"Oi, did you two not sleep well last night?"
The next day.
Xia Xi was somewhat surprised by the dazed-looking sisters before him.
I didn't secretly put them through training last night, either.
And my [Camping] skill clearly speeds up recovery while resting outdoors.
Why do these two look like they stayed up all night?
Shinobu Kocho stubbornly retorted, "None of your business, Big Radish!"
Kanae deftly changed the subject. "It's all right, Xia Xi. Please continue what you were teaching us."
Xia Xi gave the two a suspicious look.
Only then did he resume explaining the changes to this selection.
The overall selection process remained unchanged: candidates still had to survive seven days at the trial grounds.
But the focus.
Had shifted from looking only at the results to placing greater emphasis on the selection process.
Invigilators like Xia Xi would adjust the final results based on the details they observed during the selection.
First, they were to ensure every prospective recruit's safety while interfering with the candidates' selection as little as possible.
Even those whose strength fell short did not need to die here.
They could either be sent back to train again and try next year.
Or the examiners could determine whether they were truly unqualified or had simply been a little unlucky.
They also had to score each candidate.
Candidates who betrayed their companions or hid in the wisteria areas to scrape through the seven-day selection.
Would all be failed.
For those who slew demons normally, the examiners needed to assess their actual strength, performance in the field, and even the potential they displayed.
Were they material for ordinary members, or promising candidates who might reach Kinoe or even become one of the Nine Hashira?
For those who encountered demons they could not defeat but still