"Lord You, you're finally here!"
"Should we tie him up?"
"Let me, let me."
For a moment, the excited swordsmen clamored over one another.
They picked up vines and began binding the Hand Demon, who had been sliced down to a strip of dried flesh, in layer after layer, without the slightest sign of fear.
They had lost count of how many demons they had killed over the past two days. Accustomed to slaughter, they were no longer novices.
Besides, with Lu You there, they felt safe.
This demon could not cause any trouble.
"Just tie him up. I'll take him outside when the time comes."
Lu You nodded.
"That mask-you're Sakonji Urokodaki's disciple! Impossible, how could he possibly..."
As the Hand Demon struggled, buds of flesh rapidly sprouted from his torso, trying to restore his former appearance.
"Big Brother You, I don't think we can keep him tied up."
"Oh? Never mind, I'll just hold him."
There was no way Lu You would let him recover.
With a casual pluck, the Hand Demon's head came easily into his hand. The cut across the demon's neck was smooth and even, and invisible ripples surrounded his head.
Whenever the Hand Demon tried to regenerate, those faintly emerging ripples acted like blades, slicing the buds of flesh into a bloody mist.
"What the hell is this thing?!"
Utterly terrified, the Hand Demon realized that he seemed to be completely finished. He struggled to hurl insults, but before any sound emerged, his mouth and throat were shredded again.
Holding the head, Lu You looked toward the dark sky-or rather, toward the foot of the mountain.
Cleave remained active. Whenever the Hand Demon recovered even a little, countless slashes fell, erasing that flesh like an eraser.
Two days later, the Mount Fujikasane selection ended.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
"I hope more children will join this family through this selection."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat cross-legged on the platform, basking in the sunlight as he quietly awaited the Kasugai Crow's arrival. Amane Ubuyashiki stood beside him.
A tall figure knelt on one knee at the front of the courtyard. He was powerfully built, dressed in an ocher-colored monk's robe, with thick prayer beads around his neck and pale eyes.
"Namu... everything will be as you wish, Oyakata-sama."
The strongest member of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima!
"Gyomei, you're back. Did your investigation yield any results?"
"After traveling through various regions this time, I found that demons were appearing more frequently than before. Even prosperous areas harbored traces of demons. How... pitiful."
Tears streamed down Himejima's face as he pressed his palms together.
He was grieving for the countless people who had lost their lives to demons.
"Yes. Perhaps something truly will happen in this generation. I have a very strong intuition.
"But I have faith in all of you."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki gently comforted him.
Caw, caw, caw...
The cries of a Kasugai Crow rang out high overhead, and all three looked up.
The Kasugai Crow slowly descended with a letter clutched in its talons.
Amane Ubuyashiki took the envelope and unfolded the letter. Inside were the results of this year's Mount Fujikasane selection, sent back by their child, Kiriya Ubuyashiki.
Since swordsmen and Kakushi were staying by Kiriya's side, Amane was not worried that anything might happen to them.
Only...
"Lord Kagaya, something unexpected happened during the selection."
Amane's pupils contracted slightly as she spoke in some shock. She steadied herself and continued reading.
"Corps candidate You single-handedly cleared every demon from Mount Fujikasane. Presenting the head of a mutated demon, he led the twenty-four candidate swordsmen who followed him out in jointly expressing...
"Their wish to revise the final selection system at Mount Fujikasane!"
Hearing this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki suddenly felt that the sunlight was rather dazzling. His brow was deep-set and his expression unchanged, leaving his thoughts unknown.
"Namu..."
The Stone Hashira raised his head, likewise surprised, and pressed his palms tightly together, softly murmuring a prayer to Amitabha Buddha.
"Lord Kagaya, how do you think we should handle this?"
"Gyomei, what do you think?"
"The final selection at Mount Fujikasane is a system passed down for a thousand years. It concerns every member of the Demon Slayer Corps, as well as the cultivators. I cannot judge this alone...
"So I propose convening a Hashira Meeting to discuss this together."
Gyomei Himejima spoke in a deep voice.
"You're quite right, Gyomei. Let us set the date for two months from now."
"Understood."
As Himejima withdrew, Kagaya Ubuyashiki gave a soft sigh, as though releasing a breath, seeming both gratified and regretful.
"Could this truly be a person who brings change, an age of change...?"
It was a residence carved with wisteria patterns.
The courtyard held an array of wisteria flowers and ornamental rockeries, giving off a delicate fragrance and adorning the quiet cluster of buildings.
Lu You was resting there at the time.
The resident was a seventy-year-old woman with white hair and a kindly face.
She had been ordered to receive these newcomers.
"According to the rules, everyone who survives the Mount Fujikasane selection may become a full-fledged member, regardless of the methods used. Therefore, all of you have passed."
That was the conclusion the two children had reached after seeing so many people walk out of Mount Wisteria.
After all, something like this had happened before.
And that, too, had been the work of a successor to Water Breathing. It was just that there were even more people this time than last time.
Of course, the little girl had still received quite a fright upon seeing the demon's head Lu You presented.
"We offer this and petition for the selection system to be revised."
Kiriya Ubuyashiki, who was a boy dressed as a girl, was much calmer. After writing a letter and having a Kasugai Crow deliver it to headquarters, he invited Lu You to remain near Mount Wisteria for the time being and await a decision.
As for the others, they could stay as well if they wished.
All twenty-four companions were willing to stay with Lu You, but he refused, telling them to go about their own business.
"Those who want revenge and those who want to train and improve, go get on with it. There's no need to stay here.
"But let me remind you: joining the Demon Slayer Corps is only the beginning. Death will always be at your side."
Becoming a full-fledged member of the Demon Slayer Corps did not mean everything would be fine. It would be perfectly normal for them to die while slaying demons in the future. That was difficult to avoid.
"Even so, we're grateful to you, Big Brother You. You gave us the chance to take revenge."
As everyone gradually dispersed, only three people remained beside Lu You.
Xijing, who sported a small mustache, Yamada Takayuki, who excelled at Wind Breathing, and Hirakawa Long, who used Stone Breathing.
"Hehe, did you keep us because we're the strongest? You really do have a good eye, Big Brother You!"
Xijing rubbed his nose and spoke proudly.
"You narcissistic idiot, Xijing. Big Brother You clearly wants to learn Wind, Flame, and Stone Breathing. Didn't we discuss them before?"
Hirakawa Long rolled his eyes at Xijing.
Lu You smiled. These three were quite the characters.
But that was indeed the case. Back on Mount Fujikasane, he had briefly exchanged knowledge with them.
Then he had created Source Breathing.
Although it was only a rudimentary form, with just one sword technique so far, its direction was gradually becoming clear.
Perhaps it was not the strongest Breathing Style, but it was definitely the one best suited to Lu You.
The name was also inspired by a Chinese animated series he had watched in his previous life, which featured a cultivation technique called Qi-State Origin-Flow.
"A letter has arrived! A letter has arrived!"
Several days later.
A Kasugai Crow flew through the sky and entered a room in one of the Wisteria Estate's buildings, where a young figure received it.
"It's Father's reply!"
Kiriya Ubuyashiki's face lit up with joy.
"The decision: Lu You is invited to Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters in sixty-one days to attend the Hashira Meeting!"
Before you continue