The Demon King's Night Banquet, the Hashira Seek the Way

The Hashira departed, and the headquarters courtyard returned to silence.

Kashu sat beside Kagaya Ubuyashiki. Amid the curling fragrance of tea, they discussed the aftermath of the coming storm.

"Why did you take the initiative to play the villain?"

"I didn't stay behind to discuss such trivial matters with you."

Kashu picked up a piece of yokan with his fingertips and offered it to Fou beside him.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki laughed silently and did not press the matter further, instead bringing up another important issue.

"Tamayo still has many reservations. I'll try to persuade her again."

Kashu nodded in understanding. "That's understandable. Even if she is no longer under Muzan Kibutsuji's control, she is still a demon."

"Asking her to come to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters is indeed making things difficult for her."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki wore a worried expression, his tone carrying a hint of concern.

"You won't be able to leave the Demon Slayer Corps for some time. Can Tamayo manage in time on her own?"

Kashu rested his chin on his hand and pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

"Don't count on the human-conversion drug or the aging drug. But the cell-destruction drug and the cell-division-inhibiting drug shouldn't be a problem."

Human-conversion drug, aging drug, cell-destruction drug, cell-division-inhibiting drug...

These were all medicines Tamayo had painstakingly developed to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji.

She had previously lacked blood samples from Upper Rank demons, so she had been unable to make adjustments specifically for Muzan Kibutsuji.

After Kashu obtained the blood of Upper Rank Three during the battle aboard the Infinite Train, he had entrusted a Kasugai Crow with delivering the sample to Tamayo for research.

Unfortunately, time was running short. Tamayo alone would likely be unable to complete the fusion of all four medicines.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki understood this as well.

If he did not still hold the ultimate trump card capable of restraining Muzan Kibutsuji, the worry in his heart would have been far greater.

"Do you think Muzan Kibutsuji will really take the bait?"

Kashu lifted his teacup and blew at the tea leaves floating on its surface.

"Probably. After all, something that can be changed is called a flaw, not a weakness."

"We're fortunate. That cowardly Demon King is covered in weaknesses."

Yoshiwara Pleasure District, the red-light district.

Night had fallen. The streets were lit as bright as day, like a richly colored ukiyo-e painting.

Dim yellow lanterns swayed in the alleys, yet not a single figure could be seen. Only deathly silence spread soundlessly through the darkness.

Muzan Kibutsuji, dressed in a white suit, strolled down the street at an unhurried pace.

"Ah—! Don't come any closer!"

"You... you people! Do... do you know who I am?!"

A fat, pig-like royal noble crashed through a wooden door and fell onto the street.

He screamed as he scrambled backward, his face twisted with terror.

Soon, he spotted Muzan Kibutsuji standing in the middle of the street. He immediately pointed at him and shouted sharply.

"You! Carry me out of this hellhole at once!"

"Once we return to Tokyo, I'll richly rewa—"

Before he could finish, Muzan Kibutsuji's finger twitched, and a head had already separated from its body.

To the Demon King, humans were nothing more than inferior food.

Their wails and screams were merely embellishments to slaughter. Whether they were highborn or not made no difference.

To dare order around an ultimate life-form like him—they deserved to die!

A sharp whistle cut through the air as Kokushibo, clad in an elegant purple robe, appeared behind Muzan Kibutsuji.

He first examined the clothes on the headless pig, then spoke in a rather subtle tone.

"This one has no ordinary status. It would be a pity not to capture him as a hostage."

Muzan Kibutsuji casually tossed aside the pig's wide-eyed head and spoke indifferently.

"It doesn't matter. Those Demon Slayer Corps fools are all madmen. They'll definitely come."

Kokushibo did not refute Muzan Kibutsuji. Though they were partners, there was still an obvious hierarchy between them.

So one reminder was enough.

The red-light district where Daki and Gyutaro had dwelled for a century had been chosen as the site of the blood banquet. Commoners, courtesans, and nobles alike had all become turtles trapped in a jar.

Did the Demon Slayer Corps think they could lead Muzan Kibutsuji around by the nose with nothing but a Blue Spider Lily?

They had not expected to be outmaneuvered now, had they?

Muzan Kibutsuji raised his head to glance at the moon, then transmitted his voice with a frown.

[You'd better not still be dawdling after daybreak without completing your task.]

The deathly stillness in the red-light district froze for an instant. The next moment, even more shrill screams erupted one after another from all around.

The wisteria-covered mountains specially established by the Demon Slayer Corps.

Kashu led the Hashira to an open clearing. After looking around, he nodded in satisfaction.

"This place is good. It's spacious enough for you to do whatever you want."

Sanemi Shinazugawa was the most impatient and asked first.

"The place doesn't matter at all! Hurry up and tell us how to awaken that Transparent World!"

Tengen Uzui crossed his arms and snorted in dissatisfaction.

"How could it not matter? How can anyone cultivate splendid ultimate techniques in such a shabby place?"

Kyojuro Rengoku stepped between them, habitually smoothing things over.

"I believe Mr. Kashu's training method certainly won't be easy, so let's make the most of our time and listen first!"

Kashu's gaze swept across the Hashira. Seeing their focused expressions, he finally spoke, though his tone remained as calm as ever.

"My realization of the Transparent World was also a fortunate coincidence. If I had to name a method, it would be breathing and movement."

"Breathing and movement?"

Everyone present practiced Breathing Styles and sword techniques, so they did not quite understand what Kashu was emphasizing.

"It's too troublesome to explain. Focus and watch my demonstration."

Clang—!

The sword rang clear. Flecks of gold scattered as a platinum longsword appeared in his grasp.

He lowered his stance slightly. Every breath was accompanied by the thunderous pounding of a heartbeat like collapsing mountains and crashing seas within his body.

Light Fang, Burning Wing, Raging Scales, Savage Tail, Roar...

Kashu demonstrated the five sword techniques, each imbued with a different element, one after another.

Since he was deliberately showing them to the Hashira, he kept his power and speed within the limits that the naked eye could follow.

The Hashira held their breath, staring intently at Kashu's every minute movement. Gradually, their expressions became more solemn than ever.

Kashu's Breathing Style was utterly bizarre!

The Hashira could tell with the naked eye alone that this was absolutely not a Breathing Style they could wield.

Even Mitsuri Kanroji, whose muscle strength surpassed that of all the Hashira, would only end up exploding to death if she rashly tried to imitate it.

Watching Kashu in the clearing, whose sword strikes were incomparably fierce while his breathing remained steady as a rock, Sanemi Shinazugawa clicked his tongue inwardly.

"This guy really is a monster, isn't he?!"

Mitsuri Kanroji lightly scratched her cheek, looking both frightened and helpless.

"Ahahaha~ It's rude to describe Mr. Kashu that way, but—"

"Sorry, I can't do it! Just imitating it slightly on instinct makes my heart ache unbearably."

Obanai Iguro said sternly, "Don't act recklessly! We aren't on the same level as him."

On the other side, Kashu stopped moving and explained patiently.

"Thunder roars in your ears, your mind churns like stormy seas, your blood nearly flows backward, and your heart and lungs feel as though they are being torn apart inch by inch... That is normal for me when I train my Breathing Style."

"Pour everything you have into breathing, enduring, and crossing the limits of that pain."

"Until your thoughts transcend the restraints of your senses—at that moment, the Transparent World will naturally open before you!"

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