"My friend? What person?"
Mitsuba's face showed confusion.
Since when did she have other friends outside?
"I don't know, he didn't say his name, only said he's a great director. Anyway, Mitsuba, go check quickly..."
"Tsk!"
Rising to leave the editorial department, Mitsuba walked briskly along the corridor to the reception room. The moment she opened the door, she saw that smiling figure sitting obediently on the sofa—that tall presence.
"As expected, it's you."
This figure was also draped in a large trench coat, wearing a fedora hat and leather shoes, like a perfect gentleman. White hair, and a pair of rainbow-colored pupils. Handsome and striking.
Such iconic features—this person was undoubtedly Doma, Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki.
"Holy Maiden, we meet again~"
Facing Doma's cheerful greeting, Mitsuba unhesitatingly closed the door to leave.
But in the next second, Doma instantly moved forward and grabbed the door handle.
"Holy Maiden! I came today to tell you something important!"
"Stop pulling my leg. What important matters could someone like you have?
Go cause trouble with someone else. I've only been working this job for two months. I have no plans to change jobs now!"
The two exerted force against each other across the door panel—Mitsuba desperately trying to close the door, Doma desperately pulling to prevent her from closing it.
"It's about the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"Then go find my brother! He's also Upper Rank One! And now a House of Representatives member too! Don't disturb me, this small newspaper editor!"
"I discovered the location where the Demon Slayer Corps holds their Final Selection!"
"...Huh?"
"..."
Mount Fujikasane—the place where the Demon Slayer Corps conducts their Final Selection for swordsmen.
A bizarre mountain where wisteria flowers bloom all year round, every hour, every moment.
Those mountain-covering wisteria flowers surrounded the entire Mount Fujikasane like a prison. Weak demons captured within would be completely trapped inside, unable to escape.
And the Demon Slayer Corps' selection involved throwing groups of prospective swordsmen into the mountain each year, letting them find their own way to "survive seven days" within it.
Regardless of the process, as long as they could leave Mount Fujikasane alive after seven days, with no disabilities on their bodies, they would pass the selection and become official demon slayers.
It's worth mentioning that, besides a few extremely special exceptions, the vast majority of these prospective swordsmen had never truly fought demons before entering Mount Fujikasane. They were absolutely the newest of new recruits.
Therefore, the number of swordsmen who passed the Final Selection each year had always been small.
"Nine deaths one survival" would be considered generous—total annihilation situations were not uncommon.
Honestly, Mitsuba sometimes truly felt that the Ubuyashiki clan acted even more cruelly than her. At least she couldn't be so ruthless toward her own people, or ordinary people unrelated to her interests.
Compared to this clan's people, she truly considered herself quite kind most of the time...
"Ehh—"
Inside the reception room, after hearing Mitsuba's explanation, Doma, who had sat back on the sofa, immediately made a mournful face.
"So, Holy Maiden, you actually knew about Mount Fujikasane's existence long ago?!"
"Are you kidding? You think my ability is just for show?"
Mitsuba rolled her eyes at him, waving her hand:
"I knew about things like Mount Fujikasane hundreds of years ago. I even specifically went in several times to observe those demon slayers' selection process. Bloody and ugly, utterly boring..."
Yes, relying on her ability to perceive karma threads, Mitsuba had actually learned of Mount Fujikasane's existence and specific location from demon slayers long ago, and even personally went in to play around.
After all, those so-called wisteria flowers could only block weak small demons. For a powerful demon like her, they were practically useless.
"Sometimes I really don't understand. The Ubuyashiki clan is, after all, considered a prestigious 'kazoku' (noble family)."
How could they create such a selection mechanism that even nouveau riche couldn't come up with, and maintain it for eight hundred years?
Such inefficiency and waste, yet not a single person in eight hundred years thought to reform it. Could the gods' curse really have smoothed out all the brain wrinkles of their entire clan?"
As a former daimyo, Mitsuba directed unreserved mockery at the Demon Slayer Corps' absurd selection mechanism.
Beside her, Doma asked curiously:
"Since Holy Maiden knew about Mount Fujikasane's existence long ago, why have I never heard you mention it before?"
"None of you ever asked me about it?"
To this, Mitsuba replied matter-of-factly.
Inside the room, the two demons' gazes met, and Doma immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Holy Maiden, you're not being honest."
There was the scent of lies on Mitsuba.
"Ah, fine fine fine. Actually, it's because I don't really want that Mount Fujikasane to disappear, is that enough...
After all, it's a place where flowers can bloom all year round, defying the natural laws of the world. Anyone with eyes can tell this is definitely another back door those gods in the heavens opened for the Ubuyashiki clan.
If we casually destroyed it, who knows what messy trouble He would cause then.
Rather than that, it's better to let it continue existing...
Just like that foolish Ubuyashiki clan—rather than completely exterminating them, it's better to keep these puppet fools around, letting them lead those demon slayers to continue their incompetence.
This way everyone can be satisfied, no?"
After speaking, Mitsuba stretched and prepared to rise and leave.
"So that's how it is. Regardless of what you plan to do to the Demon Slayer Corps next, don't come find me.
I've lost interest in lawnmower games, and I still have to work. I won't see you out."
"If that's the case..."
But at this moment, Doma suddenly spoke.
He watched Mitsuba's departing figure and slowly asked:
"Has Holy Maiden ever considered making the Demon Slayer Corps 'stronger,' making the game between them and us more interesting?"
Her footsteps suddenly halted. Mitsuba turned back to look at him, frowning in confusion:
"What do you mean?"
"In a few more months, the twentieth century will arrive..."
Turning to look out the window at that bustling city district, Doma wore a smile on his face. With that meaningful tone, he spoke leisurely:
"In this brand new era, doesn't Holy Maiden want to send our old opponents a generous gift?
For example... a Child of Destiny who can bring hope to the Demon Slayer Corps that has been silent for over a hundred years?"
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This story has ended in chapter 315, you can read on patreon.com/dzeref887 for faster access or wait until August to read on WebNovel until the story ends.