Want to Spar with Me?

Although Yoriichi and Uta, the two little brats, still refused to call him Dad, they seemed to have accepted this kind of life.

Every day after eating and washing the dishes, they began their daily tasks.

One day was spent copying books and studying; the next, practicing with the sword.

Under Muzan's repeated "You need to practice your sword properly, become stronger, and protect others!" brainwashing—no, persuasion—Yoriichi gradually grew accustomed to practicing swordsmanship.

Muzan always assigned the two of them tasks, and once they finished, they could go play.

That day, after Yoriichi finished practicing, he held his sword and looked at Muzan. With a swish, he drew the blade and fixed Muzan with a fighting gaze.

Muzan put down his book with interest. "Want to spar with me?"

Yoriichi nodded.

"Sure."

Muzan rose from his rocking chair and leisurely walked to the cabinet to retrieve his own sword.

The two went into the spacious room. Uta followed and stood to one side to watch. Yoriichi's expression turned solemn. "Please instruct me!"

Muzan smiled and drew his blade.

In an instant, Yoriichi felt a wave of pressure.

A born swordsmanship genius who possessed the Clear World, he could sense Muzan's terror.

No matter how lazy and carefree the Demon King had seemed during this time, Yoriichi could now feel the terrifying pressure coming from him.

Yoriichi activated the Clear World and saw Muzan's internal structure, so different from that of an ordinary person. He took a deep breath and charged forward.

Muzan had also studied swordsmanship diligently for a time, so naturally, he easily blocked the attacks of the still-young Yoriichi.

Yoriichi attacked wildly while Muzan defended with ease. Their movements were so fast that they nearly left afterimages.

Yoriichi panted heavily, gradually reaching the end of his strength. Suddenly, he shouted and slashed down fiercely.

Muzan blocked with a single stroke. A crisp crack rang out, and a fracture split the sword in Yoriichi's hand.

Yoriichi froze, took a step back, and looked at the broken sword in his hand with complicated eyes.

"I lost."

Muzan went over, picked up the broken blade, and handed it to Yoriichi. He ruffled the boy's head—the feel really was pretty nice. "You're only seven. With your talent, you'll surpass me sooner or later. I'll buy you a good sword tomorrow."

As for this sword, it was one of the few objects Yoriichi had that could commemorate his memories of the Tsugikuni Family.

Yoriichi nodded and put away the broken sword.

Muzan added, "Just don't grow up and cut me down with one stroke someday."

Yoriichi raised his head and looked at Muzan in confusion. "Aren't demons immortal?"

"Uh..." Muzan hesitated for a moment. "They can die."

Yoriichi looked at Muzan curiously.

Muzan said, "...Do you want to kill me that badly?"

Yoriichi turned his head away. Not quite that badly.

But when they had first met, and every time he saw Muzan afterward, Yoriichi would feel for no reason that he had been born to kill Muzan.

But Muzan probably did not know that, right?

Seeing that the two were done talking, Uta ran over. "Yoriichi, you're amazing!"

"What, am I no good, then?"

Muzan stepped between them in one stride.

Back when he had been a student, for some reason, whenever he saw a man and woman walking together, he always liked to run right between the couples as he hurried past.

Uta was an honest child, so she explained, "Because Yoriichi is still little."

"Fine. You two can help me with something from now on."

Yoriichi and Uta: "?"

"Keep an eye out for a flower called the Blue Spider Lily. It only blooms during the day. If you see one, pick it and bring it to me."

As he spoke, Muzan took out an illustrated book. "It looks like this. It's blue, and it should grow somewhere nearby."

Yoriichi's expression turned strange. "You forced Uta to bring you here because of this thing?"

"Yep."

Uta leaned closer to look. "I've seen this flower. It grows behind the house."

Muzan's face immediately lit up with delight.

"But there aren't any now, and I don't know when they bloom."

"That's fine. They'll bloom eventually. Just pick them for me when they do."

If you enjoy this book, please add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time.

Uta nodded.

Yoriichi asked in confusion, "What are you looking for this flower for?"

Muzan did not hide it and answered honestly, "To overcome sunlight. I haven't basked in the sun for hundreds of years."

"So if you find the Blue Spider Lily, you'll become completely impossible to kill?"

Hearing that, Muzan said, "Do you want me dead that badly?"

Yoriichi looked at the ceiling and said nothing.

Muzan: "..."

That night, Yoriichi could not fall asleep.

Muzan carried an evil, frightening feeling about him. And for some reason, Yoriichi had always felt that he existed to kill Muzan. But over the past few months, Muzan had seemed like nothing more than a man with a bit of a nasty sense of humor.

He was somewhat afraid that he might have to fight Muzan in the future.

If Muzan overcame the sun, would that mean he could avoid killing him someday?

As he pondered this, Yoriichi suddenly heard footsteps outside. They were not Muzan's footsteps!

He immediately became alert, climbed up, and picked up the broken sword beside him.

He carefully opened the window a crack and looked into the courtyard.

There was a woman standing in the yard.

As he wondered who she was, the woman glanced in his direction.

Yoriichi hurriedly shut the window and lay back down, though his breathing became uncontrollably frantic.

Then he heard footsteps approaching the front door. Once he confirmed that she was not coming toward him, Yoriichi let out a breath of relief. Gripping his sword in the dark, he quietly headed toward the direction of the woman's footsteps.

Then Yoriichi heard Muzan's footsteps and the woman's voice.

"I brought the sword."

Hearing that, Yoriichi went to the doorway between the main hall and the bedroom and peered through the gap.

The woman handed Muzan a sword.

Could this be the one Muzan had said he would give him?

But Yoriichi had not seen Muzan go out. He had spent the whole day lying in the house reading. How had someone suddenly come to deliver a sword?

And at night... she was a demon, wasn't she?

Yoriichi still felt wary and disgusted toward other demons.

Muzan took the sword and said somewhat regretfully, "You can accept more blood now, right?"

Tamayo's expression stiffened. "No!!!"

"Relax, I wasn't planning to give you any blood." Muzan had already noticed Yoriichi hiding behind the door crack. Yoriichi was only seven; seeing him stab something into someone's brain would probably not be good.

Tamayo sighed in relief before continuing, "Seiji has already prepared the food."

Yoriichi hid inside. Food?

Human flesh?

Just as he thought that, a voice suddenly came from inside.

"Yoriichi, you... mmph mmph mmph—"

Yoriichi hurriedly covered Uta's mouth with one hand.

Uta immediately understood and nodded.

Just as Yoriichi was about to release her, there was a clatter behind them. The door was pulled open, and Muzan and Tamayo looked down at the two children.

Yoriichi fell silent at once. Under the two adults' gazes, Uta's face reddened, while Yoriichi quietly lowered his head.

"You could at least be more professional when you're spying."

Muzan ruthlessly called him out.

"Muzan, did you notice me from the start?"

"Yep."

Yoriichi: "..."

Tamayo looked at Muzan in surprise and lowered her voice. "These two children know...?"

Muzan nodded. "They know."

Tamayo stared at him in astonishment.

Muzan said, "All right, stop being surprised. Hurry up and go, hurry up and go."