Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

This unique growth experience endows butterflies with a natural "neutrality".

This prevents her from subconsciously considering human beings, or rather, from the perspective of humanity as a whole, when thinking about many issues.

At the same time, it will not be influenced by the moral values ​​that are prevalent in human society.

From a moral standpoint, Mitsuha's choice to become a demon might be considered extremely wicked.

But from Mitsuha's perspective, it was only natural, a choice she was destined to make.

Between the former and the latter, the butterfly chose the latter without hesitation.

Because she understood that Mitsuha's lively and energetic heart had never truly died, just like that night at the fireworks festival when the two of them...

“Miss Butterfly, I don’t understand. If Mitsuha also has her own desires, why doesn’t she just tell the truth from the beginning?”

After another long silence, Yoriichi expressed his doubts.

Chapter 52 Do you want me to kill Yoriichi's brother?

Perhaps he was born a son of God, lacking a precise understanding of mortal emotions.

Yoriichi couldn't understand Mitsuha's behavior of suppressing herself and hiding her true feelings.

And the butterfly once again gave the most straightforward, and also the most accurate, answer.

"Because she cared about you, Mr. Yoriichi, at least she used to."

Seeing Yoriichi freeze in shock, Butterfly replied, word by word, in her usual calm, even somewhat cold tone:

"She had thought about speaking these true feelings more than once, but because she cared, she ultimately suppressed these desires. Because she cared, she chose to be the one who was sacrificed, satisfying your willfulness."

Do you understand everything I'm saying, Mr. Yoriichi?

Out of respect for the deceased, Butterfly did not tell Yoriichi what Mitsuha had told her before her death: the words Akeno, the mother of the three siblings, Tsugikuni, had said to Mitsuha.

But her silence reminded Yoriichi of the night more than ten years ago when his mother passed away and he left Tsugikuni.

Yoriichi suddenly remembered that in the very last moment, Mitsuha seemed to have tried to call out to him and say something to him.

However, at the time, he was only focused on leaving Tsugikuni and didn't realize Mitsuha's actions...

Recalling the momentary freeze of Mitsuha's smile after hearing him entrust her to his elder brother that night, Yoriichi suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart.

This slight pain, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly created ripples in his heart.

"I never expected that you, as a doctor, would think this way..."

After Yoriichi's silence, Tamayo finally spoke.

"Perhaps it's because I've spent nearly half of my life in the mountains and forests and haven't read many books."

Looking at Tamayo, Butterfly's tone remained calm.

"Ms. Tamayo, you may find this unbelievable, but in my opinion, everything in this world is reasonable as long as it exists."

So-called evil spirits and humans are no different from wild wolves and rabbits in the mountains and forests.

"Even if Mitsuha Tsugikuni indiscriminately slaughters innocent people, is this still the case?"

Tamayo continued to press for answers.

"Then, Ms. Tamayo, may I ask if Mitsuha indiscriminately killed innocent people?"

Butterfly immediately retorted, seemingly full of confidence.

Tamayo was taken aback for a moment, and under Yoriichi's gaze, she sighed softly.

"If you're referring to someone other than a demon hunter, then she certainly doesn't..."

I've even personally witnessed Mitsuha Tsugikuni let some truly ordinary people go..."

Although she is reluctant to admit it, Mitsuha Tsugikuni does indeed have her own principles to some extent.

During the few days she spent with her, Tamayo witnessed firsthand that Mitsuha had only ever killed demon slayers from beginning to end.

As for ordinary people who knew nothing about the existence of demons and demon hunters, she indeed did not harm anyone.

In fact, you could say that she gets along very well with these ordinary people, especially children, and can always quickly integrate into their group.

"Mitsuha hasn't changed at all..."

Hearing Tamayo's predictable answer, Butterfly's lips curled up slightly.

She knew, of course, that Mitsuha was not bloodthirsty by nature and, unable to derive pleasure from killing, would not kill indiscriminately.

Butterfly could even deduce that even if Mitsuha transformed into a demon, she would only limit her killing spree to demon slayers who were her enemies.

Because they are enemies, we must not show any mercy.

Because I was hungry, I went to find two demon hunters to fill my stomach.

From a demon hunter's perspective, this is very unethical.

But the butterfly has no morals, nor does it stand in the shoes of the ghost hunter.

If she could even choose, she would prefer to become a demon.

You know, this is excellent research material... She was really curious about the principles behind the existence of evil spirits.

"Alright, let's leave Mitsuha's matter here for now."

Finally, Yoriichi, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up to end the conversation between the three of them.

"I must return to report to my lord as soon as possible after encountering Muzan Kibutsuji on this trip. Miss Tamayo, would you like to come back with me?"

First looking at Tamayo, Yoriichi took the initiative to suggest:

"You know a lot about Muzan. I think the Demon Slayer Corps will likely need your help in the future campaign against Muzan."

If you are willing, I would like to introduce you to the lord.

Rest assured, whatever the final outcome, I will ensure your safety.

"……it is good."

Although she had other thoughts in mind, after some hesitation, Tamayo decided to go with Yoriichi to the Demon Slayer Corps' base first.

