"Weren't you devoted to growing stronger through your own training, too proud to eat humans? Why are you so weak now? You couldn't even defeat a single Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps? You were even reduced to fleeing for your life!"
Muzan continued venting his anger at Akaza. He had always been dissatisfied with Akaza's habit of almost never eating humans, but because Akaza was strong enough, he had tacitly permitted it.
Now that Akaza had failed to dispose of even a single Hashira, Muzan's irritation with that behavior erupted.
"Because the sun came up..."
Muzan's words left Akaza feeling somewhat indignant, and he spoke up.
Although he had indeed failed to kill the Hashira, it wasn't because he lacked the ability. If the sun hadn't risen, he was confident that his final move would have killed Kyojuro.
But Muzan had no desire to hear any of that. Akaza's words only enraged him further.
"So what? Why did a mere Hashira manage to hold you off until dawn? Because you're too weak.
Don't forget what you've always pursued, Akaza. If you can become stronger, does it really matter what means you use to achieve it?"
Muzan spoke angrily to Akaza.
"Yes..." Akaza answered.
"If you can kill this Demon Slayer, I'll overlook your failure this time. I hope you won't disappoint me again."
With all the Lower Ranks wiped out, the Upper Ranks were the only powerful subordinates Muzan had left. He still needed them to kill the boy who bore such a striking resemblance to Yoriichi, as well as the Demon Slayers, so he hadn't punished Akaza too severely.
After transmitting the images of his encounter with Chiba Yo into Akaza's mind, Muzan turned away. A door closed behind him, taking him out of the room.
At the