Demon Slayer: I am a Demon.

When those hands clenched down, their fingertips trembled, and the warmth of the blood that splattered on my face still lingers in my memory.

At the same time, it has become what it is today.

All he has done is to live a good life, to live in the sunlight, so why are these people so persistent in targeting him?

Am I wrong to want to live?

Is it wrong to want to have a healthy body?

Is it wrong to want to overcome everything and walk in the sunlight?

…………

He stretched out his hand, spread his fingers, and then slowly closed them, easily grabbing Kagaya Ubuyashiki's neck.

So weak, yet he wanted to end his own life.

The thought struck him as absurd and laughable. He tightened his grip on the other person's face, which was slightly flushed from lack of oxygen.

"How... ridiculous!"

Kibutsuji Muzan's face was full of mockery.

Lifted by the neck, barely able to breathe, death looming at any moment, Ubuyashiki Kagaya felt no fear of death, only hatred for the demon before him. His feet left the ground, his body swaying slightly in the air, yet a near-relief-like calm graced his face. Only his half-blind eyes burned with years of pent-up hatred, like the last light of a flickering candle before its flame extinguished.

"Killing you will end everything completely."

The sound was squeezed out from the compressed throat.

Calm, almost devoid of emotion.

Muzan Kibutsuji's pupils involuntarily contracted, his scarlet eyes suddenly tightening. The extreme sense of danger almost made him clench his fingers so hard that he nearly shattered Kagaya Ubuyashiki's fragile throat. His knuckles dug deep into the flesh, the subtle sound of bones cracking being exceptionally clear in the silence.

His throat was ruptured, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin. Kagaya Ubuyashiki just stared coldly at Muzan Kibutsuji, his almost blind eyes reflecting a final glimmer of clarity.

"Boom..." The flames tore through the night, the earth trembled beneath their feet, and shockwaves carrying rubble and wisteria petals swept outwards, engulfing everything in the orange-red flames.

Countless explosives buried throughout the Ubuyashiki mansion were detonated at this moment. The gunpowder hidden under the pillars, in the floors, and in the walls exploded simultaneously, shattering the entire mansion into pieces. Wood and stone flew everywhere, thick smoke billowed, and the once solemn courtyard was reduced to ruins in an instant.

Almost instantly, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's body was torn to pieces in the explosion. His frail body was ripped apart like paper and scattered in the flames. Even someone as powerful as Muzan Kibutsuji was quickly torn apart by the explosion, with flesh and blood flying everywhere and bones shattering. His entire body was burned to a crisp in the flames of the explosion.

"Bang..." The almost charred body crashed to the ground, scattering ashes and sparks. The remains rolled among the rubble before finally coming to a stop.

The hands and legs were completely burned away, leaving only a charred torso and a broken skull. A few human figures could still be vaguely seen, like a piece of burnt-out dead wood.

Chapter 226 I am not the same kind of people as them.

“Death, death, our lord is dead, our lord is dead.”

“Death, death, our lord is dead, our lord is dead.”

“Death, death, former ‘Sound Pillar’ Kuwashima Jigoro is dead.”

“Death, death, ‘Earth Pillar’…”

…………

The raven flapped its wings, its mournful cry carrying far and wide. At that moment, swordsmen fighting in various places felt a jolt in their hearts, and sorrow appeared on the faces of every swordsman. Some swordsmen were already weeping with grief...

…………

Sagiyama

Su Mu sat at the entrance of the valley, surrounded by wisteria trees. He looked up at the ravens flying overhead and listened to their mournful cries. He lowered his head slightly and gently stroked the Nichirin Blade in front of him.

Originally, the plan was to proceed step by step, but with his arrival, the future was completely changed. The death of Kagaya Ubuyashiki, which should have occurred many years later, suddenly happened today. Muzan Kibutsuji attacked Ubuyashiki ahead of schedule.

Perhaps it was the 'Crimson Blade' or 'Mark' that provoked Muzan Kibutsuji, or perhaps it was the sudden loss of control over the demon that made Muzan Kibutsuji feel threatened. The usually cautious Muzan Kibutsuji suddenly made a rare move.

This was completely unexpected.

However, compared to the pain and sorrow felt by other swordsmen upon hearing news of deaths from various places, Su Mu didn't feel much. Although he admired the spirit of sacrifice of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen, that was all.

Kanao sat beside Su Mu the whole time, looking up at her uncle quietly. Occasionally, she would also look up at the ravens flying across the sky and listen to their mournful cries.

"clatter……"

A faint sound came from the darkness in the distance.

Su Mu, who had been sitting, looked up. A ghost had broken in and noticed the place. Perhaps it was attracted by the scent of wisteria, because the ghost stopped and looked over in this direction. It also saw Su Mu and Kanao.

"I never expected ghosts to come here."

Su Mu sighed.

