Although he thought so, Muzan did not ignore Mizuki's presence.
He didn't even care about Ubuyashiki Kagaya, who was sitting inside the house behind her; Muzan's crimson eyes were filled with Mizuki's image.
Observing her up close, she really did look more similar.
However, her features were a bit softer than that monster's, making it clear at a glance that she was a woman.
Upon closer inspection, only their Faces were similar.
Muzan felt much more at ease deep down.
Indeed, that kind of monster... couldn't possibly appear a second time.
Noticing Muzan staring at her like that, Mizuki's lips curled into a faint smile: "What? Staring like that? Does it remind you of your miserable memories of being beheaded?"
Muzan snapped out of it, his pale Face darkening a few shades.
After mocking Muzan, Mizuki turned her gaze to Kokushibou, who stood behind Muzan, a hint of sarcasm on her lips: "Oh, isn't this Kokushibou? Haven't seen you in a while, how did you end up as someone's errand boy?"
She had understood long ago.
Kokushibou... or rather, Michikatsu, wasn't jealous of others having higher talent or being stronger than him.
If he truly yearned to be the strongest and had killed Kibutsuji Muzan as well, then Mizuki might have thought more highly of him.
But he was only jealous of his brother; he was only jealous that the person with higher talent than him was his own brother.
"Look at me here? I'm a distinguished guest of the Demon Slayer Corps~" Mizuki drew out her words, pointing her thumb towards Ubuyashiki behind her. "Their boss even has to give me Face."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya coughed incessantly, as if choked.
He wasn't having a relapse; he just couldn't hold back.
Mizuki's crimson eyes slightly darkened: "You, are truly pathetic~"
Her tone was not sarcastic like the previous sentence, but rather carried a hint of pity.
Kokushibou subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
He knew Mizuki was always articulate, but he just couldn't stand it.
Words that strike the Soul are effective no matter how many times they are used.
Muzan also cast his gaze over due to Ubuyashiki's light cough, his brows slightly furrowed.
He could smell a faint stench of decay.
Upon closer inspection, he could even see faint purple patches beneath the skin.
This guy... doesn't have long to live?
"We finally meet, Kibutsuji Muzan... the demon our Family has pursued for a thousand years." Ubuyashiki Kagaya seemed to understand Muzan's slightly surprised expression, and his gentle voice softly rang out, "The stain and disgrace of our Family..."
Muzan's brows furrowed even deeper.
"You must harbor deep hatred for me... for the Ubuyashiki Clan, right?" Ubuyashiki Kagaya's lips held a faint smile. "Only I... you will surely come to kill personally..."
Mizuki glanced sideways at the two: "Are there such idiots?"
She actually couldn't quite understand.
It was indeed a thousand years of grudges, but if they couldn't guarantee a decisive victory, shouldn't they be more cautious?
If it were her, even if she found the person, she wouldn't actively show herself; it would be embarrassing to capsize in a ditch.
If it were her, she would directly send the six-eyed lemon spirit behind the opponent to kill Ubuyashiki.
Even with the Hashira blocking, with Kokushibou's strength, as long as he wasn't careless, there was a chance to annihilate the Demon Slayer Corps before the Hashira adapted to the battle and activated their Demon Slayer Marks and Transparent World.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya: "..."
Didn't he come?
Muzan: "..."
Kokushibou, your younger sister is indeed very annoying.
Earlier, listening to the other party quarrel with Kokushibou, he found it quite interesting, thinking that Kokushibou actually had such a side to him.
Now, he only felt irritated.
Can't she just shut up and let him eat her?
After a moment of silence, Muzan decisively ignored Mizuki and looked at Ubuyashiki Kagaya: "I'm no longer interested in you."
"With your physical condition, you won't live much longer."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's smile didn't fade: "Yes, in fact, half a year ago... the doctor said I only had a few days left to live."
Just a few days?
Judging by Muzan's perception, this guy could live for at least another month or so.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya: "If it weren't for Young Miss Mizuki, the me you see now would probably be in a much worse state."
Muzan narrowed his eyes, his gaze softening slightly.
"This is all because a monster like you appeared in our Family... causing our Family to be cursed."
"The children born are all frail and sickly, dying soon after." Ubuyashiki Kagaya calmly recounted the tragedy of his Family.
Ninety-nine percent of the Demon Slayer Corps members had an irreconcilable hatred for Muzan, but if one had to distinguish levels, no one could surpass the Ubuyashiki Clan.
Others, at most, had their Families wiped out by Muzan, but the Ubuyashiki Clan was different; simply because an evil person like Muzan emerged from their Family, they were implicated, and their descendants would never find peace.
"When our Bloodline was on the verge of extinction, we received advice from the Lord God."
"A demon has appeared in your Bloodline; you must pour your heart and Soul into defeating him..."
"Only then will your Family not be extinguished..."
"We have married wives from the Family of priests for generations, and our children no longer die so easily."
"But even so, none of us can live past thirty."
Looking at the smile that never left Ubuyashiki's Face, Muzan only found his words utterly absurd.
"Utterly absurd, sickening." Muzan said expressionlessly, "Has your illness gone to your head?"
Illness?
Mizuki was slightly startled. This guy... doesn't know about the Ubuyashiki Clan's curse?
Perhaps he really didn't know.
Muzan never had the opportunity to interact closely with the Ubuyashiki Clan; even during the Sengoku Period, when the Demon Slayer Corps was pushed to the brink, the Ubuyashiki Clan managed to evade him with their Heaven-Defying intuition.
Of course, knowing or not knowing made no difference.
If Muzan truly had a conscience, then there wouldn't be so much tragedy in this world caused by him.
"Those matters have no Karma whatsoever, because—"
"I have never received any divine punishment." Muzan's lips slightly curved upwards, and he pointed to his forehead. "Even after killing hundreds and thousands of humans, I was forgiven."
"In this thousand years, I have seen neither God nor Buddha."
Mizuki's eyes darkened a few shades.
Indeed.
There's no such thing as God in this world.
They can't even deal with a small demon king, forcing him to wreak havoc on the human world for a thousand years.
"So that's what you think..." Ubuyashiki Kagaya was not surprised. "But I also have my own thoughts..."
"Muzan, what is your dream?"
The topic changed so quickly that everyone present didn't react.
Kibutsuji Muzan fell silent, not understanding what this guy wanted to say.
"For this thousand years, what dreams have you been pursuing?"
How strange... before him was the obnoxious mastermind of the Demon Slayer Corps, yet he felt no hatred in his heart.
Instead, he found him somewhat agreeable.
Was it because of the Bloodline flowing through his body?
"Let me guess." Ubuyashiki Kagaya interrupted his thoughts. "You dream of eternity, you yearn for immortality..."
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