Crossed Katanas (KNY)

Chopter 23: 🌅Pray for dusk🌅

I'll try to upload weekly next time if possible. Thank you to those who waited.

Kaitsuki's journey to the Final Selection's venue was a LONG cross-country journey from the butterfly mansion all the way to a snowing mountain in Hokkaido.

Apparently, a wealthy man had gotten the government's rights to borrow the whole mountain that the corps used for their Final Selection. They literally had to send Sanemi to clear the mountain and kill every demon living there, which he did in about a week. With no other suitable mountains to use, the corps had to settle for a cold mountain far in the north of Japan.

Kaitsuki had to travel for three whole weeks to get there, after Kagaya Ubayashiki postponed the date of the Final Selection just so others could make it. Since Kaitsuki decided to go at quite the late time, he had to really make a run for it!

Which he didn't have a problem with since he would only sleep every two days as a habit. But after many, many days of traveling on foot, Kaitsuki finally reached the bottom of the mountain, sitting in the middle of the northern cold! However, there was one more challenge he had to face, or rather, CLIMB. His next challenge, was a long flight of stairs!

Kaitsuki: Shit! *sigh*

After climbing many flights of stairs, Kaitsuki had arrived at the Final Selection which was held at a mountain just like the previous ones. And just like Tanjiro, he was immediately attracted to the many purple flowers resting on multiple trees. He stood at one spot with his head titled up and scrutinized the flowers. It didn't take long for young appearance to catch the attention of other wannabe slayers, who started gossiping to each other.

"Who the heck let a kid enter?"

"Hang on, he looks quite familiar...

"Wait... isn't he the water hashira's tsuguko?"

"I think he is! He must be strong if he's the tsuguko of a hashira!"

"So young!"

???: So that's the water hashira's tsuguko huh? He looks just like how granny described him.

Minutes later, Kagaya's daughters (I'm just gonna dub them Girl 1 and Girl 2) appeared on top of a flight of stairs. Their expressionless faces gave the examinees chills. They explained the rules of the six day and seven night survival in a mountain full of demons.

Girl 1: "If you have successfully survived the seven night trial, proceed to the peak of the mountain. There will be flights of stairs to guide you there after climbing to a certain height."

Girl 2: "The stairs are prohibited until the seventh day. You may only start your journey up the mountain once you've seen the first ray of sunlight on the seventh day."

Girl 1: "Crows will be surveying the mountain. Anyone who breaks the rules will be disqualified from the Final Selection."

Girl 2: "That is all. We wish all of you the best of luck with the seven nights ahead."

Girl 1: "The Final Selection starts now. Please proceed into mountain."

The whole lot charged into the mountain woods. While the rest were all running, Kaitsuki simply walked with casual pacing. However, just to be safe, he kept both of his hands on his weapon, ready to draw his katana in case a demon attacked. Sure enough, with a matter of minutes, Kaitsuki came face to face with not one, not two, but three starving demons who were charging at him carelessly. It was as clear as day that they were desperate for human flesh, and never cared about how open they were.

Demon: "H-Human! Flesh! Gimme the flesh! GOD IM STARVING!"

Demon: "Come here little one! Ooo~hoo hoo hoo~"