The long-awaited sun finally rose above the horizon, bringing warm sunlight that dispelled the darkness of the world and filled the earth with light.
To humans, it was gentle sunlight.
To demons, it was the most terrifying thing in the world.
Even Muzan Kibutsuji was no exception.
"No… Do not let the sun touch me. Do not let the sun touch me!"
Seeing the rising sun and feeling its light shine upon him, Muzan Kibutsuji cried out in terror. But the gentle sunlight did not bend to his will. It spread across the earth, fell upon every corner of the world, and landed on Muzan Kibutsuji's body.
Under the sunlight, even the first demon began to disintegrate.
"I do not want to die! I do not want to die!"
Feeling his body breaking apart in the sunlight, Muzan let out a terrified scream. His obsession with life exceeded all imagination.
Even though he knew nothing could change what was happening, his body continued to transform.
In order to escape the sun, Muzan's form began to change. His body started shrinking, yet the outer layer of flesh and blood proliferated endlessly. In the end, his external appearance became that of a giant infant made entirely of flesh.
This enormous infant shell blocked the sunlight from reaching the Muzan hidden deep inside, preventing the one concealed within from dying under the sun.
Long ago, in the distant Heian period, he had been conceived, yet even before birth he had been tightly bound by the shadow of death. In his mother's womb, his weak heart had once stopped beating. He had even been born as a stillborn child.
Driven by his desperate obsession with living, he had ultimately crawled back from the gates of death. After that, he experienced countless things. His thirst for life eventually turned him into the immortal first demon.
He had never imagined that today, he would once again return to the form of an infant.
Both times, in the form of an infant, he had been filled with obsession over survival.
Before, relying on that obsession to live, he had crawled out from death's door.
This time…?
"Hah!"
The blade containing the energy of the sun cut through the infant shell, revealing Muzan Kibutsuji hiding inside.
"No…"
As the shell split open, sunlight shone in once again, and Muzan Kibutsuji let out a terrified wail.
To humans, sunlight was gentle. To demons, it was like the deadliest poison in the world. Under the sun, even Muzan was no different from any other demon—his body slowly crumbling away.
This time, there was no infant shell left to shield him.
"I do not want to die! I do not want to die!"
Muzan Kibutsuji cried out in unwillingness and fear, but he could not stop his life from fading little by little. The only difference between him and an ordinary demon was perhaps that his disintegration was slightly slower.
But beneath the watchful eyes of so many swordsmen, his death under the sun was already certain.
And a demon like him would likely never ascend to heaven after death.
He would only fall into hell.
His body disintegrated bit by bit. No matter how unwilling he was to part with life, he could only meet the end in fear and resentment. Just like those families whose homes had once been invaded by demons in the night. No matter how desperately they resisted, before the overwhelming strength of demons, they could only watch their happiness be destroyed.
"You are a demon too! You are a demon too!"
At the final moment of his life, Muzan Kibutsuji roared loudly, his face full of resentment.
"You're helping these humans like this—don't you know you're a demon yourself?"
"Do you think these people will let you go?"
With words meant to wound the heart, Muzan Kibutsuji glared at Soma with hatred.
"No matter what, you're a demon. We are ultimately the same kind."
"Hah!"
The blade left its sheath and gave Muzan Kibutsuji the final strike.
"I will… wait for you in hell."
Muzan Kibutsuji's body completely disintegrated.
There was no difference between his death and that of any other demon. The unpleasant stench released after a demon's death began to spread through the air.
I will wait for you in hell.
Muzan Kibutsuji's dying voice seemed to continue echoing faintly in the air.
"I am not going to hell. You may never get that chance."
Soma looked calmly at Muzan Kibutsuji, who had completely turned to ash and vanished.
...
Muzan Kibutsuji was dead.
At this moment, every surviving demon in the world sensed it.
Every demon still alive fell into panic and fear.
At the same time, there was disbelief.
They could not believe that Muzan Kibutsuji, the being whose domination had always filled them with terror, had finally been killed.
...
A breeze blew through, scattering some of the foul stench that filled Yoshiwara.
Led by Gyomei Himejima, Kyojuro Rengoku, and Sanemi Shinazugawa, the swordsmen watched Muzan Kibutsuji's body vanish.
Even though they had witnessed Muzan Kibutsuji die before their very eyes, it still felt unreal.
