The blood demon that had been split in two was turning to ash and disappearing.
After the brief commotion, only two people remained in the clearing.
"...What in the world..."
"...What the hell is this...?"
Sana’s voice trembled as if she had taken a heavy shock.
The sky... split open...?
After Tatsuo said he would show her his technique, the strike he unleashed.
The instant that blow flew toward the demon, Sana felt as if the sky itself had been torn apart.
I thought he’d be weak, but he wasn’t... I’ve never even seen or heard of a technique like that in the first place!
More than that, why wasn’t someone like him a main character? Did he meet an Upper Rank demon or something?
Sana was still reeling from the shock.
"And yet you’re still full of thoughts."
It was Tatsuo’s voice that pulled her back to her senses.
"What are you thinking about so hard?"
"...No. I understand your skill, Tsunokake. My earlier words misjudged your ability, and that was rude of me. I apologize."
"That isn’t the issue. Kakuro, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it seems like you’re pouring far too much energy into it."
"I don’t need an apology. I’m just curious what it is that’s making you spend so much of yourself."
Tatsuo spoke in a calm voice.
"...I’m sorry. I really can’t say that."
With her head lowered, Sana answered.
"If it’s hard to talk about, then don’t. But remember this. If you can’t be certain about the choices you make,"
"you’ll never become truly strong."
As he sheathed his sword again, Tatsuo continued.
"A little disappointing, Kakuro. That strike you showed me just now caught my interest. But the more I talk to you, the more it feels like you’re being chased by something."
"The you inside is weak."
As if he had already lost interest, Tatsuo turned away and started to walk off.
"Tsunokake..."
At Sana’s voice, Tatsuo stopped.
"Have you ever worried about the consequences of what you’re going to do?"
"I can’t say I haven’t. But we live in the present. What matters is reality."
Pointing at the ground with one finger, Tatsuo said, "Reasonable assumptions may help sharpen your thinking. But if they go too far and start harming the present... then I think they’re meaningless."
"Trust yourself. If you do that, your worries will naturally lessen."
Sana fell silent at Tatsuo’s words.
"Take care, Kakuro. If you become a main character in the future, we may meet again."
With a slight gust of wind and a boom, Tatsuo’s figure vanished.
Left alone in the clearing, Sana closed her eyes.
After a short while, she opened them again.
Determination had taken root in her gaze.
**
"Clean."
Tatsuo said this after dipping his hand into the flowing river and pulling it back out.
When he expanded his senses and focused, he could feel several animals nearby.
The Demon Slayers’ Final Selection was to survive on this mountain for seven days.
He had wondered how food was supposed to be handled in the process.
"So I’m supposed to find my own water and hunt for myself too."
He glanced to the side. The blood demon whose neck had been severed was already turning to ash.
"And I’m supposed to deal with demons in my own way too."
He shook the water from his hand.
"How mischievous."
He looked around.
The ground was a broad, level plain, with a valley running around it.
What drew the eye was a small hut.
The wooden hut was so carefully built that anyone could tell it had been made with great skill, blending naturally into the surrounding landscape.
The sun was rising in the sky.
"The second morning has come. The house is finished too. So all that’s left is five more days."
The owner of the hut was Tatsuo.
Having spent years living in the mountains, he was already well versed in many things.
For him, building a hut was not a particularly difficult task.
In the end, I still didn’t find anyone I liked.
After yesterday’s encounter, Tatsuo had roamed the mountain, but he still hadn’t met anyone who met his standards.
For now, I might as well get some sleep.
Demons generally couldn’t move around in the morning. If they saw sunlight, they would turn to ash.
In other words, in a place like this, the only time he could sleep was in the morning, when the sun was shining.
**
After that, time passed quickly.
Tatsuo moved actively through the mountain, looking for strong demons, but he still couldn’t find one of the level he wanted.
Along the way, he also saw several other Final Selection participants.
But he didn’t do anything to help them.
