As they traveled along the road, Chiba Yang and Kanao Tsuyuri walked side by side.
Although they technically knew each other, not a single word passed between them.
She's also a Hashira's Tsuguko. That means we're companions now. Maybe I should greet her…
Chiba Yang thought to himself.
He turned to glance at Kanao.
Her expression remained the same as always. A faint smile rested on her face, while her violet eyes showed no visible change in emotion.
"Um… hello. My name is Chiba Yang. Your surname is Tsuyuri, right?"
In the end, Chiba Yang decided to greet her.
Kanao turned her head toward him and smiled gently.
Then she turned back around and continued walking.
Seeing this, Chiba Yang simply focused on the road ahead as well.
The two of them spoke no further words.
By the time a crescent moon hung in the dark sky, the two finally arrived at Mount Fujikasane, the site of the Final Selection.
Purple wisteria flowers bloomed across the mountainside, releasing their distinctive fragrance into the air.
What an incredible sight…
Chiba Yang could not help but marvel silently.
Following the stone steps upward, they reached the platform at the mountain's summit.
A number of swordsmen had already gathered there, each with a blade hanging at their waist.
One of them stood out in particular—a blond-haired boy trembling violently, looking as though he might collapse from fear at any moment.
At the front of the platform stood a red torii gate.
Beneath the gate were two small children who looked almost identical.
One had white hair, the other black hair.
Both wore sprigs of wisteria flowers in their hair and held lanterns in their hands.
Quite a lot of people came…
Which also means… many people have suffered at the hands of demons.
Hatred flashed briefly in Chiba Yang's eyes.
Since that encounter with the green demon, this would be the first time he faced demons again.
This time, I will kill every demon I encounter.
Chiba Yang raised his head and looked toward the center of Mount Fujikasane, which was surrounded by fields of wisteria.
He silently steeled his resolve.
A short while later, a red-haired boy wearing a blue haori patterned with clouds also arrived at the platform.
At that moment, the two children beneath the torii gate spoke simultaneously.
Chiba Yang's attention shifted toward them.
"Thank you all for coming tonight to participate in the Final Selection of the Demon Slayer Corps."
The white-haired child continued,
"Within this Mount Fujikasane, demons captured alive by Demon Slayers have been imprisoned. These demons cannot escape."
Then the black-haired child spoke.
"That is because wisteria flowers, which demons despise, bloom all year round from the base of the mountain to the halfway point."
The white-haired child spoke again.
"However, beyond this point, there are no more wisteria flowers."
"And demons roam freely."
The black-haired child continued,
"To survive inside this mountain for seven days—that is the condition for passing the Final Selection."
Finally, both children bowed together.
"Please proceed."
After they stepped aside, the gathered swordsmen began entering the mountain one after another.
Chiba Yang followed the others inside.
However, his goal was different from theirs.
They sought only to survive seven days.
He intended to exterminate every demon in the mountain.
About an hour after entering Mount Fujikasane, Chiba Yang encountered his first demon.
"Hahaha! Finally, a human has entered. I was starving to death waiting here!"
A demon with an extremely long tongue hanging from its mouth crawled out from behind a tree. Drool dripped from its mouth as it stared at Chiba Yang with hungry, glowing eyes.
It looked like a starving wolf that had finally spotted prey.
Unfortunately for it, the roles of hunter and prey were reversed.
"You… want to eat me that badly?"
Chiba Yang asked calmly as he drew his Nichirin Blade.
His cold gaze fixed on the demon.
"Enough talk! Become my meal!"
The long-tongued demon lunged forward, claws aiming straight for Chiba Yang's neck.
Chiba Yang walked past the demon.
He flicked the blood from his Nichirin Blade and calmly sheathed it.
A thin red line appeared across the demon's neck while it was still mid-air.
In the next moment, its head slid off and fell to the ground.
Its body followed with a heavy thud.
Before it could even scream, the decapitated demon turned to ash and scattered into the night air.
"So weak…"
Chiba Yang glanced at the pile of ash.
His final trace of concern about the Final Selection vanished.
"AAAAAAH! HELP ME!"
A desperate scream suddenly tore through the night sky, sending flocks of birds scattering into the darkness.
Someone's in danger…
There must be a demon there.
Chiba Yang immediately sprinted toward the direction of the scream.
Deep within the forest, a blond-haired boy wearing a yellow haori patterned with triangles was running desperately through the trees.
Tears streamed down his face as he fled in absolute terror.
"Stop running! Come here so I can eat you!"
Behind him, a gray-skinned demon chased him on all fours.
"NOOOOO! Please don't eat me! My meat tastes terrible! Just let me go!"
The blond boy screamed while running even faster.
Just then—
Another demon appeared directly in front of him.
"A living human… food… I will eat you…"
The demon rushed toward him the moment it saw him.
His earlier screaming had already attracted other demons nearby.
"AAAAAAH! HELP ME!"
The blond boy immediately turned and ran to the right.
CRASH!
Without looking at the ground, he tripped over a large tree root.
He tumbled forward, rolling across the forest floor while screaming in panic.
The two demons quickly closed in.
At that exact moment, Chiba Yang arrived at the scene.
Seeing the situation, he instantly drew his Nichirin Blade and rushed forward.
Meanwhile, the blond boy rolled several more meters before smashing headfirst into a large tree.
His eyes rolled back.
Then he fainted.
Second demon. Third demon.
Chiba Yang counted silently.
He was about to reach them.
Suddenly—
"Thunder Breathing, First Form — Thunderclap and Flash!"
A firm voice rang out.
A streak of yellow lightning flashed past Chiba Yang.
That guy from before?
Chiba Yang immediately recognized the lightning-fast figure.
It was the same blond boy who had been running away moments earlier.
But now his eyes were closed and his expression was serious.
His Nichirin Blade, patterned with lightning motifs, flashed through the air in a single instant.
Both demons' heads fell to the ground simultaneously.
The blond boy stood behind their bodies, a large bump already forming on his head.
His blade had already been sheathed.
"So someone else got them first…"
Chiba Yang sighed quietly and sheathed his Nichirin Blade as well.