The Final Selection Ends

Hiruma placed his hands on Giyu's shoulders, looking him straight in the eye, and said with utmost seriousness:

"Will you let me finish, okay?"

"Mmm-hmm!" Giyu nodded repeatedly. It was the first time someone had been so eager to talk to him, and Hiruma was automatically categorized as a good friend.

He noticed the demon-quelling mask from Sabito hanging on the other person's head, so he naturally hung his own demon-quelling mask on the other side.

This sudden action surprised Hiruma. Did Giyu accept me?

I haven't even started yet, okay?

He let out a subtle sigh, his mood for storytelling gone. He decided to get straight to the point and asked:

"Did your sister save your life only for you to die?"

"If you don't care about your own life, what does your sister's effort mean?"

"If Mr. Urokodaki, Makomo, and Sabito knew you harbored such thoughts, wouldn't they be heartbroken?"

Under the barrage of three questions, Giyu froze. He stared at Hiruma with disbelief, not understanding how he knew him so well.

Beyond the shock, Giyu lowered his head somewhat ashamed, and he couldn't help but ask himself:

Sister, am I doing the wrong thing?

Hiruma patted Giyu's shoulder and said earnestly, "Giyu, those who dwell on the past cannot grasp the future!"

"Your future is not just your future; it's also your sister's, and the future of those around you."

"Think carefully. If you were to die, they would be sad."

As he spoke, Hiruma pointed at Sabito, with a hint of playful intimidation, saying:

"If you were to die, Sabito might even stop wielding his sword. After all, he's a person who values loyalty and righteousness; it's inevitable he'd be devastated by the death of his dear friend!"

"You also said Sabito is very strong. You wouldn't want him to fall into despair because of you, would you?"

Giyu stared blankly at Hiruma, feeling that what he said made a lot of sense. If that happened, it would be truly terrible.

"Also, didn't I save your life?"

"Mmm-hmm!" Giyu nodded like a pecking chicken. "Thank you!"

"So, if you keep not cherishing your life, it's going to cause me a lot of trouble!"

"Sigh!"

Hiruma lowered his gaze, looking utterly heartbroken.

"I will train hard and try my best not to die!" Giyu said with utmost sincerity, his eyes burning with resolve, as if he had finally found his life's direction.

"Very good!" Hiruma nodded with satisfaction. He cleared his throat a few times and said, "So, can you lend me your rations?"

"Your good buddy here is starving to death!"

"Please, help yourself!" Giyu handed over his pack without hesitation, obediently like a little lamb, while behind Hiruma, the phantom image of a cunning big bad wolf appeared.

He had said what he needed to say. How much Giyu had absorbed was irrelevant, as Hiruma was about to eat.

"Rations!"

"Rations!"

"Hooray for rations! o(￣▽￣)o"

Giyu hugged his Nichirin Blade and muttered:

"I will strive to become stronger and will absolutely not disappoint my friends or master!"

"I will seize the future, taking my sister's share with me."

The next morning, Sabito felt that Giyu was different in some way, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

In any case, it seemed like a positive change.

After defeating the Hand Demon, everyone on Mount Fujikasane completely let loose, searching for demons everywhere.

Out of a hundred demons, all were eliminated except for those that had hidden in places inaccessible to humans.

Soon, it was the night of the seventh day, and the Final Selection was nearing its end.

A group of youths sat around a bonfire, starting to boast about their achievements.

"I killed a total of fifteen demons this time. How about that, impressive, hahaha!" Kyojuro puffed out his chest, like a lion.

"I also killed fifteen, but one of them was the strongest Hand Demon!" Sabito patted Kyojuro's shoulder with an expression that seemed to say, "Bro, you still need to train."

"Wow, amazing! (??????)??" Kyojuro gave him a thumbs-up and suggested a spar, which Sabito readily accepted.

Before long, water and fire clashed violently. Hiruma quickly shielded the grilled fish by the bonfire with his body and shot them both a glare, complaining:

"Hey! Go fight somewhere else, don't ruin my fish!"

"Hey! How many demons did you actually kill?"

Iguro Obanai stared intently at Hiruma and asked. He himself had killed twenty demons and was practically digging three feet into the ground searching for more.

Hiruma scratched his head. He didn't really want to compete with these guys, but when he helped Sabito deal with the Hand Demon, he had accidentally killed ten demons.

He scratched his head and chuckled, "About thirty, hahahaha!"

"I'm eating fish, you do as you please!"

"Wait, let's eat later, shall we spar?" Iguro Obanai's mouth twitched slightly as he dragged the loudly shouting Hiruma to the side.

"Wait!"

"I'm not full yet, are you a masochist!"

"Let go of me!"

"Mommy said fighting isn't something good kids do!"

"You're an orphan, you don't have a mom!" Iguro Obanai delivered the final blow without mercy, and Hiruma almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Can you believe what he's saying?

"Jealousy, you're just jealous of my power!"

Under the starry sky, the four boys bickered noisily, while only Murata and Giyu sat quietly by the campfire.

Murata felt like a bronze player who had stumbled into a king-tier match, his head spinning. He muttered to himself:

Are these guys even human?

Are demons this weak?

Seeing Giyu remain silent, he leaned in and asked, "Giyu, how many demons did you kill?"

"Forgot, maybe over ten!"

Murata was stunned.

Seriously, are you guys here for the selection, or to go grocery shopping?

There are this many demons on the mountain?

Murata was greatly shocked. He felt like a wilted eggplant, silently shifting his backside and feeling dejected.

Giyu glanced at the figures flashing in the distance, then looked back at Murata and asked:

"Shall we spar?"

Murata stared at Giyu in disbelief. Me and you?

Are you sure you're not joking?

"Why?"

"Because it'll make us fit in."

Murata shook his head frantically, refusing at lightning speed, because sparring with these guys would kill him.

Suddenly, a gust of wind from a blade struck, overturning the campfire and scattering it like starlight.

Murata's heart nearly stopped from fright; he was completely numb.

I shouldn't have shamelessly stayed with these guys!

Mom, save me!

I really want to run away! 🏃💨

Soon, Murata shook his head; he didn't want to be looked down upon.

In contrast, Giyu slowly ate his grilled fish, even remembering to save a few for Hiruma, who he recalled saying he wasn't full.

Tired from fighting, the boys lay sprawled on the grass and fell asleep.

Giyu held his grilled fish, quietly gazing at the starry sky.

Murata, meanwhile, silently kept watch for these monstrously strong guys.

As the sky began to turn the color of a duck's egg, the first ray of dawn pierced through the clouds, illuminating the quiet Mount Fujikasane.

The Final Selection was over.