Time flowed by quietly. Before they knew it, the day of Tanjiro's Final Selection was approaching.
The two of them had spent most of the past two years in training.
In truth, only Tanjiro was exhausted. Due to his sign-ins, Lexon's physical condition was on a completely different level. The training that was arduous for an ordinary person was mere child's play for Lexon.
Day after day of signing in had resulted in Lexon nearly fleecing Urokodaki Sakonji completely. He had learned everything he was supposed to learn, and even things he wasn't, like the technique for carving and making masks. His strength had long since stepped into the realm of a Hashira.
Some might question this, but Lexon's sign-ins provided complete mastery; there was no issue of unfamiliarity or awkwardness with his power. Furthermore, he had also signed in for abilities like [Demon Hunting Experience], so his strength was solidly at a Hashira's level.
During the training, Urokodaki Sakonji had long since seen Lexon's extraordinary nature and was even secretly astonished by his outstanding talent. In all his days as a cultivator after his retirement, Lexon could be said to be the most talented person he had ever seen.
Although Tanjiro's talent was also beyond that of an ordinary person, it still seemed much dimmer in comparison.
'Perhaps only that child who became a Hashira in just a few months could compare,' Urokodaki Sakonji often thought to himself.
In the middle and later stages of training, after realizing he had nothing more to teach Lexon, the old man poured all his energy into Tanjiro. As a result, the degree of Tanjiro's fatigue skyrocketed. He had to look at his comatose sister several times a day just to persevere.
In reality, Urokodaki Sakonji was fonder of Tanjiro. Through their daily interactions, he had gradually come to understand the temperaments of both Tanjiro and Lexon, and he deeply recognized that Tanjiro was the one with a firm conviction for slaying demons, making him more suitable to be a Demon Slaying Swordsman.
Lexon, on the other hand, had no real conviction to speak of. However, Urokodaki Sakonji wouldn't prevent Lexon from becoming a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. No matter what, it was always good to have someone who could contribute to the Corps.
Moreover, Urokodaki Sakonji also viewed Lexon as a disciple and was happy for his disciple's outstanding talent, showing no favoritism.
Lexon could have participated in the Final Selection for the Demon Slayer Corps much earlier and become a glorious member. Urokodaki Sakonji had even suggested it, saying his strength was sufficient, but Lexon had refused.
He wanted to go with Tanjiro, so he could look out for him during the Final Selection.
Urokodaki Sakonji had agreed. The disciples he had cultivated in the past had almost never survived the Final Selection; they had all died in it. Giyu Tomioka was an exception among exceptions, so in his heart, he also hoped that his disciples could pass safely.
What the old man didn't know was that the death of every one of his previous disciples was, in fact, related to him.
Urokodaki Sakonji would give his disciples a mask before they set off, hoping it would bring them through the Final Selection safely. The disciples' deaths, however, were linked to this very mask.
On Mount Fujikasane, the site of the Final Selection, there was a multi-handed demon that was a cut above all the other demons on the mountain. This demon was one that Urokodaki Sakonji had captured before his retirement. Because it remembered the mask Urokodaki Sakonji wore when he captured it, it would purposefully hunt down and kill anyone wearing a similar mask during every Final Selection.
Otherwise, in his many years as a cultivator, it would be impossible for only a handful of people like Giyu Tomioka to have survived the Final Selection.
It should be known that Urokodaki Sakonji's ability as a cultivator was not poor. His extremely strict nature would not allow him to send out students with insufficient strength to their deaths. If it weren't for the Hand Demon, many more of his disciples would have surely survived.
Because too many disciples had died, Urokodaki Sakonji, not wanting to see any more children sacrifice themselves in vain, had even started to deliberately prevent some disciples from attending the Final Selection.
As for Lexon and Tanjiro, their performance was excellent, and Urokodaki Sakonji would not stop them from participating. However, he still gave them the difficult task of splitting a large boulder before they could go, though he believed that both of them could overcome this challenge.
"Have you split your big rock yet?" Lexon, standing on his own shattered boulder, asked Tanjiro, who was staring at him blankly.
Tanjiro's mouth was wide open, clearly not having recovered from the shock of seeing Lexon shatter the boulder with a single slash. He only snapped back to reality after Lexon tapped him on the head with the back of his sword. "Not yet..."
As he spoke, Tanjiro tightened his grip on his sword, clenched his fist, and cheered himself on. "I'll definitely do it today!"
"Good luck," Lexon encouraged him faintly. "You have to be just like me!"
"Ahhhh! I can't do that!" Tanjiro, who had been so resolute a moment ago, immediately made an expression that screamed "I can't do it."
"That's why Mr. Kamado Tanjiro has to try his best."
"It's Kamado!"
By the time the two returned to the house, Urokodaki Sakonji had already prepared a meal. Seeing the happy smile on Tanjiro's face as he entered, he couldn't help but ask, "Did you succeed?"
"Yes↑! Master Urokodaki! I succeeded!" Tanjiro's voice was an octave higher in his response.
Lexon sat down by the small hanging pot. "Both of us succeeded."
Although Tanjiro's process had been more difficult, he had succeeded in the end.
The spirits of the two seniors who had died in the story, Sabito and Makomo, had truly helped Tanjiro, allowing him to overcome the boulder trial. Lexon, who had been watching from the side, was quite curious about the visible spirits in this world and had almost been unable to resist going up to play with them.
"Then we're not eating this tonight. To celebrate you two passing the trial, we're having a hot pot feast!" The old man Urokodaki Sakonji seemed extremely happy at this moment. Even his usually calm voice had changed, and an irrepressible smile peeked out from under his Tengu mask.
"Yay!" Tanjiro was also quite happy.
Lexon was, of course, on the list of happy people. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since he'd had hot pot.
After they were full, Urokodaki Sakonji pulled two masks from his sleeve and handed one to each of them.
The two reached out and took them.
"These are warding masks. I've placed a charm on them to protect you from disaster. I hope you will return safely."
"We will," the two said in unison.
After spending so long together, Lexon couldn't help but feel some affection for the old man before him. He was very grateful for his care and for letting him fleece him.
He would not fail Urokodaki's expectations. After joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he would kill as many demons as he could.
Not only because killing demons for the side quest increased his contribution score, but also because of the care this former Water Hashira had shown him.
The next day, the two of them packed their bags and set out early on their journey. Under Urokodaki Sakonji's watchful gaze, they gradually grew distant.
"Master Urokodaki! I'll leave my sister in your care! Oh, and! Please thank Sabito and Makomo for me!"
Tanjiro's distant voice drifted back.
Urokodaki's prayerful expression suddenly froze, and his eyes became complex.
'How does this child know the names of the two children, Sabito and Makomo, who have passed away?'