Perfect timing! She was also eager to see what kind of beings the Demon Slayer Corps' lord's family, who had fought Muzan for nearly five hundred years, were...

"And Miss Butterfly, would you like to come back with me?"

Having received Tamayo's reply, Yoriichi turned to look at the butterfly.

Although the butterfly clearly showed a bias towards Mitsuba when it came to matters concerning Mitsuba.

However, considering that the other party was also a highly skilled physician, Yoriichi believed that the Demon Slayer Corps would definitely need the butterfly's abilities.

Moreover, if Butterfly were to meet with the Lord, perhaps the Lord could change Butterfly's mind...

The butterfly readily nodded in agreement.

Because she wanted to find Mitsuha.

Since learning that Mitsuha had not died but continued to live as a demon, Butterfly has been eager to find her.

By temporarily joining the Demon Slayer Corps and relying on their intelligence, she might be able to find Mitsuha's whereabouts more quickly...

And so, the three of them unanimously decided to return to the Demon Slayer Corps' base that very night...

"So, it turns out that Lord Muzan really did run into Yoriichi's older brother..."

After transforming into a giant cocoon and resting for a full day and night, Muzan finally emerged from it.

Inside the dilapidated mountain temple, Muzan, now fully recovered, was carefully recounting his past experiences to the Tsugikuni siblings.

This includes how he met Yoriichi, their fight, and how he managed to escape in such a sorry state...

In the end, Muzan could barely contain himself, trembling once more as he spoke:

"That monster, it's not human at all..."

"You're right, Lord Muzan."

Sitting on the wall to the side, listening to Muzan's story told in the courtyard below, where he was sitting at the stone table with Yan Sheng, Mitsuha nodded in agreement.

“Brother Yoriichi is the son of God. His birth was to fulfill the will of the gods to punish you, the king of demons.”

Therefore, Yoriichi was born with power far exceeding that of ordinary people, so it's quite normal that you, Lord Muzan, would lose to him..."

"Mitsuba, I've told you many times, stop talking about these mystical things. There is no such thing as a god in this world."

Muzan showed no dissatisfaction with Mitsuha's casual, even somewhat offensive, attitude, and simply corrected her again with a helpless tone.

Yes, Muzan never believed in the existence of God.

Even though he had met Yoriichi, and even though he had personally experienced Yoriichi's extraordinary power that no human could possibly possess, he still did not believe that gods existed in this world, and he still did not believe that Yoriichi was a messenger sent by a god to punish him.

If there really was a god, he would have come to punish him five hundred years ago, why wait until today?

In Muzan's eyes, Yoriichi was a monster, a monster even more monstrous than himself!

Yoriichi is a "natural disaster," a "natural disaster" specifically designed to counter him!

"Yes yes yes~"

Very obediently, Mitsuha didn't refute Muzan; she simply smiled and asked:

"Lord Muzan, what should we do next? Should I go and take care of Yoriichi?"

She spoke in a very ordinary tone, uttering a sentence that stunned the two ghosts below.

Is Mitsuha going to deal with Yoriichi?

Chapter 53 The Birth of the Twelve Demon Moons

"Mitsuba, what did you just say?"

"I mean, Lord Muzan, do you need me to deal with Yoriichi for you?"

Meeting Muzan's incredulous gaze, Mitsuha repeated herself once more.

Unlike Muzan, Mitsuha believed in the existence of gods from the very beginning.

Therefore, she was more convinced than anyone else in the world that Yoriichi must be the son of God, and that his birth was for the purpose of killing Muzan.

Therefore, she was always convinced that Yoriichi would steadfastly continue on the path of slaying demons, unaffected by anyone.

So from the very beginning, Mitsuha never intended to persuade Yoriichi to become a demon, just as she had persuaded Mitsuha.

Not even for a moment.

Because that's simply impossible.

The gods in heaven would never allow their sharpest blade to become a puppet under the king of demons.

From the moment she decided to become a demon, Mitsuha was already mentally prepared to stand on the opposite side of her older brother, Yoriichi.

She doesn't expect luck, nor does she harbor any resentment because of it.

Yoriichi's brother has his mission, and she has her own desires.

She had sworn that from this day forward, she would live for herself.

She would never again sacrifice herself to pave the way for others.

Even if this person is her former blood relative.

"Mitsuba, you... can you defeat that monster?"

"What a disheartening attitude, Lord Muzan..."

Deliberately feigning a sad expression, Mitsuha smiled mysteriously at Muzan's subconscious questioning:

"You should know that my Blood Demon Art actually has another... completely different use."

After speaking, Mitsuha stopped talking and simply smiled as she looked at Muzan, who did the same.

To outsiders, the two may appear to be staring blankly at each other, but Yan Sheng, standing nearby, knows that Mitsuha is having a mental dialogue with Muzan.

【Completely different usages...?】

Without intending to find out anything, Yan Sheng simply sat silently to the side, waiting for the two to finish their conversation.

[Mitsuba has already demonstrated such powerful abilities, and this isn't even her full strength...]