Let's Get Things Going

But even so, Muzan had no idea how to straighten out a child who had gone astray. The real problem was that this fellow barely had any emotions...

Whatever. He would just let things with Doma take their course.

And then...

Two years later, Muzan arrived at the Infinity Castle to find Doma sidling up to Akaza with a cheerful grin. Akaza looked murderous, as though he wanted to punch Doma's head clean off.

Chiyu watched awkwardly. After all, he was the one who had found Doma, and back when he had been learning to read, he had already come to regard Akaza as his big brother.

"Lord Akaza, you're so cold to me~"

"Oh! Lord Muzan is here!"

Doma turned with a grin toward where Muzan had appeared.

In the original story, Muzan had never liked Doma much. He didn't like him now, either.

The fellow's face was plastered with a fake smile.

"Lord Muzan~ After two whole years, I finally get to see you again!"

Despite Doma's words, Muzan had already seen into his mind. He had very little respect for Muzan.

He didn't understand Muzan's demands and even thought his behavior was foolish. Why couldn't he eat people whenever he wanted?

Humans were fragile and stupid. Eating them was the only way to free them from suffering!

And he had always thought Chiyu was childish.

As for Akaza, his refusal to eat women was even more incomprehensible to Doma.

By now, Akaza had noticed Muzan's displeased expression too. He glared darkly at Doma. "Shut up!"

Doma immediately put on an aggrieved look, though he actually felt nothing inside.

Besides Muzan, Doma, Chiyu, and Akaza, Tamayo and Yanagisawa Jiyuki had also come to the Infinity Castle.

Compared with the others' antics, Tamayo and Yanagisawa Jiyuki were much more composed, simply watching from the sidelines.

As for why they had gathered at the Infinity Castle this time, that was because of Tamayo.

With technological development practically nonexistent, Tamayo's task was naturally impossible to complete. But she wasn't an idiot, so she discussed it with Yanagisawa Jiyuki.

The two immediately hit it off-develop technology!

Thanks to their boss's influence, both had long since gained an understanding of the subject, which was how they had arrived at this idea.

But everything required a financial foundation.

And so they came up with a plan: use their research to create products, which would in turn generate economic value.

But all of that required manpower.

When Muzan heard about it, he hadn't expected them to think so broadly. Out of curiosity, he readily agreed.

Chiyu and Doma happened to be free, so they were summoned. As for Akaza, to be honest, Muzan didn't trust those two and wanted Akaza there as a safeguard. After two years of exposure, Akaza still didn't understand much, but he had at least picked up a few things.

Speaking of which, Doma really was a genius, whether in combat or anything else. He had learned to read in just a few short months, much to Chiyu's delight.

In short, that was how Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals was founded.

Muzan had only thought it sounded interesting and wanted to play around with it.

Besides, wasn't a name like Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals a little ahead of its time?

What he had never expected was that, five years later, Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals would become increasingly renowned, growing into one of the country's leading pharmaceutical manufacturers...

Under Tamayo's direction, even the young Doma's Eternal Paradise Cult was shoved aside. Its former followers either became employees or left the cult.

As for how things had turned out, it seemed only natural when he thought about it.

The hundreds of demons couldn't exactly be called perfectly united, but they did work together, all following Muzan's orders.

On the government side, they had Maruoka Masahito, Maruoka Yoshiko, and Asanuma Seiji, and the government was already supporting commerce and technology. Tamayo and the others had accumulated knowledge over their long lives that ordinary people lacked, and they also had Muzan's support.

Given all that, their current success was perfectly reasonable.

And so the following scene unfolded.

A man in formal attire pushed open the conference room door.

Inside, Doma sat at the head of the table in a formal suit, a phony smile on his face. Beside him, Akaza sat looking thoroughly annoyed, bouncing his leg.

Seeing the door open, Doma stood with a grin and put on a businesslike smile.

"Hello."

The visitor was a member of the Ubuyashiki Family-Ubuyashiki Tianying. He had come on behalf of the Demon Slayer Corps to negotiate prices for a bulk purchase of medicinal supplies from Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals.

