__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The world of Demon Slayer.
As more and more scenes appeared on the mysterious glowing screen, ordinary citizens of this country began to "wake up."
They realized that demons weren't just legends.
Man-eating monsters lived among them.
Panic spread. Society trembled.
"Ahhh!"
"So demons really exist?!"
"Then the Demon Slayer Corps isn't just a rumor either!"
"Those nameless heroes have been fighting bloody battles in the shadows all along!"
"It's thanks to them that we can live in peace!"
"I've seen those swordsmen in uniform before!"
"I even reported them for carrying weapons without permission. Damn it, I regret it so much now!"
"Wait… the Demon Slayer Corps is just some unofficial group, right?"
"Then what's the shogunate doing about this?"
"All those people who suddenly disappeared… they were eaten by demons after all, weren't they?"
"But the government just kept writing them off as 'missing'..."
"What exactly are the shogunate officials doing?!"
"If they put real effort into this, raised an army to fight demons…""Forget Muzan or whatever he calls himself, they'd all be wiped out already!"
Voices of outrage and fear swelled across the land.
Only now did the shogunate finally begin to take demons seriously. But not because they cared about the lives or opinions of commoners.
To the ruling elite, ordinary people were just tools.
What truly caught their attention was the revelation in the recordings: immortality.
The higher-ups had always had some awareness of demons. But since Kibutsuji Muzan had kept to himself, obsessed only with his search for the Blue Spider Lily and avoiding large-scale trouble, the government simply turned a blind eye. Investigating demons was a nuisance they could ignore.
They had never realized demons were immortal.
If they had known, they would never have stayed silent. Because for those who already held power and wealth beyond measure, the only true limit left was lifespan.
And immortality was the one temptation no ruler could resist.
"Contact the Demon Slayer Corps immediately. From now on, they operate under the authority of the shogunate. All demon hunts will be under government command. And don't kill the demons—capture them alive if possible."
That was the decision handed down by the emperor's faction.
Other powerful clans holding military influence chose their own path.
"Why waste time cooperating with the Corps? Better to contact Muzan himself!""He's the only one who can turn humans into demons and grant immortality!""If we want eternal life, we have to reach Muzan before anyone else does!""Send word at once—I want to make a deal with Kibutsuji Muzan!""What?! The cult of Euphoria already has ties with demons? Then reach out to them immediately!"
More and more powerful families rushed to forge secret connections with Muzan.
What was once a simple war between demons and Demon Slayers was now being twisted into a storm of political ambition.
The Infinity Castle
"Damn it!!!"
Muzan's fury shook the entire chamber as he glared at the glowing vision of the charcoal-seller boy's rise.
Not because Rui, his favored Lower Rank Five, had been slain.
But because back in Asakusa, he himself—the great Demon King—had been startled into retreat… by a rookie Demon Slayer.
The moment Muzan saw the boy's hanafuda earrings, an instinctive terror surged through him. They reminded him of that man.
The swordsman from a thousand years ago.Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
The only one who had ever come close to ending him completely.
That trauma had scarred him so deeply that for centuries he lived cautiously, never exposing himself. Even in Asakusa, he chose to hide in the shadows, sending underlings to deal with the boy, afraid he might be another monster like Yoriichi.
At the time, it seemed like the safe, reasonable choice.
But the result?
The so-called Demon King had fled from a boy who wasn't even a Hashira. A disgrace beyond measure.
"Muzan-sama."
Upper Rank Two, Dōma, appeared, bowing lightly.
"What is it?"
Muzan shot him a glare colder than ice.
"News of our existence has spread nationwide. Influential families are already seeking alliances with you, Muzan-sama."
"Hmph."
Muzan snorted. His expression grew darker still.
He could already guess what those humans wanted.
But truthfully… if not for the Blue Spider Lily, he wouldn't have created demons at all.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
After witnessing the struggles of Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, even the strictest Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, found himself unable to demand her execution.
For two years, Nezuko hadn't harmed a single human. She had overcome the urge to feed.
"Sniff sniff… Nezuko-chan is so strong! And Tanjiro too! I'll cheer you on with all my heart!"
The ever-passionate Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji, raised her fists and beamed.
"Lord Ubuyashiki, this is a joint guarantee from myself and Master Urokodaki. We take full responsibility for the siblings."
Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka handed over a letter.
"I see. Very well."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded softly.
"Then, unless anyone objects, Nezuko will be recognized as one of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"If Lord Ubuyashiki says so, that's good enough for me!"
The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, agreed in his booming voice.
"We follow your command, Master," said the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, hands clasped in prayer.
None of the other Hashira raised objection.
"Nezuko! This is amazing!"
From the shadows of the eaves, Tanjiro scooped up his sister, spinning in joy.
"Mmhm~"
Nezuko smiled sweetly, blinking her big eyes.
Just then, Lady Amane, Ubuyashiki's wife, leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"So it has come to this after all…"
His expression hardened. Even he could not ignore the shogunate's moves.
"But unless we defeat Muzan with our own hands, the curse of our clan will never be broken."
While he wrestled with that thought—
"Oh! Tanjiro and Nezuko are starting a new mission already! And Rengoku-san is going with them this time!"
Mitsuri's excited voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
The Mugen Train Arc—begins!
"..."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________