He turned and walked deeper into the forest.
"Let's go, we still have many experiments to do."
The young swordsman stood there, watching his retreating figure, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
He didn't know who this person was.
But he knew one thing: this person was perhaps more terrifying than a ghost.
Mount Fujikasane, night.
Higashino Makoto killed three demons and tracked down their souls.
Each time, Huginn gave the same answer--
Underground.
It was very deep underground, beyond the range of perception.
He marked several young swordsmen, and if they died, Huginn would track their souls.
But he didn't live to see them die.
It's not because I don't want to, but because there's no need.
Because he discovered something else.
After temporarily changing their race to "Primal Earth Elemental" and "Primal Fire Elemental," they used teleportation magic to sink, sink, and sink...
After reaching deeper underground, and finally seeing hell, Higashino Makoto finally discovered something different.
It's like someone with severe myopia suddenly putting on glasses; the world suddenly becomes clear.
Rather, it is a kind of existence.
A faint, ethereal energy that covered the entire sky and earth, like a thin mist.
It rises from every corner of the earth, from every mountain, every river, every city, and from every person.
They converge in the sky, forming a vast ocean with no visible boundaries.
The ocean is flowing, much like the rhythm of time itself flowing.
"God."
Higashino Makoto spoke softly.
"Or rather, something akin to God."
He closed his eyes and extended his senses into the ocean.
Then, it was as if he saw it.
In the realm of soul perception...
That ocean is a collection of human consciousness.
Every person's thoughts, feelings, desires, and fears are there.
They come together, intertwine, and influence each other, forming a huge, unconscious yet instinctive energy cluster.
It has no thoughts, no feelings, no self.
But it reacted.
When enough people believe that "good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell," it creates heaven and hell.
When people believe that "a family that produces ghosts should be Curse," the Curse is cast.
When people believe that "ghosts are afraid of sunlight," the ghosts that are born are indeed afraid of sunlight.
It is not some kind of "god".
It is something composed of the human subconscious and some more powerful, yet unconscious energy.
It is an unconscious entity formed by the convergence of the subconsciousness of countless people and an entity that could perhaps be called "Gaia," yet possesses the power to change the world.
"Alaya..."
"Higashino Makoto," he said in a low voice.
"Or perhaps Gaia? Akashic Records?"
He opened his eyes, his golden eyes gleaming with a complex light.
"I see."
Momo looked at him.
"Cheng-san, what did you discover?"
"I've simply discovered... that some of the gods in this world are actually humankind itself."
Higashino Makoto spoke calmly.
"Good people go to heaven because humans believe good people should go to heaven. Evil people go to hell because humans believe evil people should go to hell. The Ubuyashiki Family is Curse because humans believe they deserve to be Curse."
He paused.
"Ghosts are afraid of sunlight because humans believe that evil spirits should not appear under the sun."
Momo's brows furrowed slightly.
"But it's a fact that ghosts eat people, people are afraid of ghosts, and ghosts are afraid of sunlight."
"Facts are facts. But the fact that ghosts fear sunlight is not just a fact, it's a rule."
Higashino Makoto turned around and gazed at the unseen "ocean".
"Humans believe that ghosts are afraid of sunlight, therefore ghosts are afraid of sunlight. If one day, everyone stops believing or hoping for this, perhaps ghosts will no longer be afraid of sunlight."
He fell silent.
An idea is taking shape in my mind.
This "god" is a being formed from the collective subconscious of humanity, without consciousness, yet possessing the power to change the world.
If we can borrow...
No, it's not borrowing.
It's guidance.
If he can make humans believe in something, this "god" will make that thing happen.
For example, making people believe that "Muzan Kibutsuji should be reduced to ashes in the darkness".
For example, making people believe that "the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps cannot die."
For example, making people believe that "Higashino Makoto is the master of this world".
He shook his head, suppressing the thought for the time being.
"Momo."
"Exist."
"Make a note of it."
Momo took out her notebook and opened it.
Higashino Makoto cleared his throat and began to dictate.
"New World Exploration Log - Second World - Supplement"
"World Characteristics: The existence of a collective human subconscious, similar to an energy body like Alaya / Gaia, covering the entire Earth. It lacks self-awareness but can alter the rules of the world based on the collective human subconscious."
Current findings suggest that rules such as "heaven," "hell," "Curse," and "ghosts' fear of sunlight" were all created by the collective unconscious of humanity.
"Future plans: Explore how to interact with the collective human unconscious and find ways to guide it."
He paused.
"Recording complete."
Momo closed her notebook.
"Cheng-san, what are you planning to do?"
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time.
"No rush."
He finally said.
"Take a look first, and then we'll talk about it."
He turned around and walked down the mountain.
"Let's go, it's time to head back."
Momo followed behind him, followed by the three butterfly sisters.
After taking a few steps, Higashino Makoto stopped without turning back.
"Oh, right."
"Um?"
That selection system... it's a complete mess.
Shinobu Kocho's lips twitched slightly.
"What—what did you say?"
"I say, that selection system is a complete mess."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Surviving seven days in a mountain teeming with ghosts. Those who survive aren't necessarily the strongest; they might just be lucky or good at running away. How can you possibly select a good swordsman from that?"
He paused.
"Furthermore, you know perfectly well that ghosts become stronger by eating humans, yet you don't periodically clean up those stronger ghosts. It's a miracle that this selection ritual has existed for a thousand years."
Shinobu Kocho opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't say anything.
Because he's right.
Kanae Kocho lowered her head, her purple eyes gleaming with a complex light.
"Mr. Higashino."
"Um."
"You're right. This system definitely has problems."
"Knowing there's a problem, why not fix it?"
Because everyone thinks this is normal.
Kanae Kocho's voice was very soft.
"The Demon Slayer Corps needs fresh blood, it needs people willing to die, and it needs to achieve the greatest results with the least cost."
"Minimum cost?"
Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at her.
How many people participate in the selection process each year?
Approximately twenty people.
How many survived?
Five to six people.
"That means fourteen to fifteen people die here every year."
"Yes."
"Do these people know they're actually sending themselves to their deaths?"
Kanae Kocho silent.
"Know."
She finally said.
But they still came.
"Why?"
"Because they want to protect others. They want to protect their families, their friends, and even strangers."
Her voice was very soft.
"They knew they might die, but they still came."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for a long time, then simply shook his head.
Then he turned around and continued walking.
"Incomprehensible, they're like a bunch of idiots."
His voice was very soft.
Kanae Kocho watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Yeah, a bunch of idiots."
She lifted her skirt and followed him.