Chapter 36: Hand Demon

Tanjiro nodded, saying nothing further.

Once the first person spoke up, the other boys, who had suffered varying degrees of injury, also used the same excuse to decline Tanjiro's invitation.

In the end, only a few boys, who weren't severely injured, were brave and determined enough to join Tanjiro in searching for Haru.

After confirming the group of people following him, Tanjiro began searching for the only girl who had come to participate in the final selection.

He searched several times, but he still couldn't see the girl anywhere.

Was she not among these people? Where could she be? Or had something happened to her? Did Haru-senpai not save her?

Tanjiro, overwhelmed with sympathy, couldn't help but worry about the girl.

To speed up the search for Haru, the group decided to take only a brief rest, using the safe daylight hours to begin their journey.

Deep underground, in a pitch-black stone cavern that stretched far and wide, the demons of Mount Fujikasane had gathered.

Although the place was utterly dark, the demons could see everything clearly, as their eyes had adapted to the darkness.

A massive, grotesque demon slowly walked into the open center of the cavern.

This demon was not only enormous but also had countless arms, large and small, growing all over its body.

"What's going on? Why is everyone gathering in my domain today?" The demon, covered in arms, asked lazily.

Judging by its presence, this demon was undoubtedly the strongest in Mount Fujikasane.

"Hand Demon-sama, one of the participants in the Demon Slayer Corps selection last night was incredibly strong. Many of our fellow demons were killed by him."

"Yes! Hand Demon-sama, we're no match for him. Please, help us deal with him!"

"Please, Hand Demon-sama!"

"Please, Hand Demon-sama!"

As some demons explained the situation to the Hand Demon, the others gathered in the cavern eagerly pleaded for the Hand Demon's assistance.

Hearing this, the Hand Demon sneered a few times before replying, "You're the disgrace of demons. You can't even handle a little brat! Useless!"

—"A little brat from the selection, how strong could he be? Why didn't you all just team up to kill him?"

Facing the Hand Demon's scornful words, the demons fell into silence.

In front of the more powerful Hand Demon, they didn't dare defy him. Demons, unlike what it might seem, didn't always get along. If they weren't careful, these weaker demons would be killed or devoured by the Hand Demon at any moment.

The air remained still for a while, before the Hand Demon suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Was the boy wearing a fox-shaped mask?"

"Yes! Hand Demon-sama, that incredibly strong little demon head was indeed wearing a fox-shaped mask," one of the demons who had witnessed Haru's slaughter the previous night responded.

Upon hearing this, the Hand Demon's eerie eyes suddenly turned furious and menacing.

All the demons were frightened by the change in the Hand Demon's demeanor, afraid that his sudden outburst would result in chaos that might affect them.

"Is he the disciple of that old man, Sakonji? That old fossil!" the Hand Demon said, filled with resentment.