Akaza was on the verge of breaking. Out of his hundred-plus subordinates, only a handful had managed to kill Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen in the past seven days. This ragtag bunch, this mob of misfits—what use were they? In his fury, Akaza considered wiping them all out.
But no, that wouldn't do. He still needed them.
To find the Blue Spider Lily and locate the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters for Muzan, Akaza relied on casting a wide net, hoping to catch something in the process. These hundred-odd demons were that net.
Clutching his head, Akaza muttered to himself, They're still useful… still useful… still useful… He couldn't just slaughter them—wasteful as they were, they could still serve a purpose. Pressing a hand to his chest, he forced down his simmering rage.
Turning to his subordinates, he tried a different question. "Fine. How many humans have you eaten in these seven days?"
This, they couldn't ignore. The demons erupted into a chaotic clamor, hands shooting up as they eagerly reported how many humans they'd devoured, whether their strength had grown, and so on. The scene was a raucous mess.
Watching them, now buzzing with excitement compared to their earlier lethargy, Akaza couldn't believe the transformation. His temper flared again, and he roared, "You worthless lot! All you know is eating, not working! Lord Muzan taught me that demons are naturally superior to humans, but look at you pathetic mongrels! You gorge on humans but shy away from fighting Demon Slayer swordsmen. Cowards who prey on the weak—hardly worthy of being my subordinates! Useless, good-for-nothing failures!"
His tirade was accompanied by a surge of menacing aura, sweeping over the crowd. The demons, who moments ago were lively, wilted under his terrifying presence, some trembling in fear.
Staring at his hopeless underlings, Akaza waved a dismissive hand. "Forget it. Who didn't show up this time? Who's gone and gotten themselves killed out there?"
A timid voice piped up from the crowd. "Uh… it seems the mountain bandit demons didn't come."
"What?" Akaza's attention sharpened.
Those bandit demons, with their peculiar personalities, had left an impression on him. If he recalled correctly, seven days ago, he'd assigned them a small region within that vast mountain range. Wait a minute… For a long time, Akaza had suspected the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters might be hidden in those sprawling mountains. Could it be…?
His mind racing, Akaza pulled out a map, spreading it on the ground under the moonlight. He studied the area assigned to the bandit demons, muttering to himself. "This small region, their task area, sits near the heart of the mountain range. It's secluded—a perfect hiding spot. The Corps headquarters could very well be there!"
His eyes gleamed with growing excitement, his voice rising. "I may not have found the Blue Spider Lily, but if I can destroy the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters—wipe it out entirely—Lord Muzan will be thrilled! It's settled! I'll make this victory a grand surprise for him!"
His demons exchanged nervous glances, murmuring weakly. "Uh, Lord Akaza, that's the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters we're talking about."
"Yeah, those demon-slaying swordsmen aren't pushovers."
"I'm not saying I don't want to kill them, but I'm no match for them!"
"I've heard the Corps has these super-strong swordsmen called Pillars. They cut through demons like chopping vegetables!"
"It's terrifying!"
"Lord Akaza, can you really take down their headquarters alone?"
Akaza shot them a withering glare. "Alone? You're all coming with me."
"What?!" one demon squeaked, waving its hands in panic. "No way, Lord Akaza! It's too dangerous! I—"
Before it could finish, Akaza's foot lashed out, reducing the demon to a splatter of blood and flesh. Gore sprayed across the faces of nearby demons, who froze in terror.
Akaza rose, his aura menacing. "Tomorrow night, you'll join me to storm the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Who's with me? Who's against?"
The demons trembled, not a single one daring to speak.
Akaza nodded, satisfied. "No objections? Then it's settled. Anyone who dares flee will be torn to shreds, begging for a death I won't grant. And don't worry—it's not just you lot. I'm bringing two Lower Moons from the Twelve Kizuki to join us. With me, with you, with this force, we'll hit an unprepared headquarters and crush it. The Corps will fall, and Lord Muzan will be overjoyed. Hahaha!"
The hundred demons stood silent, neither supporting nor opposing, like lifeless husks obeying Akaza's command.
Sometimes, fate is just that ironic. Akaza, the true demon among demons, the so-called "Third Brother," carried himself with unmatched swagger. Yet his subordinates were such cowards. Was this the universe's way of balancing extremes?
The night passed.
At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, the evacuation kept everyone busy through the night. On Akaza's side, preparations for war consumed the hours.
Daylight arrived, exposing the demons' weakness and humanity's strength. The sun rose, forcing even someone as powerful as Akaza to lie low, waiting for nightfall.
But the Corps headquarters didn't pause. By early morning, the first batch of supplies was packed, loaded onto old trucks, carriages, and other vehicles for the initial wave of relocation.
The nearby Pillars, summoned by the Kasugai Crows, began arriving. To their shock, they found the headquarters in the midst of what looked like a full-scale move. Bundles and crates, vehicles driven by Hidden operatives, swordsmen escorting them—it was unmistakably a relocation. Confusion filled the Pillars' minds as they rushed to the Ubuyashiki estate, desperate to understand what was happening.
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