The rules of the Final Selection remained as simple as ever: survive seven days on Mount Fujikasane, where countless demons lurked.
The rules were straightforward and Shinichi quickly finished explaining them.
However, noticing the focused gazes of the swordsmen before him—especially the Kocho sisters—he couldn't help but add.
"Fighting demons is no simple task. Injury and death will be constant companions. Before you step onto Mount Fujikasane, please reconsider carefully!"
Yet Shinichi words didn't sway a single swordsman present.
Not one withdrew.
In truth, every participant in the Final Selection had a reason they couldn't give up.
Many, like the Kocho sisters, had lost loved ones to demons. Their resolve was to join the Demon Slayer Corps and avenge their families.
Seeing no one back down, Shinichi let out an almost imperceptible sigh as the sun began to set.
"Final Selection begins now. Good luck to you all."
Shinichi walked to the entrance of Mount Fujikasane, standing beneath the countless blooming wisteria flowers as he watched each swordsman step into the trial grounds.
Finally, as the Kocho sisters passed by him, Shinichi couldn't resist calling out to them.
"Wait! Kanae, Shinobu!"
Kanae and Shinobu Kocho stopped in their tracks, both looking at Shinichi with puzzled expressions.
Shinichi opened his mouth, but the question 'Why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?' stuck in his throat.
After a long pause, all he managed was a stiff.
"L...Long time no see."
In response, Kanae offered a gentle smile and gave a slight bow.
"It has been a while, Shinichi-kun."
Though Shinobu kept a stern face, she followed her sister lead with a small bow of her own, though she remained silent.
Shinichi didn't mind.
"Mount Fujikasane is dangerous. Be careful. If possible, try to conserve your strength—don't be too eager to fight the demons" Shinichi advised softly.
"Enough! You're so nagging. We're not kids anymore. Sister, let's go!" Before Kanae could respond, Shinobu cut in impatiently, tugging at her sister sleeve to hurry into the mountain.
"My, my, Shinobu, you're too hasty. My apologies, Shinichi-kun. Thank you for your concern. Rest assured, Shinobu and I have trained hard. Until we meet again." Kanae waved back at Shinichi as Shinobu pulled her along.
Shinichi instinctively raised his hand in a small wave, murmuring.
"Until we meet again..."
Soon, all the swordsmen had entered Mount Fujikasane, leaving only Shinichi and a few members of the Kakushi at the entrance.
Shinichi sat atop a wooden crate, arms crossed, his expression distant.
As he drifted in thought a hand suddenly appeared before him holding a glass bottle sealed with a marble at its mouth.
"Want one? It's ramune soda. Really tasty—all the rage in the city" Goto offered, lifting the bottle slightly.
Shinichi shook his head.
"Thanks, but I'm not thirsty."
Goto shrugged, pressing the marble down with a click before lifting his mask to take a few hearty gulps, ending with a satisfied sigh.
"You know those two girls?" Goto asked.
Shinichi nodded and then recounted everything that had happened at the Butterfly Medicine House to Got, adding.
"I don't know where they received their training, but isn't it too cruel for two young girls to slay Demons? Wouldn't it be better for them to live peacefully as ordinary people?"
Hearing Shinichi words, Goto immediately disagreed and retorted.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Shinichi? That's typical prejudice. What's wrong with girls? Can't girls join our Demon Slayer Corps? Can't girls slay Demons?"
Shinichi was taken aback and quickly explained.
"No, that's not what I meant. I just meant—"
Goto waved his hand to cut Shinichi off and spoke earnestly.
"Enough, Shinichi. I understand what you're saying, but have you ever considered whether the choice you think is best truly suits others?"
"Many members of the Demon Slayer Corps are like those sisters—they lost their loved ones to Demons. If given the choice, none of us would want such tragedies to happen, but we don't have that luxury."
"Everyone knows it's good to live a peaceful life, but can people truly forget the loved ones who were killed by Demons? The departed may haunt your nightmares, making it impossible to ever forget. Many members join the Corps precisely because they refuse to run from this reality."
"Though everyone talents may vary, our goal is the same: to eradicate Demons and prevent the tragedies we've endured from repeating in other families. In a way, this is our form of redemption as Demon Slayers."
"Is that so?" Shinichi fell silent.
Goto words made sense.
Sometimes, what one considers the best choice isn't necessarily the right one for others.
"Alright, enough overthinking. Since the Master has entrusted you with overseeing the Final Selection, you should set aside distractions and focus on fulfilling his orders. Honestly, for a Kinoe to need a Kakushi like me to remind you—you really are still an immature kid."
Goto patted Shinichi shoulder, muttered a few more words and left.
Watching Goto retreating figure, Shinichi shook his head with a wry smile and muttered self-deprecatingly.
"He's right. Even as a Kinoe, I'm still so immature."
Goto words left Shinichi—a "grown man" with two lifetimes adding up to over thirty years—feeling a twinge of shame.
Abruptly standing up, Shinichi raised his arm and soon Eizo flapped his wings and descended from the sky, landing on Shinichi forearm.
At the same time, the chaotic sound of flapping wings echoed above Shinichi head.
Looking up, he saw over a dozen Kasugai crows circling overhead.
"Eizo, I'll need your help. Lead the others and keep watch over Mount Fujikasane. Notify me immediately if anything unusual happens."
"Caw!" Eizo let out a sharp cry, nuzzled Shinichi index finger affectionately, then took off into the sky, heading for Mount Fujikasane.
The other Kasugai crows followed, scattering in all directions toward the mountain.
After watching the crows disappear into the distance, Shinichi lowered his gaze to the snoring, Fat dog sprawled at his feet.
Kneeling down, he gave Maru-ni plump body a firm rub.
"Maru-ni, time to work. After this mission, I'll treat you to a feast at the Kakushi mess hall!"
"Woof woof!"
The previously lazy Maru-ni immediately perked up at the mention of the dining hall, barking excitedly at Shinichi twice before dashing into Fujikasane Mountain like a bolt of lightning, unable to contain his eagerness.
Shinichi stood up, brushing off nonexistent dust from his clothes as he gazed at Fujikasane Mountain under the night sky.
"The Final Selection... has begun."
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