《I, Kibutsuji Muzan, Does Not Want To Die (A Kimetsu No Yaiba Fanfiction)》 Prologue Before me, a dying man lies on a futon, staring at me. No, judging by the grotesque bruises and bandages covering most of his face, he likely can''t even see me properly. A woman sits close beside him, supporting his shoulders as he struggles to sit up. Without her, he probably wouldn''t even be able to remain upright. His breathing is labored... the same ragged sound I''ve heard countless times from those on the brink of death. Blood seeps from his eyes and mouth¡ªleft alone, he would die soon enough. He teeters on the edge of death. Even so, the man¡ªUbuyashiki¡ªlooks straight at me. "Do you¡­ wish to defeat me¡­?" Ubuyashiki speaks, saying that he should have died half a year ago. And yet, he continues to live¡ªfor one reason alone. To defeat me... Kibutsuji Muzan. "You may not¡­ know this¡­ but¡­ you and I¡­ share the same bloodline¡­." "You were born¡­ over a thousand years ago¡­ so our blood is no longer close¡­." "But because¡­ our family gave rise to a monster like you¡­ we have been cursed¡­." He speaks of fate¡ªthe consequences of my transformation into a demon. The Ubuyashiki bloodline is doomed¡ªno one among them lives past the age of thirty. And to break this curse, they must dedicate everything to my destruction. A shared bloodline¡­? Is that why this mansion feels so strangely familiar? I remember¡ªlong ago, when I was still human¡ªlying on a futon, gazing at a garden, just as Ubuyashiki does now. Even though it was a thousand years ago, the emptiness, the helplessness I felt then... I recall it as if it were yesterday. "¡­For a thousand years since I became a demon, you have endured?" "That¡¯s right¡­ We created the Demon Slayer Corps for that very purpose¡­ generation after generation¡­." "To defeat you, the progenitor of demons¡­ Kibutsuji Muzan¡ª! Guh¡ª!" Coughing up blood, struggling to breathe, Ubuyashiki forces out his words. "¡­I see. So you believe¡­ I should die?" I close my eyes. To collect my thoughts. "I don¡¯t expect you to simply accept death¡­." "But tell me one thing." "Muzan¡­ what dream do you live for?" "A dream¡­?" "Or, if you prefer¡­ a purpose¡­ What is it that you seek?" "A purpose huh? Then, let me ask you in return." I open my eyes and quietly pose my question. A thought that has lingered within me for so long. "When faced with the choice between life and death, why do humans like you always choose death?" I''ve seen it countless times. Time and time again, I''ve witnessed that incomprehensible sight. "For a loved one, for a friend, for a child, for a parent¡­ for the future." Stepping forward, I press my foot into the gravel of the garden, drawing closer to Ubuyashiki. Crunch¨C "No matter how beautifully you dress it up with words, in the end, it''s someone else''s problem. Why stake your life on it? Why can you sacrifice yourself without hesitation? For a thousand years¡­ I have never understood." "Muzan¡­ you¡­" For the first time, Ubuyashiki¡¯s composed demeanor wavers. He turns toward me, appearing uncertain. Though his blood-filled eyes see nothing, I feel as if he is gazing into something within me. "¡­I think it is admirable. I even find it noble. Even when ravaged by such an affliction, your will remains unshaken. I respect you for that, Ubuyashiki. Your obsession, your resolve to ensure that your curse does not burden your children. ¡­If I were to give you my blood now, you would live. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. I could give it to your family as well. What do you say, Ubuyashiki?" A single question from me to him. "You already know the answer, don¡¯t you?" His refusal doesn''t even need to be spoken. But of course, I already knew. "¡­I expected as much." Many humans, when faced with death, have taken my offer. But people like him¡ªmen of his nature¡ªrarely ever do. "Magnificent¡­ this is human strength, the brilliance of life¡­ Few humans are as strong as you. Standing at the precipice of death, without hesitation, without fear. For the sake of the future, you cast aside your own life without a moment¡¯s doubt¡­" I offer him genuine praise. He is an extraordinary man. Because of me, he has suffered. He must have been in agony. Surely, in truth, he wishes to make me suffer, to kill me with his own hands. "I do not¡­ believe I am throwing my life away. It will continue¡­ my life¡­ my will¡­ Just as my family has carried it forward until now¡­ my children¡­ will inherit it¡­ Human will is eternal. It is indestructible." Even so, Ubuyashiki truly believes that it doesn¡¯t matter if he himself fulfills his long-held desire. As long as I die and the future continues, that is enough. And as long as the future carries on, his will shall be passed down endlessly. "¡­I do not understand. No, I do understand. That is human strength¡ªthis