Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

Looking at the oblivious and unaware Mitsuha before him, Muzan not only sighed, but even Tamayo's dark purple eyes revealed a trace of pity.

Without reacting to Muzan's pitiful remark, Mitsuha quickly searched her memory and finally remembered the incident related to Muzan.

"Mr. Kibutsuji, are you here to ask me about the Blue Spider Lily?"

"Oh? You actually remember this?"

Muzan paused for a moment, clearly surprised that Mitsuha still remembered this.

Nodding slightly, Mitsuha said apologetically:

"I'm very sorry, after you left, although I sent people to inquire about this flower many times, I ultimately came up empty-handed..."

“It’s alright. I’ve already spent far too much time on this flower. I didn’t really expect you to find it in just one or two years…”

Having casually brushed aside the topic of the blue spider lily, Muzan sat cross-legged in front of Mitsuha and pointed at her, saying:

“I have come tonight for you, little clover.”

"For... me?"

“That’s right, Little Clover, you’re dying, and I will bring you the ‘antidote’.”

But before that, I have a question I'd like to ask you.

Pointing this out quite directly, Muzan asked curiously:

"I'd love to know if you've ever felt regret, or... resentment, about your death and your life up to this point?"

Why...why are you asking this?

Her sluggish brain slowly began to work, and a hint of confusion appeared on Mitsuha's tear-streaked face.

"How about this, as an answer to some small questions I had before 'giving you a gift'?"

Muzan behaved politely, and as he waited patiently, Mitsuha lowered her head in deep thought.

During this process, her brain started working at high speed again. Mitsuha quickly went through all the memories she could recall, from childhood to adulthood, and then gave an answer.

"Even if I feel regret, it's meaningless. My death is a destiny that the gods have already arranged for me."

I am destined to die young, just as my mother did, just as He ordained for my brother.

Yes, her death was inevitable.

All she can do now is learn to accept it.

"Ah, that's it..."

Upon hearing this, Muzan suddenly realized what was happening.

"Little Sanye, were you the kind of person who believed in the existence of gods?"

"The gods have always existed."

Mitsuha repeated.

Muzan smiled and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Mitsuha, but your understanding of this is wrong."

With his bloodshot, crimson eyes fixed on Mitsuha, Muzan slowly raised his hand, pointing his index finger to his temple, and said, word by word:

"Based on my past experience, I assure you that I am absolutely certain that there are no such things as gods or Buddhas in this world."

"No, Mr. Kibutsuji..."

Recalling Yoriichi's image in her mind, Mitsuha repeated it once more with absolute certainty:

“I have witnessed miracles firsthand, and I am quite certain that God has always existed.”

"Hahahaha!"

Amused by her innocent and adorable words, Muzan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He seemed unusually patient tonight, and didn't even care about Mitsuha's repeated "disobedience".

"Alright, since that's the case, Little Mitsuha, let's make an assumption."

After laughing to his heart's content, Muzan looked at Mitsuha again and said quickly:

"Assuming the gods you speak of truly exist, assuming they can truly control everything in this world, and assuming they truly want you to die, then I would absolutely not be appearing before you tonight."

"Because my arrival proclaims your immortality."

Having uttered those last words one by one, Muzan raised his hand and gently tapped Mitsuha's forehead with the tip of his index finger.

The fingertips gradually hardened, slightly piercing the skin on Mitsuha's forehead.

As Mitsuha's increasingly shocked gaze fell upon him, Muzan's appearance began to change rapidly.

Men, women, children, the elderly, locals, foreigners...

Countless different faces switched rapidly across Muzan's face as he spoke slowly in a voice mixed with various accents:

"My name is Muzan Kibutsuji. I am the source of all evil spirits in this world, and also the first demon in this world!"

My lifespan is endless, my power is limitless, and all living beings in this world are as insignificant as ants in my eyes!

I am the closest thing to a perfect being in this world. The Demon Slayer Corps calls me the Demon King, and the Demon Slayers fear me as they fear a god!

For five hundred years, no human has ever been able to challenge my power!

Little Clover, if the god you speak of truly exists, if there really is a god in this world, then... it can only be me!

Chapter 29 Why can't I live for myself?

Muzan's words were extremely arrogant.

The bizarre abilities he is displaying at this moment also confirm his inhuman identity.

The King of Ghosts, Ghost Dance Tsuji Mukai...

So the demon king that Yoriichi's brother wanted to kill was the man standing in front of her right now?!

The stark reality struck Mitsuha's mind, and before she could say anything, Muzan continued:

"Mitsuba, since you firmly believe in the existence of gods, you firmly believe that death is your ultimate destiny."