If they’d lose their lives so easily in a place like this, then even if they joined the Demon Slayers, that fate wouldn’t change.
Tatsuo thought this with his hand resting on the hilt at his waist.
By now, even the sword that had felt nothing but awkward at first had become familiar.
Tomorrow, the test will be over.
Tatsuo looked at the hut he had built.
It was the hut he had used during this Final Selection.
Tatsuo was debating whether to destroy it or not.
I don’t really need to destroy it, do I?
He couldn’t find a reason to tear it down.
**
Dawn broke, announcing the start of a new day.
Tatsuo stood in one place.
It was the gathering point for those who had passed the Final Selection.
Tatsuo looked around.
Nine had survived, himself included. Of the roughly twenty who had entered, only half remained.
The survivors, Tatsuo excepted, looked terrible.
That was only natural. Tatsuo was the unusual one. For ordinary people, enduring seven days in this harsh environment was by no means easy.
Looks like even someone without the skill still survived.
Tatsuo’s gaze fell on one woman.
Kakuro Sana... was that you...?
In truth, the Demon Slayers’ Final Selection was a test with an extremely low survival rate.
Normally, only two or three people barely made it through. In that kind of test, nine survivors was an extraordinary result.
The answer was simple. Kakuro Sana had taken down most of the demons on the mountain.
Tatsuo looked at Sana.
She was standing with a young girl wearing a fox mask.
Tatsuo had seen that girl before.
At this place, aside from himself and Kakuro, she was probably the most skilled person here.
But she wasn’t skilled enough to warrant contact, so he had simply looked once and moved on.
"Congratulations. You have passed the test."
A man’s voice rang out.
"We will now proceed with a brief explanation and the necessary procedures."
This time it was a woman’s voice. The two wore the same uniform.
That outfit... it’s the Kakushi uniform I saw before.
At the news that they had passed the Final Selection, the survivors reacted in different ways.
Some collapsed to the ground as if all strength had left them, while others burst into tears.
Some clenched their fists as if hardening their resolve, while others shouted in joy.
Tatsuo showed no strong reaction. He remained calm, as if it were only natural.
The procedures that followed were quick.
They said they would measure everyone for uniforms and handed out Kasugai crows.
Tatsuo paid little attention to the explanation of the Demon Slayers’ ten ranks.
Finally, they selected the ore to be used in forging the Nichirin swords.
While the survivors carefully chose their ore, Tatsuo approached the two Kakushi.
"As far as I know, the first Nichirin sword you’re given is always made in the shape of a standard sword. Can that be changed?"
"Yes, that’s correct. In principle, you choose your ore, and the assigned swordsmith is decided from that. Then they forge a Nichirin sword in the most common, most basic blade shape."
The male Kakushi answered Tatsuo’s question.
"There are some who, through discussions with the swordsmiths, change the shape of their sword, but most cannot."
The female Kakushi continued.
"The process of making a Nichirin sword is so harsh that people sometimes die. Even making the most basic, well-honed form of sword takes tremendous effort and time."
"In other words, if you want a weapon in the shape you prefer, you need an exceptionally skilled swordsmith... and most of those are assigned to the Hashira."
Tatsuo nodded as if he understood the Kakushi’s explanation.
He turned his head toward the pile of ore.
By now, the others had already finished choosing theirs.
Tatsuo looked over the remaining ore.
He didn’t hesitate for long. He chose one piece at once.
The ore that caught my eye from the very beginning.
Tatsuo had felt something special from this ore.
He picked it up and walked over to the Kakushi.
"Please keep this for me. As you can see, I already have a Nichirin sword, so I don’t need one right away. I’d like you to hand this ore to the swordsmith assigned to me and tell them this."
He held out the ore as he spoke.
"In one month. Tell them I’ll be coming back as a Hashira by then. And when I do, I want them to forge the weapon I desire."
Tatsuo’s golden eyes gleamed.
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