The next day, the sun rose from the west.
Warm sunlight spilled onto the land of Mount Fujikasane, dispersing the darkness.
After sending out the Kasugai Crow and waiting all night, Ubuyashiki Amane finally received a reply.
"Good morning, Lady Ubuyashiki."
A young girl with black hair and purple eyes, wearing a butterfly hairpin at the back of her head, appeared at the entrance.
"I've come to assess the situation, entrusted by the Master."
"Yes, I'll leave it to you then."
Looking at the girl before her, Ubuyashiki Amane let out a sigh of relief, her expression relaxing slightly.
As the younger sister of the current Flower Hashira, Kocho Shinobu's strength and medical skills were among the best in the Demon Slayer Corps.
With her help, as long as Lynn and Rengoku Kyojuro weren't dead on the spot, they could basically be saved.
"I'm heading in."
Kocho Shinobu didn't waste much time.
After greeting Ubuyashiki Amane, she rushed into the interior of Mount Fujikasane.
As an official member of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kocho Shinobu was no stranger to this mountain range.
During her reserve period, she had also come here with her elder sister.
"Having privileges is really nice."
To ensure the quality of Demon Slayer Corps members, Mount Fujikasane is theoretically off-limits.
However, the situation this time was rather special, involving the descendant of the current Flame Hashira.
Although the current Flame Hashira had fallen into a state of decadence and often slacked off after his wife's death.
But regardless, a Hashira is still a Hashira, the most important combat force of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Considering that his mental state could hardly bear the pain of losing a son, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, as the leader, broke the rules and specifically dispatched Kocho Shinobu to stabilize the situation.
Recalling her own experience of fighting all night with her sister on Mount Fujikasane and comparing it to Rengoku Kyojuro's situation of having a secret bodyguard, Kocho Shinobu felt a strange sense of imbalance.
However, she wasn't someone who ignored the big picture; she knew how important a Hashira was to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Composing herself, Kocho Shinobu hurried toward the depths of Mount Fujikasane.
What Kocho Shinobu didn't know, however, was that at the same time she was heading into the depths of Fujikasane Mountain...
On the other side of Mount Fujikasane, two figures finished a circuit around the mountain and returned to the entrance.
"Hmm?"
Only a few minutes after seeing off Kocho Shinobu, Ubuyashiki Amane saw YukimuraLynn and Rengoku Kyojuro walking out side by side.
"Lady Amane! I have something to report!"
"...Speak."
Although Ubuyashiki Amane was somewhat puzzled as to why the two of them were appearing here.
Seeing Rengoku Kyojuro's serious expression, she decided to hear what he had to say first.
"Just last night, while Lynn and I were hunting demons, we encountered a Mutated Demon."
"That Mutated Demon was cunning, lurking inside Mount Fujikasane for decades, using various means to kill a large number of Demon Slayer Corps trainees."
"A Mutated Demon that has lived for decades?!"
Ubuyashiki Amane frowned, her expression also turning serious.
"Are you sure there's no mistake about this?"
"It's true; all of this was stated by the Mutated Demon itself."
"Furthermore, he mentioned that he was captured and brought here by the former Water Hashira, Lord Urokodaki Sakonji."
"To take revenge, that Mutated Demon has been hunting Lord Urokodaki Sakonji's disciples."
"I see."
Ubuyashiki Amane's expression became even more solemn.
Ubuyashiki Amane had heard rumors regarding Urokodaki Sakonji's disciples.
She had originally thought it was just bad luck, but now it seemed there was more to the story.
"What is the status of that Mutated Demon now? Did the two of you kill him?"
"To be precise, Lynn killed him."
Rengoku Kyojuro stepped aside, gesturing toward the black-haired youth standing behind him.
"Besides that, Mutated Demon, all the other demons on Mount Fujikasane have also been cleared out by Lynn."
"...All cleared out?"
"Yes, they have all been cleared out."
Rengoku Kyojuro repeated it once more, a hint of emotion in his voice.
As the site for the Final Selection, the number of demons within Mount Fujikasane was staggering.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, even Rengoku Kyojuro would have found it hard to believe.
"If you don't believe it, Lady Amane, you can send someone in to check the situation."
"There's no need. I believe that you two wouldn't lie about such a thing."
Ubuyashiki Amane shook her head.
She didn't reveal that Kocho Shinobu had entered Fujikasane Mountain; instead, she pondered for a moment and summoned a Kasugai Crow.
"Please wait a moment, you two."
"Regarding the matter of Fujikasane Mountain, I need to report to the headquarters."
"Since you're sending a message, please deliver one for me as well."
Lynn, who hadn't spoken since the beginning, finally stepped forward.
Pulling a pre-prepared letter from his robe, he handed it to Ubuyashiki Amane.
"Lady Ubuyashiki, I would like to meet the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps as a partner."
...
Half a day later.
Kocho Shinobu returned from the depths of Mount Fujikasane and found Ubuyashiki Amane standing at the entrance.
"Lady Ubuyashiki, the situation at Mount Fujikasane has been confirmed."
"What is the situation inside now?"
"Aside from the members participating in the Final Selection, there are no living things left."
As Kocho Shinobu replied, her expression was somewhat complicated.
Half a day ago, she had received a mission to enter Mount Fujikasane and secretly protect Rengoku Kyojuro.
But just minutes after she stepped into Fujikasane Mountain, she received a message from a Kasugai Crow that the mission had changed.
She no longer needed to protect Rengoku Kyojuro; instead, she was to investigate the status of the demons within Fujikasane Mountain.
Kocho Shinobu had originally thought that a demon of incredible strength had appeared in Fujikasane Mountain.
But after investigating, she found the truth was exactly the opposite of what she had imagined.
Forget about powerful demons; she had circled the entire mountain and hadn't seen a single demon at all.
Currently, the only living beings inside Mount Fujikasane were the others who had entered to participate in the Final Selection after Lynn and Rengoku Kyojuro.
Because all the demons on the mountain had disappeared, these people now had nothing to do and could only find a corner to daze off or look at the scenery.
Anyone unaware would even think they were there for sightseeing.
"Lady Ubuyashiki, was the situation at Mount Fujikasane caused by Lynn and Rengoku Kyojuro?"
Recalling the intelligence she received when she took the mission, Kocho Shinobu asked tentatively.
Ubuyashiki Amane nodded. "To be precise, it was done by Lynn alone."
"Lynn..."
Kocho Shinobu murmured to herself, a peculiar look flashing in her eyes.
Clearing out Mount Fujikasane overnight was not something an ordinary person could do.
"Lady Ubuyashiki, could Lynn possibly have Hashira-level strength?"
"Regarding this matter, you need to take the two of them to the headquarters for confirmation."
"The headquarters?"
"Yes, a reply came from the headquarters not long ago. Kagaya has agreed to meet Lynn."
Ubuyashiki Amane took a slip of paper from her robe and handed it to Kocho Shinobu.
"I need to handle the matters here at Fujikasane Mountain; I can't leave for the time being."
"I'm afraid the task of taking Lynn to the headquarters will have to be left to you."
[Invite Lynn to the headquarters as a guest of the highest level. ]
"...I understand."
Looking at the familiar handwriting on the note, Kocho Shinobu's expression became serious.
"Leave the task of leading the way to me."
...