Obviously, Izumi's goal was not merely to challenge him. Calling him into a secluded forest with a sharpened iron blade meant he had already decided to kill.
Muzan did not draw his sword. Instead, he suddenly smiled.
"I want to know why you want to take my life."
"Heh heh heh..." Izumi sneered. "I just can't stand the sight of you! Because of you! Master was about to pass the Dojo on to me! Even Sakurako likes you! Why?
"Just because you're good-looking?! What are you putting on an act for every day? If not for you, I'd still be the most popular one in the Dojo! It's all because of you!
"Ever since you came, I have nothing left!"
His face twisted further with jealousy and hatred, his voice shrill and sinister. "I'm going to kill you! Kill you!!!"
"I see..."
Muzan nodded. So the Master of the Dojo had planned to pass the Dojo down to him?
Muzan stepped closer, utterly unconcerned by the blade pointed at him. Looking at Izumi's ferocious expression and trembling arms, he smiled.
"Then do you want to know why I'm so talented?"
Muzan's indifferent attitude made Izumi feel uneasy. He instinctively stepped half a pace back, then realized he had shown weakness. Embarrassed and enraged, he took a vicious step forward.
"Why?!"
Muzan grinned. Under the moonlight, two sharp fangs were revealed, and his crimson eyes no longer hid themselves.
"Because I'm a demon!"
"Gulp..."
At that moment, every thought in Izumi's mind vanished, replaced by terror.
"A demon..."
He screamed and turned to run, but the instant he made a sound, a huge maw lunged at him and swallowed him whole.
Several scalp-crawling chewing sounds echoed terrifyingly through the silent forest. Just as Muzan was about to return his arm to normal, a blade gleaming with cold light suddenly slashed at him.
The blade struck Muzan's monstrous arm, but it sounded as if it had hit something hard.
The attacker sheathed his sword and retreated. Muzan's arm returned to normal, and he turned toward the person who had attacked him—the Master of the Dojo.
An embarrassed smile appeared on Muzan's face. "I didn't want you to see this."
The Master of the Dojo looked grave and furious. "I did not teach my swordsmanship to an evil demon!"
With that, he swung his sword at Muzan. Even knowing this demon was powerful, even knowing he might be eaten by it.
Muzan stepped back, then sprang up on tiptoe and leaped onto a high branch, looking down at the Master of the Dojo.
"Don't worry. I won't break the promise I made you."
An ordinary human like the Master of the Dojo naturally had no way to pursue Muzan. He could only roar from below.
"You told me you were doing this for self-defense!!!"
Muzan curled his lip. "Someone will be able to kill me in a hundred years, though you probably won't live to see it."
"Oh, right. Tonight, Muzan and Izumi dueled and were both killed by demons. Don't go thinking about committing seppuku, or else..."
Before he could finish, Muzan vanished into the night sky.
The Master of the Dojo stared at the empty night sky, seemingly having made some decision...
After leaving under cover of darkness, Muzan found another Dojo.
This time, however, after becoming a disciple, Muzan kept a cold face throughout. With the faint pressure of the Demon King, he successfully became completely isolated from social interaction.
He left as soon as he finished learning, and everything went exceptionally smoothly.
Time flew by. After visiting an unknown number of Dojos, Muzan had already learned swordsmanship, boxing, fighting techniques, archery, concealed weapons...
One night, after watching the last senior disciple leave the Dojo, Muzan stayed behind to help the Master of the Dojo tidy up the grounds. He continued practicing karate until the Master of the Dojo went to rest with a satisfied expression.
The Master of the Dojo's daughter was still a tiny child. She rested her chin in her hands by the window and watched Muzan practice until her father rubbed her head and carried her away.
Muzan rather liked this kind of life too.
Can't find it by searching the book title? Try searching for the author; perhaps it was simply renamed!
While practicing, he suddenly noticed that one of his demons seemed to be trying to contact him.
Muzan stopped moving and discovered that Tamayo had been found!
Before the Master of the Dojo could leave, Muzan hurried after him. "Master, I may need to leave the Dojo."
The Master of the Dojo held his daughter in one arm and turned to look at Muzan, his gaze seeming to ask what was wrong.
"I have something to take care of."
Seeing that Muzan did not seem to want to say more, the Master of the Dojo smiled. "Go on. Nights are dangerous, so be careful."
"Mm."
Muzan nodded, changed his clothes, and bade the Master of the Dojo farewell.
After so long, he had finally found a key character from Demon Slayer!
What would Tamayo be like in reality?
The night was deep, a full moon hanging high in the sky as a black shadow flashed past.
Muzan's figure flickered, finally landing lightly on the roof of a wooden house. Across from him stood the house where Tamayo, found by one of his demons, lived.
A faint candlelight glowed inside the house. A figure sat by the window with her head lowered, apparently busy with something.
Muzan looked at the figure. That should be Tamayo.
He jumped down softly. His undisguised footsteps caught the attention of the person inside, and through the paper window, he could see the figure lift her head.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Tamayo's already worried face, troubled by her own imminent death, gained another layer of concern. With weak, gentle movements, she slowly opened a crack in the window, only to find nothing outside.
Tamayo closed the window in confusion. Had her illness become so severe that she was already hearing things?
Meanwhile, Muzan had already landed on a more distant rooftop.
It was not time yet.
Only when Tamayo neared death would it be the best opportunity to turn her into a demon.
Otherwise, he would most likely have to resort to force, and that would only backfire.
Tamayo was already close to death. Even opening a window had been that difficult for her, and instead of sleeping at night, she was racing against time to find a way to stay alive.
After confirming the situation, Muzan settled down nearby.
He wanted to know what exactly a Blood Demon Art was.
And since it was born from his blood, could he use the Blood Demon Arts of the demons under his control?
Muzan's control over demons extended from their minds to their bodies. He carefully sensed how one of his demons used its Blood Demon Art, then imitated it, raising his hand toward a teapot.
He clenched his hand.
Crack!
The teapot shattered at once. The tea inside spilled across the table and dripped onto the floor.
Nice!
A delighted smile appeared on Muzan's face. It really worked!
Who cared how Blood Demon Arts worked? As long as they were useful!
But Blood Demon Arts could only be born from demons. Only after one of the demons under his command acquired a corresponding Blood Demon Art could he possess it as well.
Still, that was enough.
More than ten days later, Muzan heard people nearby talking. Tamayo seemed to be dying.
They seemed to find it a great pity as well. Tamayo was a renowned physician throughout the area and had cured many people. For her to die young like this was as though heaven envied her talent.
When Muzan arrived near Tamayo's home that night, he could sense that her aura was terrifyingly weak, as though she could die at any moment.
Muzan walked over and knocked on the door.
The one who opened it was a man—Tamayo's husband.
"Hello."
Muzan stood outside the door and smiled.
Tamayo's husband looked at Muzan in confusion. "Hello. Can I help you?"
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