Lake Ashi

Among the mountains near Hakone.

A forest of green pines and cedars surrounded a clear volcanic lake. Beneath the moonlight, the reflection of distant Mount Fuji flickered on the water.

Lake Ashi.

It was also one of the properties belonging to the Ubuyashiki financial empire.

But compared with other scenic locations, this place served an additional purpose.

It was a venue for the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection.

Along with Mount Fujikasane, Kurobe Gorge, and other locations, it served as a site for the final trial through which the Demon Slayer Corps recruited new members.

"More people came to take the test this year than usual."

"Isn't that a good thing? The more of us there are, the easier it'll be to deal with those damned demons."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Don't upset Lord Shenli."

In front of the torii gate by the lake, several young men with cloth covering their faces whispered among themselves.

They were [Kakushi].

The Demon Slayer Corps' logistical support unit.

They handled battlefield cleanup, follow-up support, intelligence delivery, and all other auxiliary tasks.

That also included maintaining the grounds for the [Final Selection].

Standing in front of them was a young man with a cool, detached air.

A simple ebony hairpin loosely secured his hair at the back of his head, with several white strands falling over his shoulders. He wore a pure white ritual robe and hakama.

Over those, he wore a dark purple haori.

Shenli Yanshou.

A priest of Hakone Shrine from the Shenli family, which had maintained close ties with the Ubuyashiki Clan for generations.

He was also the older cousin of Kamagari Amane, now Lady Ubuyashiki.

Today, however, he was here as the officiant of this Final Selection.

Since ancient times, the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection had usually been presided over by Ubuyashiki or members of the family in person.

But now that the Ubuyashiki Family had grown increasingly small, this highly ceremonial selection had to be entrusted to other priestly families close to them.

Shenli Yanshou wasn't particularly fond of the Ubuyashiki Family.

But his family's wishes, together with his disgust for demons, compelled him.

He still took on this responsibility, watching swordsmen-some children, others young adults-head into the mountains to risk their lives.

He acted as though he hadn't heard the Kakushi whispering behind him.

Instead, he watched the several wooden boats slowly approaching through the darkness.

"It seems this is the last group."

Seeing several swordsmen of varying heights disembark, he focused on them for a moment before striding forward.

"So this is the Final Selection site that bargain-bin master of mine mentioned?"

As soon as he stepped off the boat, Xia Xi looked around curiously.

A torii gate, wisteria, a few weirdos with covered faces, and a religious charlatan...

As for the other candidates around him-

[He Dao Shota (Energy level: 27)] Firefire Breathing LV.2

[Kitetu Saburo (Energy level: 31)] Water Breathing LV.1

[Shusui Reiko (Energy level: 22)] Water Breathing LV.1

[Amaha Zan (Energy level: 19)] Thunder Breathing LV.1

Every last one of them looked like an expert, with deep-seated grudges and a whole tragic history written across their face.

But in reality, of the twenty-odd candidates, he could count those with an energy level above 30 on one hand.

And only one had a Breathing Style at [LV.2: Basic proficiency].

Compared with Xia Xi's own stats, which were already approaching the 40 mark, and his LV.2 Breathing Style, the other candidates could only be described as small fry.

He hadn't been all that confident before.

But after seeing the others in his intake, wasn't this practically in the bag?

As he saw it, if an organization that fought monsters wanted to recruit new members, its selection pass rate had to roughly match its casualty rate.

Only by keeping recruitment roughly equal to deaths could the organization avoid rapidly declining under the strain of high-casualty operations.

Xia Xi figured the pass rate was probably above 60 percent.

The Demon Slayer Corps numbered in the hundreds, with a death rate above half. Even excluding the bulk of its support personnel-

They would probably still need close to a hundred new swordsmen every year.

Five selection sites, with a selection held every six months...

They would need around ten people to pass each time just to barely "balance the books."

In other words, nearly half the candidates in this selection would be eliminated.

Xia Xi mulled it over.

Using the demon he'd encountered a few days earlier as a reference, these candidates could probably defeat one by ganging up on it in groups of two or three.

If there were multiple demons, then there would indeed be some casualties.

He turned his attention to the examiners ahead.

[Yamanaka (Energy level: 11)] Stone Breathing LV.0

[Akimichi (Energy level: 18)] Wind Breathing LV.1

[Nara (Energy level: 9)] Water Breathing LV.0

[Shenli Yanshou (Energy level: 6)]

They were even weaker than these Swordsman candidates...

