Does always having been this way make it right?

"The boss has been attacked! Lock the place down!"

The chaotic throng of demons stirred. Several demons discovered in horror that their boss, who had been standing among them all along, had somehow already crumbled to ash and drifted away.

A young man in black with a fox mask perched on his head was watching them calmly, a demon's head dangling from his hand.

It was now the second day since Lu You had entered Mount Fujikasane.

Lu You had begun a systematic slaughter across the mountain.

This was the second organized group of man-eating demons he had encountered during this time.

After being captured and brought to Mount Fujikasane, these demons had also sought ways to survive and even grow stronger.

And so organized groups of man-eating demons like these would surround one or two examinees at once and overwhelm them with numbers.

Devouring these swordsman candidates provided more nourishment than eating ordinary people and helped them survive longer in this cage.

"The Demon Slayer Corps doesn't regularly clear out Mount Fujikasane, which lets monsters rise to the top of this killing ground."

Lu You understood perfectly well that even without such monsters, ordinary Corps members would struggle against several demons attacking at once.

Let alone newcomers.

So those who ultimately survived either had good luck or strength far beyond that of a newcomer.

"A mere human dares look down on us!"

His nonchalant attitude thoroughly enraged the demons. They sprang up like jumping spiders, their scarlet eyes cold and their five claws sharp, and lunged at Lu You.

Clang! A clear, resonant ring of steel sounded through the dense forest. A flowing azure water dragon surged upward, its faint roar instantly stunning the demons as a cold gleam swept past.

The rain filling the air dispersed.

Several heads dropped from above, blood falling like rain.

Lu You stood unmoving, slowly sheathing his blade.

Gulp... An examinee who happened upon the scene swallowed involuntarily and tightened his grip on his sword.

"Is he a monster?!"

In two days, Lu You had already cleared nearly half of Mount Fujikasane and encountered many other Corps candidates, but just as he had expected, there really were no Demon Slayer Corps personnel stationed here.

"This really is cruel."

They truly selected Corps members solely on their ability to survive, without even a way to withdraw. It was even less humane than the demons' selection process.

Ignoring the stunned person nearby, Lu You vanished from where he stood.

The surrounding trees raced backward.

He was searching for that mutated demon, the man-eater Sakonji Urokodaki had captured and brought to Mount Fujikasane, who had since kept attacking the inheritors of Water Breathing.

The demon was enormous. As long as he searched carefully, he wasn't worried about failing to find him.

This was his main target on this trip.

Nothing would be more convincing than a man-eating demon whose strength far exceeded that of ordinary demons.

Mount Fujikasane had already become a breeding ground where monsters devoured one another.

For another half day, Lu You continued his indiscriminate slaughter with his sword in hand.

He occasionally stopped to rest, slowing down a little.

"Please wait!"

As he strolled along, a call came from behind him.

A young man dressed in black emerged from the bushes, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his forehead.

He had a short tuft of mustache beneath his nostrils, like a toothbrush, a thin face, and a crimson Nichirin Blade at his waist.

"Sir, please wait. Please, please hear me out."

"I have some time right now. Go ahead."

"We want to follow you!

During this time, I saw that you intended to clear out all of Mount Fujikasane. As examinees, we've benefited from your kindness and are no longer in danger of dying...

So we want to repay you!

We know you're powerful and will surely become a Hashira someday, but that's precisely why we hope to offer you some help when you're tired.

Demons slaughtered our families, but we're weak, and we don't know how far we'll be able to go in the future...

But you could definitely accomplish more."

The young man's expression was sincere, every word heartfelt.

Except that his little mustache looked rather funny.

Lu You noticed the "we" he had used.

"Yes, sir, we're here. Cough, cough."

Another group of young men and women emerged from the woods, their faces sallow and somewhat nervous.

First, the food here was poor. Second, trying to catch up with Lu You just now had nearly exhausted them.

Once everyone had emerged, there were about a dozen of them.

Lu You regarded them with interest.

"Do you know what I intend to do?"

They exchanged glances. We have no idea!

In the end, their leader cautiously asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"I want to change the Demon Slayer Corps' examination system, so I'm going to clear out Mount Fujikasane, even if it means offending the Corps' Oyakata-sama and those Hashira-level swordsmen. Are you sure you want to follow me?"

Lu You concealed nothing.

