"Oh! So you're the descendant of the Original Breathing Style swordsman that Father mentioned before?!"
As a member of the Rengoku family, which had followed the Ubuyashiki clan for generations, Rengoku Shinjuro naturally knew more about internal Demon Slayer Corps intelligence than ordinary swordsmen.
Not to mention, his father was the current Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"You're truly as amazing as Father said! Thank you for saving everyone!"
Rengoku Shinjuro bowed deeply toward Mitsuba to express his gratitude.
Not far behind the two, those prospective swordsmen who had been saved by Mitsuba earlier also bowed along.
Perhaps because of the powerful strength Mitsuba had displayed before, these people were somewhat afraid to directly approach and speak with her.
"You're welcome."
Turning back to reveal a brilliant smile to them, Mitsuba replied without concern:
"Saving the dying and healing the wounded, protecting companions—these are our demon slayers' duties, are they not?"
"Mm! These words are spoken very well!"
"But you know..."
Looking at that group of prospective swordsmen behind her, Mitsuba suddenly changed the subject:
"Although you all fortunately survived, I suggest that after this selection ends, you should quickly apply to withdraw from the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Mitsuba, what do you mean by these words?"
Before those prospective swordsmen could say anything, Rengoku Shinjuro beside her hurriedly questioned.
"Because they don't have the talent to become demon slayers, do they?"
To this, Mitsuba explained very directly:
"If I weren't here this time, the vast majority among them would have died in this selection.
Shinjuro, if they can't even defeat such weak demons, even if they luckily pass the selection this time with my help and become official demon slayers, what meaning would that have?
To go deliver food to even stronger demons?
Undoubtedly, when they encounter those even stronger demons later, they would still be killed without any suspense.
Rather than this, it's better to let them leave now—this way they can still preserve their lives, is it not?"
Mitsuba's words were very truthful.
On this path of slaying demons, weaklings without talent couldn't even count as cannon fodder. They were purely prepared food for demons.
Like how she herself particularly enjoyed eating them.
It's just that in past Final Selections, this category of people would basically be eliminated and die during the selection, so the Demon Slayer Corps never had to consider such problems in the past.
After all, the weaklings had already died during these seven days. Those who could walk out alive from this bloody selection more or less had some skills, so directly stuffing them into the Demon Slayer Corps was completely fine.
But this time was different.
This time, Mitsuba had kindly saved these poor people who should have been eliminated and died.
Whether from maintaining her current "character setting" or that little bit of attitude to see things through to the end.
Mitsuba felt she had the necessity to consider their future paths for them.
"But, we also want to slay demons..."
Facing Mitsuba's heart-piercing words, among the crowd, a girl said with red eyes, as if about to cry.
This was normal. Although the Demon Slayer Corps recruited many people with different backgrounds and other purposes, the vast majority were still those poor people whose families had been harmed by demons.
Carrying hatred for demons in their hearts and that passion for saving others, these people would almost all eventually walk the path of demon slayers and be recruited as members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Then, ninety-nine percent of them would bury themselves on Mount Fujikasane with this passion.
Clearly having sincere hearts, yet not even truly stepping onto this path before dying so miserably—how pitiful.
Lord God, tell me, beneath these millennium-undefeated wisteria flowers, exactly how many poor children's lives have been buried?
[Sigh, forget it forget it, since I saved them, then I'll conveniently help them a bit more...]
There was no other way. Who made that evil, cruel Upper Rank One have such a temperament of being unable to bear seeing others suffer?
Others Mitsuba couldn't control, but tragedies happening before her eyes—Mitsuba could never turn a blind eye to.
After all, that distant past version of her had also deeply longed for others' salvation...
[Perfect, taking this opportunity, let me, this evil, terrifying, cruel, horrible, heaven-defying, utterly wicked Upper Rank One who should be destroyed by heavenly punishment.]
[Come and properly reform this outdated, decaying system for your Demon Slayer Corps!]
Quickly having a train of thought in her mind, Mitsuba looked at these prospective swordsmen before her with red eyes, unwilling and unconvinced yet unable to refute, and smiled gently:
"Who told you that wanting to contribute on the path of demon slayers means you must charge at demons with a blade without caring about anything?
Since you don't have combat talent, can't we still shine and contribute in other places?"
"..."
---
Seven days later, the mountain gate opened.
What Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who had been waiting in the campsite, saw was a large group of swordsmen walking out from behind the gate, led by Mitsuba.
Twenty-one people in total—the exact same number as the prospective swordsmen who entered the mountain seven days ago. Not a single one missing.
Incredible—could it be that all the prospective swordsmen who participated in this Final Selection survived?
Could this entire batch of swordsmen all be geniuses?!
This was clearly impossible.
In merely an instant, the young Ubuyashiki Kagaya realized the key point.
He cast his gaze toward Mitsuba, who stood at the very front of the crowd, head held high and face full of smiles.
Before he could open his mouth to ask, he saw Mitsuba proactively say:
"That's right, I did it. The first night deep in the mountain, I already completely exterminated all demons inside."
[As expected.]
Hearing this, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was first stunned, then deeply sighed in admiration in his heart.
Merely holding a blade for one month, facing demons for the first time, yet able to single-handedly slay all demons in Mount Fujikasane.
In the Demon Slayer Corps' current records, such a situation had never happened in the past.
Should I say, as expected of a descendant of the Original Breathing Style swordsman?
Tsugikuni Mitsuba, having you is truly the great fortune of our Demon Slayer Corps!
Perhaps, you can truly lead the demon slayers to completely slay that legendary Demon King and eradicate this great calamity from the world...