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After selecting the forging materials and handing over the fragments of the broken sword, Ren Kuroda walked toward a girl standing among the crowd.
"As promised, I'm returning your Nichirin Blade intact—cough—well, not completely intact," Ren said with a faintly awkward expression."But it should still be repairable. If I end up joining the Demon Slayer Corps, I'll be receiving a salary, so you can send me the bill then.Of course, if I don't join… then all I can do is apologize."
When Ren handed back the Nichirin Blade—now bearing several noticeable chips—the girl's face immediately flushed crimson under the many gazes around them. She could only nod repeatedly and murmur a soft, distracted, "Uh-huh," clearly not processing a single word Ren had just said.
"Master will definitely be able to join the Demon Slayer Corps… after all, you're so gentle, and so strong…"
The girl's voice drifted from behind him as Ren turned away. He gave a self-deprecating smile but said nothing more, leaving alongside Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho.
The moment Ren and Giyu departed, the mountaintop exploded into a frenzy of excitement.
Earlier, with the Pillars present, everyone had been too shocked—and too intimidated—to make a sound.After all, every person there understood exactly what the Pillars represented within the Demon Slayer Corps.
But once Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho were gone, the restrained tension instantly vanished.
"That guy actually wiped out all the demons on Mount Fujikasane! That's insane!"
"No wonder we didn't encounter a single demon on the way up… So there was a monster like that here the whole time.Do you think taking the exam alongside someone like him is a blessing—or a curse?"
The girl who had lent Ren her Nichirin Blade was quickly surrounded.
Everyone assumed she knew him and eagerly tried to extract information from her.
After all, they were about to become members of the Demon Slayer Corps.Making connections with such a terrifyingly powerful figure could only benefit them in the future.
Moreover, judging from Ren's tone when speaking to the Water Pillar, it was obvious they were old acquaintances.Combined with the strength Ren had displayed, it was clear to everyone present that becoming a Pillar himself was only a matter of time.
Like the others, the girl firmly believed that with Ren's power, joining the Demon Slayer Corps would pose no problem at all—even if he had disrupted the examination.After all, exceptional individuals were always granted certain privileges.
What they didn't know, however, was that beyond merely disrupting the exam, Ren's very existence was a sensitive issue.
Whether he would be allowed to join the Demon Slayer Corps was, in truth, still completely uncertain.
"We've just received word from headquarters," the black-and-white-haired attendant announced calmly."Although some unexpected incidents occurred during this recruitment examination, everyone present ultimately reached the summit according to the rules.Therefore, the Master has decided that all of you have passed."
"Please proceed to select the materials for forging your Nichirin Blades, as well as your communication crows.Your Nichirin Blades and Demon Slayer Corps uniforms will be delivered to your residences shortly."
Her voice finally rescued the girl who had been surrounded.
In reality, everyone's attempt to pry information about Ren from her had been utterly pointless.
Even she herself didn't actually know Ren Kuroda's name.
At Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, all the remaining Pillars were already gathered in the courtyard, having answered the Master's summons.
Ordinarily, the Pillars rarely assembled.Regular demons weren't worth their attention, so the fact that all of them were present spoke volumes.
When Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho arrived with Ren, he came face-to-face with the other Pillars:
Flame Pillar — Kyojuro RengokuBreathing Style: Flame BreathingA bold, passionate man with long hair streaked in yellow and red.
Sound Pillar — Tengen UzuiBreathing Style: Sound BreathingThe founder of Sound Breathing. A tall, powerfully built man wearing a flamboyant headband—one of the older Pillars present.
Love Pillar — Mitsuri KanrojiBreathing Style: Love BreathingThe founder of Love Breathing. A sweet-looking girl with large, light-green eyes and long pink braids.
Mist Pillar — Muichiro TokitoBreathing Style: Mist BreathingA black-haired, expressionless boy. A prodigy who became a Pillar after wielding a sword for only two months.
Serpent Pillar — Obanai IguroBreathing Style: Serpent BreathingThe founder of Serpent Breathing. A young man with heterochromatic eyes—gold on the right, green on the left—and bandages wrapped around his chin.
Stone Pillar — Gyomei HimejimaBreathing Style: Stone BreathingA towering monk-like figure who was constantly shedding tears, bearing a long scar across his forehead.
Wind Pillar — Sanemi ShinazugawaBreathing Style: Wind BreathingA sharp-featured young man with spiky white hair and an openly hostile expression.
Adding Water Pillar Giyu Tomioka and Insect Pillar Shinobu Kocho, these nine individuals comprised the current Nine Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.
It was impossible not to acknowledge that those who became Pillars were anything but ordinary.
Each of them either practiced one of the original Five Breathing Styles or had created a derivative technique of their own.
To carve out an entirely unique path in breathing techniques required talent that could only be described as extraordinary.
When Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the head of the Corps, appeared behind the curtain and gently asked the assembled Pillars for their opinions on Ren Kuroda joining the Demon Slayer Corps, the responses were divided.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Pillar, glared viciously at Ren the instant he entered the courtyard, as though he wanted to tear him apart on the spot.
The Stone Pillar and Sound Pillar were less overt, but it was clear they weren't particularly fond of Ren either.
The Serpent Pillar, Love Pillar, Mist Pillar, and Flame Pillar—having no prior knowledge of Ren—remained neutral.
As for Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho, their stances were clearly inclined in Ren's favor.
Giyu had already acknowledged Ren's strength, and based on what Sakonji Urokodaki had told him, he was convinced Ren was fundamentally different from ordinary demons.
Shinobu Kocho's support stemmed from Ren's words earlier about the sword fragments.
Additionally, she had learned from the girl that Ren had not only saved her life but had also stopped her from committing suicide.
Regardless of whether Ren was truly a demon or not, Shinobu believed his actions demonstrated that he wasn't a bad person.
Ren's overwhelming combat strength was another critical factor.The Demon Slayer Corps was currently struggling to keep pace with the growing power of demons.
Why, then, reject someone so powerful—someone who was willing to stand on their side?