ability to pass down one''s will and create something new." "¡­If you understand that, then why¡­ why do you¡­?" "Even so, that is only something I can comprehend when looking at it from the outside, as a mere observer of events that do not directly concern me. Even if someone tells me that my death would save people¡­ I cannot choose to die. I cannot choose to sacrifice myself, to protect something, to pass something on." Ubuyashiki falls silent. I offer him my answer once again. "You asked me about my purpose, Ubuyashiki? Very well, I shall answer you. I have no purpose. I live simply because I do not want to die." At my response, Ubuyashiki forces out his words. "¡­You consume humans as a demon, prolonging your existence¡­ and you call that living?" "It does not matter whether I am cursed or despised. It does not matter whether I am no longer human. Even if I am monstrous, I could not care less. What I fear is the loss of my self. If before me lay the choice between life and death¡­ I would never choose death." "¡­And so we are to suffer in your place?" "It is not that¡­ I am indifferent to it." It was the first time I had heard of it¡ªthat the curse of my transformation into a demon had been passed down through my bloodline. I had always known that the Demon Slayer Corps was obsessed with my destruction. To fight against the threat of demons, to avenge those who had suffered, to strike down their enemy for countless reasons¡­ It had always been a mystery to me why their ranks never diminished. Even when Kokushibo once took it upon himself to slaughter many of their key members, their numbers soon swelled again. I recall the irritation that twisted his six-eyed face. "But¡­ if you ask me whether that would make me choose to die, my answer is no." Now that I think about it, Ubuyashiki¡¯s frail form reminds me of my own past self, lying sick in bed. When I first became a demon¡­ I no longer remember my exact age, but I was not much different from Ubuyashiki now. It seems that the curse upon his family forces them to endure the same suffering that my human self once did¡ªthe suffering I should have endured. Had I not become a demon, I would have died soon after. Even then, I had already lost the strength to stand on my own. "But¡­ if gods or Buddhas exist, they are cruel indeed. If retribution must be given, it should have been given to me directly. ¡­In the end, there are no gods or Buddhas, are there?" To think that the powerlessness I once felt has now been forced upon my distant kin¡­ Even I cannot help but feel something stir within me. Whatever force is responsible¡­ it is truly malicious. "¡­No, you will face the consequences of your cursed existence." "¡­What?" "You have already¡­ stepped on the tails of sleeping dragons and lions. Perhaps not you, yourself. But the demons you created have given birth to countless tragedies. Muzan, the time has come for you to pay for your reckless, irresponsible existence. My beloved children¡­ will be the ones to bring retribution upon you." "¡­So you acted as bait?" The woman supporting Ubuyashiki''s shoulder flinched slightly. Ubuyashiki himself merely smiled, showing no reaction. "I can smell gunpowder¡­ far more than enough to blow this estate to pieces. Are you truly planning to take yourself, your wife, and your daughters with you in the explosion?" The two daughters, who had been playing innocently in the garden, now stood still, gripping a ball in their hands. Their mother, too, stood beside them. All three looked straight at me. In their eyes, I saw unwavering resolve. "Even knowing this¡­ you still chose to engage in conversation with me?" "¡­Yes. I believed it was the least I could do for the man I was willing to stake my life against." "Hah¡­ is that so?" For the first time, Ubuyashiki''s smile was different¡ªsomehow more carefree, almost frivolous. "Perhaps¡­ you are not as evil as we had thought you to be. It seems my intuition¡­ was not as reliable as I had hoped¡­" ¡­What nonsense. "Are you suggesting that I, who have devoured humans and created man-eating demons, am not a villain?" "Yes¡­ You have killed countless people, no doubt¡­ But we, the Ubuyashiki family, have also sent countless children to their deaths. I have no regrets about it¡­ yet, whenever a death report arrives, I can''t help but think¡ª Am I not just the same as you, in taking so many lives?" "I have never once believed myself to be righteous¡­ But if what I have done is to be called evil¡­ then I must be¡ª cough, cough!" "Foolishness." What absurdity. It was none other than what he had just told me moments ago. "Whether good or evil, you upheld your conviction to the very end. There was not a single falsehood in it. Was it not the will of humanity to be passed down? Was your conviction so feeble that it wavered now? If so¡­ perhaps I should kill you with my own