The head examiner is just an ordinary person. So they're not going to bother with safety or order during the test at all?

While Xia Xi was still grumbling inwardly, Shenli, whom he'd judged to be an [ordinary person], cleared his throat and spoke.

"Young swordsmen, thank you for gathering here tonight."

"You now stand at a crossroads of fate. Ahead lies Lake Ashi-the site of your final trial."

"I will now explain the rules."

"This area is surrounded by a wisteria flower barrier that blooms year-round. Within it are many demons captured alive by Demon Slayer swordsmen."

"But rest assured, they can never escape these mountains."

"Your task is to survive in these mountains for seven days."

"If you can leave this place after seven days, you will have passed the selection."

Shenli Yanshou's gaze swept across the faces of the swordsmen before him.

They were all young.

The youngest looked barely over ten.

But regardless of their age, not one showed the slightest intention of backing down.

"The wisteria is both a barrier and a cage. The demons cannot escape, and you must fight them here."

"If you feel you cannot continue, you may abandon the selection at any time and return to this torii gate."

"But whatever you choose, please remember this."

"Hold fast to your blade, and stand firm in your heart."

With that, he stepped aside, revealing the path behind the torii gate that gradually disappeared into the darkness.

"Lastly, may fortune favor you in battle!"

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Every one of them had endured at least six months of harsh training under a cultivator, and almost all bore an irreconcilable hatred for those man-eating demons.

But the unknown and the dark meant danger. That instinct was etched into human genes.

Especially after the officiant's speech, which had all but equated these wisteria-ringed mountains with a land of death.

They weren't about to back out, but they at least needed a few deep breaths to prepare themselves before daring to enter.

That was what all the swordsmen present thought.

Except...

"You guys aren't going in? Then I'll head in first."

Xia Xi drew his Nichirin Blade, gave the others a casual greeting, and strode through the torii gate without looking back.

This was a PvE survival match, not real-life PvP against these swordsmen.

Xia Xi couldn't muster even the slightest nervousness.

Instead, he was overwhelmed by an eagerness to rush inside and farm monsters.

A bunch of demons trapped by wisteria?

This was nothing short of a high-experience event dungeon.

If he didn't hurry in, was he supposed to wait for the other candidates to steal his mobs and experience?

But after only a few steps, Xia Xi stopped short and turned toward Shenli in his priestly robes.

"Oh, right, examiner. If I kill every demon in these mountains... you won't make me pay for them, will you?"

As he saw it, killing all the demons meant destroying all the test equipment.

Shenli paused, slightly taken aback.

Examiner? Is that some regional slang?

"If you can accomplish that, then of course there is no problem."

Though he didn't quite understand Xia Xi's terminology, he still nodded slightly. "These man-eating demons feel no pain. Even if you kill them all, it won't matter."

"Other Demon Slayer swordsmen regularly capture demons to replenish their numbers."

Only then did Xia Xi relax.

Now he could farm monsters to his heart's content.

He continued down the path, his figure disappearing completely into the darkness.

Perhaps Xia Xi's words and behavior were too unconventional for this era, or perhaps his steps into the trial grounds had been too resolute.

The remaining swordsmen exchanged glances, and most of their tension immediately faded.

Then, one after another, they passed through the torii gate.

Once all the swordsmen had entered, the priest tilted his head toward one of the Kakushi. "Yamanaka, who was that boy who went in first?"

The Kakushi leafed through the roster in his hands.

Then he recalled the handsome boy's appearance.

After a moment, he said, "Blue-black hair tips, an ornament tied at his waist, and that Nichirin Blade... he should be the swordsman trained by Mr. Kazami Kōgi."

"Kurumazuka Natsumi. Wind Breathing Style."

"Both his parents died at the hands of mountain bandits. Later, when the younger sister he'd depended on was killed in a demon attack, Mr. Kazami happened to pass by and saved him."

"He has trained under Mr. Kazami for about a year."

The priest nodded.

A hint of tenderness entered his voice. "Another poor child left all alone because of demons?"

His last remaining family member had been killed by a demon.

So even knowing that hell lay ahead, he advanced without hesitation.

He had even declared that he would wipe out every demon in the mountains.

Such strength and confidence.

"Achoo!"

Xia Xi, who had only just entered the mountains, couldn't help sneezing.