This directly led to an outcome unprecedented in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps, one that could only be called utterly absurd...
Nearly every participant in this Final Selection returned, apart from a few fools who could not find their way back, and the pass rate reached a staggering one hundred percent!
In the countless Final Selections held by the Demon Slayer Corps in the past, the survival rate had often been chillingly low.
Instances of more than half the participants dying, or even none surviving, had been all too common!
Who knew how many young lives the wisteria on Mount Fujikasane had witnessed withering away?
This time, however, there was Kirishima Bupai, a super cheat who had appeared out of nowhere.
Participants who should have been torn to pieces on the first night, or broken down in fear and despair, had miraculously been given a "free pass" to the finish line.
Their pale, exhausted faces were now filled with the wild joy of surviving a disaster as they clapped one another on the shoulders and hugged in excited celebration.
Kirishima Bupai casually adjusted the collar of his black trench coat, his cold gaze sweeping over the survivors behind him, who looked as though they had already won.
He scoffed inwardly.
Had he not swept through the dangers of Mount Fujikasane like a gale, these people would long since have become meals for demons.
What could people so lacking in strength and resolve do after getting into the Demon Slayer Corps? Probably little more than provide backup or handle logistics.
If they went to the front lines, they would merely die for nothing. Their clumsiness and incompetence might even drag their teammates down and cause greater casualties.
"Hmph."
A barely audible snort escaped his nose, and a thought had already taken shape in his mind.
Once he smoothly rose to the rank of Hashira on the strength of this overwhelmingly dominant performance...
He would have to arrange some unforgettable "special attention" for these lucky ones!
He would let them get a proper taste of Hashira-level instruction in the Demon Slayer Corps!
After all, only that would allow them to survive the later battle at Infinity Castle.
The seven days were up, and the morning sun was rising.
All the survivors gathered once more before the enormous torii gate on Mount Fujikasane, entwined with thousand-year-old wisteria.
The air was filled with the exhaustion of having survived a disaster and an indescribable sense of relief.
The twin sisters, with identical purple eyes and the same hime-cut hairstyles, had long been waiting there quietly.
Dressed in the Demon Slayer Corps' standard white tops and purple hakama skirts, their expressions were as calm and unchanging as those of exquisite dolls.
It was as though the young people before them, who had undergone a trial of life and death, had nothing to do with them.
The white-haired girl spoke first, her voice clear and calm, like a mountain spring. "Congratulations, everyone."
The black-haired girl continued seamlessly, her tone utterly flat. "You have successfully passed the Final Selection."
The two coordinated perfectly, as though they shared one mind, clearly having rehearsed countless times.
Relieved smiles appeared on every survivor's face as they cheered softly or high-fived one another.
Tanjiro also let out a long breath, a smile of heartfelt relief appearing on his face.
The white-haired girl continued, "Next."
"We will introduce you to the Demon Slayer Corps."
The information covered little more than the Demon Slayer Corps' ranking system, what a Hashira was, and how the Corps operated.
Once the introduction was over, the two raised their slender, fair hands together and clapped softly three times.
"Caw-! Caw, caw-!"
The crisp clapping had barely faded when a flurry of rapid, loud caws rang out overhead.
Everyone looked up to see more than twenty crows, each noticeably larger than an ordinary crow, with glossy, jet-black feathers...
Even their eyes were sharp as hooks. Beating their strong, powerful wings, they swooped toward the candidates with precision, like a moving shadow.
They moved with agility, brimming with intelligence and strength.
Yet among these imposing black messengers was a tiny sparrow with light brown feathers.
It looked particularly scrawny, and even its wingbeats were somewhat clumsy and labored.
It was therefore completely out of place among the crows, like an inconspicuous pebble dropped into a black lake.
The white-haired girl explained at just the right moment, "These birds descending upon us are Kasugai Crows."
The black-haired girl said, "From now on, they will be your indispensable communication partners in the Demon Slayer Corps."
The white-haired girl said, "The delivery of all important intelligence..."
The black-haired girl said, "And the issuing of mission orders..."
The white-haired girl said, "Will all be handled by your Kasugai Crows."
Before she had finished speaking, the circling flock of Kasugai Crows swooped down as though they had received precise instructions.
Within a few breaths, they landed steadily on their chosen owners' shoulders, arms, or heads.
Their movements were swift and precise.
Zenitsu rubbed his hands together nervously and expectantly, even the Nichirin Blade at his waist swaying slightly with his excitement.
He imagined a magnificent great crow perched on his shoulder, with lightning-sharp eyes and a resounding caw. Now that would be worthy of him!
Reality, however, dealt him a heavy blow.
The scrawny brown sparrow, which looked too frail to withstand a breeze, fluttered crookedly a few times before finally landing shakily on the tip of his outstretched index finger.
It even wobbled from its unsteady footing, letting out a few chirps so faint they were almost inaudible.
The anticipation on Zenitsu's face instantly froze.
Slowly and stiffly, he lowered his head, staring wide-eyed at the little thing on his fingertip that was not even as big as his palm...
At the sight, he jerked his head back up and looked around. A sharp-eyed black crow stood firmly on Tanjiro's shoulder.
Though Genya's crow had somewhat ruffled feathers, it was sturdily built and was glaring fiercely at him.
Even the taciturn Kanao Tsuyuri had appeared in the square at some point and was standing quietly to one side.
She still wore that faint, empty, doll-like smile, and a graceful, jet-black Kasugai Crow perched on her arm.
Only him! Only he, Zenitsu, had been assigned a little sparrow that looked as though a gust of wind could blow it away!
"Aaaaaah-!!!"
Zenitsu's scream instantly shattered the morning stillness.
He cupped the little sparrow in both hands, his eyes bulging as he teetered on the verge of a breakdown. "Why?! Why is it a sparrow?!"
"Did you get something wrong?! Where's my crow? Where's one of those big, imposing crows with a loud caw?!"
"Did you run out of crows?! Why are you giving me a sparrow-?!!!"
He desperately shook the innocent little creature in his palms, his voice thick with tears. "It's so tiny! It's not even as big as my fist!"
"How is it supposed to cross countless mountains and rivers to deliver intelligence?! A wild boar will eat it halfway there!"
Just as he said that, in the forest atop the mountain...
A muscular boy wearing a boar-head mask and holding two blades covered in nicks suddenly sneezed.
"Waaaaah! Who was that? Who?! Who the hell is bad-mouthing me?!"
Before you continue