The morning sun had barely risen, and I was already perched on a high branch, chewing on a piece of dried meat while observing the valley below.
Three nights had already passed since the start of the Final Selection, and honestly, I had expected much more than this.
I sighed, resting my elbow on my knee and letting the meat dangle between my fingers.
"It's already been three nights…" I muttered to myself.
"These Oni are hiding from me like I'm some kind of walking curse."
Since the first night, even though I was using my Presence to locate one Oni or another, I noticed they were completely avoiding me.
Not even the ones nearly starving dared to try anything, which should have been good… but I still had some poison formulas left to test.
Something else bothered me: the range of my Presence was limited.
It was very useful in close combat, but frustrating at longer distances, since I had to stop after each scan to keep searching.
I needed a way to expand it.
I picked up the small bell tied to my waist and spun it between my fingers, listening to the soft sound it made. Then I looked at the beaded bracelet.
"Hm… I also need to work on the other forms of my breathing technique…" I said, looking at both objects, before my eyes widened slightly as something came to mind.
"Maybe… that's a good idea"
"I'll start working on it."
─── ◆ ───
When night fell, the forest sank into a strange silence.
The wind whistled through the trees, and the moon cast long, jagged shadows across the ground.
I moved from branch to branch, stopping occasionally to search for targets.
That's when I felt something, two presences nearby… Onis.
I positioned myself atop a tree and aimed at the first one.
I threw my Shadow Shuriken, which curved through the air toward the Oni's neck.
The cut was clean, the shuriken passed through the creature's neck with a whistle, disappearing into the air right after.
The head rolled… but the body didn't turn to ash.
The Oni just stood there, confused, trying to understand what had happened, completely in shock.
I dropped down from the tree, the sound of my boots muffled by the damp earth.
The second Oni, more perceptive, tried to run when it saw its counterpart being decapitated.
I quickly trapped it with the chain of my kusarigama.
I pulled the chain, dragging the creature toward me with monstrous ease.
"Two more formulas to test…" I said, smiling faintly.
─── ◆ ───
The days passed quickly.
When the sun rose for the eighth time, the sound of human footsteps echoed through the forest again.
The Final Selection had ended.
On the way back, I adjusted the strap of my backpack over my shoulder and let out a grumble.
'I didn't end up finding the Hand Demon…' I thought, kicking a stone.
"I wanted to kill that thing."
A missed opportunity to test how well my poisons would spread through a larger body.
That creature should have been an easy target, considering its size.
But the bastard had been hiding for decades, it was definitely an expert at staying unnoticed...
When I reached the starting point, Amane Ubuyashiki was already there.
The few survivors were also present, their bodies exhausted and their gazes empty.
Another familiar figure and I were the only ones who still seemed fully standing.
"Hey, Rengoku!" I greeted, already approaching.
The smiling man turned, radiant.
"Usan! Are you well? How did you do in the trial?"
"It was easy, a bit boring to be honest. The Onis started running away from me on the first night." I shrugged.
He let out a loud laugh.
"They ran away from you? Hahaha! I can't imagine what you did to make them act like that!"
"And you? How were these seven days?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Everything went well! Except..."
Grrrrh...
A loud growl from Rengoku's stomach seemed to finish his sentence, and he laughed afterward.
I stared at him for a few seconds before laughing along.
"I think I understand."
I laughed, shaking my head, though inwardly a bit perplexed, I had given most of the dried meat to Rengoku precisely to avoid this.
I made a mental note to get more food if we ever went on a mission together.
Amane called us forward.
She praised those who survived, with that calm and firm voice, saying that we were now part of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Then the sky filled with black feathers.
Crows began to descend, one for each new slayer.
The air filled with caws and flapping wings. Until, to my surprise, three of them landed on me, one on each shoulder and another… on my head.
I froze for a second.
"…Three?" I asked, glancing sideways.
The first, on my right shoulder, tilted her head.
She had a white feather on her forehead, like a gray streak.
"Hunter Usan, greetings."
"We have been assigned as a trio due to your speed and your special abilities."
"It will be a pleasure to work with you." Her voice was firm, almost authoritative.
Before I could respond, the one on my other shoulder, more timid, let out a soft sound.
"I-it's… a pleasure… Mr. Uçan… eh… Musan?"
"I-it is Usan, right?" She seemed nervous.
A golden feather swayed on her tail, reflecting the sunlight.
"It's Usan," I confirmed with a small smile.
Then the one on my head burst into laughter.
"Pfff, Hahaha! 'Uçan'! Heh!" She laughed, spreading her wings.
A red feather on her wing stood out.
"I like that name, it suits him! Heh!"
The first turned her neck with an irritated caw.
"It's Usan! Show some respect!"
"Tsk. How annoying," the other shot back, pretending to yawn.
I just took a deep breath.
'I've always had a soft spot for birds… and these are actually cute,' I thought, unable to hold back a slight smile.
"Since you're my companions, is it okay if I name you?"
The three of them looked at me at the same time.
The one on my head even hung upside down to stare at me.
The first answered promptly:
"We would be honored to receive names given by you, Usan-sama."
"Just Usan is fine," I replied quickly, earning a confirming nod from her.
I crossed my arms, thinking.
Then I tapped the beak of the one with the white feather.
"You will be Kuroha."
She straightened up, visibly excited, though trying to maintain composure.
"You…" I pointed at the golden one, who seemed to almost vibrate with excitement.
"You'll be Hotaru."
"Yay!" She hopped lightly on my shoulder, flapping her wings.
Finally, I lightly touched the red one.
"And you, Tsubaki."
"Nice name, 'Boss'!" she replied, lightly pecking my head.
Before I could get used to the trio perched on me, Rengoku appeared with his crow circling above his head.
"HAHAHA! Usan! You look funny with that many crows on you!"
I looked at him, smiling.
"Hahaha, I imagine so, but I quite like them."
My words seemed to please the three.
Rengoku kept laughing, but I knew it wasn't mockery, not from him.
Amane then announced that it was time to choose the ore to forge our blades.
The three crows accompanied me to the boxes.
Kuroha analyzed each stone seriously, Hotaru pointed randomly, and Tsubaki gave opinions just to contradict.
"That one!" Hotaru said, pointing at a stone… that wasn't even in the box.
Kuroha sighed.
"That is a piece of gravel, Hotaru."
"Heh, then maybe it's lucky gravel," Tsubaki replied with barely hidden sarcasm.
I chose the ore that seemed to satisfy the three of them.
Something told me that, somehow, they knew what they were doing… I think.
As the others began to leave, I turned to go, but Amane called me with a gesture.
The crows fell silent immediately, respecting the conversation.
She approached, with that same calm gaze.
"I would like to thank you for the potion. My husband was able to sleep better after your help." Then she bowed slightly.
"It was nothing," I replied, a bit awkwardly.
"Tell the master he can ask for more whenever he needs, including…"
I handed her a vial of the potion.
She accepted it without unnecessary ceremony, carefully storing it.
I said goodbye with a light bow, and when I turned around, Rengoku was already waiting for me.
"Shall we go together?" he asked, with that tireless smile.
I nodded.
"Sure. Your house isn't that far from the Butterfly Mansion, so we'd be sharing most of the path anyway."
In fact, from what Rengoku had told me, the mansions were quite close together.
"Hahaha! Then we have a good journey ahead of us, my friend!"
The three crows flapped their wings, joining Rengoku's crow in the air.
I simply smiled.
At last, the Final Selection had ended… and I had finally become a Demon Slayer.
─── ◆ ───
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