"Roar……"

The demons roared in the distance, but were too afraid to approach because of the scent of wisteria flowers. Yet, they were also tempted by the smell of the Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen's flesh and blood and were unwilling to leave.

Today is a rare day when the 'master' is letting loose. In the past, the 'master' had hunting limits on each ghost, and once those limits were exceeded, the ghost would face punishment from the 'master'.

No one dared to disobey the 'adult's' will.

But today, some restrictions have been lifted, and the number of Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen that can be hunted each day will increase for every one they kill.

In the past, ordinary demons like him could only eat once every ten days or so. If they could kill a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, they could eat once every five days.

It's important to know that, aside from reaching a certain limit that prevents further improvement in strength, a demon's strength is related to the number of people it "devours"; the more people it devours, the stronger it becomes.

……

Looking at this ghost that lingers, unwilling to leave.

Su Mu stepped out from the entrance of the valley surrounded by wisteria flowers and walked towards the ghost, with Kanao following behind him.

Upon seeing Su Mu and Kanao emerge from the area surrounded by wisteria flowers, the demon's crimson eyes immediately lit up with excitement, and its body crouched slightly, ready to hunt.

Once Su Mu had completely left the area surrounded by wisteria flowers, the evil spirit could no longer resist its craving for flesh and blood and pounced on Su Mu.

Su Mu raised his eyes, looked at the approaching demon, stopped Kanao beside him from attacking, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and swung his sword in an instant.

The blade flashed through the air with a fiery red light, and the slash that almost cut through the air severed the ghost's neck in an instant. The ghost's head flew off instantly, and a large amount of blood gushed out from its neck like a fountain.

As he sheathed his sword, Su Mu dodged the splattered blood, watching the ghost's head fall to the ground. He also saw the astonishment and resentment in the ghost's eyes. Clearly, he hadn't expected that he, who was supposed to be the hunter, would become the hunted.

With his current strength, he is no weaker than an ordinary 'pillar', and these ordinary demons are something he can deal with with ease.

Constitution +0.1

Strength+0.1

Agility+0.1

Spirit +0.1

The Blood Demon Art 'Devour' was activated, and a familiar feeling surged within his body. The feeling of becoming stronger was wonderful, but Su Mu wasn't particularly obsessed with it because overuse could easily attract the attention of Muzan Kibutsuji.

"what!"

A sudden scream came from behind, making Su Mu turn around. Nezuko was unconsciously backing away, staring in horror at the corpse of the demon on the ground.

With a brief gasp, Nezuko looked up and saw that Mr. and Kanao were both looking at her. Her face flushed slightly, and then she ran over.

"This...this is a demon?"

Upon reaching Su Mu's side, Nezuko looked at the demon whose head had been severed and was dissipating, and asked in a low voice, "Aside from the demon I saw with my master, this is the first time Nezuko has ever seen a real demon."

"Ah."

Su Mu nodded, his gaze sweeping over Nezuko from head to toe:

"Speaking of which, Nezuko has never hunted a demon before, has she?"

Nezuko looked up and stole a glance at her teacher. It felt strange that her teacher, who was clearly a demon, was asking such questions.

Beside her, Kanao's beautiful pinkish-purple eyes were also looking at Nezuko.

Noticing Kanao's gaze, and probably realizing that Kanao had seen her startle just now, Nezuko immediately puffed out her increasingly well-developed chest: "I'm not afraid of ghosts!"

Even though she didn't say what she was afraid of, she inadvertently revealed her true feelings from just now.

"Since we're not afraid of ghosts, let's try hunting one."

After so much training, he was also eager to see how strong Nezuko was now.

"what!"

Nezuko gasped in surprise, her gaze instinctively turning to the demon. The demon's terrifying face made Nezuko's heart race slightly.

Is there a problem?

Su Mu looked up and asked.

Feeling her teacher's gaze upon her, Nezuko realized she had behaved terribly in front of him, so she immediately clenched her fist:

"No problem, I will... I will cut off the demon's head very quickly."

As she spoke, Nezuko looked around. In the dim moonlight, she didn't see any ghosts. So she asked softly, "But...but I didn't see any ghosts."

"It's very simple to lure out the ghost."

Su Mu chuckled, then asked seriously:

"Are you really ready to hunt demons?"

Nezuko clenched her fist slightly and nodded heavily, but then she secretly looked at him, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Is there anything you want to say?"

Su Mu was surprised.

"Sir...sir, you don't mind?"

Nezuko was a little worried and asked in a low voice.

"What do you mind?"

Nezuko glanced up at her teacher again, then immediately lowered her head and whispered, "A demon hunter!"

Su Mu didn't understand at first, but then it dawned on him: Nezuko was saying that she was also a demon, and he wondered if she would mind if she hunted demons.

“I am completely different from these creatures who cannot even control their instincts.”

Su Mu nodded, looking at Nezuko:

“I am not like them, I never have been.”