Chapter 32: Settling the Kamado Family

Upper Moon Three — Akaza

Before receiving a reply from the Head of the Demon Slayer Corps, Zero stayed at Tanjiro’s house.

During that time, he also checked the data on Muzan Kibutsuji.

【Analyzing… Analysis successful】

【Name: Muzan Kibutsuji】

【Identity: Ancestor of Demons — Demon King】

【Gender: Unknown (can be male or female)】

【Age: Over 1,000 years】

【Birth Era: Heian Period】

【Personality: Cowardly, cruel, hot-tempered】

【Subordinates: Twelve Kizuki】

【Abilities: Complete Mimicry, Breaking Boundaries, Blood Curse, Splitting, Giant Infant Transformation】

【Weapons: Spike Whip, Tube Whip】

【Blood Demon Art: Black Citrus Thorn, Energy Accumulation Impact】

【Personal Information: Cruel and cold-hearted, hot-tempered, yet extraordinarily cowardly, terrified of death, obsessed with immortality, claims to be “infinitely close to a perfect being.”】

【Note: Muzan Kibutsuji has broken the boundary — his body cannot be beheaded and destroyed by a Nichirin Blade; only sunlight can annihilate him!】

“Hmm… My earlier guess was right after all! Though there may have been some inaccuracies… I never expected Muzan Kibutsuji actually overcame beheading…” Zero thought.

He then activated the 【Analysis Glasses】 to search for Muzan Kibutsuji.

【Search: Muzan Kibutsuji】

【Searching… Search successful】

“Phew~ Finally!” Zero felt a surge of excitement inside, but quickly calmed himself and began reviewing Muzan Kibutsuji’s information.

【Muzan Kibutsuji】:

【Original Name: Yushafu Muzan, born in the distant Heian Era, he nearly died before birth due to extreme frailty, even emerging as a stillborn infant.

But Muzan, driven by an unyielding will to live, clawed his way back from the gates of death, yet remained bedridden before turning twenty due to an incurable illness.

A kind physician developed a medicine to prolong his life, but the side effects made Muzan believe his condition had worsened, causing him to murder the doctor in rage.

Only after the doctor’s death did Muzan realize his body had fully recovered, gaining immortality and an incredibly resilient form — yet he also began craving human flesh and blood.

Though this newfound power posed no problem for Yushafu Muzan, his fatal weakness was sunlight — being unable to walk in daylight for his entire life filled him with profound humiliation and fury.

After studying the physician’s medicine formula, Muzan discovered the final product required a plant the doctor called “Blue Amanatsu Flower.”

Yet only that physician knew where it grew and how to cultivate it.

Thus, Yushafu Muzan, seeking to become the strongest immortal monster, began creating countless demons to search for the Blue Amanatsu Flower.

He could turn humans into demons by giving them his blood and control them; any demon revealing information about Muzan would immediately disintegrate and self-destruct.

He could also read a demon’s thoughts when near it, though the clarity faded with distance, leaving only a vague sense of direction and location.

Simultaneously, Muzan Kibutsuji could seal away all abilities and immortality of demons created from his own blood.

Afterwards, he changed his name to: Muzan Kibutsuji.】

After reading this, Zero understood much, and deduced that this was likely when the Yushafu clan first received the so-called “curse.”

“I suppose the Demon Slayer Corps was founded after this?” Zero thought.

After a moment of contemplation, he continued reading the 【Muzan Kibutsuji】 information.

【Centuries after becoming a demon in the Heian Era, Muzan Kibutsuji, in his search for the Blue Amanatsu Flower to become a perfect lifeform, created countless subordinates across Japan during these hundred years.

Due to demons wreaking havoc everywhere, a group of people spontaneously formed the 【Demon Slayer Corps】 to combat them.

But ordinary humans of the Demon Slayer Corps could not threaten the powerful demons, so Muzan Kibutsuji made no effort to eliminate them, instead traveling far and wide seeking the Blue Amanatsu Flower or a remedy to overcome sunlight.

Eventually, Muzan found the brilliant physician Juzo, who suffered from an incurable illness, and manipulated her desire “to see her child grow up.”

Deceived by Muzan Kibutsuji, Juzo became a demon and, in an uncontrollable mental state, killed her own child and husband — plunging her into a self-destructive frenzy, which Muzan then fully controlled with his power.

Yet the struggle between demons and the Demon Slayer Corps never ceased; the Demon Slayer Corps, having learned Breathing Techniques from the Sun Breathing swordsman Kyojuro Rengoku, reversed the century-long dominance of demons, and Muzan’s vast number of demons were wiped out in these years.

But Muzan Kibutsuji still believed ordinary humans could never defeat him, and after observing the Demon Slayer Corps’ most outstanding Marked swordsmen, he realized they gained power at the cost of their lifespans — further solidifying his conviction that he, as a perfect being, could never be defeated.

Intrigued by Breathing Techniques, Muzan Kibutsuji encountered Kyojuro Rengoku, who sighed over the side effects of his Mark.

He then tempted Kyojuro Rengoku with the promise of eternal life.

Kyojuro Rengoku, wanting to defeat his genius younger brother Rengoku and fearing the side effects of his Mark, ultimately chose to drink demon blood to overcome the Mark’s drawbacks, betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps, and became Muzan’s “partner.”】

Seeing this, Zero froze and quickly pulled out the notes he had taken at the Yushafu residence from his 【Nanospace】 to cross-reference them.

“So it’s true — everything I guessed before fits perfectly! Breathing Techniques, Marks! Indeed, Kyojuro Rengoku became a demon out of fear of the Mark’s side effects! Now I can be 100% certain: Upper Moon One is Kyojuro Rengoku!”

“And since the information mentions Kyojuro Rengoku always wanted to defeat Kyojuro Rengoku, he must be fiercely competitive and extremely jealous!”

Thinking of all this, Zero’s thoughts grew clearer again; he had always held firm to his earlier guesses.

Now they were all confirmed, though some “fog” still lingered in his mind.

But he firmly believed all of it would be verified in time.

He turned his gaze back to the information displayed on the 【Analysis Glasses】.

【Not long after Kyojuro Rengoku became a demon, one night, Muzan Kibutsuji walked with Juzo along a bamboo path when they encountered Kyojuro Rengoku.

At first, Muzan believed Kyojuro Rengoku was merely stronger than other Breathing Technique swordsmen, so he attacked without hesitation.

But to Muzan’s utter shock, Kyojuro Rengoku effortlessly dodged his attack and severely wounded him with his strongest sword technique: “Sun Breathing — Thirteenth Form.”

Faced with Kyojuro Rengoku’s question — “What do you think of human lives?” — Muzan Kibutsuji, consumed by rage and terror, gave no answer; instead, he abandoned Juzo and split his body into over eighteen hundred fragments, scattering in all directions.

Though Kyojuro Rengoku destroyed nearly all fragments with full force, Muzan Kibutsuji survived by clinging to the remaining pieces.

Unable to heal his wounds and forced to hide, Muzan developed a deep fear of the man who seemed born solely to destroy him, and remained hidden from the world for a hundred years.

Simultaneously, his desire to become a perfect being grew stronger, and finally, Muzan Kibutsuji decided to create twelve supreme demons — the 【Twelve Kizuki】 — to eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps entirely.

But Muzan Kibutsuji never anticipated that Juzo, abandoned by him, regained her sanity after his severe weakening and was not killed by Kyojuro Rengoku — who let her go.

She revealed all her knowledge to Kyojuro Rengoku and, using her medical expertise, completely broke free from his control.

Decades later, on a blood moon night, after Kyojuro Rengoku reported Kyojuro Rengoku’s death, Muzan personally attacked the Demon Slayer Corps and exterminated every swordsman who knew the Sun Breathing technique, severing its lineage forever.

Yet though the Demon Slayer Corps and its leadership, the Yushafu family, were repeatedly driven to the brink by demons, the Yushafu family used their unique ability to foresee the future to hide, rendering Muzan unable to ever locate the Demon Slayer Corps’ headquarters again.】

After finishing reading the 【Muzan Kibutsuji】 information, Zero took a deep breath and exhaled.

He never imagined his initial guesses would uncover so many questions and answers.

He had once thought his speculation about the female demon Kyojuro Rengoku let escape and her identity were merely conjectures.

But after confirming them in Tokyo’s Asakusa, now seeing this information, Zero felt he was drawing closer to the truth of something.

“I suppose the Demon Slayer Corps learned of Kyojuro Rengoku’s betrayal and transformation into a demon, and that Kyojuro Rengoku had let Juzo go — which is why that generation’s Head of the Demon Slayer Corps expelled them?” Zero thought.

Looking at the final segment of information in the 【Analysis Glasses】, Zero fell into deep thought again, flipping his notebook to the page recording 【Kyojuro Rengoku】’s details.

“Decades later, on a blood moon night… Kyojuro Rengoku died at age eighty… That means Kyojuro Rengoku fought the demon Kyojuro Rengoku when he was eighty?!”

“But the demon Kyojuro Rengoku is still alive… Either Kyojuro Rengoku aged and lost strength, or at that time, Kyojuro Rengoku was already at his last breath…”

Two possibilities flashed in Zero’s mind, but he leaned toward the second.

His innate Mark, Transparent World, Nichirin Blade, Sun Breathing — all these factors, plus his brother Kyojuro Rengoku calling him “favored by the gods,”

meant that even in old age, Kyojuro Rengoku’s strength must have remained nearly at its peak.

Thus, Zero boldly concluded: Kyojuro Rengoku fought the demon Kyojuro Rengoku because he was at his final breath — allowing Kyojuro Rengoku to escape death.

Zero also made another guess: Kyojuro Rengoku likely still harbored the desire to defeat and surpass Kyojuro Rengoku.

Even as a demon.

“If I’m not mistaken, Kyojuro Rengoku retained his human memories even after becoming a demon — after all, the information says he and Muzan Kibutsuji were merely ‘partners’!”

“If so, then as a demon, Kyojuro Rengoku’s status among the Twelve Kizuki ranks second only to Muzan Kibutsuji…”

He stopped thinking further and recorded all this information.

As for other details, Zero believed that with time and careful investigation, he would find the answers.

Including information on the 【Twelve Kizuki】.

Sunset.

The messenger crow Xue flew again from the Demon Slayer Corps to Yunxueshan, delivering Yushafu Yōya’s handwritten letter into Zero’s hands.

“Master, I’m back.”

“Xue, you’ve worked hard — rest well now.”

He removed the letter tied to Xue’s leg and read:

【Zero, do exactly as you plan. If you need anything, tell me — the Yushafu family will aid you fully.】

The message was brief, clearly showing Yushafu Yōya’s stance — Zero’s wish to settle the Kamado family in his estate was entirely reasonable.

Seeing this, Zero smiled faintly, understanding Yushafu Yōya’s trust in him.

With this, the next steps became much easier.

“Zero-nii.”

Tanjiro stepped out from inside the house and called from behind Zero.

“Tanjiro… Have you decided?”

“Yes, Zero-nii. I’ve decided.”

“Good. Then tomorrow we set out. I’ll take you partway — the rest, you must walk alone.”

“Thank you, Zero-nii.”

Nezuko, helped by Kotohira Kamado, changed into a new dress and stepped out from the inner room, coming to Zero’s side and resting her head on his lap.

She seems to love having Zero as her pillow; whenever she gets the chance, she stays by his side.

“Nezuko, you mischievous little thing, you really do love lying on my lap!”

“(*^▃^*) Mmm~”

Nezuko’s eyes curved into crescents, her mouth bound by a muzzle, her expression radiating pure joy.

Seeing Nezuko like this, Zero gently stroked her hair, occasionally pinching her tiny cheeks.

Nezuko clutched Zero’s hand against her face, like a kitten rubbing against him.

Kamado Kujira stepped out of the house and saw this scene, her heart filled with quiet satisfaction.

Once, everyone in this household had only spent a single day with Zero; now, he had done so much for their family.

Tanjiro watched how harmoniously Zero and Nezuko interacted, and felt deeply happy inside.

“Zero-nii is so gentle,” Tanjiro thought.

(Demon: ……)

“Aunt Kujira, are you feeling better? How are Takeshi and the others?” Only then did Zero notice Kujira standing nearby watching them.

“I’m much better now, and the children are all asleep. Thank you, Zero.”

“You’re welcome. Also, tomorrow, everyone will leave with me—I’ll take care of everything after that.”

“But…” Kujira wanted to say they should stay; after all, this home held too many memories.

Just as Kujira hesitated, Zero’s next words made her accept the necessity of leaving.

“Aunt Kujira, although I’ve driven that monster away, what if it comes back while you stay here? You must think of yourself and your children. It’s only temporary—once the monster is destroyed, you can return.”

Kujira thought carefully. It didn’t matter if she left, but her children were still young—if that monster returned again, what would happen to them?

“Alright then… I’ll leave it to you, Zero. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”

“No need to thank me. Didn’t you tell me once to treat this place as my own home? When family is in trouble, how could I stand idly by?”

“Yes—if only you could become part of this family too, I’d feel at ease.” As she spoke, Kujira glanced at Nezuko lying on Zero’s lap, then at Zero herself, her eyes brimming with hope.

Zero felt strange under that gaze—it was as if she were looking at a son-in-law. A sudden urge to crawl into a crack overwhelmed him.

“I must be… imagining things. Yeah, definitely just my imagination,” Zero muttered silently to himself.

“Aunt Kujira, Tanjiro, rest well tonight. We leave tomorrow.”

“Yes, Zero-nii.”

“Mm.”

………

(For the next three days, updates are paused—I’m drawing an illustration of some Genshin Impact female characters playing in swimsuits on the beach. Please understand.)