On the way to Mount Fujikasane, Kurozawa and the others didn't encounter any unexpected incidents.
Two days after leaving Mount Sagiri, on a cloudy afternoon, the group of fourteen arrived at the foot of Mount Fujikasane just in time.
At this moment, Mount Fujikasane, which was originally sparsely populated, was much livelier than usual.
Along the mountain paths, swordsmen carrying Nichirin Blades were walking around.
Of course, most of them were trainee swordsmen; formal swordsmen rarely came to Mount Fujikasane.
Except for those who had completed capture missions and were escorting Demons into Mount Fujikasane.
As soon as they arrived at the foot of Mount Fujikasane, someone came to greet Kurozawa and the others.
It was a girl wearing a cherry blossom kimono, who looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old.
"Please follow me."
After glancing at Kurozawa and the others' attire and the Nichirin Blades they carried at their waists, the girl bowed slightly and then gestured for Kurozawa and the others to follow.
As Kurozawa followed, he asked, "When exactly does the trial start?"
The girl spoke softly, "Gather tomorrow at noon, and enter the trial grounds at night."
Next to Kurozawa, Makomo, who had been looking around, withdrew her gaze and asked curiously, "Sister, are you also a formal swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps?"
The girl's expression turned a little dim, then she sighed, "I'm not a swordsman."
"I belong to the Hidden Slayer Corps, which is considered the logistics department of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Although I really want to fight Demons... I don't have the courage or talent for it, so I can only serve the swordsmen in this way."
Seeing that the girl was a little down, Makomo comforted her, "Sister, you're just fighting Demons in your own way, and don't talk about talent. All the training I've received is for fighting Demons, I don't know anything else."
A smile appeared on the Hidden Slayer Corps girl's face, and she said, "Thank you, I understand."
Besides courage, a swordsman also needs talent; not everyone's Constitution can use a Breathing Technique.
Breathing Techniques have very high requirements for the human body, and most people simply cannot learn them no matter what.
What a kind-hearted little angel. Kurozawa no longer paid attention to the two people's conversation and shifted his gaze to the beautiful scenery of Mount Fujikasane.
Patches of Wisteria Flowers bloomed everywhere, and the air was filled with their fresh fragrance.
Occasionally, strong winds would even stir up purple petals, swirling and dancing, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
This was a beautiful world filled with the color purple.
However, for Demons, it was a terrifying hell.
No Demon would want to approach such a dense concentration of Wisteria Flowers.
And inside the circles of Wisteria Flower forests was the true prison of Mount Fujikasane.
One had to be led by a special person from a hidden location to find the entrance, unless they charged directly into the Wisteria Flower forest and cut a path through the Wisteria Flowers.
This place actually can't hold back strong Demons. After silently observing, Kurozawa reached this conclusion in his heart.
First of all, for Demons, Wisteria Flowers are more of an innate aversion; they don't want to get close.
What can harm Demons is specially made concentrated Wisteria Flower poison, not the Wisteria Flowers themselves.
Some powerful Demons, if determined to break free from the Wisteria Flower blockade, should probably be able to do so.
Well, to use an analogy, it's like someone having to swim across a dozens-of-meters long cesspool. They could do it, but they wouldn't want to.
"May I ask a question? Have the Demons in Mount Fujikasane always stayed obediently in the mountain?"
"Have any tried to escape?"
Kurozawa looked at the girl leading the way and asked after a moment of thought.
The girl tilted her head and thought for a few seconds before answering uncertainly, "It seems like there have been, but I heard from some swordsmen that the Demons with such intentions fainted in the Wisteria Flower forest and then turned to ash when the sun came up."
Thinking Kurozawa was afraid that the Demons in Mount Fujikasane would escape, the girl explained, "Don't worry, the Demons inside Mount Fujikasane aren't strong. They don't have the ability to walk out of the Wisteria Flower forest."
