"Everyone, thank you for your hard work."
"You are all far more exceptional than I imagined. It has been a long time since so many swordsmen passed at once across the various Final Selection sites."
"You should feel proud of your tenacity and strength."
Morning light pierced through the night mist, and the scent of wisteria hovered faintly amidst the smell of blood and gunpowder. The priest, Himorogi, with moon-white hair and pale silver pupils, stood before the nine remaining swordsmen.
"Therefore, from this moment on, you are members of the organization."
"The Demon Slayer swordsmen within the corps are divided into eleven ranks."
"Aside from the [Hashira], the other swordsmen are ranked as Kinoe, Kinoto, Hinoe, Hinoto, Tsuchinoe, Tsuchinoto, Kanoe, Kanoto, Mizunoe, and Mizunoto."
"As for all of you right now, you are at the lowest rank, [Mizunoto], which is to say, newcomers who have just entered the organization..."
Kuguruma Natsunishi looked around.
Those who had survived and passed the trial numbered less than half of the initial group. In fact, it could be said that if he hadn't intervened in that chaotic brawl two days prior and taken out several powerful demons in succession, the number of survivors today would likely be several lower.
According to the setting, this was supposed to be a way to replenish the Demon Slayer Corps with fresh blood. Yet, listening to the examiner, the fact that nine people survived was considered a cause for celebration?
What was the normal amount then?
Five or six? Or perhaps only two or three?
With such a high casualty rate, they could only add a few new recruits a year. If this were a brutal promotion trial specifically for Kinoe-rank swordsmen, the "those without resolve end here" setting might make some sense.
But after this round of bloody selection, the survivors didn't even become high-ranking Kinoe swordsmen. They were just a group of fresh recruits who had just changed classes.
Was there a problem with the scenario writer's setting? Or was this a bit of foreshadowing? Like the Demon Slayer Corps actually being a trap or something.
Regardless...
His gaze swept over the heads of the swordsmen, checking their panels. Compared to seven days ago, whether it was their attributes or their Breathing Style levels, everyone had improved to varying degrees.
Furthermore, compared to these NPCs whose names he couldn't even remember, he was far more interested in the "Hashira" the priest mentioned.
"Sashiko, are these Hashira he mentioned very strong?"
Nudging the girl swordsman beside him with his elbow, Kuguruma Natsunishi asked in a low voice. "How do they compare to those [Twelve Demon Moons] the demons mentioned before?"
Sashiko pondered for a moment. "I know nothing about the Twelve Demon Moons, but as for the Hashira... my cultivator did mention them."
"The Hashira are the strongest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps."
Oh? Our side's top-tier combat power, then?
I wonder how they stack up against the enemy's top-tier power.
Ignoring the two whispering to each other, the priest continued, "Next, we will prepare your uniforms. Once your measurements are taken, your rank will be embroidered onto the fabric."
"Also, these are your assigned Kasugai Crows. From now on, they will be your partners for relaying intelligence and missions."
Accompanied by the sound of flapping wings, several jet-black crows quickly descended from above and landed on the recruits.
"As a side note, these little fellows have minds of their own."
"Please do not play pranks on them."
Having said that, he turned his gaze toward a certain meddlesome swordsman. That swordsman let out a sheepish laugh and pulled his hand back from the bird's head, only to be pecked several times on the forehead by the crow.
The crow shouted angrily, "Rude fellow! Rude fellow!"
Kuguruma Natsunishi also looked curiously at the crow perched on his shoulder.
"I am Shiro! I am Shiro! Kaa! Pleased to meet you!"
[Shiro (Power Level: 1)]
Kuguruma Natsunishi: ...
But you're clearly black.
Additionally, he wondered if this free pet could level up with him. Kuguruma Natsunishi gave a somewhat friendly response: "Right."
Seeing that everyone had received their Kasugai Crow, the priest continued his instructions.
"The final matter is for you to personally select your preferred steel today."
"In ten to fifteen days, your personal Nichirin Swords will be completed."
At his word, several masked members of the [Kakushi] brought forward a large crate. When opened, more than ten pieces of ore of varying sizes lay inside, faintly emitting a warm aura like that of the morning sun.
