By midday, the participants in this trial began entering the mountain forest one after another.
Kanzaki Kumo made a rough count. There were just over twenty of them, about as many as when he had participated. Kanae, Giyu, and Sabito were all among them.
One difference was that none of the three wore the warding masks Sakonji Urokodaki had made.
The pain the Hand Demon incident had brought the old man made him unwilling to create such distinctive items anymore. He had replaced them with small things that were easy to carry, such as the protective charms tucked into the three participants' pockets.
Kanzaki Kumo and Makomo had no intention of going over to greet them for the moment. They were examiners, after all; they could hardly make an open show of being close to the candidates.
Besides, judging by how the three were moving as a team, the two of them would have little need to worry about them during their days on Mount Fujikasane.
By Kanzaki Kumo's estimate, even Kanae, whose strength was relatively lacking at this point, could pass the Final Selection alone.
The only things to worry about were the nerves and other emotions they might experience when facing Demons for the first time.
And just how much power they could bring out of their familiar techniques when they saw the Demons' faces, made all the more hideous by the darkness.
In particular, Kanae's mindset now differed from that in the original story. Having never experienced the loss of her family, did she possess the courage and resolve to face Demons?
Even though he had tested her before, Kanzaki Kumo still could not rest easy.
While he was thinking about these things, Kanae seemed to sense his gaze and looked around, but the angle prevented her