Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

"As a ghost, shouldn't you say something?"

Finally, it was Urokodaki Sakonji on his back who spoke first.

Su Mu stopped abruptly, then smiled wryly: "Actually, I thought you were going to just cut off my head."

Urokodaki Sakonji remained silent for a while.

In fact, when everyone had left and only he and the ghost remained, he did have such thoughts in his mind, but in the end, he still did not draw his sword.

He didn't understand why, even though he had already made a mistake once, he was making a second one.

Su Mu continued walking, carrying Urokodaki Sakonji on his back. Urokodaki Sakonji remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh:

"You can actually deny that you are a ghost. You can argue your case. After all, no ghost can ever bask in the sunlight. Perhaps my perception is wrong."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, senior. I really am a demon."

This is already...

This is a topic we can't avoid.

It is something that must be faced.

Chapter 195 I Once Had Expectations for My Senior

Urokodaki Sakonji hadn't expected that Sakonji would so readily admit to being a demon.

He thought Su Mu would defend himself and refute him.

After all, no ghost can bask in the sunlight.

If Su Mu were to explain, perhaps he would think his judgment was wrong, just as he had thought it was his nose that was the problem when he first met Su Mu.

But Su Mu did not defend himself and readily admitted his identity as a ghost.

This caused Urokodaki Sakonji to fall silent for a moment.

The hatred for demons and the desire to eradicate evil spirits from the world are qualities possessed by almost every swordsman who joins the Demon Slayer Corps. As the 'Pillars' of the Demon Slayer Corps, they bear an even greater responsibility.

"Put me down."

After a while, Urokodaki Sakon spoke for the first time, in a very calm voice.

Su Mu said nothing, put down Urokodaki Sakonji from his back, and then quietly looked at the old man.

The tengu mask prevented Su Mu from seeing Urokodaki Sakonji's current appearance, but he could sense that Urokodaki-senpai couldn't attack him without restraint as he would with other demons. After all, if he really didn't hesitate, he could have done so just now.

but……

He could still sense the old man's murderous intent towards him.

As a demon, everything was already predetermined, even though they had gotten along well before, and he had even become a junior whom Urokodaki-senpai considered a good one.

But when the ghost's identity is discovered...

Everything will disappear.

Perhaps I've thought about this before, and deep down, I might believe I'm not the same, but clearly...

A ghost is a ghost.

At this moment, Su Mu felt somewhat disappointed.

Urokodaki Sakonji also looked at Su Mu, who was standing still, looking at the person on whom he had placed great hopes. He had imagined many things about this junior.

He once thought that the new buds would flourish under the guidance of this younger generation.

I once thought that evil spirits would be completely eradicated in this generation.

He had hoped that the other person and his disciple Makomo would be together in the future, perhaps get married, and have a new life. Although he might be dead by then and unable to see it, he was still full of anticipation.

I've imagined many, many scenarios for this person's future.

But everything...

All about beautiful visions for the future.

The other party's identity as a ghost was discovered to be broken.

"You can deny your identity now, and maybe I'll believe you and pretend nothing happened."

Urokodaki Sakonji lowered his head slightly and spoke softly.

"I've disappointed Senior Urokodaki."

Su Mu shook his head: "Actually, even if I deny my identity as a ghost, Senior Urokodaki can't pretend nothing happened. A ghost is a ghost. From the moment you believed I was a ghost, your mind was already set on it and you could no longer deceive yourself."

Urokodaki Sakonji sighed, "You could actually give it a try."

"There's no need."

Su Mu shook his head: "A senior's nose will not lie to a senior. Any lie told can be smelled by a senior's nose."

"If it weren't for this sensitive nose, things might be different!"

Urokodaki Sakonji sighed softly, then looked up at the demon bathed in sunlight. His eyes, hidden behind the tengu mask, were now icy cold: "What is your true identity?"

Su Mu was somewhat puzzled.

"Kibutsuji Muzan, that's you, isn't it?"

An intense, almost tangible killing intent emanated from the old man.

Su Mu was taken aback, not expecting that Senior Urokodaki would mistake him for Muzan Kibutsuji. However, upon closer reflection, it was not surprising. If he were not Muzan Kibutsuji, how could he know so much about Upper Moon Three's past? If he were not Muzan Kibutsuji, how could he be basking in the sunlight?

