Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

“Miss Mitsuha, don’t be fooled by the fact that this woman seems to say nothing on the surface. I know exactly what she’s thinking.”

This ungrateful woman! I helped her and fulfilled her wish, but she turned around and blamed me, even trying to kill me because of it...

If I had to rank the people in this world who want to kill me, I think the person at the top would definitely be her.

Unfortunately, she didn't have the power to kill me; she couldn't do it no matter what.

Not only that, but now she is forced to stay by my side and serve me at all times.

"Miss Mitsuha, tell me, how could she not feel repressed?"

Without responding to Muzan's words, Mitsuha's gaze fell on Tamayo, who was standing next to Muzan.

Faced with Muzan's taunts and mockery, she remained silent, head down, completely indifferent.

Even so, Mitsuha still keenly noticed Tamayo's slightly clenched fingers resting on her thigh.

What Muzan said is true.

Are these two really enemies?

Chapter 14 Looking forward to our next meeting

"You see, that's how it is. After seeing her like this so many times every day, I naturally remember it..."

Having lost interest in discussing Tamayo further, Muzan turned his gaze back to Mitsuha.

"So, the moment I saw you, Ms. Mitsuha, I sensed the same kind of repression emanating from you as Tamayo."

As he spoke, Muzan stared intently at Mitsuha with his eerie crimson eyes and said in a low voice:

"To be honest, Miss Mitsuha, I wasn't originally interested in you, but our conversation just now has certainly made me feel good."

Therefore, I'm willing to give you a chance.

"I wonder what opportunity Mr. Kibutsuji is referring to?"

Upon hearing Mitsuha's question, Muzan's smile vanished, and his tone suddenly became low and serious. He looked at Mitsuha and said in an unprecedentedly earnest tone:

"An opportunity that can lead you to the eternal and true 'freedom' you crave."

Looking at Muzan in front of her, Mitsuha suddenly felt a strange sensation.

She had a vague feeling that the man in front of her had suddenly transformed into... another kind of being in that instant.

"But it's alright, Miss Mitsuha, there's no need to rush to make a decision now."

Before Mitsuha could think further, Muzan got up from his seat, seemingly preparing to leave.

“We have plenty of time. Perhaps I will return here again in the near future. It won’t be too late for Miss Mitsuha to make a decision then…”

"Aren't you waiting for someone?"

Mitsuha asked.

Muzan and Tamayo's initial purpose in coming to this restaurant was to wait for someone.

Muzan simply waved his hand dismissively.

"I'm not going to wait any longer. Anyway, it's probably just some unfounded and false information. It's been like this for so many years... Oh, right."

As if suddenly remembering something, Muzan looked at Mitsuha again and smiled:

"If Miss Mitsuha has the time, would you be willing to do me a small favor?"

"Please tell me."

"Blue spider lily".

Muzan uttered a name that Mitsuha had never heard before.

"For some personal reasons, I really need this special flower. If Miss Mitsuha knows anything about it, please be sure to tell me."

"Yes, I'll keep an eye out for you."

"Thank you very much. Also... I look forward to seeing you again."

Under Tamayo's slightly shocked gaze, Muzan politely bowed to Mitsuha before leading her away from the restaurant.

Sitting on the second floor of the restaurant, Mitsuha watched the two figures disappear completely into the dark street before finally turning her gaze away.

A very strange couple; I always felt they were hiding many secrets...

But Mitsuha didn't want to think about it too much, and she didn't care at all, after all, everyone in this world has their own secrets.

Her only feeling was that her conversation with Muzan was very pleasant.

This kind of open and honest conversation, where they peered into each other's hearts, gave Mitsuha a sense of relaxation she had never felt before.

There's no need to hide anything, no need to worry, and no need to fret about whether your words and actions are in accordance with regulations; just say whatever comes to mind...

If Muzan hadn't already decided to leave, Mitsuha would have liked to chat a little longer.

Yes, although this man who calls himself "Kibutsuji Muzan" gives off a dangerous feeling just by looking at him.

But Mitsuha had a surprising feeling that the two of them might be very compatible in terms of personality...

Just like Muzan's last words before he left—

"Looking forward to our next meeting."

On the other side, on the street leading out of the city, Muzan and Tamayo walked forward one after the other.

"You seem quite interested in that girl from earlier."

In the ensuing silence, it was Tamayo who finally broke the silence.

"That's obvious."

Muzan replied without turning his head, while Tamayo continued to press:

"Do you think she has the value to become a ghost?"

Whether it has value or not, only after I become a ghost will I know.

