Are You Okay?

After Tamayo left, Yoriichi told Uta to go back to sleep first, then seriously asked Muzan, "Was that woman a demon?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

Muzan looked at him, still holding the sword Tamayo had brought over as he rocked back and forth in the rocking chair.

The candle flame in the dim hall swayed in the breeze slipping in from outside, casting their flickering shadows across the room. Some unknown creature cried out in the distance.

Yoriichi hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and solemnly asked:

"Was the food she mentioned what I think it was?"

"Yeah. I can't eat anything else either, but don't worry, they're all bandits and mountain brigands."

After a moment, Yoriichi nodded. He caught the key point in Muzan's words. "Demons can't eat anything else?"

"What did you think? Everything else tastes rotten to me, and I can't digest it even if I eat it. Did you think I didn't want to eat other things?"

He couldn't even snack on sunflower seeds while watching a show now!

Seven-year-old Yoriichi looked a little unhappy. "All right, I understand."

Seeing his expression, Muzan patted his head. "But the Blue Spider Lily might let me eat other things."

Yoriichi's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really."

"All right, hurry up and go to sleep. You still have books to copy tomorrow."

Yoriichi nodded and ran back to bed.

Muzan rocked back and forth in the chair. Then, suddenly, his figure vanished, leaving only the rocking chair swaying gently.

The next day, Yoriichi received a new sword, along with a new book that needed copying...

Yoriichi: Damn it...

To be honest, he did not like copying books.

Every day he had to copy books was miserable. Only on the days he practiced swordsmanship did he feel happy.

Muzan looked at his bitter expression. "You can't only know how to use a sword. A person needs to be educated."

Yoriichi still wore the same bitter expression.

Muzan left with a smile. After all, he was not the one copying books.

A childhood without copying books was incomplete!

If this place had compulsory nine-year education and college entrance exams, he would have had to send Yoriichi to all kinds of tutoring classes to "have fun."

Yoriichi: Listen, I said thank you...

Meanwhile, Tsugikuni Yoriichi's father finally discovered Yoriichi's talent in his wife's diary. Filled with regret, he immediately decided to abandon Kokushibo and bring Yoriichi back from the temple.

But he was told that Yoriichi had never gone to the temple at all.

From then on, whenever he looked at Tsugikuni Kokushibo, it was as though he were looking at a defective product, as though having Tsugikuni Kokushibo inherit his position was something he had no choice but to accept.

He stared at Kokushibo with a disgusted expression. "Why didn't you tell me when you discovered that Yoriichi was stronger than you?!"

"You useless trash!"

He kicked Kokushibo in the chest. Tsugikuni Kokushibo staggered and fell to the ground, only for his father to immediately give him another vicious kick.

"Get out!"

Tsugikuni Kokushibo lowered his head and got up from the ground. Humiliation and jealousy filled his chest. Under his father's increasingly strict demands and his own unwillingness to accept defeat, Kokushibo trained with the sword and studied like a madman.

He would surpass Yoriichi! Sooner or later, he would become the strongest warrior!

Muzan's figure landed in the distance as he watched the scene unfold.

No wonder Tsugikuni Kokushibo had developed such a personality. His father truly deserved much of the credit.

It had to be said that while the brothers' tragedy might have been partly caused by Scum Boss in the original story, their father was also one of the key reasons.

After checking on Kokushibo, Muzan headed back to Seiji's place. He was going to eat.

It was worth mentioning that very few factions remained at this point. Seiji and Masahito were both among the last few.

Seiji was currently reporting his glorious achievements and the current situation to Muzan with great excitement, displaying both his determination and ability to unite all the factions.

Muzan could not be bothered to listen, but seeing one of his employees so fired up and motivated, he did not have the heart to discourage him. He could only offer a few token words of praise.

Seiji immediately became even more energized, as though he had been injected with stimulants.

Muzan silently ate his meal.

After he left, Seiji immediately began making the next round of arrangements.

As for Muzan, he took advantage of the sky having just darkened and went to see Yoriichi and Uta, who had already gone to sleep.

"To hell with sleeping! Get up and have some fun!"

Yoriichi and Uta:

ಠ_ಠ

→_→

Muzan grabbed one child in each hand and hauled them out of their blankets.

"Come on, change your clothes. I'm taking you to the night market."

They were still children, after all. Hearing that there would be something fun to do, they changed clothes and followed Muzan.

This place was remote and far from the nearest city, but Muzan had plenty of Blood Demon Arts. He simply grabbed the two of them and brought them directly near their destination.

Naturally, he appeared somewhere deserted so as not to frighten anyone.

But after being "teleported," both Yoriichi and Uta were left dizzy and disoriented. It took them quite a while to recover.

"This Yoriichi really can't handle it."

Hearing Muzan's sarcastic remark, Yoriichi shot him a sidelong glance.

This guy...

Was it really all right for a dignified Demon King to act so unserious every day?

This was one of the territories ruled by Muzan's demons. Because they had just won a victory, the location was safe, and the economy was doing well, the night market was especially lively today.

Lanterns and colorful decorations filled the streets. The tall buildings glowed brightly, while vendors and shopkeepers along both sides of the road called out their wares. Little trinkets and delicious food were everywhere one looked.

Pedestrians crowded the streets amid lively conversation and laughter. Children occasionally ran past, waving toys as they played.

Yoriichi, who had lived in a shabby little house all his life and had never gone anywhere, and Uta, who came from a remote little village, had never seen such a sight before. Both of them became excited.

Yoriichi and Uta, still only seven years old, were immediately dazzled.

Muzan patted both their heads. "Just tell me if there's anything you want."

But Uta caught the important question. "Lord Muzan, do you have money?"

"Of course I do! Why else would I bring you here? To make you drool over things?" Muzan patted her head again, then added:

"Also, call me Dad."

Yoriichi glanced at Muzan, took Uta's hand, and said, "Come on."

Muzan: "..."

Damn little brat!

Sooner or later, he would make him call him Dad!

In truth, Uta's reason for refusing to call Muzan Dad was because of Yoriichi.

Muzan followed behind them. They were only two children, after all.

There was plenty of fun to be had and plenty of delicious food, but the two children were gentle and considerate by nature, so they were too embarrassed to buy too much. If Muzan had not repeatedly emphasized that they could buy whatever they wanted, they might have only looked around without buying anything at all.

They were, after all, two pitiful children starved of affection.

The two held food in their hands, while Muzan stored the toys and food they had bought in the space created by his Blood Demon Art. By the time they finished wandering through the night market, they were done shopping.

Seeing the smiles on their little faces, Muzan patted their heads. "Well? Did you have fun?"

Yoriichi and Uta both nodded slightly.

"Well then, call me Dad."

"Come on." Yoriichi took Uta's hand and quickened his pace.

Muzan: "..."