"Is Muzan Kibutsuji truly dead?"
Kyojuro Rengoku clenched his fists, his voice filled with both unease and excitement.
"Namu Amida Butsu."
Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together, tears streaming from his eyes. "I can feel it. Muzan Kibutsuji has truly vanished from this world."
Although that was what he had witnessed through his Mind's Eye, Gyomei Himejima still found it difficult to believe.
For more than a thousand years, this had been what the Demon Slayer Corps had pursued, what they had longed to accomplish. Generation after generation had sacrificed so much, yet never achieved it. At times, they had not even been able to see hope.
And today, it had been done.
The Demon Slayer Corps had finally accomplished the goal they had always sought.
Protect humanity.
Purge the demons.
It truly felt like a dream.
Of course, there were certainly still demons outside who had not been completely eradicated. But with Muzan Kibutsuji, the source of all demons, cut down, the number of demons in this world was now limited. Each one slain would mean one fewer remaining. Sooner or later, the day would come when they were all wiped out.
"The wish pursued for a thousand years has finally been fulfilled today."
Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together. "The Master's trust, and the hopes he once held, have finally not been betrayed. If the Master could see this, he would surely feel relieved."
"There is still one demon left to deal with." Soma spoke at that moment.
Everyone froze.
"Kokushibo is still sealed away. It is time to let him come out and enjoy the sun."
Soma's voice was calm.
"Yes. There is still Kokushibo."
Only then did Gyomei Himejima remember that there was still such a demon. The battle against Muzan Kibutsuji had left everyone utterly exhausted in both body and mind.
Soon, several swordsmen dragged a heavy box over and opened it. What appeared before them were Kokushibo's six terrifying eyes.
But now, those six eyes were tightly constricted, filled with disbelief.
As the strongest of the Twelve Kizuki, Kokushibo had followed Muzan Kibutsuji for a very long time. Naturally, he understood just how powerful Muzan was.
Even his younger brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, had been unable to end Muzan Kibutsuji.
And yet what he felt in his heart was clear.
They did what even Yoriichi could not?
Kokushibo's eyes widened.
Once, what he had desired was to become someone like his younger brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni. For that, he had struggled constantly, hoping that one day he would surpass Yoriichi.
But everything had ended on that red moon night. With Yoriichi Tsugikuni's death, Kokushibo had lost any chance of defeating his brother.
Kokushibo had believed there would never again be anyone in this world who could surpass Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
And now, someone had accomplished what even Yoriichi could not.
"Clang!"
The sharp blade left its sheath.
Soma's blade cut mercilessly into Kokushibo's body.
Kokushibo did not resist. He only quietly watched it happen. In truth, from the moment the box had been opened and sunlight had touched him, his death had already begun its countdown.
This slash only hastened the process.
The edge of the Nichirin Sword passed through his body, and his life completely faded at that moment.
Just like other demons, who released an unpleasant stench upon death, Kokushibo's death also caused a foul odor to spread through the area.
Tap, tap, tap…
Hurried footsteps approached.
The young Master, Kiriya Ubuyashiki, quickly walked over and asked anxiously, "Mr. Soma, Muzan Kibutsuji is dead, correct?"
"Yes. He is dead."
Soma raised his head, looked at the young Master, and spoke calmly.
"It is truly… over."
"The thousand-year fate has truly ended."
Tears fell from Kiriya Ubuyashiki's eyes at that moment. As though feeling that crying made him look too weak, he hurriedly wiped the corners of his eyes with his hand.
"I am only too happy. Too happy. Truly too happy. We have finally purged the source of all demons. We have truly ended everything. It is all over."
Kiriya Ubuyashiki let out an excited cheer, and many people cheered with him.
But some swordsmen remained silent.
In Yoshiwara, many swordsmen had seen the demon who fought against Muzan Kibutsuji.
A demon who was perhaps even more terrifying than Muzan Kibutsuji himself.
That demon still existed.
He might even be more terrifying than Muzan Kibutsuji.
As long as that demon existed…
Could everything truly be considered over?
...
Clearly, not every swordsman could accept the existence of a demon the way Tanjiro and Nezuko could.
Even if this demon had done many things for the Demon Slayer Corps.
It was not that the swordsmen had truly forgotten everything Soma had contributed to the Corps. Rather, their hatred for demons was simply too deep.
