At eight in the morning, two little girls in purple kimonos appeared in the square.
One had white hair, the other black. Their chin-length hair covered the sides of their faces, and each wore a wisteria hairpin at her left temple.
They were the young daughters of the Ubuyashiki family. The current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps was their father, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and they had come at his command to preside over the Mount Fujikasane selection.
The two crossed the square and went straight to the entrance of Mount Fujikasane. Then they turned and swept their eyes over the crowd.
The noisy square fell silent at once.
The white-haired girl said, "Thank you all for coming to participate in the Demon Slayer Corps final selection assessment."
The black-haired girl said, "Behind us is the entrance to Mount Fujikasane. The mountain holds demons captured by the Demon Slayer Corps."
The white-haired girl said, "The demons cannot leave this place because the area up to the mountainside is filled with wisteria flowers, which demons hate."
The black-haired girl said, "As long as you survive in the mountain for seven days, you will have passed the Demon Slayer Corps assessment."
The white-haired girl said, "Seven days from now, at the same time and in the same place, we will issue new members their identification, uniforms, and the materials needed to forge Nichirin Blades."
The black-haired girl said, "Those who die or flee into the wisteria forest will not be considered to have passed."
The white-haired girl said, "The Ubuyashiki family will provide compensation for the dead. Those who flee will never be accepted."
"Best of luck to you all."
The two little girls bowed to the people in the square, then stepped aside to either side of the mountain path, maintaining half-bows in salute to those climbing the mountain.
The Ubuyashiki family was, after all, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. Even their young daughters showed such humility and respect toward those participating in the selection. It was no wonder the Ubuyashiki family had led the Demon Slayer Corps for nearly a thousand years.
Kimura took the lead, bringing his group of several dozen people up the stone steps in a grand procession. Han Zhiqi and Kanroji Noe remained at the very back.
As she passed the pair of little girls, Kanroji Noe deliberately bowed to return their salute.
They continued until they were nearly halfway up the mountain, where the bluestone-paved path abruptly ended. Beyond it lay dirt trails and wild paths obscured by weeds.
A broad, bare clearing stood before them. Sunlight fell through a gap in the trees above, making the place seem like a boundary between life and death.
Beyond it lay dense forest, filled with threats of death. Of course, those lucky enough to survive would bring supreme glory to their families and themselves.
In this era when demons ran rampant, everyone took pride in joining the Demon Slayer Corps.
It was daytime now. Aside from the deepest, lightless parts of the forest, demons did not dare roam freely. Night was when the true danger began.
Clearly, everyone knew this. Many treated the clearing before them as a temporary rest stop, including Kimura's group.
If they went forward into the forest, no one knew whether they would find another safe place like this. If they encountered a demon the moment they entered the woods, the selection might end before it had truly begun. Staying here at least guaranteed their safety throughout the day, so many were unwilling to take the risk.
At that moment, Kimura stood before the motley group, displaying his talents as a leader.
"Everyone, let's remain here and rest for now. There's sunlight here, so demons won't dare approach. Once we've restored our strength and energy, we'll be able to face the dangers ahead."
"Yes, yes."
"Captain Kimura is right."
The crowd chimed in, each finding a comfortable spot to rest. Some took out water from the packs they carried and began drinking.
Kimura sat beside Eimi on a smooth stone platform not far from the group.
Eimi looked despondent, apparently still upset over what had happened earlier.
Before long, a white figure appeared around the bend in the steps. Only then did the others realize that, after all this time, they had forgotten there was another person.
Han Zhiqi's expression remained indifferent. While everyone else looked as if they were facing a great enemy, trembling with fear, he seemed to be out sightseeing.
He strolled calmly into the middle of the crowd as though he saw neither the people nor things around him. Passing through those seated on the ground, he followed a remote dirt path and walked into the forest with casual grace under everyone's astonished gazes.
Behind him followed that timid girl in pink.
Kanroji Noe seemed unable to bear the stares around her. She kept her head lowered, looking so weak and cowardly that it made people disdain her. Yet these two had somehow ended up together.
"See? I told you she didn't need your pity. If she were truly afraid, she wouldn't have followed him up there," Kimura said as he watched the strange pairing of white and pink ahead, convinced that he had done the right thing earlier.
After hearing Kimura say that, Eimi finally felt relieved.
The forest was silent, a silence so complete that it made one uneasy. A damp, moldy smell filled the air. A withered yellow leaf drifted down and landed in the pile of leaves with a faint rustle.
Two people walked unhurriedly along a small path hidden beneath weeds.
One was a handsome youth dressed in white, the other a cute girl dressed in pink. The girl looked as though she had done something wrong, keeping her head lowered as she followed behind the youth.
They were Han Zhiqi and Kanroji Noe.
They descended a gentle slope and reached a straight path.
Han Zhiqi finally could no longer suppress the frustration in his heart. He abruptly stopped. Before he had time to turn around, Kanroji Noe failed to avoid him and rammed straight into his back.
Apart from the impact against his forehead, he also felt two soft masses press against him.
Something strange stirred within Han Zhiqi's cold heart. He turned, his gaze carrying a trace of anger as he looked at Kanroji Noe, only for his eyes to inadvertently fall on her full chest.
He was both annoyed and flustered, and his cheeks grew hot. He hurriedly raised his head and looked elsewhere.
He could not understand how a girl of seventeen or eighteen could develop like that.
Fortunately, Kanroji Noe had kept her head lowered and did not notice his embarrassment.
Han Zhiqi took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said in his usual cold tone, "Why are you following me?"
Kanroji Noe jumped in fright, her body trembling slightly. Even when faced with Han Zhiqi's question, she still did not dare raise her head. Stammering, she said, "I... I don't know who else to follow. He... they don't want to be with me."
They don't want to be with you? As if I want to be with you?
Why are women all so troublesome?
"We're taking part in the Demon Slayer Corps selection, not making friends. Why do you have to stay with someone?"
"So you're willing to be friends with me?" Kanroji Noe suddenly raised her head, clasped her hands together, and revealed an excited expression.
She suddenly lunged forward, nearly hitting Han Zhiqi under the chin. Fortunately, he dodged in time and narrowly escaped disaster.
But this woman's train of thought still left him utterly dumbfounded. How bizarre did it have to be for her to connect that to making friends? Could she not tell he was indirectly rejecting her?
Besides, the words "making friends" had only slipped out casually. They did not even count as an excuse to brush her off.
Before you continue