Five More Years

Yoriichi, barely in his teens, stood there at a loss as Muzan grabbed his arm and examined it.

He was somewhat moved by Muzan's concern. As a child who had grown up without a father's love, he was especially easily touched.

But Muzan clearly did not realize that. He merely sighed in relief and said, "Put the blade aside first. I'll find you a change of clothes."

"Mm."

Yoriichi nodded, ran to the side, found a piece of cloth, wiped down the blade, and set it on the table.

Muzan found it strange. No Half-Demons had appeared nearby in the past five years. Those things had been too busy hiding from him—where would they find the nerve to come provoke him?

Though the Half-Demon seemed to be opposing him and did not exist in the original plot, it was truly weak.

Still, Muzan had never taken Half-Demons too seriously. After all, they should have been extensions of his blood.

He did not know whether it was the Scum Boss's memories influencing him or something else, but he simply felt that those things posed no threat at all.

But now one had dared to come nearby. What was it trying to do?

And speaking of which, five years had passed!

He still had not seen a single Blue Spider Lily!

Damn it!

Was this screwing with him?!

As Muzan looked at Yoriichi, who had changed clothes and was carefully wiping his blade, and Uta, who sat nearby gazing at Yoriichi with tenderness in her eyes, his expression turned serious.

He felt it was necessary to take the reason for the Half-Demons' appearance seriously.

Though he did not want to think in that direction, Muzan always had the feeling that some force was preventing him from becoming stronger.

For example, the Blue Spider Lilies that Uta said appeared every year had vanished without a trace after his arrival, while Half-Demons had appeared for no reason at all.

Although he had cleaned up the "company culture," the Half-Demons had still, through their own "hard work," stubbornly kept demons' reputation just as bad as ever.

But for now, it was only a guess.

It was still far too early for the plot, and Yoriichi truly had been raised by him for five years. He refused to believe Yoriichi could really bring himself to kill him!

Meanwhile, under his father's arrangements, Kokushibo had gradually taken over the family's affairs. He had forgotten about Yoriichi, become increasingly accustomed to an ordinary life, and cast aside his resolve to become the strongest warrior.

But Muzan was not in a hurry. Since Kokushibo was destined to become a demon in the end anyway, and Kokushibo posed no threat to him.

As he pondered, Yoriichi suddenly spoke, pulling Muzan back from his increasingly wandering thoughts.

"I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps."

Muzan: "???"

What the hell?!

"What did you say?!"

Did he want to personally slaughter the old father who had raised him for five years?!!!

Seeing Muzan's expression, Yoriichi hurriedly explained, "I want to kill Half-Demons."

Only then did Muzan sigh in relief.

Yoriichi continued, "When I fought the Half-Demon, I encountered people from the Demon Slayer Corps. I saw the Half-Demon slaughtering innocent people. I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps and use my own strength to save others."

And I want the Demon Slayer Corps to change their opinion of you...

But Yoriichi did not say that aloud.

In truth, when he encountered the Half-Demon, Yoriichi had not killed it at first. It was not until the Demon Slayer Corps members arrived that he borrowed a Nichirin Blade and dealt with the evil demon.

That made Yoriichi realize that even Half-Demons were immortal. To kill one, aside from sunlight, he could only rely on a Nichirin Blade.

Muzan nodded. As long as it was not what he had feared—raising him for five years only for the plot to somehow correct itself and have him come to kill him.

"Go if you want, but take Uta with you. She wants to go out and see the world too."

Yoriichi looked toward Uta, whose face was full of anticipation.

"Protect Uta well."

"Okay."

Watching the son he had raised for five years leave with the daughter he had raised for five years, Muzan did not know why, but he felt nothing at all.

He had lived in this place for five years. It was time to move, though he still needed to have his subordinate demons arrange for a few humans to live here and keep watch for Blue Spider Lilies.

Muzan vanished from the area and appeared behind Tamayo.

At that moment, Tamayo was sitting in a somewhat shabby house, reading on a wooden stool.

Sensing footsteps behind her, she was startled and hurriedly turned around.

She relaxed only after seeing that it was Muzan.

Muzan glanced around and assessed her living conditions.

Tamayo had been living in a fairly populous village during this time, helping people treat their illnesses.

"Tinker around and see whether you can make me immune to Wisteria Flower. You've been too idle lately."

Tamayo: "..."

You can't stand seeing me take it easy?

Muzan truly could not stand seeing Tamayo idle.

He had obtained the best support character from the original story. If he did not have her research why demons ate people, why they feared sunlight, and how those weaknesses could be overcome, what would be the point?

Though Tamayo complained inwardly, she also knew that her boss remained deeply troubled by his weaknesses, and that she needed to study the matters Muzan had mentioned.

Besides, she had no choice. As a demon, she could not refuse the Demon King's demands.

"Okay."

Muzan did not care about her inner complaints. As long as she worked, that was enough.

After giving his instructions, he left.

For Muzan, time passed quickly.

Another five years passed in the blink of an eye.

At last, the chaotic Warring States period came to an end, with Maruoka Masahito's faction emerging victorious.

To be honest, it was somewhat beyond Muzan's expectations. Maruoka Masahito and the others had only been an offhand move by Muzan, while he had thought more highly of Asanuma Seiji.

But Masahito had won in the end.

Naturally, Maruoka Masahito had relied on certain methods to achieve victory.

In the end, he chose to merge with and ally himself with a human faction, defeating the other factions.

Seiji was deeply unwilling to accept this. He had never expected Maruoka Masahito to sacrifice part of his power and join forces with a human faction to push him out of the game.

As a result, although Maruoka Masahito and Maruoka Kinuko, who had never revealed that they were demons, held more than half the power in the shogunate that was ultimately established, humans still made up the main part of the ruling class.

At that moment, the calm and composed Maruoka Masahito, the slightly unwilling Asanuma Seiji, and the other defeated parties stood before Muzan.

Muzan reclined in the rocking chair he had used for more than a decade, looking at the dozen or so people standing before him.

Though Masahito's face was calm, Muzan could sense the joy in his heart and his desire for praise.

"You did well."

Muzan smiled at Maruoka Masahito and Kinuko.

Asanuma Seiji lowered his head without speaking, while another demon shouted unwillingly, "My lord! But they joined forces with humans! The shogunate is still controlled by humans now. All our efforts were in vain!"

Muzan looked at him and could not help smiling. "I never asked you to control the shogunate or occupy the center of power. Ending the war was enough."

"But weren't we supposed to rule humanity?"

Uh...

Muzan's expression turned slightly awkward. "When did I ever say that?"