The system, with its usual obliging tone, unraveled Akaza's cunning strategy for Horitake with chilling precision:
"Every seven days, Akaza summons his demon underlings, demanding they report on their assigned tasks—whether they've uncovered any trace of the elusive Blue Spider Lily or the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters.
"Of course, the Blue Spider Lily remains beyond their grasp, a fleeting dream. The Corps' headquarters, however, is another story.
"Once the reports conclude, Akaza doles out new missions. One group is tasked with hunting the Blue Spider Lily, another with seeking the Corps' headquarters, and a third with slaughtering Demon Slayer swordsmen.
"He even spreads out a map, assigning specific zones to his minions. One group to the mountains, another to the plains, others to the forests.
"Unfortunately, seven days ago, Akaza sent a band of brigand demons to a region that happens to include the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters.
"Worse still, today, those brigand demons found it.
"Even if you, the host, broke their curses and cut them down, it changes nothing.
"True, Akaza can't pinpoint the exact spot where those demons fell. He can't glimpse their final memories, either.
"But he does know the task zone he assigned them for these seven days.
"Tonight, when Akaza gathers his underlings and finds those brigand demons absent, he'll deduce they've been slain.
"All he needs is to consult his map, check their assigned zone, and he'll know they died in that specific area.
"From there, it's obvious. He'll suspect the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters lies within that small region.
"And once the search is narrowed to such a tiny area, does Akaza really stand a chance of not finding the headquarters?"
Horitake stood frozen, jaw slack, as the system's words sank in like a blade. He was utterly speechless.
This… this is his method?
He'd assumed Akaza relied on some demon with a unique Blood Demon Art to track his minions' deaths. But no—Akaza's approach was so… human. Divide tasks by region, and when a group fails to show, check their zone on the map to sniff out trouble. Clean, efficient, and terrifyingly simple.
Horitake had to concede the system's point.
Akaza, with centuries of cunning honed to a fine edge, was no mere battle-hungry demon. Underestimating his intellect would be a fatal misstep.
The realization washed over Horitake like icy water, plunging him into despair.
If this was true, the Demon Slayer Corps' location was as good as exposed. Slaying the brigand demons tonight would only delay the inevitable—Akaza would notice their absence, check the map, and zero in on the headquarters' general area. Letting them live? Far worse. They'd report directly to Akaza, handing him the Corps' location on a platter.
No matter what Horitake did, he was trapped.
No matter what, the headquarters would be exposed.
No matter what, the situation was grim.
No—it would only grow grimmer.
Horitake's face darkened as his mind raced, conjuring the nightmare to come.
Tonight, Akaza would deduce the headquarters' rough location.
He'd report it to Muzan Kibutsuji.
Muzan, almost certainly, would descend upon the headquarters himself.
The Corps was woefully outmatched. Horitake would have no choice but to face Muzan head-on.
And right now? He stood no chance against Muzan. He'd likely fall to the demon king's hand.
Sure, the Stand-In Doll could resurrect him fully.
But then what? Return to the headquarters, face Muzan again, and lose once more?
In his desperation, Horitake briefly considered fleeing.
But he couldn't. Mitsuri was here. Shinobu-neesan was here. He couldn't abandon them, not even if he revived. He'd have to face Muzan again.
And so, his second life would likely end the same way—cut short by Muzan's hand.
The best outcome? Horitake could use his two lives to stall Muzan, giving Mitsuri, Shinobu-neesan, and Oyakata-sama time to escape. The Corps might preserve some of its strength.
The worst? Mitsuri, Shinobu-neesan, and Oyakata-sama would refuse to flee, and the entire Corps would throw everything into a desperate, all-or-nothing battle against Muzan.
Horitake's expression grew bleaker with each thought.
What a… utterly hopeless future.
Damn this system! All I did was lift Oyakata-sama's curse, and now I've triggered this horrific butterfly effect!
Damn this system! If you want me dead, just say it! No need for these convoluted, impossible challenges!
Damn this system! I'm out of options—nothing left but to fight to the death!
Horitake cursed the system relentlessly in his mind.
The system, sensing his mental tirade, spoke up in his head with a calm, measured tone:
"Why so despairing, Host? Things aren't nearly as dire as you imagine."
"What?" Horitake's heart flickered with a spark of hope.
"You damn dog of a system! You'd better explain yourself, or I'm done!
"If you push me to that point, after I use the Stand-In Doll for a second life, I'm out! I won't fight for the Corps anymore! I'll run!
"At worst, I'll revive, find Mitsuri and Shinobu-neesan, and drag them away with me! If they refuse, I'll knock them out and carry them off!
"Sure, it's shameful to desert the Corps after giving my life once, but what choice do I have? I've already said I'm no saint!
"When you're strong, you save the world. When you're weak, you save yourself.
"If things spiral that badly, I will do it!
"So, system, explain yourself! What do you mean, 'things aren't that dire'!?"
The system's voice, steady and unshaken, echoed in Horitake's mind:
"Then let me tell you, Host, how things will unfold.
"Rest assured, the system won't send you to your death.
"Until you've fully grown, the system won't let you face the final boss directly."
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