Demon Slayer: Tanjiro becomes a ghost, Nezuko becomes a pillar!

Chapter 32 Fujikasane Mountain

Zenitsu watched as Nezuko extended her hand to him in a friendly manner.

In that instant, he felt his world brighten up.

Just as he was about to grasp the hand that radiated warm light, a voice interrupted everyone's conversation.

"Welcome to Fujikasane Mountain, the final selection ground for the Demon Slayer Corps! We are the messengers of Ubuyashiki!"

Following the sound, Mi Douzi saw two identical-looking children carrying lanterns walking to the center of the field.

They were small in stature, but their faces showed a composure beyond their years.

[I never expected the child to be so young!]

Mizuko looked at them, then withdrew her hand under Zenitsu's longing gaze, and followed the others to the center.

Zenitsu, however, remained frozen in place, his hands still suspended in mid-air, not retracting them.

[Damn it! Why did he pull it back? I didn't even get to hold that cute girl's hand! Damn it, damn it, damn it!]

Zenitsu couldn't help but roar inwardly, but he still got up and went to Nezuko's side.

Mizuko also sensed Zenitsu's arrival and, wearing a mask, tilted her head at Zenitsu as a greeting.

When Zenitsu saw this, his face turned as red as if a volcano had erupted.

"As you've probably seen on your way here, the foot of Mount Fuji is covered in wisteria. Wisteria has a natural ability to suppress demons, so there are countless demons on this mountain, and none of them can escape..."

"Hey kid, tell me the rules! Is it a competition to see who kills the most ghosts to pass the selection?"

In the crowd, the boy in purple with a scar on his face interrupted the two envoys with a fierce voice.

Nidouzi also wanted to know what the selection rules were, so she looked over as well.

"Now I will explain the rules to you. In this mountain full of evil spirits, whether you choose to slay them or hide, as long as you survive until the seventh day, you will pass!"

The two messengers from Ubuyashiki spoke at the same time, revealing this unexpected rule.

The crowd immediately became noisy.

When Nidouzi heard this rule, he frowned.

[If you just survive to the seventh day, you can pass. Isn't that a bit too easy?]

Zenitsu, after hearing the rules, looked at Nezuko with a shocked expression.

[How could such a cute girl think this is simple? That's a mountain full of demons! Those demons with twisted limbs and fangs, rushing at you to bite your neck—how could it be simple?!]

Zenitsu couldn't help but roar in his heart; he even had the urge to just drag Mizuko away.

[There's never any sunlight in these mountains. Ghosts only come out at night. And here, without the blessing of sunlight, surviving for seven days? Are you kidding me? I'm going to die, I'm going to die! Midouzi, let me take you away! I can give you a happy future!]

Just as Mi Douzi was about to ask something else, the boy in purple in the crowd spoke up disdainfully.

"If I kill more ghosts, will I be able to advance in rank faster?"

Midouzi nodded secretly; this was also the question she wanted to know.

[I remember Master Urokodaki saying that there's a strict ranking system within the Demon Slayer Corps, from lowest to highest: 癸, 壬, 辛, 庚, 己, 戊, 丁, 丙, 乙, 甲, with the highest being the Pillars. Giyu is the current Water Pillar, and only by becoming a Class A member can I meet him. I want to thank him, and also, I need to convey Sabito's words to him!]

What Mizuko didn't know was that Zenitsu beside her had already heard her thoughts and felt like he had been walking for a while.

"What a joke! To become a Rank A member, you have to slay at least thirty demons; to become a Pillar-level member, you have to slay fifty demons, or take down any one of the Twelve Demon Moons! Nezuko, let's run! This is impossible! Demons are terrifying; you've definitely never seen what those monsters look like!"

Zenitsu was already internally frantic, and he was about to lose his composure.

"Now we will mark each of you with a wisteria flower mark. Your initial level will be Gui level. As the number of ghosts you hunt and your contributions increase, your level will gradually rise."

As the two envoys finished speaking, a group of people wearing masks and black uniforms came to the crowd and began to carve ranks on their hands.

Midouzi looked at these masked people with great curiosity.

"They are the hidden members of the Demon Slayer Corps, responsible for logistical tasks such as healing wounded soldiers and cleaning up the battlefield!"

Zenitsu noticed Nezuko's curiosity and patiently explained it to her.

After hearing this, Nezuko gratefully thanked Zenitsu.

Zenitsu-san knows so much! He's a reliable and good person!

Midouzi sighed inwardly!

And Zenitsu, who has extraordinary hearing, also heard these words.

【Ahhhhh! Midouzi praised me! She said I'm reliable! I want to marry her! I want to marry her!】

Zenitsu's face turned completely red, and steam began to rise from his head.

However, Mizuko's gaze was fixed on a corner, where all the hidden members were carving wisteria flower marks on each of the chosen ones.

A girl in a beautiful kimono stood alone in the distance, looking at the butterfly in her hand.

[What a pretty girl! Is she here for the auditions too?]

Midouzi looked at the girl, a question lingering in his mind.

Zenitsu heard it too, turned his head to look, and his eyes lit up, but he quickly turned his head back and shook his head vigorously.

No, no, Mizuko is definitely the prettiest. Even though she wears a mask and I can't see her face, Mizuko's voice is so gentle, and she even praised me. Mizuko is the most beautiful woman in the world!

"Zenitsu, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Mizuko also noticed Zenitsu shaking his head frantically, and seeing his flushed face, she asked him with concern.

"No, no, no! I'm perfectly fine!"

Zenitsu was so overwhelmed by this sudden concern that he was so happy that he became incoherent and blurted out a nonsensical sentence in his panic.

"Hey, have you eaten any soybean paste yet?"

Upon hearing this, Ni Douzi was taken aback, then burst out laughing.

"Thank you, Zenitsu!"

Zenitsu is such a thoughtful person. He must have noticed I was a little nervous and said silly things to help ease my anxiety.

Midouzi misinterpreted Zenitsu's meaning in his mind.

But this feeling of affection made Zenitsu feel like he was about to float to the sky.

Just as Zenitsu was about to say something more, the two messengers spoke again.

"If everyone has no further questions, please enter Fujikasane Mountain in one order. Wishing you all a safe return!"