hands before you die in the explosion." Ubuyashiki seemed taken aback by my words, but soon lowered his head, his shoulders trembling. He coughed up a particularly large clot of blood and then grinned. "Heh¨C haha¨C To think you would be the one to console me. Ah¡­ Muzan. I never imagined I would have such an enjoyable conversation with you in my final moments." The presence of fire grew stronger. It was likely only moments before this entire estate would be engulfed in flames. The man before me, his wife, and his daughters must have known this. And yet, they looked at me with nothing but calm determination in their eyes, as if they were simply going about their daily lives. ¡ªUp until that moment, I had intended to escape just before the explosion. But suddenly, I changed my mind. I wasn¡¯t sure what caused it. "Ubuyashiki." "¡­What is it?" "Tell me your name, one last time." Ubuyashiki let out a small chuckle and composed himself slightly. "I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the 97th head of the Ubuyashiki family." "I am Kibutsuji Muzan, the progenitor of man-eating demons. Kagaya¡­ As long as I remain myself, I will never forget your name." "That¡­ makes me happy." "¡­Kagaya, in honor of your resolve, I declare this now. The long-standing feud between demons and the Demon Slayer Corps¡­ will be settled here and now. By tomorrow¡¯s sunrise, only one side shall remain¡ªeither us demons or the human Demon Slayers." The explosions had begun. Flames roared, consuming everything¡ªthe futon where Kagaya lay, the garden where his daughters stood¡ªeverything was within the blast zone. As the fire engulfed all, Kagaya¡ª "Thank you, Muzan." ¡ªwas smiling. A radiant, unwavering smile. The deafening explosion followed, flames swallowing me whole. The intense heat melted and burned my body, yet strangely, my heart remained still. Surely, I should have died long ago¡­ Perhaps when I became a demon. No, even before that¡ªwhen I killed the doctor. And yet, I had lived. I had continued to live¡­ If I were to be completely incinerated here, that would be the rightful end. All I had to do was relinquish my strength, lie down, and let it happen. That was all it would take. And yet¡ª "Even so, I do not want to die." Amidst the all-consuming flames, I recalled the path I had walked¡ª The long, relentless path that had brought me to this moment. Chapter 1: Sunset From the moment I was born¡­ No, even before I was born, death had always been by my side. In my mother''s womb, after I was brought into this world, I wavered between life and death. On the verge of being cremated, I struggled, I fought, I clawed desperately¡­ And at last, I obtained life. But even then¡­ death never left my side. Come to think of it, the doctors had predicted that I would not live past the age of twenty. I was powerless, hollow. All I could do was suffer as I waited for death. Despair clouded my vision, and I began to lash out at the servants around me. It was during that time that a certain doctor stepped forward to treat me. I can still vaguely remember his face. He was a kind-looking, benevolent man. His treatment differed from that of other doctors¡ªhe used his own methods, his own medicine. Even so, my condition did not improve. Whenever I awoke, I felt relief that I was still alive. Whenever I fell asleep, I feared that I might never wake again. Day after day, I spent my time lying in bed, gazing at the garden, receiving treatment, eating meals¡­ And I spent nearly all the remaining hours asleep. The doctor was determined to cure me. He always smiled reassuringly, as if to ease my anxiety. I would later recall the dark circles under his eyes¡­ But at the time, I never noticed them. At that time¡­ I had grown so hopeless that I had come to resent everything. Everything my eyes saw filled me with hatred. The maids who cared for me, the mother who gave birth to me, the father who made me. The birds soaring in the sky, the fish swimming in the garden pond, the insects crawling on the ground¡­ The clothes on my body, the futon, the pillars, the floor, the ceiling¡ª everything. "Let us hope this one works¡­" And of course¡­ The doctor standing before me, smiling faintly¡­ I despised him. I loathed him beyond words. How dare he speak as if this were someone else''s problem? "Will I¡­ be cured?" A rasping breath came from my throat. It was painful. My entire body ached, and felt unbearably heavy. Death slithered beside me, creeping across my body. "I will save you, no matter what. Here, this next medicine¡ª" That doctor¡­ So sincere in his conviction¡­ So carelessly turning his back to me¡­ "¡ª¡ª!" I slammed the blade in my hand down with all my might. It must have been instant death. The moment I struck him, the doctor collapsed as if his strings had been cut. After a single convulsion, he never moved again. Slowly, a