Shirou Emiya — Doesn't Want to Work Overtime!

Amid constant battles, growth became clearly visible.

In just seven days, Shirou had slain a total of forty-two demons. Although individually weak, these demons posed constant threats from the shadows.

Even the weakest demon could easily sever Shirou's neck with a surprise attack if he let his guard down.

Time after time, Shirou faced ambushes, only to narrowly turn them into victories.

And precisely because of these life-or-death battles, Shirou gradually grasped—

"[Sword Breathing—Beast Form: Palisade Bite]!"

Holding his serrated Nichirin blades in reverse grips, Shirou dashed forward with blistering speed. Two silvery flashes like vicious fangs ripped upward from the ground, instantly tearing the demon ahead into three pieces before cleanly severing its head.

Compared to when he first arrived, Shirou could now fight clearly without even opening his eyes. To put it simply, he had attained something akin to [Observation Haki].

Yet rather than supernatural perception, this skill arose from instincts honed through endless battles.

If someone attacked from behind, he felt a chill on his neck. Even before his mind processed it, his body either dodged or struck back.

He subconsciously mapped the battlefield in his mind.

It was as though he possessed an extra set of eyes, enabling him to fight effectively even blindfolded.

From the very first fight here, Shirou quickly realized that relying solely on vision could be deceiving.

His eyes couldn't detect everything around him. Enemies lurking in shadows could only be sensed the instant they attacked.

If these demons had even slightly better skills, Shirou would have long since been ambushed and killed.

With a casual flick of his blades, Shirou removed the head of the last demon around him.

At precisely that moment, a crimson glow emerged from the east. Sunlight once again pierced through the trees, illuminating Fujikasane Mountain—and shining brightly on every participant's face.

One after another, survivors emerged from the mountain. Some collapsed numbly to their knees, souls seemingly drained from their bodies. Others tossed aside their Nichirin blades, shouting they had no intention of joining the Demon Slayer Corps before running off. A few celebrated wildly, ecstatic to be alive.

Shirou stepped out casually, followed closely by a timid-looking blond boy hiding nervously behind him.

Instantly, Shirou found himself surrounded as though he were some celebrity.

"Thank you so much! If it hadn't been for you, I would have—"

"I owe you my life, Emiya-san!"

"I've got an eighty-year-old mother at home and—"

He didn't even finish before being silenced by sharp glares from everyone around. If this fifteen-year-old kid claimed to have an eight-year-old child, they'd beat sense into him. Marrying at seven was criminal!

In short, Shirou had saved numerous lives during the trials. His aggressive hunting had drawn most of the demons' attention, allowing many others to survive simply by laying low. Casualties occurred, but fewer than usual.

It wasn't unprecedented—there had once been a Final Selection with only two deaths; every other candidate had survived.

As for Agatsuma Zenitsu, Shirou had found him clinging desperately atop a tall tree while a few demons incapable of climbing circled below, shouting empty threats.

Shirou had been at a loss for words. He hadn't even considered there could be demons unable to climb—or at least chop down the tree.

How could demons be so weak they couldn't even handle basic property destruction?

Without hesitation, Shirou disposed of those demons. From then on, Zenitsu had followed behind Shirou, claiming Shirou could protect him. Shirou didn't refuse; saving one more life was always worthwhile.

"Shirou!"

A familiar voice called from behind.

Turning, Shirou saw a dusty Tanjirou enthusiastically waving at him. Shirou waved back with a friendly smile.

After defeating the Hand Demon together, they had decided to split up. The two of them combined scared away most demons, who, wary of a two-on-one disadvantage, avoided them entirely. This irritated Shirou—without demons attacking, he couldn't eliminate them and keep others safe.

Shirou understood that merely rushing around rescuing people addressed only symptoms, not the root problem. Killing every demon on Fujikasane Mountain would permanently remove the danger.

In the end, Shirou wasn't even sure if he'd truly wiped out all the demons.

Inspired by Shirou's determination, Tanjirou also chose to actively hunt demons and protect his fellow candidates. He aimed to pass the selection and save as many lives as possible simultaneously.

"Welcome back."

A serene voice broke through the gratitude-filled atmosphere.

"We're glad you all made it back safely."

"First, we'll distribute your Demon Slayer uniforms."

"Measurements will be taken to determine your sizes, then your ranks will be engraved."

The two doll-like girls alternated speaking calmly, quieting the chatter around them.

Clap! Clap!

With two crisp claps from the dark-haired girl, numerous Kasugai Crows descended from the sky, landing on the candidates' shoulders.

"A crow? Wait, isn't this just a sparrow!?"

Standing beside Shirou, Zenitsu stared in disbelief at the tiny bird perched in his hand.

"Now then, moving forward—"

"Are you kidding me?!"

An angry voice interrupted violently from the side.

A young man with a dark mohawk and a deep scar across his right cheek stormed furiously toward the white-haired girl who had just spoken.

"This is bad!"

Just as the man reached out aggressively toward her, a strong hand firmly seized his wrist, preventing him from moving.

"What exactly do you think you're doing!?"

Shirou glared angrily at the aggressive man.

He didn't know why this person was angry, but the girl hadn't done anything wrong. She was simply following the rules without any offense.

"Tch!"

Unable to break free despite several attempts, the aggressive man stepped back grudgingly. Shirou released him, maintaining a watchful eye.

"Now then, please come this way and choose the Tamahagane ore for forging your Nichirin Blade."