Not strong at all? Little sister, you're mistaken about that.
Kurozawa nodded and said, "That's good."
Ten minutes later, following the girl's footsteps, the group arrived at a building area.
Most of the buildings were wooden houses, simple and rustic, but practical.
In addition to Kurozawa and the others, other members of the Hidden Slayer Corps were also leading the trainee swordsmen participating in the trial here.
"You can stay in any of the houses that are empty."
"After moving in, just flip the sign at the door to indicate that the house is occupied."
"Inside the houses, there are futons and some simple utensils that you can use."
"If you have any problems, you can find me or any other member of the Hidden Slayer Corps in the easternmost area."
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave now. More swordsmen will be arriving soon."
After leading Kurozawa and the others to the temporary living area, the girl bowed slightly.
Kurozawa also smiled and said, "It's fine, thank you for your trouble."
"You all have the potential to become pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps in the future, constantly fighting vicious Demons. Compared to that, it's you who are working hard."
After saying that, the girl from the Hidden Slayer Corps stepped back and left.
She was right. What Makomo said was just psychological comfort, and the girl herself knew it.
The swordsmen who face death head-on are always the fundamental pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps. Everything else is there to serve the swordsmen.
"Go find the rooms you like yourselves. You can disperse now."
Kurozawa wanted to look around here and gestured for his junior disciples to leave.
After speaking, Kurozawa walked down the path to his left.
However, before he had taken a few steps, one of his junior female disciples hesitated for a moment, then followed him.
Kurozawa looked at the petite junior female disciple in front of him, who had an innocent and pure face but a very impressive bust. He said kindly, "Shizuka, is something wrong?"
Among Kurozawa's thirteen junior disciples, there were 9 males and 4 females.
Hanada Shizuka was one of Kurozawa's four junior female disciples, just 13 years old this year.
Kurozawa, who was already 21, always felt like he was mixed in with a group of middle schoolers, or even elementary schoolers.
But there was nothing he could do. The Demon Slayer Corps mostly trained swordsmen from a young age.
Moreover, due to the existence of the Breathing Technique, these boys and girls developed quickly. In Hanada Shizuka's case, although she was 13, she gave the impression of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.
Hanada Shizuka lowered her head, twisting her hands together constantly. After a long while, she said with a blush, "Senior Disciple Danryu, can you take me into Mount Fujikasane tomorrow? I'm a little scared."
Senior Disciple Danryu, Kurozawa's face darkened. How did they all learn from Makomo? Such an arrogant name doesn't fit his personality.
"Ahem, just call me Senior Disciple Kurozawa."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Hanada Shizuka's expression dim, and a layer of mist covered her fawn-like eyes.
"Okay... fine."
"But Senior Disciple Makomo can call you that..."
A wronged voice came from her, giving Kurozawa a headache.
Seeing that she was about to cry the next second, Kurozawa said helplessly, "Alright, have it your way then."
Heaven knows why not letting her call him Danryu means not being close.
I just purely don't want to hear the words Senior Disciple Danryu! Kurozawa shouted in his heart.
"Then tomorrow?"
Hearing Kurozawa relent, Hanada Shizuka's expression instantly changed from cloudy to sunny like flipping a book. She looked up at Kurozawa with a grin.
Good heavens, I wondered why this usually mischievous girl was so easily wronged today. So it was intentional... I shouldn't have started this.
At this moment, Kurozawa understood. Makomo must have taught her.
"Since you brought it up first, I'll look after you."
"Follow me tomorrow and I'll show you how amazing your Senior Disciple is. Those Demons you're afraid of are nothing but weaklings in front of your Senior Disciple."
Kurozawa raised his head, saying proudly.
Anyway, he had to take a junior male or female disciple into the mountain with him. Anyone other than Sabito and Makomo was fine.
"Mm, Senior Disciple is the best!"
Hanada Shizuka clapped her hands, her face filled with admiration.
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