Seated calmly—
Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, spoke in a low voice.
"I am here."
His gaze never shifted toward the others—
Still fixed forward.
"Muzan-sama has arrived."
In an instant—
The atmosphere tightened.
Hantengu collapsed flat onto the ground, trembling violently, letting out frightened whimpers.
Doma, however, simply smiled—
Looking up calmly.
Above them—
A figure appeared.
Muzan Kibutsuji.
This time—
He took the form of an adult man.
Dressed in a white shirt and patterned jacket—
Holding a dropper and a test tube—
Standing before a table filled with experimental tools.
He looked—
Almost completely human.
Calmly—
He dripped liquid into a test tube.
Then spoke.
"Gyutaro is dead."
"The position of Upper Rank Six… is now vacant."
His tone was casual—
As if discussing something trivial.
"Is that so?"
Doma smiled, looking up.
"Then I must apologize!"
"I was the one who recommended Gyutaro."
"Should I gouge out my eyes… or—"
He spoke eagerly of punishing himself—
Eyes filled with anticipation.
Muzan didn't even look at him.
"Why would I want your eyes?"
"I expected Gyutaro to lose."
"Daki… was the burden."
He picked up a pen—
Writing down experimental data.
"If Gyutaro had fought alone from the start…"
"He would have won."
"That Nagasawa Aoyama would have been poisoned, and everything would—"
He suddenly stopped.
Didn't finish the sentence.
At the mention of that name—
Akaza's expression shifted slightly.
His previous failure—
Had also been because of that same person.
Muzan resumed writing.
"…It doesn't matter."
"How boring."
"Those who retain too much of their humanity… are always the first to lose."
"But it's fine."
"I never had expectations for any of you."
Though they were Upper Rank Six—
Gyutaro and Daki had retained human emotions.
Their defeat—
Was something Muzan had already anticipated.
His eyes turned cold.
He set down the pen.
"You say such hurtful things again, Muzan-sama."
"Have I ever failed your expectations?"
Doma asked lightly.
Muzan ignored the tone—
Picking up a test tube.
"The Ubuyashiki Family still lives."
"And the Blue Spider Lily…"
At those words—
His expression twisted.
Veins bulged across his pale face.
"Why has it not been found in hundreds of years?!"
"I—"
"I no longer understand why you exist."
The room fell silent.
No one dared breathe loudly.
Hantengu pressed his face to the floor—
Shaking uncontrollably.
Akaza lowered his head deeply.
As someone who had failed once—
He couldn't even lift it.
Kokushibo clenched his fist.
"The Ubuyashiki family hides well."
Doma's smile faded.
"I'm not good at tracking or searching…"
"What should I do~?"
At that moment—
Gyokko suddenly became excited.
His pot-body swayed wildly.
"Muzan-sama!!"
"I am different!"
"I have obtained information close to your goal!"
"Just recently—"
Before he could finish—
Muzan moved.
CRACK.
He grabbed Gyokko's head—
And tore it off instantly.
The world flipped upside down for Gyokko—
Now staring directly at Muzan's face.
"I hate…"
"Change."
Muzan spoke coldly.
"Situations change."
"Bodies change."
"Emotions change."
"Most changes… are degradation."
"Weakening."
"I prefer…"
"The unchanging."
"Perfect, eternal stasis."
In his hand—
Gyokko's head trembled.
Not from fear—
But from excitement.
To be held like this by Muzan—
Was bliss to him.
"For the first time in 113 years…"
"An Upper Rank has been killed."
"I am extremely displeased."
Muzan tightened his grip.
"Do not present uncertain information to me… with excitement."
With a strum of the biwa—
He tossed the head aside.
It rolled—
Stopping before Doma.
"In the future…"
"You will all work harder."
"It seems I have been too lenient with you… because you are Upper Ranks."
Even Doma lowered his head now—
Silent.
Muzan continued his experiment.
Then gave an order.
"Gyokko."
"Once your information is confirmed…"
"Go with Hantengu."
A door appeared before him—
Carved and ornate.
As the biwa echoed—
Muzan stepped through.
And vanished.
Gyokko's head lifted itself—
Using tiny arms to prop it up.
He stared longingly at the door.
He didn't want to share his information—
But he adored Muzan's unreasonable cruelty.
Completely enthralled.
"Hehe~ Gyokko-dono!"
Doma crouched down, smiling.
"What's the information?"
"I'd love to join you."
"Care to share?"
Before he could continue—
BOOM!
Akaza struck.
Blowing off half of Doma's head—
Leaving only a moving mouth.
"Please tell me, Gyokko-dono~"
Doma's voice still carried on cheerfully.
Holding Gyokko's head in his hands.
Akaza glared coldly.
"Muzan-sama didn't order you."
"Get lost."
At that moment—
A blade flashed.
Kokushibo moved.
In an instant—
He severed Akaza's attacking arm.
Appearing before him.
"Akaza."
"You've gone too far."
Akaza froze.
So this was—
The gap between him and Upper Rank One.
Doma's head regenerated—
Smiling as always.
"Now, now~ it's fine, Kokushibo-dono."
"I don't mind at all."
Kokushibo spoke coldly.
"I am not speaking for your sake."
"I am concerned about disorder."
"And the breakdown of hierarchy."
As a demon—
Kokushibo valued order above all else.
Hierarchy was absolute.
And any disruption—
Would be punished.
That was why—
He struck Akaza down.
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