A hoarse crow's caw rang out through the quiet, pitch-black forest. A few birds flapped their wings and flew out of the woods, their dark silhouettes flashing across the full moon as the leaves rustled.
Muzan returned to his lodgings under cover of darkness. Just as he entered, he caught sight of the still-wet blood around his mouth in a mirror to one side and took out a handkerchief to wipe it clean.
Five days ago, he had unexpectedly died and transmigrated here. When his soul arrived in this world, its "kinetic energy" had been so great that it knocked Muzan's soul apart, causing Muzan to pass out...
He had successfully taken over the body, absorbing that scumbag boss's soul along the way and gaining his memories.
The process had been strange, but that wasn't important. What mattered was that staying up late really could kill you.
Before he transmigrated, the scumbag boss had turned a doctor who refused to accept death into a demon and taken up temporary residence in his home.
Noticing Muzan's return, the doctor, Yanagisawa Jiyuki, hurriedly bowed and respectfully addressed him as "my lord." Only after Muzan returned to his room did he resume his work.
The original Muzan had chosen to turn Yanagisawa Jiyuki into a demon because of his medical skills.
But his character was clearly countless times better than the original scumbag boss's. Although he had become a demon, he rarely ate people, only targeting the truly wicked, and still saved lives as he had when he was human.
That had greatly displeased the original scumbag boss. If not for his medical skills, Muzan would have killed him long ago. The current Muzan, however, found him much more agreeable.
Back in his room, Muzan pulled another book from the shelf, sat cross-legged on the floor, and began reading.
He had never imagined that after transmigrating, he would actually be able to settle down and read-especially medical theory books, which he had once found incredibly dull.
Perhaps it was the influence of the original Muzan's memories, or perhaps this era was simply too boring.
It was still 1467, Japan's Warring States period, and there was nothing fun to do. If he wanted to wait out the years until smartphones appeared, he would die of boredom unless he had something to read to pass the time.
The sky gradually brightened. Morning sunlight spilled through the paper window onto the floor, making Muzan feel a scorching heat. He found a piece of black cloth to block the sunlight and continued reading.
Fortunately, being a demon meant he could make out the words in the dark.
As for Yanagisawa Jiyuki, he still waited for patients to come to him for treatment, just as he had when he was human, while studying Muzan's blood to find a way to overcome sunlight.
But the current Muzan had already "seen" his thoughts: I can't do it. I really can't!
He was just an ordinary doctor, with medical skills that were a little better than most at best. Helping demons overcome sunlight was genuinely beyond him!
Muzan turned to the final page of the book in his hands, which was over five centimeters thick. The white paper beside him was also covered in densely packed notes. He closed the book, returned it to the shelf, put away his notes, and stood up.
The door to the outer room stood half open. Muzan pushed it open and saw Yanagisawa Jiyuki leafing through a hefty tome, with the white paper beside him likewise covered in notes. But the agonized look on his face was almost identical to Xu Ming's expression as he wrestled with the final math question on his college entrance exam.
He was still racking his brains to fulfill the scumbag boss's demand, even though it was beyond his abilities.
But to avoid being killed for having no further use, he could only grit his teeth and keep trying.
Noticing his cruel, heartless boss approaching, his body stiffened involuntarily. He swallowed and hurriedly stood up, lowering his head, too afraid to speak.
Muzan was already used to seeing his demon subordinates behave this way. He picked up the thick book from the table. "If you can't do it, stop wasting your effort."
At those words, Yanagisawa Jiyuki's already pale face grew even whiter with fear. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his voice trembled. "M-my lord! I can do it!"
Muzan closed the book and gave him a speechless look. He was afraid Muzan would dispose of him once he was no longer useful. "I won't kill you. Take your time improving your medical skills."
With that, he turned and left, taking the hefty tome with him.
The book had been his real objective. Telling Yanagisawa Jiyuki not to waste his effort was merely an afterthought.
Knock, knock...
A soft knocking came from the wooden door outside. Muzan turned around and, intrigued, pulled over a small stool and sat off to one side.
Yanagisawa Jiyuki checked his boss's expression before calling toward the door, "Come in."
Three people wearing Demon Slayer Corps uniforms hurried inside with swords at their waists. Two of them supported the person in the middle, one on each side.
At the sight of their clothing, Yanagisawa Jiyuki's expression froze, and his first instinct was to run.
But Muzan's voice sounded in his mind. "Keep your composure. They're here for you to save someone."
To be honest, Muzan had also frozen for a moment when he saw them. But then he remembered that they had knocked and waited for permission to enter. Besides, they didn't look very strong and probably couldn't tell that the two of them were demons, so he relaxed.
Blood from one side of the supported man's waist had soaked through his clothes. The other two also had numerous tears in their clothing and wounds on their arms.
Interesting. Members of the Demon Slayer Corps had actually come to a demon for treatment.
Muzan Kibutsuji had five brains and seven hearts. Those five brains not only gave him a powerful memory and intellect, but also allowed him to monitor his demon subordinates at any time.
After transmigrating, however, he had been too lazy to monitor them.
Seeing the state the three were in, he checked on his demon subordinates.
None of the nearby demons had encountered the Demon Slayer Corps, though?
Only after receiving Muzan's reassurance did Yanagisawa Jiyuki feel safe enough to have them place the patient on a nearby bed and begin examining his injuries.
At the same time, a troubled look crossed his face.
He didn't dare save him!
A doctor might have a compassionate heart, but a miserable life was still better than death.
How could he dare treat a member of the Demon Slayer Corps right in front of the Demon King?
"Treat him."
As he hesitated, his boss's voice sounded in his mind again. Yanagisawa Jiyuki immediately relaxed and, following Muzan's wishes, asked as though making casual conversation:
"How did you get hurt so badly?"
During the Warring States period, the existence of man-eating demons was much like that of gods and spirits-widely known, in a sense.
The youngest-looking member of the Demon Slayer Corps leaned his Nichirin Blade against the bed and sat beside it, saying angrily, "We ran into bandits! Damn them! What a bunch of scum!"
The other man was equally bitter. "And they got away! Tch!"
As he treated the wounds, Yanagisawa Jiyuki agreed. "Ah, these troubled times..."
"Oh, and try not to go out at night. Someone nearby was taken by a demon again."
Yanagisawa Jiyuki murmured his agreement while considering whether it was time to move elsewhere. Even with the current chaos, rampant banditry, and wars breaking out everywhere, staying in one place too long would eventually get him discovered. From the sound of it, he might be close to being found out himself.
After seeing the three off, Muzan looked at Yanagisawa Jiyuki. "Don't worry. They were talking about another demon."
Although Muzan hadn't created many demons, they were all confined to the Edo area, so their concentration wasn't particularly low.
There were indeed several other demons nearby.
"Also, go deal with those bandits tonight. Bring one back for me."
Before you continue