Chapter 4 - Giyu's sister wedding crash

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At that moment, Kokushibō was sitting across from me. His six eyes stared down at the board in silence. Suddenly, he extended his right hand.

"Checkmate."

We were in the Infinite Castle. I—yes, me, Muzan Kibutsuji (or at least, that's who I've become)—was playing shogi with Kokushibō.

Over the years, we'd played dozens of matches. At first, I was confident I could beat him. But reality humbled me. Out of all those games, he won nearly every single one. The few victories I managed felt like gifts, as if he let me win.

In this game, I had chosen the red side. He played black. To make things "fair," I had even made a rule: the moment one player had only the king left, they'd lose. Even then, I gained nothing.

It was only now that I realized something painful—perhaps I was nothing more than handsome.

"Oh… as expected, I've got nothing but good looks."

Kokushibō gave the faintest smile, lowering his gaze. His reply was soft, almost gentle.

"Yes. You are the most handsome… and the cutest."

"…Huh? What was that last part?"

Realizing what he had just said aloud, Kokushibō quickly averted his eyes. His voice dropped to a low murmur.

"…The most… intelligent."

"…"

After the match, night had already fallen. Kokushibō left to wander outside. Ever since Yoriichi's death, he'd been restless—searching endlessly for stronger opponents, and of course, the Blue Spider Lily.

I wasn't idle either. I remembered this was the time when Tomioka Giyū's sister, Tsutako, was about to be married. It was also the night tragedy was supposed to strike.

And me? Well, I wasn't about to sit back and let it happen. A "good" demon, after all, can't just ignore it.

I grabbed a random Nichirin sword from the wall—spoils taken long ago when Kokushibō or Akaza killed Demon Slayers. There were plenty hanging there, collecting dust.

The sword ban in the Edo period meant I had to hide it beneath my robes. I also suppressed my aura as best I could.

The streets of this era were no longer silent. Crowds filled the night markets, laughter and music echoing through the lantern-lit streets. Among all that noise, I had to find one single wedding.

The original tale didn't say exactly where it happened. So I searched house by house, until finally, one lively household caught my eye. Lanterns. Guests. Laughter. A bride being prepared.

This had to be it.

As I stepped closer, a young woman noticed me. She came forward, her expression kind.

"Sir, are you also here for the wedding?"

She had clear blue eyes and pale, gentle features. Her black hair was braided neatly behind her. Though Demon Slayer never showed her in detail, in that moment, I knew without a doubt—this was Tomioka Tsutako.

Before I could answer, she called back toward the house.

"Giyū! Come welcome this guest."

A small boy, maybe ten years old, tugged lightly at my sleeve. He looked up at me, smiling with a face that was both innocent and strikingly familiar.

[So this is Tomioka Giyū? He's… actually adorable? Who would've thought the future Water Hashira was once this open, this warm?]

His blue eyes were clear, filled with curiosity. Without hesitation, he pulled me inside.

[These siblings… aren't they a little too hospitable? What if I really was a wolf in sheep's clothing?]

He led me to a seat among the relatives and neighbors helping with the wedding. The place was bright, crowded, and cheerful.

"nii-chan, please sit here," Giyū said softly.

I sat down. He remained beside me. Out of the corner of my robe, I let the hilt of the Nichirin sword show. I expected him to be startled, but instead, he just studied it carefully before asking:

"nii-chan… why do you carry a sword? Are you a samurai?"

[Already hooked, huh?]

I leaned down and whispered, showing him the blade more clearly.

"This isn't a samurai's sword. It's a Sun Blade."

The fiery-red steel gleamed under the lanterns. His eyes widened in awe, not fear.

For a moment, my thoughts drifted. That red hue… it reminded me of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. His blade had been black, not red, yet seeing this made me think of him again. That serious face, hiding the faintest desire to smile. I couldn't help but miss it.

"hmm, what's your name?" Giyū suddenly asked.

I almost slipped. "Muz—" I stopped myself, then said the first thing that came to mind.

"Uh… Kibutsuji… Arata."

[Close call. Almost dropped the real one there.]

"What a strange name," Giyū said, tilting his head.

"…heh I think it is not."

Just then, I smelled it—the stench of a demon, faint but close. A weak one. I didn't move yet. Not until it revealed itself.

This was the moment. To cut it down here, in front of him. To let him see. To set the pieces in motion, the way they should be.