Before joining the Demon Slayer Corps, most swordsmen had once had their own happiness destroyed by demons.
Their hatred of demons was rooted deep within their hearts.
When facing demons, they almost only wanted to cut off their heads and end their lives. Swordsmen like Kanae Kocho, who held the wish to save demons, were extremely rare within the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Sir, this victory truly relied entirely on you. Without your leadership, we would never have won today."
Kiriya Ubuyashiki's face was full of excitement.
He had not witnessed Soma's battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and still did not know that Soma was a demon. At this moment, he was simply happy about their victory, and his heart was filled with pure respect and admiration for Soma.
After all, for more than a thousand years, the Demon Slayer Corps had paid countless sacrifices and had never seen any hope of purging demons. Now, this long nightmare had ended in Soma's hands. That alone proved his ability.
As expected, he had not been wrong when he first saw Soma on Mount Fujikasane.
At the time, Kiriya had felt that Soma and he were like his father and Gyomei Himejima in the past.
And with Muzan Kibutsuji's death, Kiriya Ubuyashiki felt as though his entire body had grown much lighter.
It was not only because the pressure from Muzan Kibutsuji had vanished. It also seemed that the curse flowing through his bloodline had begun to lift.
After all, in the very beginning, Muzan Kibutsuji had come from the Ubuyashiki family. Because he had become a demon, the entire Ubuyashiki family had been cursed. Almost every male descendant of the Ubuyashiki family was born frail and died young.
Kiriya Ubuyashiki's constitution had never been good. As he grew older, he had increasingly felt the weakness of his body. His heartbeat was always faint, and his breathing was always shallow.
Now, Kiriya Ubuyashiki could clearly feel his heartbeat growing stronger.
Muzan Kibutsuji's death did not merely represent the purging of demons from this world.
For the Ubuyashiki family, it also meant that the gloom that had hung over them for so long had finally been completely broken.
"Thank you so much, sir. And thank you, every swordsman here, for your efforts."
Kiriya Ubuyashiki stood up and bowed deeply to Soma, then to every swordsman present.
Although Kiriya was young, ever since Kagaya Ubuyashiki's death, he had handled every matter of the Demon Slayer Corps in an orderly manner. He had long since earned the respect of many swordsmen.
But now, watching Kiriya Ubuyashiki show such respect to a demon, some swordsmen felt extremely complicated.
"The most important thing right now is to treat the wounded." Soma spoke at that moment.
"Yes. Yes, of course."
Kiriya Ubuyashiki immediately nodded. "Muzan Kibutsuji's death made me far too excited. That was truly careless of me. I will have people handle it at once."
...
Soon, the Ubuyashiki family established a simple medical station inside a ruined building near Yoshiwara.
As the master of the Butterfly Mansion, Shinobu Kocho naturally became the person in charge of medical treatment this time. Soma also joined in and helped give the swordsmen basic treatment.
However, when Soma tried to treat some swordsmen's wounds, almost all of them refused.
Even when they knew that their lives might be in danger if their wounds were not treated in time, they still chose to refuse.
Clearly, they could not accept having a demon treat their injuries.
Yet once, these same swordsmen would have considered it an honor to receive treatment from Soma after being wounded.
Their attitude had subtly changed after learning that he was a demon.
Soma did not insist on treating them. He silently returned to his temporary quarters.
Naturally, Soma could sense the change in everyone's feelings toward him. To be honest, it made him somewhat uncomfortable, but it was not something he could not accept.
...
Treating the wounded and handling the aftermath were matters for which the Demon Slayer Corps already had dedicated procedures. Everything was dealt with in an orderly manner.
As for the demons still remaining across various regions, the Demon Slayer Corps continued hunting them down. But everyone knew that purging those demons was only a matter of time.
And the truth that Soma was a demon gradually became known to more swordsmen.
For example, Makomo.
For example, Kiriya Ubuyashiki.
For example, Hinaki Ubuyashiki.
...
Many swordsmen who had not personally witnessed Soma's demonic side found it impossible to believe.
But facts were facts.
And after they learned that Soma was a demon,
certain truths that had been buried also gradually surfaced.
Had he truly never killed an innocent swordsman back when he was a demon?
Others might not know.
But after Makomo learned that Soma was a demon, she gradually began to understand some things.