pool of blood spread across the floor, filling the air with its thick, iron scent. I had despised him¡ªthe doctor who spouted grand promises yet achieved nothing. The suffering of my own body as it edged closer to death had been unbearable, and the helplessness of being unable to stop it tormented me. ¡ªNo, let''s not dress it up with excuses. The truth is simple¡ªI couldn''t stand the fact that while I suffered, there was someone right in front of me who wasn''t. That was all there was to it. How petty, how disgraceful¡ªmurdering a doctor who had devoted himself wholeheartedly to my treatment. And yet, at that time, I felt¡­ as if I had been freed from something. Nothing had changed. I was still teetering on the edge of death. But I think¡­ I might have been smiling. The thing that gushed from my mouth with a gurgle¡ªperhaps it wasn''t just blood this time. <+> Some time passed after that. And before I even realized it, my body had begun to change. The frail, withered frame of an old man¡ªmy own feeble body¡ªwas now packed with powerful muscles, taut and strong as if they might burst from my skin. When I stood up, effortlessly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, I was utterly astonished. So was everyone around me. The elderly maid who had cared for me collapsed in shock, unable to stand. The sensation of standing on my own two feet, of walking¡ªit was overwhelming. Taking deep breaths, exhaling without the usual rasping sounds or pain¡ªit felt nothing short of miraculous. Moving, stretching, touching my own body without feeling pain¡ªit was as if the fog that had always clouded my life had finally lifted. By then, the world around me had already been swallowed by night. Guided only by the dim light of the lanterns, I stepped into the garden for the first time. Pressing my feet into my long-neglected straw sandals, I ran across the gravel, listening to the crunching sound beneath me. I gazed down at the fish gliding lazily through the pond. For the first time since my birth, I felt no shadow of death looming over me. For the first time, I felt truly alive. Looking up, I saw a sky filled with stars¡ªsomething I had never fully been able to glimpse from my room in the mansion. Countless, innumerable stars twinkled above, shining with breathtaking beauty. Guuuuu¡­ Then, suddenly, a strange sound echoed from my stomach. Confused, I quickly realized what it meant. A wave of hunger crashed over me¡ªmy body was crying out for food. I lowered my gaze from the sky and quickened my pace back toward the mansion. My body felt incredible. Surely now, I could eat more than the thin porridge I had been given before. Perhaps I could finally enjoy the lavish meals my mother and father dined upon. I would have the servants prepare something at once. With that thought, I turned my eyes to the maid who had been watching me. There, before me, sat a delectable hunk of meat. I swallowed hard. My mouth flooded with saliva, my lips trembling with hunger. Perhaps even a bit of drool had escaped the corner of my mouth. How thoughtful. Had they anticipated my condition and prepared it in advance? I would have to praise them later... With that thought, I reached out and sank my teeth into the meat without hesitation. Chomp. Rip. Tear. "Kyaaaaaaa!" Squish. Chew. Slurp. "P-please¡­ s-stop¡­ d-don''t eat¡­" Munch. Gnaw. Chomp. "H-help¡­ ah¡­ gurgle¡ª" "Ahh~ delicious¡­ What a divine taste¡­" <+> "What¡­ what are you doing?!" I had never felt better. My body was stronger than ever, my hunger was sated, and I was basking in a level of joy I had never experienced before. Leisurely, I turned to face the voices behind me. There stood my father and mother. With a bright smile, I beamed at them. "Look, Father! Mother! My illness is cured! I am fine now! I will never burden you again! Ah, ah, what shall I do tomorrow? I wish to resume my studies! I want to play! I want to see the world!" "¡­What¡­ What are you doing¡­? What are you¡­ eating¡­?" Mother''s voice quivered as she spoke. What¡­ am I eating? I glanced down at my hands. There, grasped between my fingers, was the remains of the meal I had just been devouring. "This? It was absolutely delicious! Mother, would you like some?" "Hiii¡ª!" Splat Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. I took a step closer, only for Mother to stagger backward, her face drained of color. Why? Why would she recoil from such a splendid feast? Disappointed, yet already full, I carelessly tossed the remaining piece aside. Thud Roll¡­ roll¡­ roll¡­ "Hiiiii!" It tumbled across the floor, coming to rest near Mother''s feet. She let out another terrified whimper and scrambled back further. Ah, I hadn''t meant for that to happen. Apologies, Mother. I didn''t expect it to roll that way. But still¡ª I was smiling. I truly believed that the days I had longed for were