"Hello."

It had to be said that Doma was quite capable. Under Tamayo's deliberate guidance and the influence Muzan's blood had on a demon's personality, his outlook was gradually becoming more normal, though his personality remained irritating.

Over several years of learning at Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals, he had gradually taken on major responsibilities and become one of its leaders.

Some of his views still wouldn't change, however. He thought humans were stupid and ridiculous, yearned to experience emotions, and regarded almost everyone other than himself with contempt.

When Muzan learned that Doma was negotiating medicine prices with someone from the Demon Slayer Corps, his expression turned peculiar.

So the Demon Slayer Corps had come to an Upper Rank to buy medicine?

Interesting!

No, I have to go see this!

Muzan eagerly headed to the corridor outside the conference room. Chiyu came along to enjoy the spectacle too.

As Doma smilingly escorted the Demon Slayer Corps representative out of the conference room, Ubuyashiki Tianying passed Muzan and Chiyu and glanced at them.

Muzan responded with a smile.

"You have quite a pleasant atmosphere here. We could establish a long-term partnership..."

Ubuyashiki Tianying continued talking with Doma as they disappeared down the corridor. The interior of this so-called Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals was excellent too, leaving him with a very favorable impression.

Muzan and Chiyu exchanged looks, wanting to laugh.

Akaza was still inside, irritably bouncing his leg. Suddenly, he caught sight of Muzan and sprang to his feet in excitement. "Lord Muzan!"

As he spoke, he hurried out of the conference room and pleaded with an anguished expression.

"Lord Muzan! Let me do something else! Doma is just begging to be punched!"

Well...

Muzan could understand Akaza.

After all, he had already seen what Akaza had endured through his memories.

Even though Doma was currently no match for Akaza and his outlook wasn't quite so twisted, the problem was that he was still obnoxious.

Every day, he wore that fake smile, and whenever he saw Akaza, he sidled over with, "Lord Akaza~ I missed you so much."

And since Akaza didn't understand much about the work, Doma would always come over and say, "Lord Akaza, you can't handle this. Let me do it~"

"Lord Akaza, you'll never learn how to do this."

He didn't even try to hide his mockery!

With that phony smile, he acted as though they were close, yet his eyes held nothing but disdain!

Things like that were infuriating.

Akaza now wanted to go back to Maruoka Masahito and kill a few troublesome people for him!

Blow off some steam!

Muzan considered it and decided that he really ought to move Akaza somewhere else. With Tamayo keeping an eye on Doma, he probably wouldn't do anything out of line.

"Lord Muzan, I missed you so much~"

Doma came around the corner of the corridor, all smiles. He was holding a woman's corpse with one arm missing, and blood covered his mouth and arms. As he approached, he tore off another arm.

"Would you like a taste, Lord Muzan? Girls' bodies are very nutritious."

Muzan looked displeased. "Can't you be more mindful when you're eating?"

There weren't just demons at Liu Shi Pharmaceuticals!

Doma pouted aggrievedly and looked at Akaza.

"Lord Akaza, would you like some?"

Akaza gave him a dark glare.

He knew perfectly well that Akaza didn't eat women!

It wasn't that Muzan no longer minded Doma eating people indiscriminately. Rather, Doma, as a demon, still didn't particularly want to die, and with the slight change in his outlook, he did follow the rules.

The corpse in his hand was merely a piece of human scum he had killed in passing. Her male accomplice, however, had already been devoured in a few bites.

After all, with his menu now somewhat restricted, being picky was a bit of a luxury. He could only save the girls he liked for last and savor them slowly.

Doma's blatant eating as he walked made Muzan rather unhappy.

Eat however you like when you're alone, but eating here like this could cause trouble for Tamayo and the others.

Doma didn't completely ignore Muzan's words. He quickly finished the corpse in a few bites, then took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

"Don't worry, Lord Muzan. All the humans have already gone back to rest. Only us demons are left."

"Lord Akaza!"

Barely had he finished speaking when an anxious shout rang out.

All four demons present turned to look.

Doma smiled.