Kanroji Noe

At seven thirty in the morning, following Shinobu Kocho and the others' directions, Han Zhiqi arrived at the plaza at the foot of Mount Fujikasane.

By then, many people had gathered in the plaza. Men and women alike, each with a sword at their waist and high spirits on their faces.

Some stood alone off to the side, while others gathered in small groups, discussing how to team up for the upcoming selection trial. Many were also looking for suitable companions.

After all, surviving alone for seven days on Mount Fujikasane, which was full of demons, was no easy task. With someone to watch their back, their chances of passing might be higher. And with even more people, they would be that much safer.

Sure enough, a team of ten had already formed in the center of the plaza, and it was still growing.

The team members were like street vendors hawking their wares, each calling out to recruit the lone people around them. Judging by their enthusiasm, they wished everyone in the plaza would move together.

Before long, many of those standing alone had joined their group. Even if a few had initially been unwilling, seeing the team grow ever larger while they themselves were alone made them uneasy. After a brief hesitation, they joined as well.

In the end, aside from that massive group, only a handful of people remained in the plaza.

The instant Han Zhiqi stepped into the plaza, he drew everyone's attention. Dressed in white, with silver hair, handsome features, and an indifferent expression, he exuded an air unlike anyone else's.

A cute girl followed behind him.

She had a round face and large eyes, and looked about the same age as Han Zhiqi. She wore a pink haori embroidered with several beautiful butterflies, her shoulder-length hair simply tied behind her head with a ribbon.

If that were all, there would have been nothing especially remarkable about her. After all, as long as a girl was not too plain-looking, dressing up could make her quite eye-catching.

But this girl was different. She seemed to have the face of a teenager and the figure of a woman in her twenties. Especially her proudly full chest—once she stood before people, both men and women would feel embarrassed looking at her. It was as though her face and body had grown separately.

Han Zhiqi drew attention with his clothes, hair, and bearing, while the girl drew attention with her chest.

The two had met at an intersection not far from the foot of the mountain. Since then, the girl had been following behind him at an unhurried pace.

Now that they appeared together, everyone assumed they were companions.

Under everyone's collective gaze, the girl shyly lowered her head and stood there, uneasily fidgeting with her fingers.

The group in the center of the plaza seemed to discuss something among themselves. Before long, a man and a woman walked over to the two of them.

The man was about as tall as Han Zhiqi, handsome and composed, with a capable air. Though still young, he already carried himself like a leader. His clothes also differed from those of ordinary people; one look was enough to tell that he came from a wealthy family.

The woman was equally sweet-looking and graceful. She was finely dressed as well, and every smile and gesture radiated confidence.

"Hello, I'm Kimura, and this is Eimi. May I ask what the two of you are called?" The man introduced himself first, then quietly waited for their reply.

"H-Hello, my name is Nohime, Kanroji Noe. You can call me Nohime."

The girl was somewhat nervous. Blinking her bright, watery eyes, she looked shyly at the two people before her.

Neither of them thought much of this timid, insecure girl. If she was too frightened even to speak to others, what could anyone expect her to do?

For someone like her to attend the Demon Slayer Corps selection was practically delivering herself to demons as food.

The two had not come for the girl in the first place. Considering her appearance, clothes, manner of speaking, and the fact that she had arrived with the boy beside her—

They could not help guessing that she might be the boy's attendant, or that at the very least, she knew him.

So their real purpose in coming over was to invite the boy to join them, because the presence he gave off was anything but ordinary.

Once the girl finished introducing herself, all three turned to look at the boy beside her.

Kimura discovered that the boy across from him was staring straight at him, with no intention whatsoever of answering. It made him deeply uncomfortable.

Kimura and Eimi looked at Kanroji Noe in confusion.

Kanroji Noe also shook her head with a blank expression.

Han Zhiqi ignored the three of them. Spotting the wisteria planted beside the courtyard wall, he walked straight toward a secluded, empty corner and held a cluster of wisteria in his palm, admiring it closely.

Everyone thought he was strange. A boy who would not speak, yet liked flowers of all things—perhaps there was something wrong with his mind.

But who knew what wisteria meant in Han Zhiqi's heart?

"What's going on? Weren't you two together?" Kimura's low, questioning voice came from nearby.

"N-No, we weren't together. We... we only ran into each other on the road."

"So you don't know each other at all?"

Kanroji Noe nodded shyly.

Kimura and Eimi exchanged a glance, then looked back at Han Zhiqi beneath the Wisteria tree. His aloof, unapproachable manner was truly unpleasant. In the end, the two gave up on inviting him.

With so many people, they already had enough to endure the seven days. Inviting him would only have added another helping hand. Since he did not appreciate it, they would let him fend for himself.

"Nohime, would you like to..."

Eimi tried to invite Kanroji Noe. Kanroji Noe had already prepared to accept, blinking her bright eyes with her mouth half open, waiting only for Eimi to finish so she could agree at once.

But halfway through, Eimi was abruptly pulled back and stopped by Kimura beside her.

Kimura gave Eimi a look, and she immediately understood.

After a brief exchange of glances, though reluctant, Eimi turned back with a falsely sweet smile. She patted Kanroji Noe's shoulder and encouraged her, "Nohime, do your best. You'll definitely pass the selection trial and successfully join the Demon Slayer Corps."

Then, dragged along by Kimura, the two headed toward the crowd in the center of the plaza. As they walked, they began arguing.

"Why didn't you let her join us?"

"She's too afraid even to talk to people. What use would she be if she joined?"

"But she's so pitiful by herself. If she enters the mountain alone, the demons will eat her."

"Who here didn't come to this selection knowing they might be eaten by demons? If they dared to take part, then they must have already prepared themselves to die."

"We have so many people. One more wouldn't make a difference."

"Please understand, we formed a team to improve our chances of surviving seven days and passing the trial, not to run a shelter for the weak. If we run into demons, protecting ourselves will already be hard enough. Are we supposed to distract ourselves trying to save her too? Enough. Stop talking nonsense and put away your sympathy. You can't help everyone."

Watching the two walk into the crowd without looking back, Kanroji Noe lowered her head in disappointment. Then she raised it again and looked around the plaza, seeming eager to find another participant to travel with.

But there was hardly anyone left. Several participants who had not joined Kimura's group had already given up before the selection even began.

A few others had formed small groups of their own, but when faced with Kanroji Noe's gaze, everyone chose to ignore her. In the end, only she and Han Zhiqi remained alone in the plaza.

After hesitating for a moment, Kanroji Noe lowered her head and silently walked over to Han Zhiqi's side.