Nakime: Me again?

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki looked up at the sky and saw two Kasugai Crows flying toward him, one behind the other.

The first Kasugai Crow spoke:

"Caw!"

"The Swordsmith Village has been attacked by a demon!"

"The demon has been identified as Upper Rank Five!"

The instant he heard the news, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's heart leaped into his throat.

The reason the Swordsmith Village kept relocating, and why even the Hashira had to be carried there by the Kakushi with their eyes covered and ears plugged, was to keep this vital logistical base hidden.

Yet now, the Swordsmith Village had actually come under attack by a demon-an Upper Rank demon, no less!

Under these circumstances, Kagaya Ubuyashiki could not help considering the worst.

But soon, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's heart settled:

"Caw!"

"The Upper Rank demon attacked the Swordsmith Village's dining hall."

"The nine Hashira, who were eating there, encountered the demon head-on."

"There were no casualties among the Hashira or the Swordsmith Village, but the Upper Rank demon escaped. All nine Hashira jointly request punishment from the Master!"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki rose abruptly, the great weight on his heart finally lifted.

He hurriedly had the Kasugai Crow relay his message:

"Tell them I will immediately arrange for you to escort the people of the Swordsmith Village to a new location."

"As for punishment... you have already done very well. I only hope you won't blame yourselves!"

These were indeed Kagaya Ubuyashiki's heartfelt words.

The people of the Swordsmith Village and the Hashira were all safe and sound. To him, that was the best possible news.

Of course, Kagaya Ubuyashiki also hoped they could change the Demon Slayer Corps' nearly century-long history of failing to slay an Upper Rank demon.

But compared with that, Kagaya Ubuyashiki clearly hoped more that they would all survive unharmed.

Still, at this thought, Kagaya Ubuyashiki felt somewhat stunned.

Upper Rank Five had suddenly attacked the Swordsmith Village and blundered straight into the dining hall where the Hashira were sharing a meal.

At the thought of such a thing, the corners of Kagaya Ubuyashiki's mouth could not help lifting slightly.

At the same time, his heart was filled with relief.

Thank goodness he had listened to Lin Yoriichi's suggestion and had him teach the Hashira the technique called the Bright Red Nichirin Sword at the Swordsmith Village.

Otherwise, if an Upper Rank demon had truly attacked while the Swordsmith Village was completely unprepared...

Kagaya Ubuyashiki did not dare imagine that possibility.

Still, since Lin Yoriichi was there too, Upper Rank Five's ultimate fate...

Just then, the second Kasugai Crow spoke:

"Caw!"

"Mr. Yoriichi has slain Upper Rank Five!"

Although Kagaya Ubuyashiki had already anticipated this before the Kasugai Crow spoke.

At this moment, Kagaya Ubuyashiki still felt an unprecedented joy and excitement blaze fiercely in his chest!

The Demon Slayer Corps' century-long history of failing to finish off an Upper Rank demon had finally changed!

But when he thought about Mr. Yoriichi's identity, Kagaya Ubuyashiki's expression grew strange.

What did this count as?

An ancestor from a century ago discovered that the Demon Slayer Corps of later generations could not defeat Upper Rank demons even with all their might.

So, in a fit of rage, he had "thrown open his coffin and risen"?

Kagaya Ubuyashiki could not help laughing.

He reached out and touched his only remaining eye, a little relief welling up in his heart once more.

He still had one eye that could see.

With this eye, he would personally witness Muzan Kibutsuji's demise!

Inside the Infinity Castle.

Muzan Kibutsuji's expression was exceptionally grim, his hand tightly clutching the hem of his kimono.

"That fool Gyokko!"

"He only became an Upper Rank after receiving so many of my gifts, yet he couldn't even complete a task as simple as finding the Swordsmith Village!"

"What good was merely sending back the Swordsmith Village's location?"

"Anyone could figure out that it was just one of the Swordsmith Village's many alternative sites!"

"Gyokko could have continued watching the Swordsmith Village, but instead he died just like that, for no apparent reason!"

"He even claimed that the Hashira surrounded and attacked him in the Swordsmith Village's dining hall?"

"What a joke! How could the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira possibly all go to the Swordsmith Village together, and gather in precisely the spot where Gyokko appeared?!"

Muzan Kibutsuji had wanted Gyokko to find the Swordsmith Village so he could seize the opportunity to cause some destruction and make trouble for those people in the Demon Slayer Corps.

That would keep them from chasing after him all day like vicious dogs.

When Gyokko's message arrived, Muzan Kibutsuji had been communicating with Upper Rank Six, Daki.

She had cleverly used her identity and standing in the Entertainment District to charm many well-informed people, or those who held power and responsibility, into searching for clues about the Blue Spider Lily for her.

Coming from Daki, something like this would never arouse anyone's suspicions.

Those men who were utterly infatuated with Daki would only think the courtesan was trying out some new amusement.

As a result, Daki had soon gathered many plants resembling the Blue Spider Lily.

She had also excitedly invited Muzan Kibutsuji to look through her eyes and identify these plants himself.

Of course, there had been no Blue Spider Lily among those plants.

But because Muzan Kibutsuji had been "logging in remotely" to Daki, he naturally had no time to "log in remotely" to Gyokko.

Yet what Muzan Kibutsuji could never have imagined was that, in that brief span of time.

Gyokko had actually died!

Muzan Kibutsuji did not even know how he had died in the end!

Moreover, the message Gyokko had sent back before his death struck Muzan Kibutsuji as utterly absurd.

The Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira had assembled in the Swordsmith Village, and Gyokko had blundered straight into their gathering place?

Rather than believe in such an outrageous coincidence, Muzan Kibutsuji would sooner believe there was a mole among his subordinates.

Resentment surged through Muzan Kibutsuji's heart.

Although the Lower Rank demons were replaced from time to time, there had been no changes among the Upper Ranks for a century.

Gyokko's death gave Muzan Kibutsuji an ominous premonition.

First came Yoriichi Tsugikuni's sudden resurrection, then Upper Rank Five's sudden death.

Muzan Kibutsuji felt that everything was slipping out of his control!

Panic, resentment...

As these emotions piled up, numerous fine blood vessels bulged at Muzan Kibutsuji's temples.

Seeing Muzan Kibutsuji grow furious and volatile again, Nakime immediately cowered in the center of the platform, not daring to make a sound.

While controlling the Infinity Castle, she had happened to discover a strange object in a corner.

Nakime had intended to report it to Muzan Kibutsuji, but she did not dare speak at a time like this.

She was truly afraid she would once again become the target of Muzan Kibutsuji's venting and be violently torn to pieces by him...

But Nakime's hopes came to nothing.

The furious Muzan Kibutsuji turned his head and fixed his eyes on her.

Just as he had before, he let out a furious shout:

"Nakime!"