The reason Karasuma Reiyu had rushed ahead to Fujikasane Mountain was simple: Urokodaki Sakonji had told him the place was crawling with low-level demons captured by the Demon Slayer Corps. If Reiyu could devour them all, hitting Earth-level combat power might not even be out of reach.
So, before Urokodaki could finish giving his instructions, Reiyu had already left Sagiri Mountain and set off for Fujikasane.
The demon he had just killed? Purely bad luck—it had crossed his path along the way. If it could have known what was running through Reiyu's mind, it would have come back from the afterlife just to tear him apart.
"I'm just passing through! And you—damn it—you even took the time to finish me off? Are we not considered people? Or demons?!"
Still, even ten of those weaklings together wouldn't have stood a chance. Reiyu's two-year-long training was clearly paying off.
Darting through the forest with ease, Reiyu soon reached the base of a large mountain, where a sea of purple wisteria bloomed in riotous color. He knew instantly: this was Fujikasane Mountain.
It was named after the wisteria that carpeted its base, blooming all year round regardless of the seasons. And for demons, wisteria was one of the most feared flowers. Some had been trapped on Fujikasane for decades simply because the blossoms never withered.
Because of this, and because the demons here were mostly low-level—creatures who had only tasted one or two human lives—the mountain had become the designated site for the Demon Slayer Corps' annual final selection. Anyone who survived the trials here would officially join the Corps.
For Reiyu, officially becoming a Demon Slayer was secondary. The real reason he was here was far simpler and far more satisfying: to devour the demons themselves. Becoming a Corps member was just a convenient bonus—more missions meant more opportunities to hunt, kill, and devour.
Armed with a red Tengu mask gifted by Urokodaki, Reiyu stepped onto the stone stairway leading up the mountain.
"Out of my way!" he barked.
Before he could even take two steps, a rough, impatient voice shouted from behind him. A hand slammed into his shoulder, and with a slight shove, his entire body was flung off to the side of the stairs.
Recovering his balance, Reiyu scowled. When he looked up, he saw a boy standing there—a storm in human form. He wore a purple robe, had a dark mohawk, and a long scar ran down the left side of his face to his nose. His eyes radiated raw aggression.
"Who the hell is this punk?" Reiyu muttered, irritation rising as he placed his hands on his hips.
The boy glanced at him, sizing him up. Reiyu's mask hid his expression, but the boy's look quickly turned to disdain. Without another word, he marched up the mountain, leaving Reiyu to his own devices.
"So I've been underestimated, huh?" Reiyu thought. Shrugging, he ignored the brat and started climbing.
Just as he stepped forward, the system pinged in his mind.
"Ding!"
Name: Shigaraki GenyaAffiliation: Current junior to the Wind Pillar of the Demon Slayer CorpsSkills: DevourPersonality: Hot-headed, recklessCombat Power: 131Overall Rating: Rank 2Affinity toward Host: -5
"What the hell? I didn't even do anything to him yet, and my affinity's already dropped to -5? That old man Urokodaki was only -1!" Reiyu grumbled.
The system's analysis made him feel more wronged than he had ever felt in school—back then, he'd been known as a social butterfly. Now, in this world, anyone meeting him for the first time had negative affinity. Every single one.
Black lines appeared across Reiyu's face, but he ignored them and resumed his ascent.
Meanwhile, on a field path some distance from Fujikasane, another boy walked. He wore a blue haori and a Tengu mask tilted across his forehead. His deep red hair framed a forehead scar that looked like fire itself.
If Reiyu were here, he would have recognized him immediately: his junior disciple from Urokodaki Sakonji's training, the boy who had arrived only a few days after him—Kamado Tanjirou.
During the year-and-a-half-long trials on Sagiri Mountain, Reiyu had completed everything in just one year. The remaining six months had been spent under Urokodaki's orders, sparring with Tanjirou as his practice partner.
Reiyu hadn't exactly been thrilled about this arrangement. In fact, over those six months, he had lavished his "affection" on the junior in ways that could be considered… intense.
As a result, Tanjirou's respect for Reiyu ran deep. To him, his senior was even more fearsome than Urokodaki himself. Yet, that same guidance had doubled Tanjirou's combat power—a direct benefit of enduring Reiyu's unique brand of "care."
Now, with the system's monitoring, Tanjirou's combat power had reached 186, rating Rank 2, and his affinity toward Reiyu stood at 11, three points higher than even Urokodaki's.
Aside from his beloved sister, Reiyu was the person Tanjirou trusted most. He wasn't as rigid as Urokodaki, and his way of speaking was… unconventional.
He often muttered phrases like, "I gao," or, "Not gonna happen, ah Sir," leaving Tanjirou utterly confused. And he often called the junior, "my foolish little Mame-dou."
"Senior Reiyu has already gone ahead to Fujikasane. I wonder where he is now…" Tanjirou murmured, recalling his sister's face. Determination and a small smile formed.
"Don't worry, Nezuko. I'll make sure you become human again!"
Meanwhile, in a small cabin on Sagiri Mountain, Urokodaki Sakonji sat at a table, wearing a red Tengu mask. His fists clenched tightly.
"Reiyu… protect Tanjirou," he whispered. "If it's you, you should be able to pass the final selection. I don't want to see my child die there again…"