"Hahahahaha!"
Inosuke suddenly leaned in, pointing at the ugly little stick figure in the corner and laughing uncontrollably.
"Zenitsu drew this so badly!
He made you look like a puffed-up hedgehog!"
"Don't laugh!"
Kaigaku, wearing his brand-new yellow haori, cursed even as he spoke.
"He already did great! As long as it captures the spirit, that's enough!"
Nearby, Kotoha was combing Nezuko's hair. Tanjiro and Gyutaro were helping Daki sort through the fabrics they'd just bought.
Zenitsu held the photograph, his face dreamy as he relived the splendor of Yoshiwara.
"Ah… so many beautiful big sisters… If only we could open a branch church over there…"
"A branch church?"
Inosuke's ears twitched. His eyes lit up instantly.
He jumped to his feet, planting one foot on the table.
"You're right, Zenitsu!"
He waved his arms wildly, those multicolored eyes blazing with ambition.
"I've decided!
Next phase of the plan—
we're opening branches of the Eternal Paradise Cult all over Japan!"
"Not just Edo! Asakusa too! Osaka too!"
"We're going to carry Father's brainwashing—
I mean, enlightenment—techniques forward!
We'll 'convert' all those rich people and take—no, purify—all their money!"
"And then we'll use it to build Third Uncle the biggest dojo ever!
Buy Mom the prettiest clothes!
And buy you guys endless tempura!"
"Ohhh! Big brother is wise!!"
Zenitsu was the first to clap enthusiastically.
Tanjiro smiled and nodded as well.
"If it's for everyone's happiness, I'll help."
Kotoha covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Then you'll have to study bookkeeping properly, Inosuke."
"Tch! What's hard about accounting?"
Inosuke lifted his chin smugly.
"I've got Dad! I'll just dump all that annoying stuff on him!"
"I'm the young master anyway—my job is just to enjoy life and count money!"
...
Infinity Castle
"This can't go on…"
Muzan murmured to himself.
"That blade is too sharp. If I don't put a collar on him, sooner or later, it'll cut me."
But… how to control him?
Kill him? No—the secret of the Blue Spider Lily was still on him.
Threaten him with Dōma? That lunatic now listened to Inosuke instead.
Threaten Daki and Gyutaro? Those two idiots were useless leverage.
Muzan's gaze turned venomous.
In his mind appeared the human woman whom everyone had protected with their lives during the Yoshiwara battle.
Kotoha.
"Heh… family, is it?"
"As long as I hold this woman in my hands…
Inosuke will kneel at my feet like a dog."
But who should capture her?
It had to be a demon Inosuke had never met before—
one with absolutely overwhelming power,
and one who would never listen to Inosuke.
"Come forth."
Muzan spoke softly into the void, his tone unusually even.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Steady footsteps echoed out of the darkness.
A swordsman stepped forward, wearing a purple kimono patterned with serpents, a grotesque blade covered in eyes hanging at his waist.
He had long black-and-red hair tied into a high ponytail.
Most terrifying of all—
set in his stern, dignified face were six eyes.
Upper Rank One — Kokushibo.
He inclined his head slightly.
"What is your command?"
Muzan looked at his strongest masterpiece and nodded in satisfaction.
"Lord Kokushibo,
I need you to meet someone."
"His name is Hashibira Inosuke."
"Dōma's adopted son. The current Upper Rank Five."
"He's a genius. He created his own Breathing Style."
"And… he once infiltrated the Demon Slayer Corps.
A few days ago, he even personally killed the Wind Hashira."
Muzan narrowed his eyes, studying Kokushibo's six unblinking pupils.
"Don't you think… he resembles you, long ago?"
"Both warriors in pursuit of strength.
Both who turned their backs on humanity."
Kokushibo's six eyes shifted subtly.
After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low.
"A Breathing Style user?"
"If he's a genius, why do you need me?"
Muzan smiled.
"Because right now… he's a wild horse without reins."
"He's too proud. Things have gone too smoothly for him.
He thinks that with a bit of cleverness, he can do whatever he wants in this world."
"I want you… to shatter his pride."
"Make him witness what a true god looks like."
"What an insurmountable abyss really is."
Kokushibo nodded.
"Understood.
Blunt his edge. Break his arrogance.
Do not kill him?"
"Correct."
Muzan stood and walked up beside Kokushibo, whispering into his ear.
"You will fight him and drive him into desperation.
And while you do… I will send others to his home to take something from him."
Kokushibo frowned slightly.