After all, Muzan Kibutsuji was the first demon, the absolute ruler of demons. If any demon could bask in the sunlight, it would probably be Muzan Kibutsuji.

"No, I was just someone who was turned into a demon by Muzan Kibutsuji, just like those who were turned into demons by Muzan Kibutsuji. However, due to certain circumstances, I escaped Muzan Kibutsuji's control and was even able to bask in the sunlight..."

Su Mu spoke calmly.

Urokodaki Sakonji listened silently, and he didn't smell any lies in his breath. Clearly, what Su Mu said was true.

"It's incredible that he's broken free from Muzan Kibutsuji's control."

Urokodaki Sakon sighed, at least, he had never heard of a demon being able to escape the control of Kibutsuji Muzan.

"Although it's difficult to break free from Muzan Kibutsuji's control, it's not that no demon can do it. At least, there was a demon named Tamayo who did it, and Muzan Kibutsuji has been hunting her down for many years..."

Su Mu replied calmly.

This was something Urokodaki Sakonji was unaware of, and it was somewhat unexpected.

…………

"Have you... ever been a lover?"

After a while, Urokodaki Sakonji spoke again, the sharp killing intent in his voice seemed to have subsided somewhat, replaced by a complex scrutiny.

Su Mu shook his head and looked at Urokodaki Sakonji: "I am not the same as those monsters who have lost their own nature. Senior, please do not classify me as such a monster."

"There has never been a ghost that has never devoured a person."

Urokodaki Sakonji looked at Su Mu: "Once, I gave up on the Hand Demon that cut off heads, and I told myself with tears in my eyes that I would never devour humans again, but at Fujikasayama, this demon..."

The bitter consequences of the mistakes I made because of my soft heart are still hard to bear.

"I can smell it..."

Urokodaki Sakonji raised his head and looked at Su Mu: "I can smell your breath, I know you're not lying, you shouldn't have devoured anyone until now..."

At this point, Urokodaki Sakonji's voice softened slightly: "But what about the future?"

"Will you be able to do that in the future?"

“I really want to get to the bottom of this, but you’re a devil after all! I made a serious mistake because of this before, and I don’t want to make the same mistake again this time.”

Urokodaki Sakonji's hand was already on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his eyes turned cold and solemn, filled with intense killing intent.

Su Mu remained silent for a while.

Looking at the old man in front of him, he sighed softly: "I actually had certain expectations of my seniors, but it seems I shouldn't have had those expectations."

As he spoke, he sighed:

"A ghost is still a ghost. In the eyes of our predecessors, and in the eyes of everyone else, it is an unacceptable creature."

Urokodaki Sakonji's grip on the hilt tightened slightly. Then, he closed his eyes and slowly drew the blade from his waist: "Make your move. You know I've already entered the 'Transparent World,' and the aura you give me is very weak. Once I make my move, I won't give you any chance."

"So, make your move."

Chapter 196 Another Muzan Kibutsuji

Su Mu slowly drew his Nichirin Blade, the tip pointing slightly downwards, and looked up at the old man opposite him.

A complex emotion flashed in Urokodaki Sakonji's eyes beneath the tengu mask, and his tone grew increasingly indifferent:

"Make your move, or you'll die."

However, after waiting for a long time, Urokodaki Sakonji did not receive an attack, so he sighed and said, "In that case, you will not have a single chance."

As he spoke, Urokodaki gripped the hilt of his sword, and in an instant, the old man was in front of him, slashing down with his blade.

The wind howled through the air, and Su Mu almost instinctively raised his knife.

"clang!"

The blades clashed, sparks flying.

Even if Urokodaki hadn't reached the 'Transparent World', Su Mu would still be no match for Urokodaki Sakonji.

Almost in the blink of an eye, they were in a life-or-death situation.

Even so, he still didn't make a move, only focusing on defense.

"If you continue like this, you really have no chance at all."

Urokodaki Sakonji squinted: "My life will be spent even faster in a fierce battle. If you have enough counterattacks, you have a chance to exhaust my last bit of life."

Su Mu held his sword to block Urokodaki Sakonji's next strike, looking at the old man: "In fact, up until now, Senior Urokodaki has not shown any killing intent. If you really wanted to kill me, I should have already had my head cut off by now, right?"

"Heh... kid, did you really think I wouldn't kill you?"