Feed Me

The two brats didn't get far before Muzan yanked them back and threw them onto the tatami mats, locking the door behind him.

The next day, when the two were let out, they found two bowls of meat porridge already placed on the table.

Their faces turned pale. Could it be...?

Even though the steaming porridge gave off a tempting aroma, the two only felt disgusted.

Muzan entered and, seeing their expressions, said helplessly, "Pork porridge."

The two cast suspicious glances at him.

Muzan: "...I'm not lying to you!"

The two still refused to eat.

"Fine, if you don't eat it, you can dump it yourselves."

Muzan flicked his sleeve and left.

In the end, the two went hungry all morning.

Famished and wanting to go out to find food, as soon as they stepped out of the thatched hut, they saw a wooden house appear out of nowhere. It wasn't luxurious, but it wasn't shabby either.

Long eaves extended around the wooden house, creating a large area of shade.

Muzan sat in the shade, a book in his hand, with an umbrella leaning beside him.

Muzan heard their footsteps: "Yo, still hungry?"

Yoriichi's expression was grim, but due to his poker face, not much could be seen. Uta, however, glared at him fiercely.

"There's rice and paddy in the kitchen. If you want rice porridge, cook it yourself."

With that, Muzan leisurely continued reading his book.

Yoriichi looked at Uta: "You stay inside. Be careful of this guy. I'm going to find something to eat."

Muzan looked up at Yoriichi speechlessly. Fine, the brats are quite tough.

The next day, when Yoriichi and Uta woke up, they found their surroundings had changed.

It was no longer the small thatched hut.

It was Muzan!

The two reacted simultaneously.

They rushed out of the house and saw two bowls of rice porridge and steamed buns placed on the table in the outer room.

Steaming hot and fragrant.

The two swallowed in unison. Yesterday, they had found some wild vegetables to go with the provisions in the thatched hut, and they had eaten their fill.

But the food made by two children was just edible. It couldn't compare to someone like Muzan, who had lived so long and learned everything.

Suppressing their appetites, they walked out of the house and saw Muzan lying in a rocking chair in the side room, eyes closed, dozing.

Their movements seemed to have startled him.

Muzan glanced at the two, then went to look at the breakfast laid out in the room, which hadn't been touched: "What's up, not hungry?"

The two remained silent, their actions conveying their attitude.

Muzan sighed leisurely: "Sigh, fine."

Saying that, he walked over, picked up a bowl of porridge, grabbed Yoriichi, pinched his chin, and began to pour it in: "Drink this for me!"

Yoriichi: "Mmph mmph mmph! (Let go of me!)"

Uta quickly ran over and grabbed Muzan's arm, trying to stop him, but her strength was useless. Instead, she delivered herself right to him.

After Muzan poured the porridge into Yoriichi's mouth, he grabbed Uta and picked up the other bowl, pouring it into her mouth: "You drink this too!"

Uta: I want to cry. ╥﹏╥

Yoriichi, without any weapons, struggled futilely against Muzan.

Muzan slammed the bowl onto the table. Uta stood by, tears welling up.

Just as Yoriichi was about to go comfort Uta, Muzan grabbed him and shoved a steamed bun into his mouth: "Eat it all! Don't waste food!"

Yoriichi's mouth was filled expressionlessly.

"Wash the bowls after you eat. If you don't, I'll stuff it in your mouths!"

The two children reluctantly finished their breakfast and washed the bowls.

Muzan watched them from the side, reading his book while they washed the bowls: "See, isn't this better?"

The two didn't want to speak and turned to leave.

"Don't go yet, come here."

Muzan stood up and put down his book. The two exchanged a look, not wanting to follow.

Muzan: "..."

He could only turn around and pick them up, one in each hand.

He brought them to the study, tossed the two onto a bench, picked up two books from the bookshelf, and placed them in front of them. "Start copying," he said.

The two small figures looked up at him wordlessly.

Muzan: "What are you looking at me for? Is there something written on my face?"

Yoriichi couldn't take it anymore. He stood up, looking up at Muzan, meeting his gaze, but still maintaining a completely expressionless face. "What exactly do you want?"

"For you to learn, of course. How many characters do you know now? Don't you need to learn more?"

Yoriichi remained silent, just staring at Muzan.

"Fine, fine. It's not easy for you two kids to be together. Are you unhappy that I'm taking care of you?"

"We don't need help from demons. If you don't want to eat us, please let us go."

Yoriichi's tone was flat, but exceptionally serious.

Muzan was momentarily speechless. Yoriichi was quite defiant.

"How should I put it? I did save you from a half-demon, didn't I? And although I am a demon, I don't necessarily harm innocents."

Yoriichi blinked. "What do you mean?"

Could a Demon King be a good person?

Someone who wouldn't harm the innocent?

What a joke.

"Demons are also people who have transformed. I just want to survive. Besides, I only eat wicked people. You don't need to be so hostile."

"You'll only eat wicked people? What about those demons who kill indiscriminately? Weren't they all created by you?"

"Didn't I just have a staff reduction? Those demons have all been removed. Now, aside from half-demons, the only ones who kill indiscriminately are probably humans?"

Yoriichi, a child, heard Muzan say this. Having known very little about demons to begin with, he became somewhat confused.

"Alright, hurry up and copy the books."

Seeing his expression, Muzan slammed the door shut.

He wanted to see if Yoriichi, if raised by him, would still try to kill him as he did in the original story.

Also, Yoriichi and Uta, two children relying on each other, was indeed quite tragic. Having read the original story, he wanted to help them.

Give them a "complete" childhood.

And for it to be complete, copying books was naturally essential!

The next day, after breakfast, Yoriichi and Uta were about to continue copying books when Muzan stopped them.

"Do you want to learn the sword?"

Yoriichi looked confused.

"I brought your sword from the other day. And Uta, do you want to learn too?"

Muzan took out two swords from a cabinet behind him and handed them to the two.

Yoriichi took the sword and looked at Muzan. "Thank you."

"Hey, call me 'Dad' and let me hear it."

Yoriichi: "..."

"I've basically adopted you now, right? So I'm your father? What's wrong with calling me 'Dad'?"

Yoriichi, expressionless, pulled Uta out of the room and looked provocatively at Muzan in the sunlight.

Muzan: "..."

Just wait until I find the Blue Spider Lily!

Perhaps Yoriichi was truly gifted. As a freak who could create his own Breathing Style, Yoriichi's swordsmanship didn't require learning or guidance. For the rest of the day, Yoriichi basically developed various sword techniques on his own with the sword, while also guiding Uta.

Unfortunately, this wasn't a novel, and Uta wasn't the heroine. She wasn't gifted with cheat-like abilities. While Uta wasn't entirely untalented, her talent was average.

Learning swordsmanship was primarily for self-preservation.

But that was enough. In the future, if half-demons appeared and Yoriichi and Muzan weren't around, she could at least escape.