The Ubuyashiki Clan and Muzan's State of Mind

The residence of the Ubuyashiki Clan.

The current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, young Hideo Ubuyashiki Hideo, has a pale face.

Especially after hearing the reports from Shiwei and Tanjuro.

He considered a possibility! "Morbid? Did Oboro instill this idea in him?"

"He was probably influenced. Of course, based on what we knew beforehand, combined with the boy's own experiences... he was also easily swayed and believed it wholeheartedly." The Shiwei nodded.

"He taught the Demon Slayer Corps breathing techniques and is now constantly transforming demons... There's definitely more than just one person like Zekawa." Hideo's fingers were trembling. "Although I don't know exactly what Oboro said, I can guess some things. Judging from my father's assessment of this person and some deductions, the belief he implanted in people's hearts was nothing more than making the bewitched believe that everything he did was right. He was an executor of justice... a hero."

"This Zekawa feels that he is saving the world and all people like him... Even though it is an evil thought, it is full of positive energy in the hearts of these people."

"This kind of spiritual driving force is terrifying."

"In other words, he knew from the beginning that Zekawa would go to the Shogunate and target the lord of the country. The belief he conveyed had already sealed the fate of the country. Even if he wasn't the lord, he would have been a high-ranking official or retainer in another Shogunate, a powerful figure who could influence the national situation! But Zekawa wasn't acting under his orders; it was entirely his own decision. He was manipulating people's hearts... He had seen through human nature."

"He is deliberately creating chaos, turning this world into a living Purgatory... making it incredibly difficult for everyone to survive."

The more Hideo spoke, the more fine sweat appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but clench his fists.

My heart trembled.

What kind of man is he?

Is he really capable of handling this kind of person?

His father, Ubuyashiki Kuno, had only met Oboro and had never actually 'fought' with him. But now, barring any unforeseen circumstances... for the next ten years or so, it will be his small body that will be fighting against him.

The Ubuyashiki Clan has been accumulating wisdom for a long time. Hideo wouldn't dare say that his strategy and shrewdness surpass his father's, but at least... everything he has learned so far was bought with the lives of his ancestors. He no longer has to do many things himself, which gives him a huge advantage.

"Your father once said that although he didn't do much for the Demon Slayer Corps in his generation, what he was most proud of was raising such an excellent successor as you."

The Shiwei noticed that something was wrong with Hideo's situation and said something from the bottom of his heart.

These words made Hideo's eyes flicker, and he understood something.

He then exhaled a breath of stale air and said, "Sorry, I lost my composure a bit."

Regardless of whether he could deal with Long, he could not back down.

He carries a mission on his shoulders.

"I will find a way to deal with the Shogunate. Zekawa's death can be considered an explanation to them... But I think that as more and more demons are transformed by Oboro, and the beliefs he conveys become more and more powerful, the situation will inevitably change. The most obvious point is that the Demon Slayer Corps' system will still be infiltrated by the Shogunate. From a secular perspective, we have no way to get rid of the regime... However, I will do everything possible to protect the core strength of the Pillar Demon Slayer Corps and prevent everyone from being disturbed."

Hideo calmly pondered, "On the other hand... just as Father said, everyone does everything with a purpose. Judging from Oboro's actions, what he wants to do is not to target either our Demon Slayer Corps or Muzan, nor is it to seize power."

"To be honest, based on my current observations of this person, his skills and status, I wouldn't be surprised if he were to one day replace the Tokugawa line as the new lord of the country. He is fully capable of doing it, and it wouldn't even be difficult for him."

"What he wants to do... or what he is doing is to overturn this world and fundamentally change the ecological environment of all life."

"The environment will give birth to different life... Just like there are fish in the ocean and birds in the sky. If the environment changes, then we, including Muzan and his demons, must also adapt to the times."

As he spoke, Hideo became more serious than ever before, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom.

"Survival of the fittest, elimination of the weak?"

The Shiwei frowned and gave an answer.

It sounds a bit like forcing everyone to evolve.

"This is just my guess... I just sensed something from his behavior..."

Hideo took a deep breath. "He... is very dissatisfied with the world as it is now."

"However, whether it's our Demon Slayer Corps or the demons... he deliberately left a back door for them."

You mean?

"That's right, we are the ones who practice breathing exercises... Muzan, we don't know yet, but it should be related to the demons he transformed."

Hideo said softly, "Now I finally understand a little why my father was wary of him."

"I admit I'm terrified of him. Although we've never met, what truly terrifies me is that it's practically impossible for a 'human' to do this! Not even Muzan and his demons could... But this person, this Oboro... I always feel that he can do it."

"We need to plan our strategy in advance."

"Call everyone else here and hold a joint meeting of the pillars."

"Yes."

The Shiwei was also somewhat shocked, but Hideo's calm thinking and judgment, especially the composure he showed at such a young age, gave him great confidence in the future development of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Unlike the Demon Slayer Corps, which had to deal with the troubles of the Shogunate.

Muzan's side is simply facing a manpower shortage due to necessity.

During this period, he, who could have been sitting quietly in his mansion as a great lord and enjoying peace and quiet, was running around and was extremely busy.

They constantly select fresh blood and transform it into demons.

Because the number of demons is rapidly decreasing, now the targets of demon attacks are not only the Demon Slayer Corps, but also ordinary people and the Shogunate's army.

As soon as a ghost shows its tracks, it will be immediately targeted.

While ordinary people can only cause limited trouble, this will immediately attract the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps.

This meant that his underlings had nowhere to hide.

Fortunately, with the country engulfed in war recently, the Shogunate has been preoccupied with pacifying the situation and has not had much energy to deal with these conflicts.

However, the public's familiarity with and aversion to ghosts is growing.

If you do the math, in the short span of less than two years since Oboro appeared, the Lower Moon of the Twelve Kizuki has changed twice. Especially after the death of the lord, due to various factors, the demons' situation became very difficult. In addition, the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps became stronger, especially the Pillars, who have already achieved the feat of slaying a Lower Moon.

This Muzan to consider temporarily laying low.

Instead of converting the ghosts, let's create the illusion among the people that the ghosts have disappeared.

What's infuriating is that recently there have been rumors circulating in various places that ghosts are causing trouble.

Muzan was certain that those so-called demons were not his pawns at all.

So... the only explanation is that it's obscured.

This makes it impossible for him to 'quiet things over' and divert attention from the outside world.

Muzan was utterly baffled as to how Oboro could transform people into demons.

But he didn't dare to go to the other party.

However, things have turned out this way not without their advantages.

First, the survival pressure faced by ghosts has increased dramatically, making the game more difficult. As a result, every ghost still alive today has extremely strong overall abilities.

The weak simply cannot survive.

Secondly, although the outside world's malice towards ghosts has increased, the current situation of widespread suffering and bloodshed has created better conditions for ghosts to 'hunt'.

Of course, the same applies to the members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

The stronger the demon, the stronger the demon slayer will be.

This is mutual.

However... Muzan really dislikes situations where things are beyond his control.

It's like being pushed along... and there's nothing you can do about it.

What frightened him even more was that the demons that Oboro transformed into were not affected by his blood.

Because of their complicated relationship, sooner or later those ghosts will come after him.

What will happen then?