The Power of Human Despair

"How dare you!"

"Lord Snake God! It's over, everything is over."

"Kill him! Avenge Lord Snake God!"

"..."

Kurozawa beheaded the Snake Woman Demon with a single stroke, deeply shocking the women. Some collapsed to the ground as if the sky had fallen, while others glared at Kurozawa with furious resentment, as though they wanted nothing more than to devour his flesh.

"Lord Snake God?"

As if he had heard something amusing, Kurozawa paused, then burst out laughing.

"You... You call that thing a god? Hahaha..." After laughing, Kurozawa's expression suddenly turned cold as he shouted, "How utterly ignorant!"

Iguro Sayaka still held Iguro Obanai hostage. Her gaze shifted between Kurozawa and the Snake Woman Demon's remains, which had already turned to ash at his feet. Meanwhile, her hand trembled constantly, and the dagger cut into Iguro Obanai's skin, drawing blood.

"Let him go." Kurozawa's voice was calm.

Gritting her teeth, Iguro Sayaka had completely lost her former tender, affectionate demeanor. She stared at Kurozawa with hatred in her eyes, her voice shrill. "Why are you doing this to us? Heh heh, is he important to you?"

Iguro Sayaka had become somewhat hysterical. Completely disregarding Kurozawa's warning, she raised her hand and viciously stabbed the dagger toward Iguro Obanai.

Under the silent night sky, Kurozawa's gaze turned cold.

He flicked his toe, sending a pebble shooting through the air. With a sharp whistling sound, it slammed heavily into Iguro Sayaka's wrist. Carrying Kurozawa's considerable strength, the pebble shattered her wrist, tearing apart the pale, slender flesh.

Amid her agonized scream and the sound of cracking bone, the dagger fell to the ground.

Kurozawa bent down, picked up several small stones, and clenched them in his hand before walking step by step toward the Iguro women. Every time he drew closer, the women opposite him could not help taking a step back.

Not wanting to waste time, Kurozawa's figure flashed as he swiftly crossed dozens of meters. By the time they reacted, he was nearly face-to-face with the two women holding Iguro Obanai hostage.

Overwhelmed by that pressure, the two women panicked and released him. Iguro Obanai hurried behind Kurozawa, clutching his clothes as he looked at the Iguro women with a complicated expression from behind Kurozawa's back.

The tremendous commotion in the bamboo forest had alerted nearly everyone in the Iguro Family compound. Women rushed over one after another, and by now, around fifty people had gathered, surrounding Kurozawa and Iguro Obanai.

Strangely enough, they worshipped the Snake Woman Demon as a god, yet they still dared to gather and surround Kurozawa, who had slain that god. Human nature truly was interesting. Kurozawa looked around at the women's varied expressions and could not help sighing inwardly.

Supported by someone, Iguro Sayaka struggled to stand. Her face was pale, but she still glared fiercely at Kurozawa. "I devoted myself to serving you all day, and this is how you repay me?"

Kurozawa smiled. "It was all an act. Did you take it seriously? Then I'm sorry, because I certainly didn't." Before Iguro Sayaka could speak again, his expression changed. His voice became calm and indifferent, like the stillness before a storm. "Besides, it seems you didn't take my words to heart."

"I'll ask you one more question. If you answer correctly, I can consider sparing you."

"Who killed the three people who carried swords like mine?"

The moment Kurozawa saw that enormous Snake Woman Demon, brimming with blood and vitality, he knew there was no need to wonder about the missing people anymore. They had all gone into her stomach, nourishing that demon into what she was.

Even now, Kurozawa's arms, which had blocked the Snake Woman Demon's attacks, were still bruised purple. Her strength had been on par with Kurozawa's when he used Total Concentration. Kurozawa was simply smaller, with his strength more concentrated throughout his body.

"Spare us? You killed Lord Snake God, cut off our livelihood, and now you want to kill us too? Are you trying to murder innocent people?" Iguro Sayaka gritted her teeth and glared at Kurozawa.

