Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

The gloom on her face vanished instantly, and she returned to her usual gentle and polite demeanor, her delicate face displaying a near-perfect smile.

"I think I said something strange just now, please don't mind it..."

Could you tell me more about the stories from your time traveling around the country doing free medical clinics? I'd love to hear them.

"Ah? Oh, okay... Well, then this time I'll tell you the stories of the Ming Dynasty merchants I met in Kyushu..."

In the small room, Butterfly began her endless narration once again.

As she spoke, she carefully observed the expression on Mitsuha's face.

It was a smile she was already used to, but for some reason, Butterfly suddenly felt that Mitsuha's smile was... very fake.

By the time Mitsuha finished her daily routine treatment and left the butterfly clinic, it was already evening.

As the sun was about to set, on her way back to Tenshou Castle, she deliberately dispersed the surrounding guards, intending to walk back alone.

Of course, saying "disperse" really just means to keep them a little further away from her, so they don't all crowd around her.

After all, she is now the esteemed successor to the throne and head of the family, and there is no room for any mishaps.

In addition, her elder brother Yan Sheng, the former head of the family, was also "murdered" under mysterious circumstances while he was out.

The current retainers of the state are like frightened birds. If it weren't for the fact that they still need Butterfly to take care of her health, they would rather she stay in that castle, surrounded by countless guards and maids, and never come out.

Just thinking about that figure who was always laughing and joking, seemingly happy all the time.

A deep sense of envy welled up in Mitsuha's heart.

Butterfly had told her about her background. She was born into a family of doctors on Shikoku Island. Because she was a woman, Butterfly had never been exposed to her family's medical skills since childhood.

Her parents originally planned to marry her off to a man from another family who had been on good terms with their family for generations when she reached a suitable age.

But the butterfly did not want to accept this fate.

So, one night many years ago, she secretly ran away with several medical books from her clan, and thus began her wandering life of studying medicine on her own and practicing medicine in various places.

Over the years, Butterfly has traveled to many places: Shikoku Island, Kyushu Island, the eight Kanto states, the Kinki region...

At first, she practiced medicine in small villages in the countryside, but later she gradually entered towns with large populations and became the highly skilled Dr. Butterfly she is today.

Although she is only in her early twenties, she has already crossed paths with countless people and has countless stories to tell.

She is so brave.

Mitsuha always felt incredibly envious whenever she heard the stories told by the butterfly.

Because this is the person she once wanted to be.

"Sato's Restaurant - Delicious and Affordable!"

A sudden shout interrupted Mitsuha's thoughts.

She subconsciously stopped and looked over, only to see a street-side restaurant next to her with a sign that read "Sato Restaurant".

It was already late, and the restaurant was full of diners, most of whom were dressed in fine clothes and were clearly not ordinary townspeople.

Mitsuha remembered this restaurant.

The group of kids who played games with her in the alley a while ago mentioned that the chef at this restaurant was extremely skilled and that many wealthy and powerful people in the city liked to come here.

After a brief hesitation, Mitsuha glanced at the guards behind her, then turned to go inside.

But just then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two people walking towards her from not far away.

Of the two, the one walking in front was a man with a strange curly hairstyle, while the one following behind was a woman with her long hair tied up and her head bowed.

Chapter 13 First Encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji

That's right, ramen noodle hair.

Although she died young in her previous life, Mitsuha, as a transmigrator and reborn person, still recognizes things like "instant noodles".

And without a doubt, the man walking this way, who also seemed to be entering the restaurant, had this strange hairstyle.

Unbelievable! In a world where everyone either wears their hair up or has a receding hairline, how can someone have such a... fashionable hairstyle?

Although Mitsuha was surprised by this, she did not stop walking.

She entered the restaurant and, guided by a waiter who had already recognized her, went to the second floor, a place reserved for the city's elite. She sat down in a window seat with a view of the first floor.

Most of the guards following Mitsuha stayed on the first floor of the restaurant, while a few went up to the second floor with her.

At the same time, the strange man with the ramen-noodle hair and the woman behind him entered the restaurant together.

After talking with the waiter, the two men paid no attention to the suddenly appearing armed guards in the restaurant and went straight up to the second floor.

Among them, the man with the ramen noodle hair didn't even glance at the guards, his steps were arrogant and unrestrained, and the smile on his face was wild and unruly.

Mitsuha observed the two of them the whole time, and based on some kind of intuition, she felt that the two of them were probably not there to eat.

As she expected, things turned out as she predicted.

After finding a seat on the second floor, neither the man nor the woman seemed to want to order anything. They just sat there quietly, as if waiting for someone.

Taking this opportunity, Mitsuha was finally able to observe the strange man and woman more closely.

Among them, the woman wore a purple patterned kimono, with a dignified and beautiful appearance, and her dark purple eyes held a hint of sorrow.

She looked a few years older than Mitsuha, and her long hair was tied up, clearly indicating that she was already married.

The man wore a black kimono with gold patterns made of exquisite materials. Even with a strange hairstyle, he was still handsome, with a faint smile always on his lips.

