Go Pick Up Your Head

With that, Upper Rank One and the strongest of the Upper Ranks were both accounted for.

More than forty years had passed, and Muzan had been annoyed the whole time.

Because he had discovered that this place had no roasted sunflower seeds!!!

Why weren't there any sunflower seeds?!

Every time he went to watch some drama unfold, he couldn't even munch on seeds!

Luckily, there were watermelons for him to sink his teeth into.

Thanks to his tubular whips, Muzan could always have one hold his book while he held a watermelon. Even when his hands were covered in watermelon juice, it never interfered with his leisure reading.

After tossing away the rind, Muzan washed his hands and used his Blood Demon Art to travel near Yoriichi's home.

It was the early hours before dawn. The sun hadn't risen yet, but Yoriichi was already up making breakfast.

In this era, Shi had lived a remarkably long life by reaching her seventies. But by now, her body was growing weaker and weaker, and she could barely do any work.

Even breakfast had to be made by Yoriichi, and she could only eat things like porridge.

Muzan knocked on the door. Yoriichi, who was cooking porridge, glanced back, then opened it to find Muzan outside.

Yoriichi still looked as young as ever, but forty or fifty years of experience had lent him a certain weariness.

Yoriichi could guess why Muzan had come. He pointed toward Shi's room and said, "She'll wake up soon. Wait a little."

"Sure." Muzan found somewhere to sit and watched Yoriichi bustle about nearby, asking curiously:

"Where are your son and grandson?"

"They joined the Demon Slayer Corps."

Muzan: "..."

Well, aren't you something.

Creak-

The door let out a faint creak as Yoriichi opened it and went inside with a bowl of porridge.

In the small room, the elderly Shi lay on the tatami beneath a quilt, struggling to open her eyes.

Yoriichi went over, set the porridge aside, and crouched to help Shi sit up. Then he picked up the bowl and fed her with a spoon.

Shi leaned against the wall with a smile. After swallowing a few mouthfuls of porridge, she couldn't help coughing again.

When she finally stopped coughing, Shi looked at Yoriichi.

"You won't blame me for refusing to become a demon, will you?"

Yoriichi shook his head. "No."

Shi smiled. "Thank you for looking after me all these years. I'm sorry I have to leave you alone."

Yoriichi seemed to understand what Shi meant. His expression grew bitter, and he set the porridge down to sit beside her.

Seeing that there wasn't much time left, Muzan hurried inside.

Shi looked at Muzan and smiled. "Lord Muzan..."

"This really is your last chance. Are you sure you don't want to become a demon?"

Shi shook her head. "There's no need anymore. I've had enough."

She had been happy. She had children and a husband who loved her. She had experienced everything she wanted, and now she was content.

Everyone had their own wishes. Shi no longer asked for anything.

"Ah..." Muzan sighed. "All right. I'll go."

Shi smiled and leaned against Yoriichi. "Yoriichi, open the window. I want to watch the sunrise."

"All right."

Ten days later, Yoriichi arrived at the Infinity Castle and looked at Nakime.

"Where's Muzan?"

Nakime said nothing. She gently plucked a biwa string, and with a soft note, Yoriichi appeared in Muzan's courtyard.

Muzan looked up. The moment he saw Yoriichi, he understood that Shi was gone.

He lowered his book, then suddenly noticed that Yoriichi's face was expressionless, even carrying a hint of clarity and acceptance.

"Don't tell me you've accepted everything and decided you don't want to live either?!"

Yoriichi: "..."

Apparently not.

Muzan let out a sigh of relief.

"Come on, don't be sad. Shi made her own choice."

Muzan climbed out of his rocking chair and pulled a little cookie out of nowhere, handing it to Yoriichi. "Have something sweet. Stop looking so miserable."

As Yoriichi ate the cookie, tears began falling despite himself.

"I don't know why, but I've always had this feeling that I've been given so much happiness I was never meant to have."

Muzan raised an eyebrow. The world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba really was mysterious.

"Who cares whether you were meant to have it? You were happy, and that's what matters. Don't overthink it."

Yoriichi nodded.

Muzan added:

"Oh, right. Kokushibo wants to see you."

Yoriichi: "?"

"He's been training with his sword for decades and wants to fight you. Shall I have Nakime send you over?"

Yoriichi nodded, taking the paper Muzan handed him to wipe the crumbs and grease off his hands.

Curious, Muzan was transported over along with him.

Decades of wandering had left Kokushibo somewhat weary, too. He had opened a martial arts school and begun honing his existing techniques and training his body day and night.

And whenever some fool who didn't know better showed up, he would gladly "help himself," so his strength had increased considerably.

After Muzan notified him that Yoriichi had arrived, he headed straight for an open field.

Nakime sent Yoriichi and Muzan there as well.

With a solemn, serious expression, Kokushibo drew his long sword and stood ready. Looking at Yoriichi, who had already taken hold of the sword Muzan handed him, he drew a deep breath.

"Come on. Don't hold back!"

Shing-Yoriichi drew his long sword.

Having lost his wife not long ago, Yoriichi truly did need an outlet. A terrifying aura radiated from him, and Kokushibo instantly felt the pressure multiply.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni unleashed his full strength without mercy.

Sun Breathing!

The blade seemed to trail flames, stirring up waves of scorching heat.

Thirteenth Form!

The next instant, something flashed before Kokushibo's eyes. Pain struck his neck, his vision spun, and his head was sliced clean off.

An instant defeat!

Kokushibo hadn't even had time to display his Swordsmanship before he was beheaded...

"All right! Kokushibo loses!"

Watching from the sidelines and serving as referee, Muzan shouted when he saw the result.

Yoriichi put away his sword and looked at his headless older brother. "Thank you."

He felt that his brother had used this as an excuse to give him an outlet. He really did feel less miserable now.

Kokushibo's expression was ugly. He had been full of confidence, only to lose in an instant. He had never been particularly magnanimous, and this felt like a slap in the face.

Though that had indeed been part of his intention, and he hadn't expected to defeat Yoriichi, he could at least have lasted a little while!

"All right, stop scowling. Go pick up your head!"

Muzan reminded Kokushibo from the sidelines.

His head was still lying on the ground!

Kokushibo's expression grew even uglier. He walked over, bent down to pick up his head, pressed it back into place, and glared at his boss.

Naturally, the swords they had used were ordinary blades. Neither had broken through his limits and overcome decapitation yet, so they couldn't afford to mess around with anything else.

Besides, a Nichirin Blade really did inflict more damage than an ordinary sword.

Muzan went over and patted Kokushibo's shoulder.

"Cheer up. You've definitely gotten stronger. At the very least, you're the strongest after me and Yoriichi."

"I'm not that fragile."

Kokushibo glanced at Muzan, then looked toward his home. "I've prepared lunch."

"Hooray! Kokushibo's feeding us today!"

Since Muzan couldn't be bothered to cook, aside from buying food, he took turns mooching meals off all the other demons.

Yoriichi: "..."

Of course, Muzan had mooched plenty of meals off him, too.

Though Kokushibo's cooking wasn't much good, he knew how to enjoy life and hired others to cook for him.

Of course, to demons, humans were still the most tempting food.

But if they could enjoy other food, they certainly wouldn't refuse it.

Ordinary food was digested quickly, but it was far easier to obtain than what they had eaten before.

As long as they weren't excessively obsessed with gaining strength or happened to meet someone whose very existence was a waste of air, they generally ate proper meals.