujikasane selection exam site?!"
"Crunch! Crunch!"
The terrifying killing intent that had been contained was completely unleashed in that instant!
It's several times more ferocious than when we faced the evil spirits earlier!
"The Shinazugawa... Genya--!"
"You fucking ignored everything I said, didn't you?!"
"You dare to sneak off to Mount Fujikasane to die?! Good! Very good! Excellent!!"
"Boom--!"
The scorched earth within a radius of several feet beneath their feet suddenly exploded!
Sanemi Shinazugawa transformed into a runaway, raging blue tornado, gritting his teeth as he hurtled towards the inner circle of examinees!
I'm determined to give that arrogant younger brother a lesson in family discipline that he'll never forget!
In place,
Only Tanjiro Kamado remained.
The boy still had half a full rice ball stuffed in his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's, his eyes staring blankly in the direction where Sanemi had sped away.
A gust of wind blew by, and Tanjiro blinked, mumbling something indistinctly:
"Hmm... the Demon Slayer Corps seniors... they really have a lot of energy..."
Then, the boy closed his eyes contentedly and, amidst the aroma of the rice balls, drifted into a sweet sleep.