Chapter 57 – Yukinoshita Akira Has Become the Target
A deafening shockwave tore through a secluded part of Chiba City.
Inside a private villa cloaked in suffocating darkness, the air grew heavy with tension. The atmosphere was grim, as if death itself loomed behind every shadow.
"Lower Moon Six… is dead. And even worse—he was killed."
Kibutsuji Muzan's face twisted with fury, his calm expression replaced by a seething storm of rage.
Over the past few months since arriving in this world, Muzan had discovered something curious—there were no records of demons here. Not a single historical mention. No folklore. No Demon Slayer Corps.
It was that very realization that had once filled him with satisfaction.
Without the Demon Slayer Corps, there was no real threat. No Nichirin Blades. No Breathing Techniques. Nothing in this world could harm him.
And without swordsmen trained in those ancient styles, he had felt invincible.
Modern firearms couldn't kill him. Explosives barely left a scratch. Only weapons of mass destruction might pose a theoretical risk—and even then, only slightly.
But now—his delusions had been shattered.
Someone in this world had managed to awaken Breathing Techniques. Worse—they wielded a Nichirin Blade.
And they had killed a demon.
Muzan's fury erupted like a volcano, uncontrollable and absolute.
A few nights ago, three demons had been wiped out. Back then, he hadn't given it much thought.
After all, demon numbers had grown rapidly over the past three months. Losing a few low-tier demons meant nothing.
But today…
One of the Twelve Kizuki had fallen.
Lower Moon Six—his direct subordinate. A member of his elite corps.
He could no longer afford to be complacent.
After peering into the dying memories of Lower Moon Six, Muzan saw the swordsman—clear as day. A Nichirin Blade. Breathing Techniques. And most of all, the power to kill demons.
"Damn it… If I had known this world would be like this, I would've promoted Nakime to Upper Moon right from the start."
He clenched his teeth, thinking of the woman who once served as his perfect instrument.
Nakime—the biwa-playing demon, mistress of the Infinity Castle, and Muzan's personal assistant.
Her Blood Demon Art allowed her to manipulate space itself, rearranging the castle's layout and instantly transporting anyone within its walls.
Back then, with a single strum of her biwa, she could summon all Twelve Kizuki—both Upper and Lower Moons—straight to him.
But now, with Nakime gone, everything was slower. Cumbersome.
He could no longer summon his subordinates at will. His own movements were severely limited.
For safety, Muzan had hidden himself away in Chiba—protected by none other than Upper Moon One, Kokushibō.
"Listen closely, all of you. This world harbors a demon slayer—a true swordsman who uses Breathing Techniques. Lower Moon Six is dead. I will not tolerate another failure. Find him—kill him!"
The command echoed across the darkness, carried through the blood that connected him to his Twelve Kizuki—the will of Muzan now awakened.
— — —
Meanwhile—
Atop a towering skyscraper, a man with pale blond hair sat motionless, bathed in moonlight.
His irises shimmered with iridescent hues, and carved into his eyes were the kanji for "Upper Moon" and "Two."
Dōma.
The former High Priest of the Eternal Paradise Faith in his original world.
After crossing into this one, he had reestablished his cult—and it had grown even faster than before.
Within just three months, Eternal Paradise had amassed countless devout followers.
Nearly all of them had already been brainwashed—transformed into unwavering believers who worshiped him without question.
"A Breathing Technique user in this world too? Fascinating… Now I'm curious just how strong they are."
— — —
Elsewhere, in the quiet of the night—
Akaza, Upper Moon Three, came to a halt.
Since arriving here, he had yet to encounter a worthy opponent. The hunger to fight had been clawing at him relentlessly.
"So there are humans worth challenging in this world too… Interesting."
— — —
Far from Chiba—
Hantengu, Upper Moon Four, also received the message.
But he didn't pay it much mind.
As long as the threat wasn't near his territory, he had no intention of getting involved.
— — —
"A demon slayer in Chiba, huh? If I kill him, Lord Muzan will definitely praise me…"
Daki, Upper Moon Six, flashed a seductive smile.
In her mind, she was already fantasizing about Muzan's gentle praise and approval after she brought him the slayer's severed head.
But—
"Lady Daki, the young master from the Yamada family requests your company for dinner tonight."
A woman with a polite smile stepped into the room, bowing slightly.
"The Yamada boy? You mean that disgusting pig? I refuse. A filthy mongrel like him isn't even worthy of being my meal, let alone sitting at my table."
"Understood, Lady Daki. I shall inform him of your rejection."
"From today onward, I won't be meeting any more guests."
"May I ask why, Lady Daki?"
"It's Lord Muzan's orders. There's a foolish human I need to kill."
"…Understood."
The woman bowed again and silently exited.
Whether in her past life or as a demon, Daki had always lived in the red-light districts. She was a star of the night—a celebrated Oiran.
After arriving in this world, she'd quickly found her footing again, rising to stardom in a luxurious night club.
The name "Daki" once more captured the attention of wealthy, powerful men.
But now, the entire Twelve Kizuki had been shaken by a single command from Muzan.
And somewhere far from their schemes…
— — —
Yukinoshita Akira had just returned home, fresh from a hot shower and ready for bed—completely unaware that two Upper Moons had now marked him as their target.
One of them was already preparing to move.
This world—though seemingly more peaceful than the last—was far more dangerous beneath the surface.
Finding prey here was harder, yes. But it came with a benefit—hiding was easier too.
After all, in this country, the night wasn't the end.
It was the beginning.
When the sun set, many people only just began to live.
And for demons, creatures bound to the night, that was a blessing.
— — —
At the same time—
Bzzt… bzzt… bzzt!
Yukinoshita Haruno had just returned home from a lavish dinner with several heirs of prestigious families.
She was ready to kick off her heels and unwind—until her phone began to vibrate.
She glanced at the screen.
Caller ID: Shizuka.
"Moshi~ Moshi~ Shizu-chan~ Calling me this late at night? What's up?"
Haruno answered with a soft chuckle. This woman wasn't just a teacher, but a dear friend—perhaps the only one she considered a true companion.
"Haruno, I need to ask you something."
"Hm? You sound serious. What is it? Calling me at this hour…"
"…Who exactly is Yukinoshita Akira?"
In an instant, the smile vanished from Haruno's face.
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