"Do not speak a single word about me. Do you understand?"
Under the moonlight, Kibutsuji Muzan raised the index finger of his right hand and spoke expressionlessly to Rokuro, who had just become a Lower Rank and was kneeling on the ground.
His slightly magnetic voice carried not the slightest trace of emotion.
Muzan did not say what would happen if he disobeyed—but the terror radiating from Rokuro's cells told him everything. No matter where he was, the man before him could easily take his life.
"Y-Yes… yes… I understand," Rokuro replied repeatedly, his voice trembling.
That fear had been carved into his very cells, something that would never fade…
And now, being questioned about Muzan once more, Rokuro recalled that moment again.
The turnover among the Lower Ranks was extremely frequent. Demon Slayers accounted for part of it, but internal competition among demons was another major reason. In order to obtain more blood and grow stronger, most intelligent demons aspired to become one of the Twelve Kizuki.
Yet even becoming a member of the Twelve Kizuki did not mean safety. As Muzan's direct subordinates, if a Lower Rank's strength or behavior failed to satisfy him, the lightest punishment was losing their title—at worst, they would be devoured outright.
As Lower Rank Two, Rokuro had personally witnessed a Lower Rank being erased on the spot by Muzan for saying a single wrong sentence.
I can't say anything… absolutely can't… If I do, I'll die horribly. Even dying at this Demon Slayer's hands would be better than speaking…
Rokuro trembled uncontrollably as these thoughts raced through him.
"Muzan was the one who turned you into a demon, wasn't he? As one of his direct subordinates in the Twelve Kizuki, are you really telling me you know nothing about him?" Kazuki asked coldly, looking down at Rokuro.
Having finally encountered a demon so closely connected to Muzan, Kazuki naturally wanted to extract as much information as possible.
"I don't know… I really don't know…" Rokuro continued to shake his head, stubbornly refusing to speak. His body inched along the ground—but he was actually moving closer to Kazuki.
As long as I can touch him, there's still a chance to escape with my Blood Demon Art.
That was Rokuro's plan. He intended to regenerate his arms at the right moment, grab Kazuki's leg, and activate his Blood Demon Art.
So Muzan's control over demons really is formidable…
Kazuki thought with faint disappointment. He had naturally noticed Rokuro's small movements. Slowly, he raised his crimson-red Nichirin blade.
Seeing Kazuki's motion, Rokuro immediately attempted to regenerate all four of his limbs.
The next instant, searing, bone-burning pain surged from the severed stumps of his limbs. The regeneration he imagined did not occur at all.
How is this possible? Why can't I regenerate? I clearly ate plenty of humans tonight—there should be more than enough power to regenerate. Why?
Rokuro was utterly incredulous. At this moment, despair swallowed him whole.
"In that case, go to hell and atone for everything you've done," Kazuki said calmly.
From Rokuro's reaction, he surmised that Muzan likely possessed some method of controlling demons—one that prevented them from resisting him, or even from speaking about him.
With that, Kazuki no longer intended to waste time on this demon. The Bright Red Nichirin Blade flashed at a speed too fast to follow, slicing across Rokuro's neck. His head rolled onto the ground.
"Damn it! I finally became a Lower Rank, only to die at the hands of a brat like you!" Rokuro's severed head screamed as both his body and head began turning to ash.
"I'm not satisfied… really… not satisfied…" His voice gradually faded as his entire body crumbled into dust.
Silently, Kazuki sheathed his Nichirin blade, his heart heavy.
Two missions in quick succession had made him realize the crushing responsibility borne by the Demon Slayer Corps. Every mission skirted the edge of death, placing immense strain on both body and mind.
With his overwhelming strength, he at least did not need to worry about his own life—but the other members…
Kazuki slowly walked over to the Demon Slayer who had just died. He bent down and gently closed the man's wide-open eyes.
Rest in peace…
Grief and suffocating anguish filled his heart, and at that moment, he recalled words Kyojuro had once spoken to him…
"Yō, do you know why some people are born stronger than others?"
It was just after Kazuki had completed developing the sword techniques of his Breathing Style. Beneath the setting sun, he and Kyojuro were resting together on the steps of the Corps residence when Kyojuro suddenly asked him that question.
After days of constant praise from his teacher, Kazuki had gradually realized that his talent was exceptional. Hearing this now, he vaguely sensed that Kyojuro was speaking about him.
Kazuki fell silent in thought for a while, opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped. In the end, he said, "I'm… not sure."
He had originally wanted to say it was to eradicate evil—but upon reflection, he felt that "evil" was not something easily defined. If a powerful person mistakenly judged good people as evil, innocent lives could be taken.
At that moment, Kyojuro turned to look at him and spoke with unusual solemnity.
"It is to help the weak. Those blessed with extraordinary talent, who surpass ordinary people, must use that power for the world and for others.
They must never use heaven-given abilities to harm others or seek personal gain.
Helping the weak is the duty of the naturally strong—and the responsibility we must shoulder, a mission we must uphold for life…"
When Kyojuro finished speaking, Kazuki noticed a hint of moisture at the corners of his eyes.
Kazuki didn't understand why, but those words were engraved deeply into his heart.
After a brief pause, Kyojuro continued, "Yō, your talent is exceptional—stronger than anyone I've ever seen. This talent means you were born stronger than most people.
But precisely because of that, you must restrain yourself even more strictly and support the weak. The talents bestowed upon us by heaven are meant to protect, not to destroy. Do you understand?"
From his teacher's calm words, Kazuki felt an extraordinary strength and conviction, deepening his respect and understanding of him.
"Yes!" Kazuki answered firmly, meeting Kyojuro's gaze.
I'm sorry, Sensei. I couldn't live up to it…
After slaying the demon, the fury in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by guilt and self-reproach. In both missions, he had watched others die right before his eyes—the pain in Kazuki's heart was beyond words.
Yet he did not remain immersed in sorrow. He stood up, took down the corpses hanging from the trees, and buried them one by one.
About twenty minutes later, members of the Kakushi arrived upon receiving the news. By then, Kazuki had already buried nearly half of the bodies.
"Kazuki-sama, the Master has learned that you eliminated one of the Twelve Kizuki on your own. Your rank has now been elevated to Hashira. The Master has summoned you to return and attend the Hashira Meeting."
A Kakushi member ran up to him and spoke respectfully.
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