finally within my grasp. That I could finally live alongside my father and mother. I knew they had always considered me a disappointment¡ªtheir only son, weak and frail. And yet, they had sought out doctor after doctor for me. They had done everything in their power to keep me alive. And now, at last, here I stood, the result of all their efforts. So naturally¡ª I would do anything to repay that debt. "Father! Mother! It''s all right now!" I spread my arms wide. I never doubted, even for a moment¡ª That they would embrace me. Yet, suddenly, a flash of red caught the edge of my vision. What is that? I shifted my gaze, only to find my own hand, dyed a deep, vivid red. When did this happen¡­? Even as I wondered, I thought I could just wipe it off later and turned my attention back to Father and Mother. "¡­¡­Huh?" Before me stood several men, each gripping a curved blade, while my father and mother stood pale-faced, their expressions twisted with sorrow, pain, and despair as they stared at me. "¡­We cannot allow one who has become a creature of darkness to live." Father''s words turned my mind blank. I didn''t understand what he was saying¡ªnone of it made any sense. Not allowed to live¡­? What? Why? What does he mean¡­? Father glared at me, while Mother trembled, covering her mouth with her hand. The men before me raised their weapons, stepping closer, and neither of my parents made any move to stop them. The words repeated over and over in my mind: We cannot allow you to live. "Why¡­?" I didn''t know the reason. I didn''t understand why this was happening. I had believed, without a doubt, that I was about to embrace happiness¡ªso why was this happening? "Please, die here." To be told to die¡­ by my own parents. "You will not die alone. We will follow after you." How ridiculous. I¡­ I want to live. "So¡­ there''s nothing to be afraid of, is there?" They were saying something. Maybe something like, Hurry up and die, you monster. How infuriating. Rage boiled within me, consuming the euphoria I had felt just moments before. This was the worst. The men around me inched closer, their blades gleaming in the dim light. Soon, those weapons would pierce me. I didn''t want that. Even if Father and Mother wished for my death¡­ "I don''t want to die!" WHOOSH! SLASH! <+> When I came to, the entire area was a sea of blood. Before me lay what had once been my father, now reduced to a lump of flesh. My mother, her lower half blown apart, looked up at me, barely clinging to life. "How the tables have turned, Mother¡­" I muttered, a mix of triumph and a faint loneliness seeping into my voice. This was never what I had wanted. I looked around at the countless corpses strewn across the ground, the air thick with the sickening stench of blood and death. Mother was still alive¡ªfor now. But it wouldn''t be long before she, too, succumbed. Wheeze¡­ wheeze¡­ Amidst the silence, her ragged breaths echoed through the blood-soaked space. Her dull eyes flicked toward me. She opened her mouth a few times, then, in a voice as thin and fragile as a whispering insect, she spoke. "I''m sorry... " That was all she murmured before Mother stopped moving. "¡­¡­¡­" I crushed her skull beneath my foot. Again and again, I stomped on the splattered brain matter. Did she think an apology would be enough? Now, after everything? Now, after trying to kill me?! By the time both Father and Mother were nothing more than unrecognizable remains, the exhilaration in my chest had finally begun to settle. I let out a deep breath and raised my head. Drip¡­ drip¡­ A few drops of something fell into the pool of blood at my feet. <+> "I''m sorry¡­ Rui¡­" The boy whom I had once seen as a reflection of my past self¡ªthe one I turned into a demon¡ªRui. Now, just as I had once done¡­ he, too, had sinned. When I came to check on him, what I found was a boy who had just taken the lives of his own parents, lost and overwhelmed. "Ah¡­ Muzan-sama¡­ Father and Mother¡­ they were horrible¡­ they¡­ they tried to kill me¡­" Sitting on the edge of the veranda of his former home, Rui looked up at me with lifeless eyes. As I gazed down at him, memories of the past resurfaced¡ªthe moment I became a demon, the moment I killed my own parents. His mother''s last words overlapped with those my mother had spoken to me in her final moments. "Parents are supposed to risk their lives for their children, right¡­? That''s what a family is supposed to be, right¡­? I¡­ I¡­" Too late. Far, far too late. I had finally reached the truth of that night. Why my father and mother had tried to kill me¡­ By witnessing Rui in the same position I had once been in, I finally understood how they must have felt back then. But¡­ Looking at Rui, on the verge of despair, crushed by the weight of his actions¡­ I couldn''t bring myself to tell him the truth. "¡­Yes, it was all because your parents