Perhaps because he was in a good mood, Muzan unusually patiently answered Tamayo's questions.

"Based on my experience over the past few hundred years, powerful humans who become demons are not necessarily powerful forever; and weak humans who become demons are not necessarily weak forever."

There is no absolute relationship between the two.

Upon hearing this, Tamayo fell silent.

But after only a short silence, she spoke again:

"That girl is sick."

Recalling the subtle abnormalities she had noticed on Mitsuha's left arm while at the restaurant, Tamayo reminded her:

"The muscles in her left arm are twitching, and her fingers are numb and uncoordinated. These are signs of a stroke. Although they are not obvious yet, she certainly doesn't have long to live."

"Isn't this just right?"

Muzan laughed upon hearing this.

"The closer a person is to death, the more they appreciate the preciousness of life, and the more they want to seize that one and only chance..."

Tamayo, weren't you like this back then?

Upon hearing Muzan's sarcastic words, Tamayo clenched her fists once more.

What Muzan said to Mitsuha earlier was indeed the truth.

Tamayo was once a doctor who was terminally ill. Because she wanted to see her child grow up, she accepted Muzan's charity and was transformed from a human into a demon.

After becoming a ghost, she then, in a state of unconscious loss of control, killed her husband and child with her own hands.

This immense grief was ultimately transformed by Tamayo into an overwhelming hatred for Muzan.

In Tamayo's view, Muzan had deceived her.

Not only did he fail to inform her beforehand that the evil spirit needed to eat people to survive, he also failed to stop her when she was out of control and attacking her own family!

Instead, they watched helplessly as she, out of control, tore her husband and children apart and ate them, bite by bite!

Of course, Muzan does not acknowledge this.

He even found Tamayo quite inexplicable.

In Muzan's view, Tamayo's so-called hatred for him was nothing more than her anger directed at him after she could not accept the reality of her own mistakes.

Hmph, what an ungrateful woman!

Over the years, Tamayo has constantly thought about how to kill Muzan.

Muzan, with his ability to read the thoughts of his demon subordinates, was aware of all of this at all times.

But he didn't care.

As the Ghost King, he has absolute control over the ghosts under his command.

Therefore, as long as Tamayo remains a demon, she will never be able to kill him.

Muzan, needing Tamayo's exceptional medical skills, not only didn't kill her, but kept her by his side, taking her everywhere he went...

The relationship between the two was so twisted.

Chapter 15 Of course I'm doing very well too.

Six months later, one night, Mitsuha was sitting in her room taking medicine when she suddenly noticed a red figure climbing in through the window.

"Brother Yoriichi, don't you have the habit of using the main entrance?"

Looking at the figure in front of her, almost identical to the one in her memory, Mitsuha put down the medicine bowl in her hand, her tone rather helpless.

To be honest, what surprised her even more than sneaking through someone's window was that Yoriichi actually came back.

Mitsuha thought that after Yoriichi came to tell her the news that Miku had faked his death and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he would never come back.

Just like he had for the previous twelve years.

"I'm sorry, Mitsuha, but it would be troublesome if other people saw this."

As Yoriichi sat down on the tatami mat, his tone carried a hint of apology.

Clearly, he had also returned secretly, avoiding the other people in the castle.

After all, as the second son of the successor to the throne, if the retainers were to discover that Yoriichi, who had been missing for more than ten years, was not only still alive but had also returned, they would definitely not hesitate to put him on the position of head of the family.

But this was not the outcome Yoriichi wanted; he never wanted to become the head of the family and the successor to the nation.

Now, all he wants is to stay in the Demon Slayer Corps until the day comes when he slays the Demon King and ends all evil spirits in the world.

"So, Brother Yoriichi, is there something you want to tell me this time you've come back?"

Mitsuha asked first.

"No, nothing special..."

Upon hearing her question, Yuan subconsciously looked away. He hesitated for a moment before replying:

"I just happened to be passing by after completing my mission, so I thought I'd stop by and see you, Mitsuha."

"That's it..."

Mitsuha was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then lowered her head and smiled.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

This polite exchange revealed the long-standing estrangement between the brother and sister.

Faced with the sudden silence in the room, Yoriichi was momentarily at a loss for words.

He could already smell the faint medicinal scent permeating the room.

For some reason, when Yoriichi saw his younger sister sitting alone in her room drinking her medicine, a strange sense of unease suddenly rose within him.

This anxiety was like a small snake that suddenly took hold of his heart, tearing at his soul, yet he himself didn't know where it came from.

"Mitsuha, are you sick?"

Finally, driven by this anxiety, Yoriichi took the initiative to ask the question.