"Don't think I don't know. You and those three men are together."

"Swordsmen, right? Your companions were truly laughable and pathetic. They were drugged, but their willpower was surprisingly strong. They were merely weakened and didn't pass out immediately. More than a dozen of us sisters attacked them together, yet they didn't fight back. Even in that weakened state, they only dodged. In the end, they were beaten to death."

"I suppose you have rules, don't you? You can't harm ordinary people. So breaking my hand already violated your rules. What else do you want?"

Kurozawa froze for a moment, then laughed soundlessly. "Sayaka, you really are clever. You guessed it right."

"Indeed, swordsmen must not harm humans. That is one of the rules I follow."

What a pity. The three swordsmen had been fairly skilled, yet they likely never even caught sight of a demon before dying in humiliation at the hands of these women.

Seeing that she had guessed correctly, Iguro Sayaka assumed Kurozawa had accepted reality. She smiled smugly, then boldly walked over to him and reached out to pinch Iguro Obanai's face.

"Iguro Obanai, you cursed child!"

"Because of you, our Iguro Family has lost its source of income. How are we supposed to survive on Hachijo Island from now on? Lord Snake God is dead. Who will ambush those filthy men and bring us money? You?"

"You still wanted to run away? Don't forget, Iguro blood runs through your veins. You're just as filthy and vile as us!"

Iguro Obanai was terrified of the twisted expression on Iguro Sayaka's face. He lowered his head and said nothing.

"I've been wondering, where did you get the courage? From your dead Snake God?" In a mildly surprised tone, Kurozawa flicked a finger toward Iguro Sayaka's forehead. Unlike the last time, when he carefully controlled his strength, Kurozawa did not hold back this time.

Back when he had trained on Mount Sagiri, Kurozawa had already been able to pierce through rock with a finger.

Crack! With a crisp sound, Kurozawa's finger pierced straight through Iguro Sayaka's brow and sank deep inside. Her body stiffened, and a dim haze covered her once-moist eyes.

Power of Despair: Human (Demon Slayer World) Despair: 1 point

His Potential Points also increased by 10, equivalent to the Potential Points gained from killing a vicious demon. Kurozawa noticed this change, and his expression shifted slightly as something indescribable appeared in the depths of his eyes.

Shaking off the matter clinging to his finger, Kurozawa turned his gaze toward the other Iguro women, who were shrinking back in fear.

"Who else took part in murdering the swordsmen?"

"Hand them over, and I can consider sparing the rest of you."

Kurozawa's voice was calm and flat, as though he were emotionlessly speaking to a group of corpses. Moreover, if he did not consciously restrain it, Kurozawa's enhanced charm would let his voice vividly convey his thoughts. The nearby women heard the killing intent hidden beneath that calm voice and felt a chill run through their bodies.

The Iguro women exchanged looks. The meaning in their eyes was obvious: everyone had participated.

"Run!" someone shouted. The women on the outermost edge turned and fled.

Kurozawa sighed softly and fired the stones clenched in his right hand. The pebbles whistled through the air, piercing through the women's heads almost the instant they began moving, leaving holes straight through from front to back.

His Potential Points increased by 40. Together with the Potential Points from killing the Snake Woman Demon and the red-haired female demon earlier, they had returned to two hundred. The Power of Despair of Immortal Man-Eating Demons had reached 80 points, nearing one hundred, while the newly gained Power of Despair: Human (Demon Slayer World) had risen to 6 points.

As the Power of Human Despair increased, Kurozawa's temperament became deep and subtle. Everyone who looked at him felt fear and faint despair rising from the depths of their hearts, and they all took a step back.

Still clutching Kurozawa's sleeve, Iguro Obanai blankly raised his head. In his heart, the warm and radiant Kurozawa slowly lost his light, transforming into a cold sun.

Subconsciously, Iguro Obanai let go and took a slight step back, no longer pressing close to Kurozawa. Kurozawa noticed, but he said nothing and did not care.