Kyogai knelt silently before Muzan Kibutsuji.
Even he did not understand why the Demon King had personally come to see him.
The dimly lit room was filled with scattered manuscripts, brushes, and crumpled sheets of paper stained with ink. The atmosphere felt suffocating.
Muzan gazed down at Kyogai with undisguised displeasure.
Among the demons under his command, Kyogai was one of the most disappointing.
He obsessed over writing stories and composing manuscripts despite possessing absolutely no talent for it.
At the very least, Gyokko's grotesque pottery could still be sold as "art" to wealthy humans.
But Kyogai?
He merely wasted paper and ink producing unreadable nonsense.
Worse still, his potential as a demon had long since stagnated.
Even after becoming part of the Twelve Kizuki, he remained among the weakest members, barely clinging to the rank of Lower Moon Six.
No matter how many humans he devoured, his strength refused to grow further.
To Muzan, such a demon had no value.
"Kyogai," Muzan said coldly, "you can no longer grow stronger, can you?"
Kyogai trembled violently.
"My lord, please… if you grant me more time, I will definitely "
"Definitely what?"
Muzan interrupted him mercilessly.
"Your existence itself was a mistake."
His crimson eyes narrowed with disgust.
"You are just like your writing. Meaningless. Worthless."
"You do not deserve a place among the Twelve Kizuki."
As those words fell, Muzan lifted his foot toward the manuscript lying on the floor, intending to crush it beneath his heel.
"No!"
Kyogai lunged forward in panic.
Of all things, he could endure humiliation toward himself
But not toward his writing.
All he had ever desired was recognition.
As a human, no one appreciated him.
As a demon, no one respected him.
Yet just as Muzan's foot was about to descend
A hand suddenly stopped him.
Kokushibo had appeared silently beside them.
His six eyes calmly observed the manuscript scattered across the ground.
"That is enough," Kokushibo said evenly.
Muzan glanced sideways at him with mild curiosity.
He had not expected Kokushibo to interfere over something so trivial.
Meanwhile, Kyogai stared in utter disbelief.
Upper Rank One.
The strongest demon beneath Muzan himself.
As one of the weakest Lower Moons, Kyogai had never before stood in the presence of an Upper Rank.
Yet what shocked him most was not Kokushibo's overwhelming aura
It was the casual way he had placed a hand on Muzan's shoulder.
No fear.
No hesitation.
As though such behavior was perfectly normal.
If the other demons had witnessed this scene, they would have fainted on the spot.
Kokushibo bent down and picked up the manuscript from the floor.
He read several pages in silence.
The room became deathly still.
After a long while, even Kokushibo struggled to formulate an appropriate evaluation.
"This writing…" he began slowly.
He paused.
For perhaps the first time in centuries, the ancient swordsman genuinely failed to find a polite way to describe something.
"…is deeply unconventional."
Kyogai's expression dimmed instantly.
As expected.
Even Upper Rank One found it unbearable.
However, Kokushibo continued.
"But lack of refinement does not necessarily mean lack of talent."
Kyogai froze.
Those words struck him like moonlight piercing through endless darkness.
Kokushibo looked toward Muzan.
"If Lord Muzan intends to remove him from the Twelve Kizuki… then give him to me afterward."
Kyogai stared blankly.
"Huh?"
So he was still being expelled?
Muzan himself appeared mildly surprised.
Of all demons, why would Kokushibo specifically ask for Kyogai?
Strength?
Impossible.
Even Nakime, whose abilities were non-combat oriented, could dispose of Kyogai effortlessly.
Appearance?
That was even less likely.
Muzan considered himself unmatched in beauty and elegance.
No matter how he looked at it, Kyogai possessed no particularly useful qualities.
Still, Muzan did not refuse.
Without hesitation, he extended a clawed finger and slashed across Kyogai's right eye.
Blood splattered instantly.
"AAAAAH!"
The number engraved in Kyogai's eye disappeared.
His status as Lower Moon Six had officially been revoked.
"From now on," Muzan said indifferently, "you belong to Kokushibo."
In truth, Muzan also wished to observe Kokushibo's intentions.
Through Kyogai's eyes and memories, he could continue monitoring him indirectly.
A perfect arrangement.
Or so Muzan believed.
Kokushibo merely accepted the decision calmly.
"Thank you, Lord Muzan."
