Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

His son was born just two weeks ago.

Just as Mitsuha's true form had previously seen, Makijuro's wife was indeed his childhood friend, Rengoku Ruka, and his child was indeed named—

Purgatory Anjuro.

Everything is developing according to the predetermined trajectory.

Out of consideration for the Rengoku clan, Lord Ubuyashiki specially granted Makijuro a full month's leave. As a result, he has not had any missions recently and spends his days and nights running home, enjoying the warmth of his wife and children.

But tonight is a little different.

Because tonight, there is still an important show to be performed.

As an important character in this drama, Mitsuha cannot let him leave before this happens.

"Hey~ Are you going back so early?"

Seeing that Makijuro was already eager to go home and hug his child, Mitsuha teased him with a smile:

"My lord and I are both so busy here, Makijuro, is it really okay for you to just leave your future lord and best friend behind and go home alone?"

"Uh, this..."

After Mitsuha said that, Makijuro became a little embarrassed and scratched his owl-like hairstyle.

"It seems that things are indeed not very good..."

"It's alright, Mr. Makijuro. You can leave this to me and Ms. Mitsuha. You should go back now and not worry your wife."

At the critical moment, Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke up to help Juro Maki out of his predicament.

"No, I really have to stay..."

After a brief hesitation, Makijuro shook his head and stepped forward to help the two organize the pile of documents in front of them.

"As a Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, there's no reason for me to leave everything to my comrades and only care about my own enjoyment!"

A natural result.

Mitsuha understood Makijuro's personality all too well.

Serious, straightforward, responsible, with a strong sense of justice, but also a bit naive.

She knew very well that once she said those words, Makijuro would not be able to leave tonight.

He will definitely choose to stay until he helps her finish her business for the evening.

Great, now all three important actors have arrived.

Next, all you need to do is wait patiently.

Time passes slowly.

The night outside the window grew even deeper.

Under the dim light inside the room, the three people sat around the table, each silently busy with their own tasks.

"Speaking of which, Makijuro."

After the silence, Mitsuha suddenly spoke, asking seemingly casually:

"Has that kid Ihei come to see you recently?"

Obanai Iguro, the little boy who was rescued from that snake demon family by Mitsuha and Makijuro a year ago, was someone whose karma Mitsuha had once examined in her true form.

In the script arranged for him by the gods, he will create a breathing technique called "Snake Breathing" in the future and become one of the nine pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps. He is a key pawn that the gods will place in the future.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, that's true!"

The memory flashed through his mind, and Makijuro nodded:

"The child seemed to feel very guilty because of the sins committed by his people."

Lately, he's been constantly pestering me, saying he wants to be a demon slayer when he grows up and wants me to teach him swordsmanship and stuff. It's really giving me a headache..."

"It is not good?"

Mitsuha smiled upon hearing this:

“That child seems quite talented. Makijuro, you should teach him well now. When he grows up, he might become a great Pillar…”

Also, you can pay more attention to the blind young monk in that temple I mentioned to you before..."

A blind little monk wanders the dark abyss on the island of Sorrowful Cry.

This is a young monk with an amazing physique whom Mitsuha met by chance at a mountain temple several months ago while on a mission with Makijuro.

When Mitsuha saw the little monk through the Transparent World, she was startled.

Is this guy really eight years old?!

Whose eight-year-old child is so strong?!

Feeling something was off, Mitsuha used her true form to observe the young monk that night.

It turned out that this child was also one of the pawns that the gods had placed in the future.

Gyomei Himejima, the future Stone Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, and also the strongest Stone Pillar in the history of the Demon Slayer Corps.

He possesses an astonishing physique rarely seen in centuries, and is a man who can fully unleash the power of Rock Breathing to its peak.

The divine power of cause and effect bestowed upon him is the greatest, second only to that of Tanjiro Kamado.

According to the script arranged for him by the gods, it will probably be more than ten years before he officially joins the Demon Slayer Corps at the invitation of Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

In order to ensure that this rock pillar is completely loyal to Kagaya Ubuyashiki and obeys his every command.

The gods even went to great lengths to arrange a scene where he was unjustly imprisoned and then rescued by Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Chapter 144 Kagaya, the future is in your hands

"Finally, there's Mr. Tanjuro Kamado. Over the past year, I've had some correspondence with him from time to time."

I feel that he can be recruited to our Demon Slayer Corps. In a while, Makijuro, could you go and pay him a visit for me…”

"Why do I keep getting the feeling that you're making your final arrangements, Mitsuha..."

Looking at Mitsuha who kept talking, Makijuro couldn't help but complain.

Her sudden instruction made him feel inexplicably uneasy.

To this, Mitsuha simply smiled and said:

"What joke are you talking about, Makijuro? I've just been a bit busy lately, so I was thinking of delegating these tasks to others so they can share the burden with me."

