Ritsuka had no objections to participating in Final Selection.
I said so, and she obediently accepted. After returning to see Gyomei, she told him about participating in the selection.
Her strength far exceeded that of novice swordsmen. If she went all out, probably many newcomers could pass the selection without even encountering demons.
I felt somewhat hesitant, unsure whether this would actually be good for those children.
The Demon Slayer Corps had always used such a brutal selection method for a reason. I couldn't interfere casually out of soft-heartedness.
In the end, I didn't give too many instructions. Simply left the choice of what to do to Ritsuka.
Gyomei still doted on his little disciple. Seeing she was finally willing to come back and rest properly, he was obviously very happy.
Though it didn't show on the surface, he prepared a new set of clothes convenient for movement, and asked his swordsmith to help maintain that old sword.
The next Final Selection happened to be starting soon. I requested from Kagaya the role of host, accompanied her to Mount Fujikasane.
Over thirty people participated in Final Selection. Looking around, all were faces still shedding their childishness. All children only in their teens.
Watching so many enter Mount Fujikasane, when those who could come out alive could be counted on one hand—for those seeing them off, this was also a harsh psychological test.
But this was also a responsibility the Ubuyashiki Clan had to bear. I'd accompanied Kagaya to host selections several times before.
When his children grew a bit older, this responsibility would fall on them too.
The atmosphere on site wasn't great. Most people's expressions looked very serious, as if their whole bodies were tense.
Observing these children's expressions, you could roughly pick out the most outstanding among them.
Like Ritsuka—she stood silently in a corner, no one paying her attention. Her face still showed no expression, looking like she was spacing out.
From my observation, someone with a similar state was a peach-haired youth with a scar across his handsome face.
His gaze was frank and resolute. That righteous feeling reminded me of Kyojuro. Couldn't help looking at him a few more times.
Standing with him was another youth with ink-black hair, expression somewhat uneasy and nervous. He also seemed affected by the atmosphere.
After the selection began and these children all entered Mount Fujikasane, I chatted with Amane.
She'd noticed that scarred youth like I had, and knew their origins better than me.
"Those two are disciples trained by Mr. Urokodaki," Amane said. "The peach-haired youth is named Sabito. The other is named Giyu."
Actually Urokodaki's disciples?
I was somewhat surprised. When he served as Water Hashira, he'd trained a Tsuguko. He was very good at teaching children.
Every three or four years, I'd also see disciples Urokodaki trained come participate in selection. But perhaps due to bad luck, I'd never seen anyone come out alive.
Hopefully this time would have a different result.
Mount Fujikasane held demons captured by swordsmen. Not too powerful, but quite numerous.
Only by surviving in the mountain until dawn of the eighth day would one pass Final Selection and become a new Demon Slayer Corps member.
But that didn't mean we could relax during these seven days.
The Corps wasn't so harsh as to force people to complete this dangerous trial.
If someone couldn't hold on, or feared facing demons, they could come out early.
They couldn't contribute on the battlefield, but could still be assigned to the Kakushi, doing logistical work.
Starting around the fourth day, people gradually emerged. Every single one came out with lowered head, shame on their face, saying nothing.
No one present mocked them. People sent by the Kakushi gently asked their names and corresponding cultivators, then led them away.
Barring accidents, next time they appeared, they'd also be among those masked Kakushi.
I counted on my fingers. Not many came out this time. Two-thirds still remained in the mountain struggling. Just didn't know how many would survive in the end.
Beyond my expectations, quite a few walked out on the eighth day... though more or less injured, basically none were missing limbs.
The most seriously injured was that youth named Giyu. He'd injured his head. After companions gave him emergency bandaging, he'd now fallen unconscious.
Amane arranged personnel to send him to the Wisteria House at the mountain's foot. Doctors were prepared there.
I silently counted the numbers. Including those who came out early, basically all children who participated in selection were here.
Only Ritsuka and Urokodaki's disciple Sabito were nowhere to be seen.
Amane also sensed something odd. Asked those still-shaken children about the situation.
A youth in the best condition said: "We... when we encountered demons, we were saved by a peach-haired boy... then he left. We didn't encounter demons the next few days."
One person spoke up, immediately others chimed in.
From their discussion, I learned what Sabito had done these past days.
He'd basically run through all of Mount Fujikasane, saved all children participating in selection, and basically killed every demon in the mountain clean.
This strength and magnanimity were rare among all past selections. But why was he still not visible now?
And where had Ritsuka run off to?
This mountain had quite a few demons, but her experience far exceeded fledgling children's. Demons of this strength couldn't trap her.
Something unexpected must have happened in the mountain. Anyway, selection had ended now. I told Amane I'd go into the mountain to check the situation.
Just then, the crowd stirred. Following their gazes, I looked toward the mountain entrance.
Coming out were precisely Ritsuka and Sabito.
I walked over in a few steps, stood before them examining carefully.
Ritsuka had no wounds. Aside from her clothes getting dirtier, she was basically the same as when entering the mountain.
But Sabito, whose arm she supported as he'd fallen unconscious, was much more disheveled. His clothes were covered in bloodstains. Looked like he'd experienced quite a hard battle.
Seeing me, Ritsuka immediately released her hand. Sabito pitched forward. I quickly caught him, called two Kakushi members to send him for emergency treatment.
I asked Ritsuka what exactly happened in the mountain. Only then did she gesture with her hands, explaining the course of events.
"There was a demon that lived a long time hiding in the mountain." Ritsuka spoke very concisely, using exaggerated gestures to describe how big that demon was. "Probably ate many people, so not very weak."
That demon hid very secretly. Didn't show itself before the crowd, but seized the opportunity to attack Sabito who was acting alone.
According to Ritsuka, that demon seemed to have a grudge against Sabito. Once it spotted him, it ignored other food, specifically targeted him for attack.
And Sabito had been rescuing people these past days, constantly traveling and killing demons, rarely stopping to rest.
An exhausted demon slayer versus a demon that had eaten many people—no need to think which side would win after their encounter.
Perhaps the only thing that demon didn't anticipate was Ritsuka behind Sabito.
This kid was too lazy to kill a single demon. Discovering Sabito frantically running around the mountain rescuing people, she found it interesting, so followed him the whole way to watch the excitement.
Needless to say, that demon hidden for many years ultimately met its end at her hands.
Which meant now this mountain didn't have a single demon left.
I couldn't help stroking my chin, feeling it necessary to give Kagaya a heads-up. Should regularly send Hashira in to inspect. If this kind of thing happened again in the future, that wouldn't be good.
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