Then I will break this so-called fate that binds you. I will give you a large amount of my blood and the opportunity to transform into a ghost.

After tonight, you will not only survive, but you will also regain a healthy and powerful body, as well as an infinite lifespan that you can squander at will!

"I'd like to see how those gods and Buddhas you speak of will take your life from my hands next!"

As he finished speaking, Muzan looked at Mitsuha in front of him, and a rare hint of nostalgia appeared in his blood-red eyes.

"To be honest, young lady, I really like you. Every time I see you, it reminds me of who I used to be."

Back then, I was just like you are now—physically weak, plagued by serious illness, constantly teetering on the edge of death, never knowing when I would truly die, and therefore living in constant fear every day…

The deeper the longing in his eyes, the gentler Muzan's tone became.

"Back then, I would often think, why me? Why me of all people?"

Why can't it be someone else? Why must I suffer this unfair fate?

If there truly is a God in this world, then I think He must have arranged the same destiny for both of us.

Little Misaka, we are actually the same kind of people. The only difference is that I was lucky enough to have the ability to change my life and break through the predetermined fate.

And now, I've decided to give you that opportunity; I will give you the ability to change your own destiny.

He knelt on one knee in front of Mitsuha, Muzan gently stroking her long hair, looking down at her with an extremely soft voice.

"But Mitsuha, I respect your choice."

"I can tell you clearly first that after you become a ghost, you will never be able to see the sunlight again, and you will live under the darkness forever."

You will no longer be able to eat normal food; your diet will only include human beings.

If you feel you cannot accept these things and are unwilling to become a ghost, I will not force you.

Behind Muzan, Tamayo stared wide-eyed at the scene before her in disbelief.

Mitsuha slowly lowered her head.

The words Muzan had spoken kept echoing in his mind.

Mitsuha carefully considered this choice in her mind.

Then she was surprised to find that she didn't feel any strong resistance to the result of being transformed into a demon.

Without a doubt, from a human perspective, the very fact that a demon can devour humans is enough to classify it as an absolutely evil creature.

But Mitsuha doesn't possess this concept of good and evil.

Because good and evil cannot be used to govern a country.

Having grown up in the country and now being the ruler of a nation, she had already set aside her notions of good and evil, morality, when she first took on the heavy responsibility of being the head of the family.

The only people who could make Mitsuha feel any resistance to becoming a demon were her two older brothers.

Once she becomes a ghost, she will undoubtedly be on the opposite side of her two brothers.

That won't do...

Because her mother had said before she passed away that it was her responsibility as the younger sister to maintain a good relationship between her two older brothers...

How could she possibly stand against her two brothers?

But, but...

Does she have to live according to her mother's requirements?

Why can't she live according to her own wishes?

In her mind, the image of the butterfly and Muzan's words flashed back and forth, and Mitsuha's breathing gradually became rapid, her fingers clenching tighter and tighter.

Haven't she done enough for her two brothers and for the country over the years?

She has given up her entire short life.

Isn't all of this enough to repay my mother for giving me life?

No, that's enough.

Her mother did give birth to her, but she also left her with a body plagued by illness, causing her immense suffering.

While the country did indeed raise her, she has also given almost everything to the country over the years.

And her two older brothers—to satisfy their willful and reckless behavior, she has been silently shouldering the responsibilities that should have belonged to them all these years.

Mitsuha Tsugikuni owes no one anything anymore, does she?

Mitsuha Tsugikuni has no reason to continue sacrificing herself for the past, does she?

If that's the case, why not try to live for yourself?

Why not try to take control of your destiny and become your own god?

As his thoughts became clearer, his chest heaved more violently.

Having already made up her mind, Mitsuha slowly raised her head and looked at Muzan, who was still patiently waiting before her. She spoke each word with unwavering determination:

"Lord Muzan, I want to... decide my own fate."

"How's the situation over there?"

"Nothing unusual was found."

Late at night, two figures flashed by on the streets of the city and met on a rooftop.

Both were male, wearing identical black uniforms with the character "滅" (destroy) printed on the back, and with Nichirin swords hanging horizontally at their waists; they were clearly swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps.

This is a bustling town near Kyoto, ruled by a family called Tsugukuni, whose head is said to be a young woman.

This is the same surname as those two powerful Pillars in the Demon Slayer Corps. I wonder if they are related in any way...

Of course, the Demon Slayer Corps did not come for the sake of the nation.

The two came here because the Demon Slayer Corps had received intelligence that mysterious people had disappeared in the town during last night's fireworks festival, which was suspected to be related to demons eating people.

They came to investigate the truth of the matter and, incidentally, to eliminate this possible evil spirit.

So far, the two haven't found any useful information...