I reached into my robe and pulled out something else—one of the few luxuries I had brought with me. A glass bottle.

I opened it, took a sip, then offered it to him.

"Here. Try it."

He blinked, then carefully took a drink. His eyes lit up instantly.

[Of course. It's his first time tasting Coke. In this era, it must feel like drinking treasure.]

I smirked. If nothing else, I could at least look cool doing this. Looking cool was the bare minimum.

Then—

"AAAAH!"

A scream tore through the crowd outside. Guests scattered in panic.

The demon had arrived.

The show was about to begin.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted him in the crowd—gray-purple skin, jagged horns jutting from his head and back. His clothes were ripped apart by them, and his mouth was buried in the neck of some poor man. Blood poured down like a river.

The guests froze in terror. Some fled, screaming, while others collapsed, too paralyzed to move. Not one dared to step forward.

Beside me, little Giyū trembled, his wide blue eyes locked on the creature. We were sitting on the raised platform, which made us stand out. The demon noticed his gaze immediately.

"That boy looks fresh… his blood must taste good."

The demon dropped the half-eaten corpse and charged straight at him, tearing through anyone in its path.

Giyū pressed himself against me, gripping the hem of my robe with shaking hands. His whole body quivered, and yet he didn't cry out—he just held on.

From the house, Tsutako heard the screams. She rushed out, still half-dressed in her bridal clothes. The instant she saw the demon lunging toward her brother, she ran forward, wrapping her arms around him.

"Stay away from my brother!"

The demon raised its claws, ready to tear them both apart.

In that moment, I drew the Nichirin blade hidden at my side. With one swift iai slash, the fiery red edge flashed across the night. The demon's eyes widened as its head slipped cleanly from its shoulders.

"Ruining someone's wedding? Pathetic."

The severed head rolled across the ground, its mouth twitching. Recognition flickered in its fading eyes.

"You… you're… the King—"

Before it could finish, I grabbed the head mid-air and crushed it in my palm. Bone and flesh exploded in my grip, spraying blood across the Tomioka siblings.

[Hmph. Demon King slays demon. If I joined the Corps myself, would they make me a Hashira?]

The body dissolved into ash. I flicked the blood off my hand with mild disgust.

Tsutako still held her brother tight, shaking as she tried to comfort him. Only when I touched her shoulder gently did she look up, tears streaming down her face.

"Thank you… thank you for saving us."

Her bridal dress was ruined, soaked in crimson stains. Giyū, however, wasn't looking at her. His clear eyes were fixed on me, unblinking.

I sheathed the sword, turning to leave. That's when his voice stopped me.

"…Can you teach me?"

His tone was calm, but his small body was still trembling. I crouched down, ruffling his hair lightly.

"You want to learn?"

He nodded firmly. "Yes."

"I can't teach you," I said plainly.

"But you're strong," he replied, almost whispering.

I smiled faintly and tapped his forehead. "That was a demon. It eats people. Do you want to learn how to become like that?"

He flinched at the thought, but his eyes didn't waver.

"If I had your strength, I could protect the people I love. That's enough for me."

For a moment, I saw the faintest light flicker in his eyes—like the first ray of dawn cutting through the dark. The sun was rising now, painting the world in gold. Time for me to go.

I knelt again, placed a hand on his shoulder, and spoke seriously.

"If you really want this, go to Mount Sagiri. Seek out a man named Urokodaki Sakonji. He'll teach you everything you need."

"What's he like?"

"He wears a tengu mask. A red mask, long nose. You'll know him when you see him."

Before the sun climbed higher, I slipped back into the Infinite Castle.

Lying on the bed, I turned the names over in my head:

"Kamado Tanjiro. Kochō Shinobu. Rengoku Kyōjurō. Iguro Obanai. Sanemi Shinazugawa. Uzui Tengen. Himejima Gyōmei. Kanroji Mitsuri. Tokitō Muichirō."

But the timelines didn't line up. I couldn't reach them all. Some, like Rengoku, already had their paths set. Others, like Gyōmei, were likely already serving as Hashira.

That left me with a few choices. Shinobu, Kanae, Muichirō, Sanemi, and of course… Tanjiro.

[So troublesome. If I really wanted to, I could just turn them all into demons and end this whole story here.]

I chuckled to myself. Just a passing thought. After all, this was still Demon Slayer's world—its flow wasn't mine to break completely.

"Next stop… hm. Should I visit Kochō Shinobu first? Or Kanae?"