Are you okay?

After Tamayo left, Yoriichi told Shi to go back to bed, then looked seriously at Muzan. "Was that woman a demon?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Muzan looked at him, still holding the sword Tamayo had brought, and rocked back and forth in his chair.

A candle flame flickered in the dim hall as a breeze slipped inside, making their shadows sway. The cry of some unknown creature came from the distance.

Yoriichi hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, and asked solemnly:

"Was the food she mentioned what I think it was?"

"Yeah. I can't eat anything else, either. But don't worry, it all comes from bandits and mountain brigands, people like that."

After a moment, Yoriichi nodded. He had picked up on the key point in Muzan's words. "Demons can't eat anything else?"

"What did you think? Everything else tastes rotten to me, and I can't digest it even if I eat it. Do you think I don't want to eat other things?"

He couldn't even munch on sunflower seeds while watching the fun!

Seven-year-old Yoriichi looked a little unhappy. "All right. I understand."

Seeing his expression, Muzan patted his head. "But the Blue Spider Lily might let me eat other things."

Yoriichi's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really."

"All right, hurry off to bed. You've got more books to copy tomorrow."

Yoriichi nodded and ran back to bed.

Muzan rocked back and forth in his chair. Suddenly, he vanished, leaving only the rocking chair gently swaying.

The next day, Yoriichi received a new sword, along with a new book to copy...

Yoriichi: Oh, for f***'s sake.

To be honest, he didn't like copying books.

Every day spent copying books was agony. Only the days when he practiced swordsmanship made him happy.

Muzan looked at his sour face. "You can't get by on swordsmanship alone. A person needs an education."

Yoriichi's face stayed just as sour.

Muzan left with a smile. He wasn't the one copying books, after all.

A childhood without copying books was incomplete!

If this place had nine years of compulsory education and college entrance exams, he would have sent Yoriichi to all sorts of extracurricular classes to have some "fun," too.

Yoriichi: Let me just say, thank you so much...

Meanwhile, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's father finally learned of Yoriichi's talent from his wife's diary. Filled with regret, he immediately decided to abandon Michikatsu and bring Yoriichi back from the temple.

But he was told that Yoriichi had never gone to the temple.

From then on, he looked at Tsugikuni Michikatsu as though he were a defective product, as though letting him inherit his position was something he had no choice but to do.

He looked at Michikatsu with disgust. "Why didn't you tell me when you discovered Yoriichi was stronger than you?!"

"You useless fool!"

He kicked Michikatsu in the chest. Tsugikuni Michikatsu staggered and fell to the ground, and his father immediately followed up with another vicious kick.

"Get out!"

Tsugikuni Michikatsu climbed to his feet with his head lowered, humiliation and jealousy filling his chest. Driven by his father's increasingly strict demands and his own refusal to accept defeat, Michikatsu threw himself into sword practice and study.

He would surpass Yoriichi! Sooner or later, he would become the strongest samurai!

Muzan appeared in the distance and watched the scene unfold.

No wonder Tsugikuni Michikatsu had developed that kind of personality. His father certainly deserved plenty of credit.

The scumbag boss from the original story might have played a part in the brothers' tragedy, but their father had undoubtedly been one of the key causes, too.

After stopping by to check on Michikatsu, Muzan headed back to Jingji's place for a meal.

It was worth mentioning that fewer and fewer factions remained. Jingji and Zhengren were both among the handful still standing.

Jingji was excitedly reporting his great achievements and the current situation to Muzan, demonstrating his determination and ability to unite all the factions.

Muzan couldn't even be bothered to listen, but seeing his employee so fired up and full of motivation, he didn't have the heart to discourage him. He could only offer a few token words of encouragement.

Jingji immediately looked as though he'd been pumped full of stimulants, becoming even more motivated.

Muzan ate in silence.

Once he left, Jingji immediately began making arrangements for the next stage.

Meanwhile, with night only just falling, Muzan had already returned to find Yoriichi and Shi asleep.

"Screw sleeping! Get up and have some fun!"

Yoriichi and Shi:

ಠ_ಠ

→_→

Are you okay?

Muzan hauled them out from under the covers, one child in each hand.

"Come on, get changed. I'm taking you to the night market."

They were still children, after all. When they heard there was fun to be had, they changed their clothes and followed Muzan.

Their home was remote, far from the nearest city, but Muzan had plenty of Blood Demon Arts at his disposal. He simply grabbed the two of them and brought them near their destination.

Naturally, he appeared somewhere deserted so he wouldn't frighten anyone.

But being "teleported" left Yoriichi and Shi dizzy, and it took them quite a while to recover.

"Looks like this Yoriichi just can't handle it."

At Muzan's sarcastic remark, Yoriichi gave him a sidelong glance.

This guy...

Was it really okay for the mighty Demon King to act like a clown every single day?

This was one of the territories belonging to a demon under his command. With a recent victory, a secure location, and a reasonably prosperous economy, tonight's market was bustling.

Decorative lanterns hung everywhere, and tall buildings blazed with light. Vendors called out from stalls and shops along both sides of the street, with an endless array of trinkets and food on display.

Pedestrians thronged the streets amid lively chatter and laughter. Every so often, children ran past, playing with toys in their hands.

Yoriichi, who had spent so long living in a shabby little room without ever going anywhere, and Shi, who had lived in a remote village, had never seen anything like it. Both grew excited.

Still only seven years old, Yoriichi and Shi were instantly dazzled.

Muzan patted their heads. "Just tell me if there's anything you want."

Shi, however, noticed the crucial point. "Lord Muzan, do you have any money?"

"Of course! Why else would I bring you here? To make you drool over things you can't have?" Muzan patted her head, then added:

"Also, call me Dad."

Yoriichi glanced at Muzan and took Shi's hand. "Let's go."

Muzan: "..."

Fucking brat!

I'll make you call me Dad sooner or later!

In fact, Yoriichi was also the reason Shi refused to call Muzan Dad.

Muzan followed the pair. They were only two little children, after all.

The market was lively, with plenty of fun things and delicious food, but both children were gentle and considerate, and felt bad about buying too much. If Muzan hadn't repeatedly insisted they should buy whatever they wanted, they might have done nothing but look, without buying a single thing.

In the end, they were just two poor children who hadn't been loved enough.

With food in their hands and the toys and snacks they had bought stored in the space created by Muzan's Blood Demon Art, they finished touring the night market.

Seeing the smiles on their little faces, Muzan patted their heads. "Well? Did you have fun?"

Yoriichi and Shi both nodded slightly.

"Well then, call me Dad."

"Let's go." Yoriichi took Shi's hand and quickened his pace.

Muzan: "..."