failed to accept you." And so, I deceived myself. I spoke the words that, back then, I had desperately wished someone would say to me. "You are strong. Take pride in that strength and live." I placed a hand on his head, stroking it gently, offering what little warmth I could to comfort the pitiful boy. Because Rui¡­ was just like me. A child who had been raised with love but could never fully trust in that love¡ª A child who, in his doubt, took his parents'' lives and was doomed to walk a cursed existence. And the cause of it all¡­ was me. I had pitied his frail body and, in my misplaced compassion, had given him my blood, turning him into a demon. If that was the case¡ªif I was the one who had dragged him into this cursed existence¡ª Then at the very least, I had to be the one to affirm him. That was my responsibility. Rui stared up at me in shock, then slowly placed his hand over mine, still resting on his head. "¡­Yes¡­" "I accept you. You are no longer weak. Forget about your family¡ªfor now." As I watched the light return to Rui''s eyes, I let out a quiet breath. One day, he would have to confront the weight of his actions. But for now¡­ just for now¡­ It was fine to run from that pain. And I¡­ would allow it. Even as his tears fell, one after another, I pretended not to see them. Chapter 2: Demon
After that, I began to examine the changes in my body. Somehow, I already understood. I was no longer human. And I naturally realized¡ª I had become a monster that devours humans. Amid the overwhelming stench of blood, I couldn''t help but think¡ªit smells delicious. The blood, the organs, the scattered pieces of flesh¡­ I glanced down at my hand, stained crimson, and it carried an even richer aroma of blood. When I ran my tongue over it, the lingering taste of my feast spread through my mouth once more. I picked up one of the severed arms that lay nearby, sank my teeth into its flesh, and as I bit down, the blood that gushed forth was utterly exquisite. I knew it was blood. I understood that it was human flesh. Yet still, I continued to eat. It didn¡¯t take long for me to realize that the delicacy I had first consumed had been a person. When I lapped up the brain matter of the mother I had trampled underfoot¡ª That was when I truly, undeniably recognized that I was no longer human. At that time, I was utterly intoxicated by a sensation I had rarely, if ever, experienced before¡ª Deliciousness. The grotesqueness of consuming humans paled in comparison to the overwhelming pleasure of the taste. I truly believed that. But at some point¡­ Something changed. Something made me see it as grotesque. When was it? What was the trigger? <+> I left the home where I was born and raised¡ª The house that held nothing but memories of suffering. Taking only a few valuable trinkets that wouldn''t weigh me down, I set out to see the outside world. This monstrous body of mine¡ªI had already grasped some of its characteristics. First, I had to eat humans. It wasn¡¯t that I couldn¡¯t consume normal food, nor that I couldn¡¯t taste it. But I instinctively knew¡ªno matter how much I ate, it would not nourish me. In return, this body possessed strength far beyond that of any human. I had already realized how easily I could tear a person apart. Even a light sprint stirred up powerful gusts of wind, and a single leap allowed me to land effortlessly atop rooftops. My body was nearly impervious to harm. Even if it was injured, the wounds vanished without a trace in mere moments. And there was something else¡ª A sensation that told me I could do even more. But that¡­ would require further testing. However, as a price for this power, I could no longer stand in the sunlight. The warm rays of the sun that stretched before me¡ªmy instincts screamed that if I were to bathe in that light, I would vanish without a trace. To test it, I extended my left hand into the light. The moment it touched the sun, my hand from the wrist down disintegrated, accompanied by excruciating pain. And unlike other wounds, the healing process was agonizingly slow. From that moment on, I had no choice but to avoid the sun. It was frustrating, but as the price for such an invincible body, I found it an acceptable trade. After leaving my home, I kept to the shadows, avoiding human eyes and the sun, beginning my quiet journey. I wanted to see things, hear things, and touch things. The only real problem was that I needed to eat humans to survive. However, I quickly realized that one person every six months was enough to sustain me. Besides, for an elegant-looking young man like myself traveling alone, meat often came to me willingly. My journey was smooth, effortless. I felt a true sense of freedom. The itch of being unable to walk under the sun was annoying, but compared to the joy of living in the present, it was a minor inconvenience. It felt as though all the suffering I had endured until now was being washed away, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed my travels. But soon¡­ I would come to recognize the pools of blood I left in my wake. The voices of resentment that rose from them. The horror of a life drenched in blood. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. That realization was drawing close. <+> It happened when I stopped by a certain village. A thick layer of clouds covered the sky, allowing me to move freely during the daytime¡ªa rare opportunity. It was a small village. Even from a distance, it was clear that it was not thriving, but once I got closer, I realized it was far worse than I had imagined. The fields bore only withered crops. Not a single villager had a spark of life in their eyes. They all looked like withered trees, their cheeks sunken from starvation. Famine. That was what had struck this village. I didn¡¯t know the cause. I didn¡¯t care to find out. "AAAHHHH!" "YAAH!" A villager suddenly rushed at me from behind, wielding a farming tool. I easily swatted him aside, leaving him limp on the ground. Taking this as another experience to add to my journey, I decided to explore the village. And what I saw¡ª It made my face twist in disgust. "This is¡­ awful." The stench was unbearable. Corpses of villagers lay scattered everywhere, rotting as swarms of insects crawled over them. Birds pecked at the decaying flesh. The few villagers still alive barely clung to existence. One of them, close by, looked up at me with vacant eyes, dazed and unseeing. As I was taking in the scene, a frail, emaciated child¡ªnothing more than skin and bones¡ªstaggered toward me with unsteady steps. Their cheeks were sunken, their hair unkempt, and insects buzzed around them. "Big brother... do you have... any food...?" The voice was thin, hoarse, barely above a whisper, as if death was already upon them. A trembling hand reached out toward me. I decided to hand over a dried persimmon I had received at a previous stop. It wouldn¡¯t provide much nourishment for me anyway, and more than anything, the child¡¯s appearance was simply too pitiful to ignore. It was a whim¡­ A single piece of dried fruit wouldn¡¯t help them survive. But as the child took it, their eyes widened, and then, they smiled¡ªa genuine, delighted smile. "Thank you... big brother...! Maybe now... Mama... will wake up..." With that, the child turned on their heel and ran into a nearby shack. For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse inside¡ªthe figure of a woman lying motionless, presumably the child¡¯s mother. Her eyes were wide open, her mouth slightly agape, and from within, a rat¡¯s face peeked out. I averted my gaze and walked away. Famine¡­ I had never witnessed one firsthand before, but it was far worse than I had imagined. This village was doomed. Corpses littered the ground, already beginning to rot. Even if some managed to survive the starvation, disease would be the next to claim them¡ªand they had no strength left to resist it. Thud As I pondered these things, a sudden noise came from the shack. I turned to look and saw a filthy man dashing away, clutching the dried persimmon. I didn¡¯t need to see more to understand what had happened. Narrowing my eyes, I murmured, "¡­How vile." My words dissolved into the empty air. Just as I was about to leave, convinced there was nothing more to see in this wretched place, a voice called out to me. "Please... traveler..." I turned to find a woman kneeling before me, cradling a small child in her arms. Unlike the others I had seen in the village, this child had some color in their cheeks. Thin, yes, but there was still a softness to their face, a hint of youthful roundness. The same could not be said for the mother. Her nails were cracked, her skin and hair dry, her feet blackened¡ªlikely beginning to rot. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine that she had given everything to keep her child alive. She was already on the verge of death. Yet, with hollow eyes, she looked up at me and spoke. "Please... take this child with you..." She held out the small child toward me. "...What did you say?" "This village... is finished. This child... will surely die as well. So, please..." "Is there a single benefit in this for me?" "You may sell the child to a slaver if you wish¡­ It¡¯s far better than dying here. Even if the child ends up hating me for it, I don¡¯t care¡­ I just want her to live¡­" I considered her words for a moment. Indeed, there was no gain for me in this proposal. But then again¡­ there was no loss either. Even if carrying a child around inconvenienced me for a short while, the power hidden within my body made it no trouble at all. "¡­Very well. I¡¯ll take the child as far as the city. What happens after that¡­ is up to her." I nodded and reached for the