Who Gave Him the Courage?

Muzan shook his head. "Right now, I only want to help you. Maybe I'll need your help someday."

Haganezuka froze for a moment. "Why...?"

Muzan looked at him in confusion.

Haganezuka raised his head to look at Muzan and repeated, "Why do you want to help me?"

Muzan rubbed his head. "Because I want to help you. I'll bring the medicine over tomorrow. Make sure you take good care of your father tonight."

Muzan smiled as he rubbed his head.

Little Haganezuka's head felt pretty nice to pat, too!

"Thank you!"

Haganezuka watched Muzan's figure gradually disappear into the distance and shouted after him.

He did not know whether Muzan heard him.

Muzan had his demon subordinates buy the medicinal ingredients he needed, then browsed a few shops and bought some clothes, snacks, and other things.

The next morning, after preparing everything, he bought some breakfast as well and brought it over.

Standing outside Haganezuka's home, Muzan knocked on the door.

Haganezuka, who had risen early, had already made breakfast. But due to their poverty, it was only rice soup—more accurately, water boiled with rice—served with a few wild vegetables.

Hearing Muzan knock, Haganezuka, who had been waiting for a long time, excitedly ran over to open the door.

When he saw Muzan standing there with a large bundle of things in his hands, he felt hope bloom in his heart.

Then he caught sight of the bag of food in Muzan's other hand. Smelling its fragrance, Haganezuka could not help swallowing.

Muzan smiled at the sight.

After entering the house, he casually set the fragrant breakfast on the floor, opened the bundle, took out the prepared medicinal ingredients, and looked at Haganezuka. "Where's the kitchen?"

Although Haganezuka was both tempted and puzzled by the assortment of food and clothes in Muzan's bundle, he did not dare touch them. He led Muzan to the kitchen.

Muzan took a look around and began decocting the medicine.

As the medicine simmered in the kitchen, Muzan saw Haganezuka staring longingly at the breakfast he had bought without daring to touch it. He walked over, opened one package, and handed it to Haganezuka.

"Want to try some?"

Haganezuka looked at the steaming meal, topped with meat, sauce, and vegetables he had never eaten before. Then he looked up at Muzan's smiling face. "It's really for me?"

"Of course. Eat."

"Thank you. Can I let my father have a few bites?"

Haganezuka took the meal, but instead of immediately digging in, he asked Muzan.

"I prepared a portion for your father too," Muzan said as he opened another breakfast package. It was piping hot, and there was also a sealed container of hot porridge.

"Your father is sick, so this isn't suitable for him. This portion will be easier to digest."

"Thank you."

After breakfast, the medicine was ready. Muzan watched Haganezuka bring it to his father and watched his father drink it, then go wash the bowls and cooking utensils.

Haganezuka's father watched his son busily working, then looked toward the kind person seated on the tatami. Supporting himself with difficulty, he rose and knelt before Muzan.

"Thank you!"

Muzan did not stop him. It would make those receiving help feel a little better instead.

He waved a hand. "It's nothing. I only helped you on a whim. Lie back down."

Once Haganezuka had finished tidying the kitchen, Muzan took out the clothes and snacks from the bundle and placed them before him.

"These clothes are for you and your father. Don't steal anymore. Your father wouldn't want to live by taking other people's money, would he?"

Haganezuka could not help lowering his head.

He was deeply grateful, yet he felt that a sinner like him did not deserve it.

Muzan was not going to feed him any inspirational nonsense. Someone else would heal him in the future.

There was no need for Muzan to worry about it.

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Over the next few days, Muzan stayed there. Every day, he decocted medicine and discreetly treated Haganezuka's father from time to time.

As for their daily meals, Haganezuka either used Muzan's money to buy ingredients or cooked for himself.

There was no way Muzan was going to cook!

A month later, Haganezuka's father's condition had improved. His health got better by the day, and by then, he rarely coughed incessantly anymore.

Haganezuka had also grown accustomed to Muzan's presence.

Every day, he busied himself buying groceries, cooking, and tidying up. Watching his father's condition improve more and more, he felt that life finally held hope.

A year passed in the blink of an eye, and his father's illness was finally cured.

After finishing the breakfast Haganezuka had made, Muzan looked at Haganezuka's father, who was already tidying up and preparing to look for work, then turned to the two of them.

"Your illness is cured, so it's time for me to take my leave. This money should help you get through this period first."

Haganezuka, who had been about to clear the table, froze. "You're leaving...?"

Muzan smiled and rubbed his head. "We'll meet again someday. Maybe I'll need your help with something then. Make sure you work hard."

"Mm!"

Haganezuka nodded vigorously.

Yet sadness outweighed everything else in his heart. He did not think someone like him could ever help Muzan, and he felt even more that he did not deserve the kindness Muzan had shown him over the past year.

At the same time, he was immensely grateful for Muzan's help.

Upon hearing this, Haganezuka's father hurried over and dropped to his knees.

Muzan did not know whether Haganezuka would meet Koyuki again afterward.

But he had a feeling that the faint, elusive force of fate might bring Haganezuka and Koyuki together.

But none of that mattered now.

What mattered was that the Demon Slayer Corps had finally discovered Muzan's residence.

That day, Muzan had just returned home when he sensed a ring of people surrounding his front door. His house was full of people too, all dressed in Demon Slayer Corps uniforms!

No, his head hurt...

The surrounding civilians had long since been evacuated.

Muzan truly could not bear to abandon some of the books and collectibles he had accumulated over decades, even centuries. For a moment, he hesitated over whether to flee outright.

In the end, he chose to face them head-on.

What a joke!

He was Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King!

Would he really be frightened away by a bunch of Demon Slayer Corps members?

Besides, now that he could no longer be killed, why should he fear them?

Just fight!

Yoriichi had become a demon. Who else could possibly be his match?

When the Demon Slayer Corps members suddenly saw Muzan appear, they were all startled. They hurriedly drew their Nichirin Blades and charged at him without another word.

Muzan immediately lashed out with all his whip-like tendrils.

Ordinary Demon Slayer Corps members did not even have a chance to get close. They would be injured by the aftershocks of battle as soon as they approached, while even Hashira-level Demon Slayers could only hold him back at most and could not harm him at all.

What a joke. Even the ceiling of strength could not inflict any real damage on him, and this bunch of weaklings thought they could hurt him?

Muzan handled them with ease and did not strike these people too harshly.

The four Hashira-level Demon Slayers felt as though Muzan were a cat toying with mice. Their all-out attacks could not hurt him in the slightest!

Muzan's current combat power had already surpassed his strength in the original story. Besides, in the original story, no one knew how many debuffs had been piled onto Muzan before he could be defeated. Now, Muzan was at full strength!

There was simply no way ordinary people could deal with him!

Muzan could not understand where Ubuyashiki had found the courage to provoke him just because he had located Muzan's residence.

The current master of the Demon Slayer Corps really was not up to par!

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author. It might have simply been renamed!