(In Kokushibo's memories in the original work, Muzan's hairstyle during the Sengoku period already showed a tendency to resemble a ramen noodle head...)

But what truly caught Mitsuha's attention were the man's eyes.

Those were plum-red vertical pupils, with eerie blood vessels densely covering the pupils, giving people an extremely strange feeling just by looking at them.

This couple is so strange...

Are they siblings?

It doesn't look like it...

Are they a married couple?

It doesn't really seem like it...

"Little girl, your gaze has been fixed on us ever since we started looking at you."

"What's wrong? Is there something about me that you find strange?"

Just as Mitsuha was carefully observing the two of them, the man with the strange eyes suddenly turned his head and looked over.

He still wore a smile, but it was neither polite nor gentle; instead, it was full of aggression.

It was obvious from any angle that the man was not the kind of person who was easy to talk to, and considering that it was indeed her behavior that was inappropriate first, Mitsuha decided to apologize first.

"I'm very sorry, I meant no harm, I just felt that you were somewhat special, sir..."

"Oh? Special? What's special about it?"

Seemingly intrigued by Mitsuha's words, the man sat sideways in his seat, watching her intently, and asked curiously.

"Judging from your attire, you must come from an extraordinary background."

However, in contrast, your hairstyle, your kimono, and even your words and actions are all very...unique and do not conform to etiquette.

And you not only seem completely unconcerned about this, but also seem utterly indifferent to how others perceive you...

Of course, I don't mean to criticize you; I simply admire your carefree confidence and the freedom it embodies..."

"Hmph... Hmph hmph, hahahaha!"

After listening to Mitsuha's earnest analysis and explanation, the man first chuckled twice, then couldn't help but throw his head back and burst into laughter.

"Interesting! This is the first time in all these years that I've met a girl as eloquent as you!"

At the same time, the woman beside him who had been keeping her head down and silent finally looked up at Mitsuha.

The woman's gaze quickly swept over Mitsuha's body, finally settling on Mitsuha's left hand.

She seemed to have sensed something, but said nothing, only lowered her head in silence again.

"Little girl, my name is Kibutsuji Muzan. Tell me your name."

After finally finishing laughing, Muzan stopped smiling and took the initiative to introduce himself to Mitsuha.

Ghost Dance Tsuji Mukai?

Would anyone really give themselves such a strange name...?

After silently complaining to herself, Mitsuha also told him her name.

"Tsuigo no Miyake".

"So, Miss Mitsuha, would you be interested in hearing my evaluation of you?"

Perhaps influenced by Mitsuha's polite attitude, Muzan also started using honorifics.

"Please tell me."

Mitsuha nodded in acknowledgment. Muzan looked her up and down, then smiled and said:

"You seem very repressed."

Mitsuha was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, it's very depressing."

Nodding, Muzan began his analysis in earnest.

“From the moment we started talking until now, your posture has remained unchanged, as upright as a near-perfect work of art.”

Not only that, your kimono was worn very neatly, your hairstyle was very exquisite, and your words and actions were impeccable.

On the surface, you seem to be the kind of person who is very rule-abiding, with those so-called aristocratic etiquettes ingrained in your bones.

But I can see that your true nature is not like that at all.

Leaning against the dining table beside him, Muzan pointed his index finger at Mitsuha and said, word by word:

"The exquisite image you project, this dignified and elegant demeanor, is nothing more than a disguise you are forced to make due to the pressure around you."

Your true inner self is actually completely different...

"How dare you speak to my young lady like that?!"

Nearby, a guard finally lost his temper and immediately drew his sword, stood up, and shouted angrily at Muzan. The other guards in the restaurant also glared at Muzan with unfriendly expressions.

It seemed that as soon as Mitsuha gave the order, they would rush forward and chop Muzan to pieces, clothes and all.

But Mitsuha did not do that.

Seeing that Muzan was completely unfazed by the threats posed to the surrounding guards, and his expression didn't even change, she raised her hand to gesture for them to sit down again, and continued to ask:

"Mr. Kibutsuji, I'm curious, we've only just met, so why are you so sure?"

Perhaps I really am the kind of person you're describing, someone who has aristocratic manners ingrained in their very being?

"Hahahaha! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Upon hearing this, Muzan threw his head back and laughed again.

"Because you give me the same feeling as her."

He suddenly raised his hand and pointed to the woman beside him who had remained silent the entire time.

"May I ask who she is?"

"You can just call her Tamayo. She's kind of my... subordinate."

After briefly introducing Tamayo's name, Muzan explained with great interest:

“Miss Mitsuha, you would never guess that this woman is constantly plotting how to kill me, how to skin me alive, and how to throw me into hell to vent her inexplicable hatred…”

Subordinates? Skinned alive? Deep-seated hatred?

Somewhat confused by Muzan's words, Mitsuha looked at him, then at Tamayo, who remained silent with her head down, her expression puzzled.

"Mr. Kibutsuji, are you... joking?"

“A joke? No, no, no, it’s absolutely true.”

Muzan wagged his index finger and turned to look at Tamayo, continuing in a lighthearted tone tinged with mockery: