Chapter 26: Mother Complex Shi Lang

Shi Lang led Zero to the second-floor room for rest.

During the journey, Zero analyzed Shi Lang’s data using his [Analyzing Glasses].

[Analyzing… Analysis successful]

[Name: Shi Lang — Male]

[Age: 32 years]

[Person he loves: Ju Shi]

[Pet: Cha Cha Wan]

[Enemy: Kibutsuji Muzan]

[Blood Demon Art: Eye Concealment]

[Personal Information: In the past, when Shi Lang was gravely ill, Ju Shi saved him. Near death, she gave him her blood and turned him into a demon. He survives on only small amounts of human blood; because Ju Shi saved him, Shi Lang has since been deeply in love with her.]

[Note: This demon is secretly in love with Ju Shi — a severe mother complex! Every line of his diary revolves around Ju Shi.]

Seeing the data on the [Analyzing Glasses], Zero finally understood why Shi Lang clenched his teeth and grew irritable whenever he heard Ju Shi’s name — it was because of this.

Combined with what had just happened, he now understood why Shi Lang always resented others speaking to Ju Shi.

“So Shi Lang likes Ju Shi, secretly pining for her… He’s a total mother complex!”

Zero spoke these words aloud without hiding them.

Shi Lang, ahead of him, stumbled and fell to the ground, then scrambled up and turned to Zero shouting: “You little brat… what the hell are you talking about!? I would never… how could I possibly…”

He had intended to call Zero “brat,” but upon seeing Zero’s demon-slaying gaze, he remembered the three different models of roasted chestnuts he’d just received, and immediately changed his tone.

Yet Shi Lang’s nervous expression had already betrayed him — it was an outright confession.

“Who’s writing that diary where every sentence is about Ju Shi? Even when Ju Shi calls out another demon’s name, he turns into a child?”

Shi Lang’s pupils shrank; the words he had just begun to say froze in his throat. He couldn’t understand how Zero knew his secret!

Could this guy read his thoughts?

Zero: “Huh? Did I hit the mark?”

Shi Lang: “I…”

Zero: “Tell me — do you really like Ju Shi? Have you ever confessed to her?”

Shi Lang’s face turned bright red; he couldn’t utter a word, and steam seemed to rise from his head.

Zero: “Strange? Whose water kettle just boiled? Oh — it’s you, Shi Lang!”

Shi Lang stopped speaking, fearing that if he said more, Zero would expose even the color of his underwear. He turned around and led Zero to the resting room.

“Here we are. This is your room for tonight!” He brought Zero inside, then turned to leave.

Just as he was about to depart, Zero called out: “Shi Lang! If you really love Ju Shi, just confess already — you won’t lose anything! Better than living with regret!”

Shi Lang hurried away at once, but inside, he kept replaying Zero’s words — the more he thought, the more agitated he became.

“Tch, like you need to tell me! You little brat, I know how to handle my own affairs!” Shi Lang muttered inwardly — then…

Duang~

A few minutes later, Shi Lang once again walked to the underground laboratory with a giant roasted chestnut on his head, assisting Ju Shi with her research…

At dawn the next day, Ju Shi left the laboratory early, changed into a clean kimono, and arrived at Zero’s room door.

“Zero, are you still resting? I’m coming in!”

“Coming! Just a moment!” Zero heard Ju Shi’s voice, rose, and walked to the door.

Just as he reached for the handle, he noticed the window faced the sun — sunlight streamed through the glass.

Ju Shi was still a demon — she couldn’t be exposed to sunlight. He rushed back to pull the curtains shut, ensuring not a single ray of light penetrated, then relaxed.

He turned on the lights and opened the door for Ju Shi to enter.

Ju Shi looked around the room and smiled: “I didn’t expect you to be so thoughtful.”

“You flatter me.”

“I’m here to fulfill the condition I promised you last night.”

“Mm, go ahead.”

Ju Shi sat before Zero and revealed what she knew about Kibutsuji Muzan.

Zero took out a notebook from his [Nanospace] and recorded everything.

According to Ju Shi, Kibutsuji Muzan’s features were: pale skin, slender frame, blood-red pupils, and long black hair.

He could alter his appearance — sometimes male, sometimes female, sometimes adult, sometimes a child.

These details confirmed Zero’s suspicions from the previous night.

Moreover, Ju Shi told Zero that Kibutsuji Muzan could give his blood to humans to turn them into demons — she herself had been transformed that way.

Had Kibutsuji Muzan not valued her exquisite medical skills and kept her by his side, she would have been eliminated long ago.

Ju Shi also told Zero that during the Sengoku period, while traveling with Kibutsuji Muzan, they encountered Tsugikuni Yoriichi and fought him.

Unable to defeat Tsugikuni Yoriichi, Kibutsuji Muzan split himself into over eighteen hundred pieces and fled — barely escaping death. Since then, he had hidden away, refusing to show himself.

It was precisely then that Ju Shi realized Kibutsuji Muzan’s control over her had weakened…

“These are the few details I know about Kibutsuji Muzan. So, Zero — though he lost to that man, he is still immensely powerful! His attacks are too fast to see — even breaking through dimensions!”

“Also, his attacks carry his own blood. So if you ever face him again, be extremely careful!”

After recording all of Ju Shi’s information, Zero closed the notebook and returned it to his [Nanospace]. Though limited, the knowledge was enough — the rest he would have to uncover himself.

He believed he wouldn’t need long to find the answers he sought.

“Ju Shi, thank you for telling me all this — it’s more than enough.”

“No need for thanks. I should be thanking you — the blood you brought has advanced my research.”

“Don’t worry — if I collect more Upper Moon demon blood in the future, I’ll give it to you. I hope you’ll soon develop a drug to defeat Kibutsuji Muzan.”

“Thank you!”

Zero rose, took up his weapon, and prepared to leave. The journey back from Asakusa to the Demon Slayer Corps would take about half a month — he’d use the time to clear out demons who avoided their duty and hid from him.

“You… are leaving now?”

“Yes. I still need to remove the curse from the Demon Slayer Corps’ lord.”

“Then please, be careful.”

“Mm.”

“Shi Lang, see Zero off!” Ju Shi called out toward the doorway.

“Yes, Ju Shi-sama!”

Courtyard.

Since it was daytime, Shi Lang could only escort Zero to the courtyard — a place untouched by sunlight.

“Go straight ahead from here and you’ll leave.”

“Thanks. Oh — here, take this!”

Zero handed Shi Lang a rectangular, elegantly wrapped box containing a red rose. “Shi Lang, give this to Ju Shi yourself. And I wish you success in confessing to her!”

Shi Lang took the box — then Zero’s words made his face flush red again.

“Enough, enough — just go already! I know what to do!”

“Hahaha, I won’t disturb your two-person world then! Goodbye!”

Yet before Zero had taken a few steps, Shi Lang called out again: “Zero… be careful! Don’t die!”

This time, Shi Lang called Zero by name. Zero smiled faintly — he hadn’t expected Shi Lang to have a tsundere side. He replied: “Thanks! Goodbye!”

Watching Zero depart, Shi Lang returned inside, staring at the red rose in the box, remembering Zero’s words, lost in thought.

“Shi Lang, has he left?” Ju Shi appeared behind him, asking.

“Ah? Yes, Ju Shi-sama — he’s gone!”

“What’s that in your hand?”

“This… this… is from Zero for you!” As soon as he said it, he regretted it.

But words spoken are like water spilled — impossible to take back.

“Zero gave this to me?” Ju Shi took the box, opened it, and saw the red rose.

“How beautiful!” She admired the rose, growing fonder with each glance, then fetched a small vase and placed the rose inside to keep it.

