Muzan's expression slightly changed. He sat straight up in his chair, leaning forward slightly, his attention sharpened.
One of them asked uncertainly, "Is this at Shinazugawa-sama's residence? The young lady you're talking about is the one who used to live at the Butterfly Mansion, right?"
"That's right. She's quite close to Kochou-sama; they seem practically inseparable."
"Which Kochou-sama are you referring to?"
"Kanae-sama is often out on missions, and Mizuki-san has always lived at the Butterfly Mansion. I'm obviously talking about Shinobu-sama."
"I see. I thought you meant Kanao-sama."
"...I think you're being ridiculous. Kanao-sama is only Kanae-sama's adopted daughter, and her surname is Tsuyuri, not Kochou!"
"What?! Kanao-sama, one of the Kochou Three Sisters, doesn't have the surname Kochou? The three of them look so alike, I thought they were blood sisters."
Bang!
A crisp sound rang out.
Muzan directly crushed the wine glass in his hand. Veins pulsed on his forehead, and he felt a strong urge to crush these three idiots into mincemeat.
Can you guys please talk about something important instead of rambling on and on?
Hurry up and bring the conversation back!
He wanted to hear about that woman!
Whether it was an unconscious sense of danger or just coincidence, the three men actually steered the conversation back.
"Speaking of which, who exactly is that Mizuki-san? I've seen her several times when I went to the Butterfly Mansion."
"Her status seems very noble. The Hashira are all familiar with her and address her with honorifics."
Another person showed a look of contempt: "Your information is way too outdated, isn't it?"
"The person at the Butterfly Mansion is a swordsman of incredible strength, so powerful that even the Hashira are no match for her. Didn't you see the Nichirin Blade she wears at her waist?"
That man didn't believe it: "Are you kidding? How could anyone be stronger than a Hashira?"
"I'm not kidding. When I returned from a mission and went to the Butterfly Mansion for wound medicine, I saw Kyoujurou-sensei looking completely covered in injuries."
The veins on Muzan's forehead slowly became visible, looking increasingly sinister.
"Nakime, give me..."
"Hmph, hmph~ I'd say your information is all outdated." The last person snorted twice, his tone full of disdain.
Muzan: "..."
Fine, I'll give you one last chance.
Don't make me lose control and kill you, even if it means exposing myself.
The other two teased, "Oh? What superior insight do you possess?"
"Hmph, hmph..."
Muzan: "Three..."
"There's quite a story here."
"Two..."
"According to reliable sources—listen closely, this isn't fake news."
Muzan said with a dark expression: "Nakime."
Nakime looked up at her master, about to speak... just as the other two, their curiosity piqued, leaned forward.
The man finally stopped holding back and slowly spoke: "That young lady, she's actually a Demon~"
Muzan: "Never mind for now."
Nakime lowered her head.
The other two froze for a moment, then immediately rolled their eyes: "A Demon? Are you saying you don't even know how to lie?"
"Don't you know that young lady's favorite thing to do is sit on the Butterfly Mansion veranda and look at the scenery?"
"I've actually seen her sunbathing."
"Are you sure she's looking at the scenery? I thought she was just spaced out."
"Just tell me whether or not she was sunbathing."
After the three of them bickered briefly, one of them rolled his eyes and said:
"I thought you had some real scandalous news, like maybe that young lady is actually Shinobu-san's lover and they're passionately dating."
"Don't you think my news is more reliable? After all, those two are practically inseparable—even blood sisters wouldn't be that close, right?"
"Objection! Kanae-sama and Shinobu-sama aren't together nearly as much as Shinobu-sama and that young lady."
"Nakime!" Muzan's eyes burned with fury. Sure enough, humans were such idiotic creatures.
Nakime looked up.
Seeing that his two companions didn't believe him, the swordsman who revealed the news said helplessly, "I'm telling the truth! Otherwise, why do you think the Special Training is being carried out so hastily?"
Muzan: "Never mind."
Nakime lowered her head.
The two swordsmen couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
"Let me ask you, what does Kibutsuji Muzan want most?"
"To conquer the sun, of course. Everyone in the world knows that."
This fact was indeed not considered a secret within the Demon Slayer Corps.
Muzan's expression was displeased. Although this was common knowledge, hearing it firsthand was still annoying, giving him the feeling that his secret had been exposed to others.
"So! Don't you understand yet? That Mizuki-san is a Demon who has conquered the sun!"
"You... you must be joking. If even the Demon King, Kibutsuji Muzan, couldn't achieve it, how could any other Demon possibly do it?"
"Exactly! Aren't all other Demons controlled by Muzan? They get cursed just for accidentally saying his name, which shows how petty Muzan is. How could he possibly tolerate a Demon conquering the sun before him?"
"Seriously, if you're going to lie, at least draft it out first."
Muzan crushed the stem of the remaining wine glass fragment held between his fingers, letting out a sound like a groundhog squealing.
"Nakime!!!"
Nakime simply lowered her head and remained silent.
"It's true! My friend saw her appearance after Demonization."
"And it was during the daytime."
"...The friend you mentioned, they actually exist, right? You didn't just make them up?"
"If you don't believe me, you can ask the members who trained previously at Shinazugawa-sama's residence. Many of them saw it."
"The young lady knocking out Shinazugawa-sama after Demonization."
"What? A Hashira was attacked?"
"...No, Kanae-sama and Shinobu-sama seemed to be present."
"What?! Attacking another Hashira right in front of the Hashira?!"
That person got angry and slapped the other on the head: "Are you an idiot! I mean that the Hashira already knew the fact that the young lady was a Demon."
"Oh, oh..."
"Do you get it now?" The man was severely annoyed. "The Special Training is so serious because it's highly likely Muzan discovered the fact that the young lady conquered the sun."
"I see. Given Muzan's desperate desire to conquer the sun, he would indeed be unable to move, like a dog seeing feces."
Muzan took a deep breath, about to speak up for himself.
"Can you even talk properly? What kind of comparison is that!"
Muzan's expression eased considerably.
Very good. Once he attacks the Demon Slayer Corps, he will give this guy a chance to become a Demon.
"It's one thing to compare Muzan to a dog, but why call Mizuki-san dog feces?"
Muzan's face darkened again.
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