After killing the demon, the two of them headed deeper into the alley.
Inside, several bodies lay scattered in disarray—people who had already been gnawed on by the demon. Among them, one person was still breathing.
Shinobu quickly took out a serum from her pouch and injected it into the wounded man.
Soon, a hint of life returned to his pale face.
"Hello, hello… can you hear me?"
Shinobu leaned closer, her face wearing a gentle smile.
After waiting a couple of seconds, she spoke again.
"Hello, can you hear my voice?"
The heavily injured man slowly opened his eyes.
"Th… there… there was a monster…"
The fact that he could speak meant the serum had already begun working. Shinobu's eyes curved with relief.
"It's alright. The monster has already been killed. You're safe now."
After Shinobu finished treating him, Aoyama Ren had also finished checking the surroundings.
The only remaining demonic scent nearby belonged to the demon he had just killed.
Soon, members of the Demon Slayer Corps' support unit arrived and began cleaning up the bloody scene.
Watching the busy support staff, Shinobu's usual smile slowly faded.
They had only managed to save one person.
A trace of guilt filled her heart.
Even though she had long grown accustomed to life and death, every time she saw victims harmed by demons, her heart could never stay calm.
Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps worked so hard—yet tragedies like this still happened.
A deep sense of helplessness enveloped her.
"Aoyama -kun…"
"Will we be able to completely eradicate demons someday?"
Her violet eyes turned toward him.
"We will, right?"
Aoyama nodded firmly.
"We will."
Meanwhile, Muzan Kibutsuji, appearing in the form of a child, flipped through numerous medical books.
Yet he still found no reliable information about the Blue Spider Lily.
The scattered clues were useless fragments.
Nothing helpful.
His pupils turned blood-red as the book in his hand suddenly crumbled into pieces.
Another failure.
The sun had already risen.
Muzan slightly pulled aside the thick curtain and extended half a finger into the sunlight.
The instant the sunlight touched it—
His finger began burning.
He quickly closed the curtain.
The burned finger slowly regenerated.
A knock sounded on the door.
A maid entered carrying tea and snacks.
"Young master, your refreshments."
The blood-red color in Muzan's eyes vanished, returning to normal.
The maid set the tray down.
Her eyes were filled with pity.
Such a polite and obedient child—how unfortunate that he suffered from a strange illness that prevented him from seeing sunlight.
Muzan walked away from the window and sat at the table.
"Do I look pitiful?"
"Do I look unhealthy?"
The maid subconsciously nodded, then quickly shook her head.
"N-No, young master! You're very fortunate! Everyone loves you—master and madam care deeply about you!"
Muzan frowned slightly.
"Fortunate?"
"If you could never walk under the sunlight, would you still feel fortunate?"
"Ah—!"
The maid gasped.
Muzan lifted his eyes and crooked his finger.
Gesturing for her to come closer.
Fear suddenly appeared in the maid's heart.
The once gentle child now radiated a terrifying aura.
But despite her fear, she slowly stepped forward and knelt before him.
Muzan extended his index finger and placed it on her forehead.
Stab.
His sharp nail pierced straight into her skull.
A massive amount of blood flowed from his finger into her body.
"AHHH—!"
The maid's pupils expanded wildly, her eyes bulging as if they might fall out.
"Since you think I'm fortunate…"
"Then let me share some of my happiness with you."
His voice sounded soft and pleasant.
But the smile at the corner of his mouth was cruel.
The cells within the maid's body were rapidly infected by Muzan's blood.
She collapsed onto the floor, her body convulsing violently.
Blood poured from her mouth.
Blood flowed from her eyes.
Her vision turned crimson.
Muzan smiled.
"How is it?"
"My noble blood grants you an extraordinary body."
As he spoke, he suddenly grabbed her arm—
And tore it off.
Blood splattered across the tea and snacks.
Yet the maid, now transformed into a demon, regenerated the arm almost instantly despite the unbearable pain.
"AHHHHH!"
A shrill scream echoed through the room.
Downstairs, the butler and servants heard the scream and rushed upstairs.
Even the master and mistress, who had been discussing matters in the study, hurried toward the room.
When the door burst open—
They saw a room drenched in blood.
And the maid, covered in blood, had just pulled open the thick curtains before leaping out the window.
Muzan had already stepped into the shadowed corner of the room.
The sunlight couldn't touch him.
"She jumped!"
"This is the third floor!"
The butler cried out.
He rushed to the window and looked down.
Outside, the maid was exposed to the sunlight.
Her body began burning instantly.
Within seconds—
She turned to ash.
Not even bones remained.
The master pushed the butler aside and quickly shut the curtains.
Meanwhile, the mistress hurried over and embraced Muzan, who stood quietly in the corner.
"Don't be afraid. We're all here."
She comforted him gently.
Hidden in her arms, Muzan's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
What a pity.
They had arrived too quickly.
He hadn't finished playing yet.
Still…
That maid had been interesting.
After seeing her arm regenerate, she had chosen to jump out of the window herself.
In the end—
She was just a fool.
The master angrily scolded the servants.
"What happened here?!"
"Why did that woman go mad?!"
"Someone explain this!"
The servants all lowered their heads, too afraid to speak.
The mistress held the child tightly, her face filled with concern.
"For such a bloody scene to be witnessed by a child… how cruel."
The master glanced at the gore-filled room.
"Why are you all standing there?!"
"Prepare a new room for the young master immediately!"
"This must never happen again!"
Muzan said nothing.
Everything before him—
The people.
The chaos.
To him, it was nothing more than a play.
If he could find the Blue Spider Lily, everything would change.
The balance of power would shift entirely in his favor.
As for Akaza, Upper Rank Three…
He was becoming increasingly disappointing.
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