"Knock... knock... knock..."
"Young Master, it's me."
"Enter."
The door was pushed open, and Gotoh walked in with a serious expression. He closed the door behind him and glanced nervously at Roy, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. "Young Master, someone is spying on us!"
Just now, while packing, the young butler felt as if he had been turned "transparent" for a moment. He realized what was happening and immediately went to check on Roy's safety.
"It was me." Roy didn't plan to hide it from Gotoh.
He looked at the clearly stunned butler with a smile. "I'm guessing your next question is 'How did I do that?'"
Roy said, "No need to be surprised."
He used [En] on Gotoh alone. That familiar "prying" sensation instantly washed over him.
The young butler once again experienced the feeling of his innermost thoughts being ripped from his heart and exposed to the sun. He gave a bitter smile and said, "Young Master, please have mercy."
"Haha," Roy waved his hand. "Now you know. Go back to sleep."
"Yes." Gotoh pushed up the glasses on his nose, turned, and closed the door.
The door creaked shut. Roy's smile vanished instantly. He glanced coldly out the window. "You, get back to sleep too!"
Illumi was hanging upside down outside the window like an eight-legged spider, staring straight at Roy through the glass. "You care about me."
Roy: "..."
Illumi: "If you didn't care about me, why would you spy on me? So, you must care about me!"
"I knew it. You..."
"Bang!"
A figure flashed past. The next instant... the foolish otouto was sent flying like a star in the sky, disappearing in an instant.
Roy lowered his fist and spat inwardly, "How unlucky!"
With a swish, he pulled the curtains shut, blocking Illumi and the night view of Zabat City from sight.
He climbed into bed and turned off the bedside lamp.
The night grew darker.
After the great battle with Botobai and the quiet upgrade, physical and mental fatigue washed over him like a tide. Soon, Roy instructed Xiao Jin to wake him if anything happened, and he groggily drifted off to sleep.
The familiar feeling of falling returned...
Below him was the colorful dream passage. Passing through it, he reached the azure "Sea of Cognition."
Roy rolled up his trousers and, as usual, waded into the shallows, letting the waves wash over his body. He slowly approached the "Demon Slayer Gate." Before entering, he glanced sideways at the "Dark Continent Gate" standing nearby.
The pitch-black door was branded with complex, ancient patterns, and a lock firmly sealed the world behind it, just as the "curse" had locked his lifespan, urgently waiting for Roy to "break the game"!
The young man stood silently before the gate for a long time, then turned and pushed open the Demon Slayer gate.
Two days passed. When Roy opened his eyes again, he was already in the midst of a wisteria grove...
Demons fear only two things: the sun and this wisteria flower.
Mount Fujikasane serves as the Final Selection site for the Demon Slayer Corps precisely because of these mountainside wisteria, which cage up Demons of all sizes for the candidates to "hunt" or "be hunted"!
Roy picked a cluster of wisteria, held it to his nose, and sniffed. The fragrance was fresh and sweet, and it glowed with a faint purple light... He rubbed his hands, and the petals fell, scattered by the wind, drifting ahead...
That was the final entrance to the selection, where stone steps led straight to the mountaintop shrine.
With his Asauchi in hand, wearing the sun and mountain earrings, Roy ascended the steps unhurriedly. One step at a time, one transformation with each step... As his thoughts drifted, faces flashed through his mind: Sabito's, Makomo's, Shinsuke's, Fukuda's, Watanabe's, Shimizu's...
As his consciousness wandered, he activated [Deception]. Within a few breaths, he reached the summit and stopped. He looked up and saw two "Pillars" on either side, and in the middle, a frail-looking man with pale eyes looking his way...
The young man's steps faltered for a moment. His expression was blank as he resumed walking. With one step, he became Watanabe. With two, he became Shimizu. Three steps, Fukuda. Four steps, Shinsuke...
Just like that, changing with every step, he carried the hopes of his senior brothers and sisters, along with their "last wishes," as he walked toward Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Amidst the gasps of shock... under the terrified gazes... in the clamorous night wind...
He became Yagiku... he became Makomo... he became Sabito... he became Urokodaki Sakonji... until he was three meters in front of Ubuyashiki Kagaya. He reverted to his original appearance and greeted Giyu Tomioka with a smile.
"Brother Giyu, good evening."
Giyu Tomioka stared deeply at the young man. It had only been two days, yet he had done something so shocking again... His mouth opened and closed, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say. Finally, he gave Roy a slight nod.
"Namu Amida Butsu," Gyomei Himejima recited the Buddha's name. His large hand fingered his prayer beads. Just a moment ago... he had almost raised his massive fist to strike Roy... Changing with every step... other than a "Blood Demon Art," Gyomei Himejima could think of no other possibility...
It was only when he got closer that he smelled no "Demon" scent on the young man. Coupled with the fact that they were on Mount Fujikasane, surrounded by wisteria, he managed to stay his hand...
"Eiichiro, good child. You are even more outstanding than your master and seniors said."
"Eiichiro, this is the Master."
"Pleased to meet you, Kamado Eiichiro."
Roy was neither humble nor arrogant. After being introduced by Giyu Tomioka, who had regained his composure, he extended his right hand toward Ubuyashiki Kagaya.
Giyu Tomioka fell silent. Gyomei Himejima's brow furrowed as he seriously "sized up" the young man... The great monk's mastery of Breathing Style was exquisite. Just through "sensing," he captured that in Roy's words and actions, there was only... equal respect, but not a trace of worship or awe for the Ubuyashiki clan.
"You did not come here to join the Demon Slayer Corps..." Gyomei Himejima said in his deep voice.
Roy glanced at him and said frankly, "That's right. I came this time only to avenge my senior brothers."
"And after?" Gyomei Himejima's large hand, which was fingering the beads, paused. He cut straight to the point. "You will not follow the Master's orders."
Roy noticed that Ubuyashiki Kagaya had been staring at his outstretched hand, deep in thought. He replied truthfully, "I have never been anyone's subordinate. Not in the past, not now, and certainly not in the future."
After speaking, the young man ignored Gyomei Himejima and looked quietly at Ubuyashiki Kagaya...
This man, who wouldn't hesitate to use his own family as bait to lure Muzan into a trap, was worthy of respect. But to ask him to bow and scrape, to kneel before him and take orders... Sorry, the Zoldyck family's knees are made of iron. They don't bend.
"Master." Gyomei Himejima turned his head to look at Ubuyashiki Kagaya...
Giyu Tomioka also looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya in silence...
The group of candidates who had come for the selection also looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya, not understanding what was happening but impressed...
The man returned from his thoughts and looked gently at the young man. "You will continue to kill Demons, won't you?"
"I will, but not forever." Roy said calmly. "The evil must be completely eradicated. I came with only one purpose: to kill all the Demons in this world, including..."
"Muzan Kibutsuji."
After he is dead, there will naturally be no more Demons to kill.
A light flickered in Ubuyashiki Kagaya's eyes. He reached out and shook Roy's hand, smiling. "Good."
He didn't waste words...
He turned and signaled to Amane, who came over holding a scroll. "This is what you wanted... All the intelligence on Demons that the Demon Slayer Corps has collected over the years. I hope it will be useful to you."
"Not yet." Roy drew his sword. He didn't take the scroll. He turned and plunged into the "Demon pond" where the captive Demons were. "I'll take it after I return from killing Demons."
The longsword left its sheath. In one second, it became a Crimson Sword. In two seconds, surging flames erupted from it. As the young man flourished the blade, it lit up the dark night...