"To take something… why such trouble?
It could simply be taken."
"No."
Muzan shook his head, malice glinting in his eyes.
"That would be boring."
"I want him to watch—
to watch himself be powerless before you,
to watch himself lose what he cherishes most before absolute strength."
"I want him to understand—
everything he has was granted by me."
"And I can take it back at any time."
Kokushibo fell silent.
Slowly, he drew the blade Kokushibō from its sheath.
"As you wish."
Muzan gestured to Nakime.
Zheng!
The shrill sound of the biwa rang through Infinity Castle.
Space twisted. Gravity inverted.
The next instant—
Three figures appeared in the great hall.
Dōma still held half a pastry.
Akaza was frozen mid-meditation.
Daki and Gyutaro stood there, groggy and confused.
"Oh? What's this about?"
Dōma glanced at Muzan seated above, then at the six-eyed swordsman beside him. His pupils shrank slightly.
"Lord Kokushibo is here too?"
"All present."
Muzan looked down at the three Upper Moons, a teasing smile curling his lips.
No small talk.
He issued the command that sent a chill through every spine.
"Dōma."
Muzan pointed at him, his voice as gentle as if discussing the weather.
"Go bring me the woman named Kotoha."
Silence.
Dōma's smile froze.
Akaza snapped his head up, golden eyes filled with disbelief.
Daki and Gyutaro trembled, instinctively wanting to protest.
Kotoha?
Bring her here?
Everyone knew what that meant.
"Ah…"
Dōma broke the silence.
He put his smile back on, shaking his head like he was refusing a spoiled child.
"That won't do, Lord Muzan."
"Kotoha-chan is my believer—and Inosuke's mother. She's human.
Coming here would frighten her."
"And she just fell asleep. She's been running around—"
BOOM!!!
Dōma's head exploded.
Blood sprayed everywhere, splattering Akaza and Daki.
"Do you not understand words?"
Muzan's gaze was icy.
Flesh writhed.
Seconds later, Dōma's head regenerated.
The smile was still there—unchanged, precise.
"Apologies, Lord Muzan."
He wiped the blood from his face. His tone remained respectful—
but his stance was immovable.
"Still not possible."
A refusal.
A merciless refusal.
Akaza clenched his fists.
Daki looked like she was about to cry, but she bit her lip hard.
"Hahahahaha!!"
Muzan suddenly burst into laughter.
He looked at these subordinates who should have obeyed him like dogs.
"How fascinating. Truly fascinating!"
"What kind of spell do Inosuke and that woman cast,
that you worthless things would disobey me for them?!"
His laughter stopped abruptly.
"But that's fine."
"If you won't go…
someone else will."
Muzan turned toward the shadows, toward Kokushibo.
"Go, Lord Kokushibo."
"Give that ignorant brat… a lesson."
Zheng!
The biwa sounded again.
Kokushibo vanished from Infinity Castle.
"Kokushibo?!"
This time, Dōma truly panicked.
He knew far too well how terrifying that six-eyed monster was.
"Let me go!!"
Dōma shouted.
"Lord Muzan! I'll go! Let me go back!!"
Boom!
Countless thorn-like tendrils erupted from all directions, pinning Dōma, Akaza, and the Daki siblings firmly in place.
"Too late."
Muzan leaned back in his throne, watching the struggling demons with a cruel smile.
"You don't need to go anywhere."
"Just wait here."
"Wait for Lord Kokushibo…
and for Kotoha to return."
...
Eternal Paradise Cult
Inosuke was selecting photo frames they'd picked up from the studio.
Suddenly—
His hand stopped.
Crash.
The frame slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor.
Inosuke snapped his head up, staring deep into the hall.
That place should have held Dōma's presence, Daki's noisy voice.
But now…
It was empty.
In an instant—
All demonic auras vanished.
As if forcibly erased.
"What's wrong, Inosuke?"
Tanjiro sensed something amiss.
"They're gone…"
Inosuke's face went pale.
"All of them.
They would never leave without saying anything—never."
An unprecedented wave of panic clenched his heart.
There was only one explanation.
An Infinity Castle summons.
A forced one—no time even to give notice.
"Something big… is happening…"
Inosuke murmured, his hand gripping the fan at his waist.
Just then—
An utterly terrifying presence appeared outside the mountain gate of the Paradise Cult.
Ancient.
Majestic.
Oppressive sword intent.
Every hair on Inosuke's body stood on end.
This feeling…
"He's here."
Inosuke clenched his teeth and looked toward the gate.
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