Unexpectedly, Muzan suddenly smiled.
Then, in the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Kokushibo and extended his hand.
Kokushibo frowned slightly.
"…What?"
Muzan pointed toward the bamboo container hanging from Kokushibo's waist.
Inside was specially diluted blood.
Kokushibo occasionally consumed it to maintain his physical condition, much like drinking sake.
Although Muzan did not require human flesh to sustain himself, he had once tasted the contents and found them unexpectedly enjoyable.
Naturally, he now wanted it again.
Kokushibo's eyes twitched faintly.
So this was the Demon King's true purpose.
Reluctantly, he removed the bamboo tube and handed it over.
Muzan immediately snatched it away with visible satisfaction, looking absurdly pleased with himself.
Kokushibo silently stared at him.
Next time, perhaps he really would mix wisteria pollen into it.
The entire exchange was witnessed by Kyogai, who remained clutching his bleeding eye in shock.
An overbearing king.
A dangerously unrestrained subordinate.
This dynamic…
It would make excellent material for a story.
Just as Muzan and Kokushibo turned toward him again
Kyogai suddenly grabbed one of his drumsticks and stabbed directly into his own left eye.
"AAAAAH!"
Blood erupted everywhere.
Muzan was genuinely stunned.
He distinctly remembered destroying only the right eye.
Did this fool misunderstand something?
Still, Muzan immediately regained composure and pretended nothing was wrong.
Naturally, the Demon King would never admit fault.
Soon afterward, Muzan and Kokushibo departed from Kyogai's manor.
Far away from that eerie residence, within another region of Japan
The Tokito household remained peaceful.
Muichiro and his older twin brother Yuichiro slept in the same room as always.
The moonlight filtering through the windows illuminated the quiet interior.
"Muichiro," Yuichiro asked curiously, "what exactly do you do in the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Thanks to financial support from their distant ancestor, Michikatsu Tsugikuni now known as Kokushibo the Tokito family no longer struggled with poverty.
Their father had gradually expanded the family lumber business, leasing nearby forests and establishing a furniture workshop.
The finely crafted furniture produced there was transported through commercial trade routes and sold throughout various regions.
As a result, the Tokito family now lived comfortably.
Muichiro had joined the Demon Slayer Corps.
Meanwhile, Yuichiro remained home to learn business management from their father.
Naturally, he was curious about his younger brother's life.
Muichiro answered honestly.
"We train to kill demons."
His expression remained calm.
"To protect people from evil creatures."
At that moment, their mother entered the room with a helpless sigh.
"You two shouldn't be chatting in bed before sleeping."
Kasumi Tokito gently scolded them.
"Come eat dinner before it gets cold."
At the dining table, the topic of demons immediately disappeared.
Among the four family members, only Kasumi remained unaware of Kokushibo's true identity.
Their father had repeatedly warned the twins never to reveal the truth to her.
Unexpectedly, Kasumi herself suddenly brought him up during dinner.
"When will Lord Michikatsu visit us again?" she asked warmly. "We still haven't properly thanked him for helping our family so much."
To Kasumi, he was simply a generous distant relative.
Nothing more.
Her innocent gratitude instantly made the other three family members uneasy.
Not because they feared Kokushibo
But because none of them knew how she would react upon learning the truth.
Their father coughed awkwardly.
"I-I'll try contacting him again sometime."
Later that night, after the lights were extinguished, Yuichiro suddenly spoke again.
"Muichiro."
"…Hm?"
"If the Demon Slayer Corps ever tried to kill Great-Grandfather…"
Yuichiro's gaze turned serious.
"Would you fight against him?"
Muichiro fell silent.
As a Demon Slayer, he was duty-bound to destroy demons.
But Kokushibo was also their ancestor
Someone who had protected and supported their family for years.
After a long pause, Muichiro finally answered quietly.
"No."
He clenched his blanket slightly.
"I wouldn't help either side."
Yuichiro nodded in satisfaction upon hearing that response.
Then his expression brightened slightly.
"Oh, right. Teach me swordsmanship tomorrow."
Muichiro agreed without hesitation.
"Okay."
Much later…
He would become deeply grateful that he had taught Yuichiro how to wield a blade.
35+ Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!
We are currently at Chapter 85 on Patreon!
To get early access, become a member or purchase the collection for lifetime access to the book.
Join now:
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD