Demon Slayer: The Forest Pillar

Plop! A soft, child-thick arm fell to the ground helplessly, and the hand ghost's originally huge body had shrunk into a small ball.

Dozens of shit-green, thick arms turned into pale, weak, slender arms. If the hand ghost's strength before could match two Karasuma, then the hand ghost that was sucked dry by Shinichi and had only one breath left should be able to match two Karasuma...fingers.

After casually glancing at the hand ghost, Shinichi retracted the branch that had drilled out of his palm, and a glimmer of light flashed from the silver mirror on his waist. A bamboo kettle appeared in his hand. He pulled out the stopper, and the rich wisteria fragrance immediately emerged.

After drinking a pot of wisteria tea, Shinichi's ferocious face gradually softened, and the scarlet pupil of his right eye turned back to a soft pink color, and the sharp fangs and claws gradually retracted to normal.

Looking up at the countless stars twinkling in the night sky and the moon gradually setting in the west, "It seems that the day is about to dawn."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

On the morning of the eighth day after Shinichi entered the mountain, at the entrance of Fujiki Mountain, the Flame Pillar Rengoku Makijuro stood upright in front of a table covered with a red cloth with his arms folded. The morning sun shone on the flame-patterned cloak behind him, shining with a different color.

Behind Makijuro, a much shorter boy also stood. The boy was not very old, but what was amazing was that the spirited face that was almost exactly the same as Makijuro's was unforgettable at first sight. The boy was holding a cute black and white Shiba Inu in his hands.

As time passed, there was movement in the deep path leading to the depths of Fujiki Mountain. Gradually, Makijuro heard clearly that it was footsteps!

In the path surrounded by countless wisteria flowers, a figure gradually became clear. When Shinichi, carrying a knife, stepped out of the wisteria flower path, a feeling of sudden enlightenment came over him.

The morning sun is gentle and warm, giving people a sense of vitality, but for Shinichi, who is in a state of pseudo-rebirth, he can't feel the warmth of the sun.

When Shinichi walked out of Fujiki Mountain, he saw Rengoku Makijuro standing there with his arms folded. He was a little surprised. Could it be that this Flame Pillar had been waiting for seven days in Fujiki Mountain? Shinichi suddenly felt a sense of being valued, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in his heart.

(In fact, Shinichi was just overthinking. The pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps all have very important demon-slaying duties, but Makijuro just happened to be on missions around Fujiki Mountain recently)

But what attracted Shinichi more was the boy behind Makijuro. He looked like he was only eleven or twelve years old, but the energetic golden hair, red hair tips, the same wide-open orange eyes, and rough eyebrows, isn't this a typical Makijuro miniature plus?

The miniature version of "Makijuro" is still holding his own Enji in his hands. Enji is so heartless that he didn't show any sign of gratitude when his master came back. He was still lying in his arms leisurely. It seems that it's time to urge Enji to lose weight.

Shinichi walked in front of Makijuro and pointed at the miniature version of "Makijuro" behind him before he could speak and asked, "Is this your child?"

Makijuro was stunned and asked honestly, "How do you know?"

Uh... the little owl is standing next to the big owl.

Shinichi was speechless, but Makijuro quickly introduced the boy behind him who was carved out of the same mold as him, "Rengoku Kyojuro, my eldest son." There was a hint of imperceptible pride in his tone.

Rengoku Kyojuro, who was holding Enji, also looked at Shinichi with curiosity, as well as the Nichirin sword on Shinichi's waist. He had already heard the story of Shinichi from his father, and he was very much looking forward to this big brother who was three years older than him.

Killing dozens of demons at such a young age is really attractive to the eldest son of the Rengoku family, a demon-slaying family.

"Kyojuro? What a good name." Shinichi was not surprised to hear this name. It can only be said that they are worthy of being father and son. Not only do they look alike, but their names are also alike.

Makijuro estimated the time, then put down his hands and said solemnly: "Okay, Shinichi, in order not to waste time, let's hurry up. First of all, congratulations on passing the final selection, and welcome you to join the Demon Slayer Corps. At the same time, we also thank you for everything you have done on Fujiki Mountain."

As he said, Makijuro actually leaned over and bowed to Shinichi. This was a bit heavy. Not to mention Makijuro's identity as the Flame Pillar, just looking at the age alone, it was somewhat inappropriate for Makijuro, who was almost 30 years old, to bow to Shinichi, who was only in his teens.

However, Makijuro did not think it was inappropriate because he was not only thanking Shinichi on behalf of himself, but also on behalf of the Demon Slayer Corps and the swordsmen who would participate in the final selection in the future. This gift was not expensive.Shinichi was a little confused when he saw Makijuro bowing to him. He touched his nose awkwardly and said, "Uh, this, this is what I should do!"

Makijuro stood up again, then walked to the table covered with red cloth behind him, uncovered the red cloth, and a neatly folded Demon Slayer uniform and several large pieces of honeycomb coal-like ore were placed together.

Makijuro picked up the Demon Slayer uniform and handed it to Shinichi personally, "Shinichi Moriki, the Demon Slayer Corps welcomes you to join."

Shinichi took the uniform and asked curiously, "How do you know the size of my clothes?"

"Mr. Moriki Mitsuyo has told us in detail about your living habits. Don't worry, the Demon Slayer Corps can become your most trustworthy big family."

Shinichi: "?? Old man?? How did he know? Could it be!!" (Old man Moriki: Little brat! Were you naked in the Moriki mansion before? Those clothes were made by someone to help you. Is it strange to know your size?)

After handing the uniform to Shinichi, Makijuro added: "In our Demon Slayer Corps, the swordsmen are divided into ten levels, namely A, B, C, D, E, F, G, S, R, and G. In view of your record, Shinichi, the lord and the pillars unanimously agree that you will be promoted to a B-level swordsman."

Shinichi muttered: "B-level? It's directly the second level, which is not low." He remembered the A-level swordsman Gyoumei, who he met in Takinogawa Village that day. Shinichi still remembered the opponent's strong strength. Shinichi didn't feel wronged at Gyoumei's level, so he accepted this arrangement very calmly.

Makijuro helped Shinichi print the symbol of the B-level swordsman on the back of his hand. With this symbol, Shinichi can get full help from the Wisteria Emblem Family all over the country.

After explaining some of the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps, Makijuro clapped his hands, and suddenly, a loud crow sounded above Shinichi's head.

A pitch-black crow flapping its large wings circled flexibly above Shinichi's head.