child she held out. Relief washed over the woman¡¯s face, and she smiled¡ªa deep, genuine smile¡ªas she placed the child into my arms. She spoke to the child in my embrace, her voice full of warmth. "It¡¯s okay now. It¡¯s okay, my dear." Yet, no tears fell from her dry, hollow eyes. Even as her parched lips cracked, no blood welled up. She had given everything for this child, putting them above her own survival. I thought to myself¡ª I could not understand it, but¡­ she was an incredible human being. "¡­Hm?" A scream rang out. I turned at the faint disturbance in the air¡ªjust in time to see a man lunging at me, blade in hand. With my left hand, I held the child securely. With my right, I struck the man, sending him flying¡ª But in that brief moment, the tip of his blade grazed my cheek. It didn''t hurt, and the wound would heal in an instant. That wasn¡¯t the problem. "Ah¡­ gh¡­?" The real problem lay within my arms. Some of my blood had dripped into the child''s mouth. And at that moment, I understood. Anyone who ingested my blood would become something like me. I could control this transformation, at least to some extent. And above all¡ª My blood was terribly toxic to humans. If I didn¡¯t turn this child into a monster like myself, she would die. Instinctively, I knew. I had no choice. I had to reshape this suffering child into something no longer human. "Oh¡ª oh! You¡¯re standing¡ª on your own feet! You¡¯re healthy again¡ª! Oh, I¡¯m so glad, so glad! My dear, my precious little baby, I¡¯m so reliev¡ª" "Graaaaahhh!!!" Chomp! But¡­ when the child, baring her teeth in a feral snarl, sank those teeth into her own mother¡ª I felt a deep, overwhelming regret. With wet, grotesque sounds, the child devoured the woman. I could do nothing to stop it. I could only stand there, staring blankly at the horror unfolding before me. "H-hiiiiiiii!!! A demon! A demon has appeared!!!" The man who had attacked me earlier threw aside his blade and fled, screaming. And strangely, I found myself understanding his fear. A monster that devours humans, one that kills even its own kin¡ª Is that not the very definition of an oni? "Hahaha¡­ how utterly horrifying¡­" The sight of the child, completely absorbed in feasting upon her own mother, was unspeakably dreadful. A deep revulsion surged through me. Not at the act itself¡ªno, but at myself. At the fact that I had done something similar, and felt nothing. How despicable¡­ Though the circumstances were different, the act itself was the same. Watching it unfold before me, I finally understood. How utterly monstrous it was¡ª To devour another human being. "Ah¡­ ah¡­" At last, when there was nothing left of the woman, the child picked up her severed head. From the single large eye that had formed in the child¡¯s forehead¡ª Tears spilled, rolling down her cheeks. Regret. All I felt was regret. Now I understood. I could have stopped this. I could have restrained this newborn demon before she consumed her mother. I simply had not known. And ignorance¡­ was no excuse. I placed my hand upon the child''s head. Now that she had become the same as me, she could never live as a human again. She would have to continue feeding on humans. From this young age, she had already been condemned to such a fate. At the very least¡­ I must take responsibility. "¡­I am Kibutsuji Muzan." "¡­Muzan-sama¡­" "You are Nakime." "Nakime¡­" The tears continued to fall from the large eye as I gently stroked Nakime''s head. "From now on, you shall remain by my side. Forget that you were ever human. Live as you please. I will accept you in your entirety." Hearing those words, Nakime looked up at me¡ª <+> Be-ben! Bin! "¡­Hm?" A sudden break in the music. The sound of something snapping. I opened my eyes. I had been enjoying a performance within my castle, but it seemed an issue had arisen. Turning to Nakime, I saw that the string of her biwa had snapped. "Nakime-san, are you alright?" Nearby, Hantengu¡¯s former subordinate, Kyogai, clutched his tsuzumi drum, his voice laced with concern. Nakime nodded in response as she swiftly took the broken string and began restringing the instrument. "Yes¡­ Muzan-sama, I apologize. I will have it fixed shortly." She bowed her head politely. I raised a hand, dismissing her concern. "Think nothing of it. That instrument is old. I will buy you a new one. Later, tell me what kind you would prefer." At my words, Nakime''s lips curved subtly, conveying her quiet joy. "Thank you, Muzan-sama. But¡­ I prefer this one." Bepen, behen, beben! Be-ben! Be-ben! The biwa let out a few discordant notes before settling back into its familiar melody. "I see¡­ very well. If you need anything, let me know." With that, I closed my eyes again, allowing myself to immerse in the music once more. Later, at the very least, I would ensure she had the proper tools to care for her instrument¡­