The World Is Sick

Long returned to her long-vacant residence.

The maids Chiyoko and Rina were also brought back by the Demon Slayer Corps.

"They probably can't accept the help they're getting now."

Long sat on the veranda in front of the house, looking at the grass in the yard that had just sprouted tender shoots from the soil, and said softly.

He didn't want to explain, nor would he prove whether he was right or wrong.

Because no one can judge him.

The question of right and wrong is a false proposition. Different values, different thoughts, and different ways of looking at everything lead to different perspectives.

Gentle growth is far less significant than the growth that pain can bring...

In this life, he is not a 'traveler' involved in it; he is the one who needs to elevate and intensify the power system of this world.

Therefore, Lei Zhu's death... at least from his perspective, was necessary.

"However... it really gave me a clear understanding and appreciation of the will to pass on."

Long smiled.

Having witnessed the spirit of inheritance in others, the next step is to find a path that suits my own spirit of inheritance...

On the Demon Slayer Corps' side, there is no room left to accommodate a new will to be passed down, because their spiritual beliefs are already deeply rooted.

Therefore... the only fertile ground for incubation is Muzan and his demons.

What is the will I want to pass on?

Long recalled her experiences in the Hunter x Hunter.

To champion individual power and stand at the top of the world?

Or perhaps... not bound by rules, lawless?

In the world of Demon Slayer, the only thing that can continuously elevate a power system is conflict.

In any time and space, once conflict is lost, then... no matter how many 'seeds' there are, there is no way to produce outstanding fruit.

Looking at the Twelve Kizuki of later generations, all the upper and lower crescent moons became ghosts because of their human nature, as well as the chaotic world and social atmosphere.

"It's not Muzan, who pursues immortality and the ultimate evolution... His selfish thoughts are very similar to my own when I was Hunter x Hunter- time player, and it's also a manifestation of personal will. Selfishness... cannot be passed down; it only focuses on the individual. Once the individual dies, the will ends."

He muttered to himself.

"We have no choice but to take drastic measures."

Long had an idea.

Among all the ideas that came to mind, he chose one that perfectly matched the characteristics of a demon and the tone of the Demon Slayer world.

"The problem isn't with me, it's with the world!"

"The world is sick and needs healing..."

This kind of inherited will is undoubtedly very negative, and once it begins to incubate, the damage it will cause to the real world is unpredictable. But there's no other way; considering the element of demons and the goal of catalyzing the power system... this is the only option.

Long doesn't care whether he's a good person or a bad person.

He belongs to a higher level of 'looking down'.

If Demon Slayer weren't in this situation, he could also choose to inherit the 'will of positive energy'. If the Demon Slayer Corps didn't have those previous swordsmen, he could find a loophole, but he can't now.

The Demon Slayer Corps, led by the Ubuyashiki Clan, has been finalized.

All that's left... are ghosts.

This is why he previously cut pieces of flesh from Upper Moon Five and transformed them into cards.

"Chiyoko."

Oboro called out.

"Grown ups."

The maid in the room knelt down and stepped forward.

"Get ready, we're going out for a bit."

"Yes."

In the afternoon, Long once again visited the slums of Entertainment District.

His choice of a successor to his will undoubtedly requires someone to live in a dark and oppressive environment for an extended period; only such a person can truly bring that will to its full potential. From this perspective, Muzan's frequent travels to deserted villages, prisons, or places of depravity were a very wise choice.

Just like the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, including the Pillars, the reason they hate Muzan and the demons so much is because they themselves have suffered persecution from the demons, losing their families and friends directly or indirectly, so that they can fulfill the will of their predecessors. This is the premise.

Without this prerequisite, one can certainly become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, but one will never become a high-ranking swordsman or a Pillar.

The person Long is looking for must feel that the world is sick.

The slums of Entertainment District are the most typical 'chaotic places' in this area.

Long first entered a small brothel, which is a type of brothel.

This arcade is considered relatively proper in the slums, but it still can't compare to those on the main streets.

Upon entering, the madam, mindful of his noble status, dared not disturb him... Oboro did not allow any courtesans to serve him, but simply found a seat and listened to the cacophony of sounds within the wooden attic. These courtesans were not geishas or courtesans; geishas were truly prostitutes, while courtesans and courtesans were more performative in nature.

Of course, everything has a price, and as long as you can afford it, they're all the same.

Inside the small hall, the first and second floors were filled with Japanese-style rooms separated only by a single door, from which came all sorts of unpleasant noises.

In less than an hour, Oboro witnessed the ugly side of human nature.

A ragged woman worked tirelessly, serving one customer after another—some were down-on-their-luck samurai, others were simply drunkards, or even beggars. Those who frequented the slums were unlikely to be nobles or wealthy individuals... the women she served were all lowlifes.

She was like a robot, constantly being abused and tortured, and some of the guests even had unusual fetishes.

Her eyes were numb, devoid of light.

Long glanced at her and then dismissed her.

No.

This woman's soul is exceptionally fragile and could collapse at any moment.

Her will had succumbed to the status quo; to put it bluntly, she had resigned herself to her fate.

Such a person is incapable of bearing the weight of other wills.

He was looking for someone who was unwilling to accept defeat, who wanted to rebel, and who was forced to submit or was temporarily hiding.

"They're gone."

After watching for a while, Oboro got up and left with the madam's respectful farewell.

Then, he arrived at another location.

It is located not far from Entertainment District.

His name is Eight Liang.

This is where laborers gather; the term "Eight Liang" refers to the lowest class of people, those who are worthless.

The appearance of Oboro caused pedestrians on the road to give way.

As he moved swiftly, Oboro saw the oppression of those at the bottom.

From teenagers to adults with gray hair, everyone was working hard... One boy, thin and bony, was carrying a wooden crate weighing over a hundred pounds. While walking, he accidentally tripped and fell, causing the goods to break. Immediately afterward, the overseer, wielding a long whip, lashed him mercilessly.

It looked like they were going to beat the boy to death.

The boy, however, showed no anger or resentment; instead, he showered the boy with flattery and ingratiation.

This young man is not an isolated case; many others suffer from injustice.

But most people are like that.

Like the prostitutes, they chose to bow to reality.

Among them, some people had a look of resentment in their eyes and a strong spirit, but they were still far from meeting Long's standard.

"Is it hard to find... should we try to snag a bargain?"

Long's brows furrowed slightly.

Picking up the scraps... naturally, it's picking up the scraps from Muzan, the demons he chose in his later lives.

This way, I don't have to look for it myself.

However, even if you manage to snag a bargain, you can only get a few.

It's not very meaningful, and its effect is limited.

As for the characters who have already been Muzan by Muzan, such as Doma, who has become one of the Twelve Kizuki, and those whose minds have been corrupted by Muzan, they are not suitable to become his successors.

Currently, the best candidates to snag a bargain are the Gyutaro.

"Let's see..."

The path was dark and indistinct.

The will to be passed down needs to be passed on from generation to generation, and therefore, it also needs time to propel it forward.

Although there is still a long time before the plot unfolds, time is running out for Oboro to see his inherited will bear fruit later.