"N-nothing... there's nothing, no breath, no heartbeat." Nae sobbed, completely at a loss.
"Start artificial respiration and chest compressions right away."
"A-artificial respiration?"
"Hurry, every second wasted brings him closer to death."
"I... I understand."
Nae no longer hesitated. Following the emergency methods she had learned, she opened Hatsune's mouth, cleared it briefly, and began artificial respiration. After two rounds, she proceeded to chest compressions.
In her mind, Nae kept praying that Hatsune wouldn't die.
She repeated this cycle more than a dozen times. Yet, Hatsune showed no response. Just as Akino and Yuka began to fear there was no hope, Nae, leaning over Hatsune's mouth, suddenly felt a faint breath.
Nae carefully confirmed this, then raised her head abruptly, tears streaming down, looking at the two with joy. "He's breathing, he's breathing!"
Akino and Yuka exchanged smiles, simultaneously exhaling in relief.
Akino came to Hatsune's side, feeling his chest. Indeed, there was a heartbeat. With his assistance, Hatsune's stiff muscles gradually relaxed.
Although Hatsune had momentarily revived, the situation remained dire. He had lost a lot of blood, and without medication, no one knew how much longer he could hold on.
Akino voiced his concern, "It's only a little past six in the morning now. There's about two hours until the assessment ends at eight. Hatsune is in bad shape. If we don't treat him promptly..."
This warning extinguished the little hope in Nae's heart.
"W-what should we do then? Are we just going to watch him die like this?"
Akino sighed, "We don't have the right to make choices for him. Do you remember what he said earlier? He said he only has two paths to take—either die here or pass the assessment. He'd rather fight to unconsciousness than take a step back. His determination is evident. Even if we save him and bring him down the mountain now, do you think he'd be happy?"
"What happiness? Anything is better than dying here! Besides, even if he can't join the Demon Slayer Corps, he can still fight demons elsewhere."
"If that were true, why would he fight so desperately? I think there must be a reason he absolutely needs to join the Demon Slayer Corps, a reason that has brought him this far."
Upon hearing Akino's words, Nae suddenly remembered the first night in the forest with Hatsune, when she asked him why he wanted to join the Demon Slayer Corps. She vividly recalled his intense reaction at the time.
Now, it seemed clear that Hatsune indeed had a compelling reason to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
"So what do we do? Are we just going to stand by and watch him die?"
Akino pondered for a moment. "Before coming here, I remember some contestants had bandages and medicine in their backpacks. If we can find them..."
"Bandages and medicine?"
"I know where they might be. I'll go get them right away."
Remembering that she and Hatsune had scavenged three large backpacks for supplies in the forest, Nae stood up to rush into the woods.
Akino quickly stopped her. "Are you going to your campsite to get them?"
Nae nodded.
"No, it's too dangerous there. With your current condition, if you encounter demons on the way, not only will you fail to bring back the medicine, but you might also get hurt. Instead, the two of you stay here. I remember there were a few contestants who quit midway. I'll check if they left any medicine."
Before Nae could reply, Akino jumped down the hillside.
"Akino, you..."
Nae and Yuka looked at Akino in astonishment.
None of them had expected Akino to hesitate for a moment before jumping down the hillside. He knew that by enduring two more hours, he would be a real demon slayer. Now, to save Hatsune, he had given up the honor.
Akino patted Yuka's shoulder and smiled faintly, "This is enough. I've proven myself. You're injured. I'll get the medicine." With that, he turned and quickly ran down the slope.
Watching Akino disappear, Yuka felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
In this lonely world, Akino was undoubtedly the only one. He had chosen to stay when he first joined the Demon Slayer Corps assessment and now, he was giving up the honor he could easily have obtained, all to save Hatsune.
From time to time, Nae bent down to listen to Hatsune's nose, checking for breath. Once confirmed, her tense expression would relax slightly.
Shortly after, with the help of four other contestants, Akino returned to the mountainside with a large bag of medicine.
These four were none other than the participants who had voluntarily withdrawn at the critical moment. Grateful for Hatsune's life-saving grace, they rushed to help upon hearing how badly he was injured.
Nae repeatedly thanked everyone.
Since he was originally a medical professional, Akino quickly bandaged Hatsune's wounds, stabilizing his condition. Hatsune's breathing also became much smoother.
With some time left until the assessment ended, the four of them sat together, chatting casually.
They talked about their backgrounds, families, reasons for participating in the assessment, and so on, dissipating the gloom that had settled in their hearts.
At eight in the morning, the four made a simple stretcher from wooden sticks and carefully carried Hatsune down from Mount Fujikasane, all the way to the central square at the foot of the mountain.
There, they were met by the two little girls they had first encountered on the plaza.
From a corner of the square, four figures in black uniforms with white masks and head coverings their body. They took Hatsune from the hands of Kimura and the others, swiftly disappearing into the square.
Nae wanted to chase after them but was held back by Akino, who informed her that they were members of the hidden department specially serving the Demon Slayer Corps and assured her that Hatsune would receive timely treatment.
Just then, the voice of the white-haired girl rang out in the center of the square.
White-haired Girl: "The Demon Slayer Corps assessment concludes here. Participants who have lost their qualifications, please leave Mount Fujikasane promptly."
Akino and Yuka could only bid farewell to Nae. With injuries to tend to, Yuka needed immediate treatment as well.
Nae bowed deeply in thanks to Akino, Yuka, Kimura, and the others.
Soon, the vast square of Mount Fujikasane was left with only three lonely figures.