These people would be a considerable help, though that had nothing to do with their strength. It was mainly about their collective influence.

More or less every one of them had a cultivator behind them, and the potential influence that brought was considerable.

At those words, everyone fell somewhat silent.

"But my master said this examination system was established a thousand years ago and has never changed."

Someone spoke timidly.

"Does always having been this way make it right?"

Lu You answered mildly, yet his words struck like thunder.

[Does always having been this way make it right? Your thought-provoking statement has earned the deep appreciation of template-Yuji Itadori. Template Synchronization Value +2%]

Once again, the young man with the short mustache was the first to step forward. He raised his left hand high and addressed the silent others:

"Everyone, I have something to say. Please hear me out!

I know that all of us have pasts we cannot speak of, and our hatred for demons surges endlessly like towering waves.

Over all these years, so many people like us died horribly on Mount Fujikasane before they could avenge themselves.

I don't think that's right!

At least, at least let us die on the way to slay demons! At least let us contribute something! But they never got to do either!

This gentleman has such noble intentions. What reason do we have not to follow him?

If the day truly comes when someone must answer for this, I, Xijing, will be the first to lie down in a burial shroud!"

Sieg heil!!!

"You're right!"

"I agree with Xijing! I'm willing too!"

Everyone responded fervently.

Even Lu You was left stunned.

This young man named Xijing was quite a talent.

"In that case, follow me."

Since they had offered themselves, Lu You naturally wouldn't refuse. The group swept forward in force, beginning to clear all of Mount Fujikasane. Wherever they went, every demon was wiped out.

Boom!!!

Three days later, a tremendous impact shattered the stones on the ground and sent dust flying everywhere. Several bluish-green arms stretched out of the shrouding yellow haze, intent on killing the three sword-wielders.

"Watch out!"

Xijing shouted in concern and raised his Nichirin Blade. Sparks scattered with his breathing, and his body arched like a sharp sword poised to strike.

"Flame Breathing-Second Form: Flame Heaven Ascension!"

Brilliant orange flames erupted. Wrapped in blazing fire, the blade leaped upward like a rising dragon punch, slashing viciously at the hideous bluish-green arm.

"A bunch of brats! You're asking to die!"

Crack! A clear metallic clang rang out.

Xijing's Nichirin Blade snapped cleanly, leaving him dumbfounded.

This thing's arms are so hard!

And that wasn't all. Several more arms suddenly shot out in every direction, whistling through the air with biting gusts and punching through every tree in their path.

Amid the dust, an enormous monster slowly revealed himself. His entire body was grayish-green, his rough surface covered in rocklike patterns, with a texture as hard as armor.

Long arms wound around his several-meter-tall body, and his pupils resembled a snake's. He looked just like a mountain-sized Ryoko the big eater.

The monster that had risen to the top of Mount Fujikasane's killing ground-the Hand Demon!

"This is the one Lord You was looking for!"

"Attack together! We can't let them die for nothing!"

The people caught in those arms shouted furiously, "Don't worry about us! Hurry and pin him down!"

Several more figures leaped up, trying to sever the arms as thick as tree trunks.

"What's going on? Why are there groups of Demon Slayers on Mount Fujikasane? How strange."

Though the newly awakened Hand Demon was puzzled, he still revealed a cruel smile.

"But it's a good thing. They'll feed me for a long time."

Their swords couldn't cut through the armor he had assembled from layers upon layers of arms, much less reach his neck.

Thank you for the meal...

"Source Breathing-First Form Beginning!"

An indifferent voice sounded from all around.

A cold glint pierced the void, rapidly growing larger in the Hand Demon's eyes. This was a strike born from nothing. It had no attribute and no special effects, only an approaching cold gleam.

It was existence, and it was nothingness.

It could not be evaded. It could not be stopped.

Clang! The blade quivered softly. Lu You abruptly appeared behind the Hand Demon, his robes fluttering as he neatly slid his sword into its sheath.

"You brat, how dare you scare..."

Splurt!

Countless jets of black blood erupted from the Hand Demon's body, showering down like rain. His overlapping arms fell away wildly, crashing to the ground and throwing up billowing dust.

The outstretched arms holding the swordsmen were sliced into several sections with smooth cuts.

Huge chunks of flesh came apart like a sliced-open orange, and the Hand Demon's expression went blank.