"The steel for the blade that will slay demons and protect yourselves."
"Please, make your choice."
Slightly to the priest's surprise, none of the swordsmen on the field moved immediately. Instead, they all turned their eyes toward Kuguruma Natsunishi at the back of the crowd. Someone even instinctively stepped aside to clear a path to the tamahagane for him.
This one?
The youth who was the first to charge in at the beginning? It seemed he held quite a bit of weight in the hearts of the other swordsmen. The priest mused to himself.
Kuguruma Natsunishi didn't hesitate. With the crow still on his shoulder, he walked boldly to the crate.
The "stone gambling" phase? He was a veteran gambler when it came to gacha games.
He asked the Kakushi member beside him, "Nara, right? Is there any difference in the material of these stones, like being mined from different locations?"
The Kakushi member was stunned, wondering how the youth knew his name. However, he still introduced the materials to Kuguruma Natsunishi: "Every piece of tamahagane has its own soul. You must sense the 'individuality' of the steel, the resonance..."
Kuguruma Natsunishi: "What about the material itself?"
The Kakushi said with some uncertainty, "They are probably... mostly the same? After all, they are all tamahagane smelted from the same batch..."
Understood. It was just for the "sense of ceremony" before forging a weapon in the setting.
Kuguruma Natsunishi directly picked up the largest and most complete piece of steel. "This one."
Following him, the other swordsmen also selected their respective pieces.
"Well then, in a few days, someone will deliver your uniforms and Nichirin Swords—"
"Examiner, I have a question. Can I make some specific requests for the weapon forging?"
Kuguruma Natsunishi interrupted the examiner's words.
Several swordsmen couldn't help but shrink their necks. In the East, interrupting a senior's speech was considered a very impolite act. Not to mention he didn't even use a respectful title.
Even Sashiko let out a helpless sigh. It was exactly the kind of thing he would do.
Himorogi Imori looked at him, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Are you dissatisfied with the Nichirin Swords produced by the Swordsmith Village? If you have requirements for a weapon you are accustomed to, I can consider conveying them to the Master."
It wasn't as if everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps used a standard Nichirin Sword. However, those capable of making requests and possessing the skill to master other types of weapons were undoubtedly the high-level combat personnel of the organization.
To have a newcomer who had just passed the selection request a custom weapon—to be honest, this was the first time he had encountered it.
"Do you require a longer sword, or a weapon similar to a spear or a polearm?"
"However, if it is a custom weapon, you may need to wait much longer."
Kuguruma Natsunishi brandished the Nichirin Sword in his hand—the one he had scavenged from a teammate whose name he never knew. The blood on the hilt wrap hadn't even been washed off yet.
"It's fine. Primary weapons drop everywhere. Can I customize a sidearm?"
The priest sighed slightly, appearing to understand the looks in the eyes of the other children around them. This youth was someone who completely failed to read the room.
"Since you need it, please speak."
Kuguruma Natsunishi barely had to think. "Tachis are cool, but their practicality and durability are a bit lacking, and the edge chips too easily. I need a sidearm other than a sword."
"Something like katar or gauntlets—the kind of weapons for 'fist-to-fist' combat."
"A weapon that can perform both slashes and strikes while also protecting the hands. Do you understand? If that's not possible, just give me a pair of specialized combat gloves. Worst case, I'll just use the sword for the finishing blow."
Perhaps fearing the other party wouldn't understand, Kuguruma Natsunishi even gestured with his hands in the air.
"Preferably something thick and heavy. It doesn't matter if it's heavy; I'm used to it... Of course, if you can make a Super Amped Discharge Switch Axe or a Gauss Gatling Gun, that would work too. I've played shooter games and hunting games before."
He was choosing his specialized equipment. Naturally, he had to stick to the classes he was used to.
Faced with Kuguruma Natsunishi's slightly excited gaze, the priest helplessly pressed his hand to his forehead. These were all weapons he had never even heard of. He would leave this problem to the masters of the Swordsmith Village to worry about.
"I will convey your request to the Master."
Next time a newcomer makes such a difficult request, I should probably just refuse, the priest thought silently as he looked at the youth's expectant gaze.
Just this once. Only this once.
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