The immense sense of humiliation and the furious rage from being threatened instantly overwhelmed the sliver of fear that had just risen in Genya.
He suddenly struggled backward, trying to break free from that cursed ice blade!
His strong neck muscles bulged, blood vessels pulsed under his skin, and veins protruded at his temples.
However, just as he exerted force and struggled, an anomaly suddenly occurred!
Hiss—!
A very faint sound, like frost coalescing and spreading.
The cold air swirling around the blade, which was pressed against his skin, suddenly solidified.
The ice crystal, like a living white vine, spread upwards along the smooth ice blade at a speed visible to the naked eye, extremely rapidly!
The icy touch, like a venomous snake, instantly climbed over Genya's Adam's apple, sweeping past his taut jawline.
A few tiny ice crystals even touched the corners of his mouth, which he had clenched in anger, bringing with them a bone-chilling cold!
"You can try moving again, and see if I won't cut off your head!"
As Luo En spoke, the ice blade advanced further, slicing open the skin on his neck.
Genya felt as if countless tiny ice needles were constantly piercing his neck.
Genya's struggling movements instantly froze, as if he were locked by invisible ice chains, and a primal fear of death, stemming from his life's instinct, caused his pupils to dilate in extreme horror.
"You… you madman…"
The voice squeezed from between his teeth carried a tremor he himself hadn't noticed.
At this moment, Genya's heart was filled with unbelievable fear and a twisted hatred; he stared intently at Luo En.
"Madman?"
Luo En chuckled softly, his voice carrying a hint of coldness and mockery,
"I'm just stopping you from harming innocent people…"
"Besides, I think you've got one thing wrong."
His eyes calmly watched Genya's face, contorted with anger and fear, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of everyone present:
"Here, you have no right to boss anyone around."
"It would be best to reclaim what little decency you have left and learn what respect means. Otherwise, in my eyes, you are no different in essence from those bloodthirsty demons!"
Genya felt the bone-chilling cold on his neck that seemed capable of freezing blood, and every word was squeezed out as if from between his teeth:
"You… who do you think you are? What gives you the right to lecture me?"
"What gives me the right?"
Luo En raised an eyebrow slightly, the ice blade spun lightly between his fingers, creating a dazzling yet deadly cold gleam, finally stopping steadily, its sharp edge once again pressing close to Genya's artery.
"The fact that I can silence you forever in a single breath."
The moment his words fell, Luo En slowly retracted the ice blade.
The deadly cold dispersed like a receding tide, but the invisible deterrent, like a large net, still enveloped the entire platform.
Luo En turned and walked back to his original position; the air was dead silent, with only the rustling of the cool morning wind passing through the wisteria trellis remaining.
Genya clutched his neck, where a shallow bloodstain remained, the skin around the wound frozen purple.
The stinging pain intertwined with the cold numbness, constantly reminding him of his proximity to death just moments ago.
He glared fixedly at Luo En's back, his lips parting and closing several times, but ultimately he only let out a suppressed, beast-like growl, swallowing all his harsh words.
He knew that guy meant what he said, and perhaps he would do it.
"Have you all finished saying what you needed to say?"
The two little lolis looked as usual, as if the conflict just now had never happened, and continued with their procedures.
"Next, please come here to select your tamahagane."
The black-haired little loli lifted the velvet cloth covering the long table in front, revealing dozens of strangely shaped, dark-colored metal ores underneath.
"Steel used to slay demons and protect yourselves."
"Please choose them yourselves."
Everyone walked to the table together, carefully observing these tamahagane.
But purely from their appearance, it was impossible to discern any difference between these tamahagane.
Luo En looked at the pile of tamahagane on the table, attempting to perceive their differences using his Breathing Technique and magic.
Finally, his hand stopped on a piece of tamahagane that, in his perception, had a faint bluish sheen.
This piece of tamahagane should be the most suitable for him, and it should create a subtle resonance with his Breathing Technique and magic.
"This one it is."
Luo En picked up that piece of tamahagane.
Tanjiro also stepped forward and chose a piece of tamahagane based on his sense of smell.
The other newcomers who passed the assessment also chose their suitable tamahagane.
Genya came forward last and casually grabbed a piece of dark-colored steel.
Once everyone had selected and registered their tamahagane, the Final Selection of the Demon Slayer Corps was considered completely over.
Afterward, everyone would return home and wait for the people from the Swordsmith Village to deliver their custom nichirin blade.
At this moment, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who was at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, also learned the results of this assessment through his kasugai crow.
"I see!"
"Eight people survived, huh!"
"How excellent!"
"I wonder what kind of swordsmen they will become…"
...On the way back to Mount Sagiri.
Luo En looked at the crow perched on his shoulder, which had come along with him.
It was a larger male crow, with glossy black feathers and quite sharp eyes.
"Hello."
Luo En tried to communicate with it, but it just tilted its head, preened its wings, and haughtily gave no response.
Luo En was quite curious about these crows, as they were crows that could speak human language.
He wondered how the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters trained them.
Or perhaps they were a special breed, or a secret technique of the priestess clan?
It was a pity that although this crow walked with him, it didn't respond much.
Seeing that he got no response, Luo En turned his head to look at Tanjiro beside him.
Tanjiro, beside him, exuded visible fatigue and dejection, and his eyes were somewhat dim.
Tanjiro joined the Demon Slayer Corps with one primary goal: for his sister, Nezuko, who had unexpectedly turned into a demon.
Especially during this Final Selection, there were a large number of demons in Fujikasane Mountain.
Later, he actively sought out demons, wanting to ask them if there was a way to turn a demon back into a human.
"Still thinking about the demons in Fujikasane Mountain?"
Luo En spoke, breaking the silence.
Tanjiro's body trembled, and he nodded, his voice a little hoarse:
"I asked… I asked those demons if there was a way to turn a demon back into a human… but they…"
Luo En knew without Tanjiro needing to explain, and couldn't help but shake his head, but there was nothing good to say now.
At this moment, Tanjiro was still a bit too naive.
The demons in Fujikasane Mountain were all extremely "hungry" and vicious demons.
Not to mention that these demons were not at all in a state where one could have a proper conversation; their eyes only held a craving for slaughter and flesh.
Moreover, it was completely impossible for these demons to know such a method.
As night fell, they finally reached the familiar wooden house at the foot of Mount Sagiri.
"Bang—!"
Perhaps Nezuko sensed her brother's presence; the wooden house door was kicked open from the inside with immense force, and a petite figure rushed out in the moonlight, pouncing straight towards Tanjiro.
"Oh! Nezuko! You're awake!"
Tanjiro was also exceptionally surprised to see a conscious Nezuko.
For him, this was the most precious good news he had received in a long time.
Tanjiro was both surprised and delighted by this, almost scrambling to meet her,
The two embraced tightly, and Tanjiro could no longer hold back; tears streamed down his face.
All the worries, fears, and loneliness of the past two years turned into choked sobs:
"Why did you suddenly fall asleep? And you wouldn't wake up… I was so scared, I was really scared you'd never wake up again…"
Tanjiro's emotions, which had been suppressed ever since Nezuko fell into a coma, finally erupted completely at this moment.
Nezuko merely rubbed her head gently against her brother's chest, making "mm-mm" sounds, as if comforting him.
This scene was just witnessed by Urokodaki Sakonji, who had returned, putting down the firewood in his hands and walking towards Luo En and the Tanjiro siblings.
Despite wearing a mask, from his slightly trembling shoulders, it was still clear that Urokodaki-sensei's eyes were moist.