"Senior brother! Hey, senior brother! What's wrong with you? It's me, your junior! We're both disciples of Master Urokodani—you haven't forgotten him, right?"
Seeing Tomioka Giyuu looking at him as if he didn't even want to acknowledge his existence, Karasuma Reiyu hurried forward, pretending to be flustered.
Of course, the truth was… all of this was an act.
Reiyu had deliberately crafted this pitiful, clueless persona to give everyone present the impression that he was weak and dumb.And why? Because the last thing he wanted was to reveal his real strength. With the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Flying Thunder God under his belt, taking on anyone here wasn't exactly difficult.
Tomioka turned away again, speaking calmly over his shoulder:
"I haven't forgotten Master Urokodani. I simply don't want to acknowledge you as my junior."
Reiyu: "…"
"Giyuu-san, saying things like that will make people dislike you, you know?"
As Reiyu stood there speechless, a gentle voice floated in from behind the crowd.He turned—and froze.
A beautiful woman stepped forward: black hair with purple tips, styled in an elegant evening curl; violet eyes; a mint-colored butterfly hairpin trimmed in deep purple; a haori shaped like butterfly wings; and a calm smile on her lips. Her whole presence radiated softness.
Ding!
Kochou Shinobu• Position: Current Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps• Personality: Gentle, though the kindness is mostly an act for her late sister• Skill: Breath of the Insect• Combat Power: 4,163• Overall Rating: Heavenly Tier• Affection Toward Host: 0
Holy crap… she's gorgeous.
Reiyu stared openly, stunned by her beauty. His mind blanked out for a second.
"I'm not disliked."
Giyuu spoke flatly again, completely serious.
"Giyuu, do you seriously lack even that much self-awareness?"
A cold voice chimed in. The speaker approached: a young man with heterochromatic eyes—left green, right gold—bandages covering his mouth, seaweed-like black hair, black-and-white striped haori, and a pale white snake coiled around his neck.
Giyuu's eyelid twitched.
Ding!
Iguro Obanai• Position: Current Serpent Hashira• Personality: Sharp-tongued, values comrades, hates demons, distrustful of strangers• Skill: Breath of the Serpent• Combat Power: 4,792• Overall Rating: Heavenly Tier• Affection Toward Host: –2
"Whoa. That guy is weird… He's got a snake wrapped around his neck. Isn't he scared it'll bite him?"
Reiyu made sure to say it loudly and innocently—perfect for convincing everyone he truly was a harmless idiot.
Obanai's forehead instantly darkened with irritation, and the white snake flicked its tongue in clear displeasure.
At that moment, another figure stepped forward and extended a hand toward Reiyu.
"Yo, Karasuma boy! The Master told me that during Final Selection, you wiped out most of the demons on Fujikasane Mountain. Thanks to you, the number of survivors skyrocketed this year! That's splendid—truly splendid!"
The man had striking flame-colored hair, bright eyes, a fiery aura, a warm smile, and a booming voice. His haori blazed like living flames.
Ding!
Rengoku Kyoujurou• Position: Current Flame Hashira; son of the former Flame Hashira• Personality: Optimistic, strong leadership, excellent judgment• Skill: Breath of Flame• Combat Power: 4,639• Overall Rating: Heavenly Tier• Affection Toward Host: 3
Holy—Affection level 3?!
Reiyu immediately grabbed Kyoujurou's hand with a bright smile.
"Nice to meet you, senpai! A real honor!"
"Tch. Rengoku, you really have no flashiness at all. It's just the Final Selection—killing everything on Fujikasane doesn't mean much. Every single one of us here has slain a member of the Twelve Kizuki."
A displeased voice sounded behind him.
Reiyu turned to see a tall, muscular man dripping with gaudy flair—headband studded with gemstones, red markings around his eyes, multicolored nail polish.
Ding!
Uzui Tengen• Position: Current Sound Hashira; former shinobi• Personality: Proud, but straightforward and spirited• Skill: Breath of Sound• Combat Power: 4,572• Affection Toward Host: –1
Reiyu stared at Uzui's blinding aesthetic and fell into deep thought.
…Did Demon Slayer characters always dress this weirdly?
"Ahh… what an optimistic child. In this cruel world, it is rare to find someone with such radiant positivity…"
The next speaker was a towering monk-like giant, tears streaming endlessly down his face for reasons unknown. A long scar marked his forehead, and his eyes were a milky white—likely blind. Over his uniform he wore a brown kasaya inscribed with "Namu Amida Butsu."
Ding!
Himejima Gyomei• Position: Current Stone Hashira• Personality: Gentle, composed, utterly hates demons• Skill: Breath of Stone• Combat Power: 5,862• Overall Rating: Heavenly Tier• Affection Toward Host: 0
"Um… why is this monk crying? And is he actually blind?"Reiyu's brain struggled to comprehend the walking wall of emotions in front of him.
"My, my… what a cute boy. If he's strong enough, I might just feel the impulse to marry him~"
A lively, sweet voice sounded.
The woman had large green eyes, blushing cheeks, beauty marks under each eye, long braided pink hair fading into green, and a very… revealing uniform—white haori, open chest, short skirt, striped thigh-highs.
Ding!
Kanroji Mitsuri• Position: Current Love Hashira• Personality: Cheerful, warm, extremely affectionate• Skill: Breath of Love• Combat Power: 4,672• Overall Rating: Heavenly Tier• Affection Toward Host: 2
"This woman is… uh… something else."
Reiyu stroked his chin, eyes drifting instinctively toward her chest—huge.
Unfortunately, Obanai noticed this immediately. His sharp gaze cut toward Reiyu, making the latter's spine tighten in fear.
"The shape of that cloud earlier… was it really like that?"
The last remaining person finally spoke.A boy younger than Reiyu, expression blank, long black hair drifting in the wind, staring dreamily at the sky as if lost in another world.
Ding!
Tokitou Muichirou• Position: Current Mist Hashira• Personality: Apathetic, detached, easily forgets things• Skill: Breath of Mist• Combat Power: 4,778• Overall Rating: Heavenly Tier• Affection Toward Host: 0
Reiyu stared at the boy—clearly younger than him, yet overwhelmingly stronger.
Emmm… he's what, fifteen at most? And he has nearly four thousand more combat power than me?! What the hell is the point of having a system then?!