"What, is it that our Flame Pillar is already eager to kick me off the throne and claim the title of the strongest Pillar in the Demon Slayer Corps for himself?"

"Mitsuha, don't joke with me..."

Just as the two were chatting, an emergency bell suddenly rang out in the night sky from the outpost outside!

"My lord! Something terrible has happened!"

Immediately afterwards, several jays flapped their wings and flew towards this place from a distance, screeching:

"The base is under attack! The base is under attack! The Upper Moon One and Upper Moon Two of the Twelve Demon Moons have appeared at the same time!"

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Juro Maki stood up abruptly, while Mitsuha, standing beside them, seemed to have expected this, with a slight smile playing on her lips.

Douma finally arrived.

Rewinding to a slightly earlier time, in the mountains not far from the Demon Slayer Corps' base, Doma, the Upper Moon Two, was instructing the Lower Moon One, Ubume, on how to change her appearance.

"Grow your hair a little longer, and make your eyes a little bigger. Remember to make your pupils the shape of a datura flower."

Yes, that's right~ Her pupils look like this when the Holy Maiden casts her Blood Demon Art..."

"As for clothes, anything is fine. After all, the Holy Maiden isn't too particular about this, so any style will do."

The key is to emphasize that casual and laid-back attitude, understand?

"Then it's about expressions and movements. Come on, learn from me..."

"Yes~ Relax your shoulders, don't tense your waist, that's right~"

"Just relax and be casual. The Holy Maiden isn't the type to put on airs, understand?"

"Hmm, that should be about right."

Raising his hand to touch his chin, Director Doma looked at the Ubume in front of him, whose appearance had been trained to be almost identical to Mitsuha's, and nodded in satisfaction.

He handed the datura flower he had prepared to Guhuoniao, pointed to the Demon Slayer Corps' base in the distance, and strode forward, saying:

"Very good! Now it's time to officially go on stage and perform. Remember, don't be too hasty when you're killing people later."

The Holy Maiden is the type who likes to chat while fighting, so if you can chat, chat a little longer, understand?

"Yes, Lord Doma."

"Now we need to call him Knight Doma, 'Your Holiness,' you can't give yourself away, okay?"

That's right, these two demons in front of us were ordered by Mitsuha to attack the Demon Slayer Corps' base.

Among them, Doma plays Doma, and Guhuoniao and Mandala Flower play Mitsuha.

Their mission was to linger a little while after entering the camp, and then kill everyone they could see inside.

Why deliberately dawdle for a little while?

Oh, this is because Mitsuha knew she might need to use some persuasion to convince Makijuro to escape with Ubuyashiki Kagaya alone, so she deliberately gave herself this extra time.

Yes, the role of "Mitsubone, the Chosen One" ends tonight.

Over the past year, she has made numerous contributions to the Demon Slayer Corps, from institutional reforms to the refinement of breathing techniques.

Although it has only been a short year, the character "Mitsuba Tsugikuni" has already accumulated extremely high prestige and popularity in the Demon Slayer Corps.

Now, it's time for this role to play its final role.

Tonight, she will use her death to add the final ideological imprint to the Demon Slayer Corps... especially to Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the future lord of the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Makijuro, quickly take the young master away."

Inside the room, after receiving the message from the kasugata crow, Mitsuha stood up without hesitation.

Instantly switching to a calm and collected expression, she picked up the Nichirin Blade that was placed to the side and immediately gave an order to Makijuro, who was still in a daze beside her.

"Mitsuha, and what about you?"

Makijuro asked the question almost instinctively.

"I'll hold off those two ghosts. Now's the time for you to take the young master and leave."

As soon as Mitsuha finished speaking, Makijuro and Ubuyashiki Kagaya refused in unison.

"Miss Mitsuha! You can't stay here!"

The young master rushed forward and grabbed Mitsuha's clothes tightly, looking anxious.

He knew that Mitsuha was very strong, stronger than any of the demon slayers in the Demon Slayer Corps right now!

But she has to face the two strongest Upper Moon demons of the Twelve Demon Moons!

This monster, which has existed for hundreds of years, is not something a single demon hunter can deal with.

Miss Mitsuha can't stay here, she'll die, she'll definitely die...

No, the Demon Slayer Corps can't lose her yet; they absolutely can't let her die here...

"Mitsuba, I'll stay here and hold them off. You take the young master and leave."

Beside him, after only a brief moment of hesitation, Makijuro also made his own decision.

The Purgatory Clan are never afraid of sacrifice, nor are they afraid to sacrifice themselves to protect others.

He stepped forward to stop Mitsuha from leaving, looked at her, and said earnestly:

"To the Demon Slayer Corps, I am not as important as you. If anyone should be sacrificed, it should be me."

"Mr. Makijuro?!"

"People who can't even enter the Transparent World shouldn't spout such presumptuous and foolish talk."

"Pull your hand away," Mitsuha said bluntly.