Seeing this, Shi Lang felt regret — why had he said the wrong thing…

…

“No! Help me! I don’t want to die!” A demon without limbs struggled desperately — to no avail.

Zero gripped the demon’s hair in his hand, dragging it step by step toward the cave entrance.

As sunlight streamed through the entrance, the demon felt utter despair — how had this hunter found this hidden place?

He had been starving for days. Finally, a human wandered in — but when he saw the man’s face and the scythe in his hand, he realized his mistake.

He understood now: this wasn’t a human — it was the terrifying demon slayer, a death god come to claim his soul!

He wanted to flee — but couldn’t.

The cave walls were solid stone — no other exits.

“Shut up! Who told you demons have no sense of duty? Don’t you know hiding like this ruins my record?”

Zero held the scythe on one shoulder and the demon’s hair in the other, stepped to the cave entrance, gazed at the warm sunlight, and hurled the demon into it.

“Aaaahhhhh!!!” The demon burned to ash under the sunlight.

“Seriously? You scream just because I made you get some sun? Do you even have the dignity of a demon? If you keep slacking off, Kibutsuji Muzan will cut you down first!”

During the days traveling from Asakusa back to the Demon Slayer Corps, Zero searched every hidden spot along the way — entering them to find demons who disrespected his profession and hid from him.

Unexpectedly, there really were some—look, the performance landed right in my lap; I couldn’t possibly fail to complete it! Though those ghosts were forced into it…

But the ghosts didn’t think that way—if they knew Zero’s thoughts, they wouldn’t hide; they’d wait for sunrise and kill themselves outright.

Being burned to death by the sun was far gentler than being tortured by Zero!

They’d never seen such a relentless ghost hunter before!

But even more unexpected was that, not only was he relentless, he also doubled back…

But this was only the beginning; every day after that became a day of utter despair for the ghosts.

…

Days passed one by one, and before they knew it, half a month had gone by.

One night, Zero was traveling when, passing a small village, he spotted two suspicious figures lurking outside the fence of a house.

Curious, he crept silently to a spot just behind them, wondering what they intended to do.

“Hey, you’re sure we won’t get caught?”

“Absolutely not—the ghost hunter hasn’t shown up in half a month; he’s definitely left!”

“Then hurry up! I’ve been starving for days—that ghost hunter is terrifying! Let’s grab a few people, fill our bellies, and get out fast!”

“Exactly! Let’s move now! I’ve got a bad feeling—like someone’s watching us from behind!”

Zero, standing just behind them, heard their conversation and immediately felt the urge to play.

He slung his scythe over his shoulder, crept up silently, and poked one of the goose ghosts in the back with his finger.

“Don’t touch me!”

“I didn’t touch you!”

Zero then placed a hand on the ghost’s shoulder and said, “I’m hungry too—can I join?”

“Get lost! We don’t even have enough for ourselves—why should we…!” The two ghosts, thinking he was one of them, turned around ready to teach him a lesson.

But it wasn’t one of them—it was a far more terrifying ghost hunter!

“Dear little ghostlings, can I tag along? Hehehe~”

The two ghosts’ eyes widened in terror; they collapsed onto the ground and screamed, “GHOST!!!”

Their scream startled the household. Zero instantly swung his scythe, cleanly severing both ghosts’ jaws, then dragged each by one leg and vanished from the scene.

“Who’s there?! Why are you screaming at this hour?!” The door opened, and a hunter stepped out, holding a hunting rifle.

But he saw nothing outside.

“Weird… Did I imagine it?” He gave up thinking about it, went back inside, shut the door, and blew out the lamp to rest.

Zero dragged the two ghosts to a secluded grove. The ghosts, however, were not faring well—their heads had been dragged along the ground, rubbed raw until barely half remained.

“(╬◣д◢) You two bastards nearly got me caught—wait till I’m done with you!”

He took two ropes from his Nanospace, tied them to trees, then pulled out two scalpels, waiting for their heads to regenerate before deciding how to punish them further!

…