Chapter 78: Sometimes the human heart is more poisonous than the deadliest poison

"I believe the Pillar currently present here, a swordsman of the [Initial Breathing] from the Warring States period, is the most elite and strongest of this generation."

"Zero, Gyomei, Shinobu, Kyojuro, Muichiro, Giyu, Sanemi, Tengen, Mitsuri, Kanao, Rui—I look forward to you all shining brightly."

Ubuyashiki Kyojuro gazed at each Pillar before him, his heart filled with boundless emotion.

Especially Zero—since joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he has brought unprecedented reforms.

The Mount Natagumo examiners, curse healing, Hinokami Kagura, the great battles against the Upper Moons and Kokushibo himself.

His exquisite medical knowledge and brilliant mind have also upheld half of the Demon Slayer Corps’ intelligence network!

After every battle, he always writes detailed reports for everyone’s reference, minimizing casualties among swordsmen below Pillar rank.

Worse still, he infiltrated the Infinite Castle and gathered intelligence on every Upper Moon, allowing everyone to more accurately understand the Twelve Kizuki’s combat data.

In comparison, Zero’s status within the Demon Slayer Corps is hardly an exaggeration to say second only to Ubuyashiki Kyojuro.

But all of this owes much to Kanao—had she not accidentally encountered Zero all those years ago, the Demon Slayer Corps might have met a different fate.

Now, even if Zero does not consider the Demon Slayer Corps, he must consider Kanao and Mitsuri, the two girls he loves, and his younger sister Xiao Yue.

This is also a small personal desire of Ubuyashiki Kyojuro.

After all, everyone has a little bit of personal desire.

"My lord, why do you approve of the Kamado siblings?" Shibui Shinobu asked.

Ubuyashiki Kyojuro said nothing, only turning his gaze toward Zero.

Everyone else turned their eyes to him too.

Seeing this, Zero merely sighed slightly and said: "Do you remember the family I saved when I first encountered Kokushibo years ago?"

Everyone nodded, indicating they remembered.

"That family lives in my estate—Kujira-san is the mother of the Kamado siblings."

Shibui Shinobu suddenly recalled the gentle woman in Zero’s estate.

He occasionally visited Zero’s estate to spar with him, and that gentle woman often made sweets to welcome him.

Watching her busy back figure reminded Shibui Shinobu of his own mother.

As a child, his mother was just like that—always tender and attentive, caring for everyone in the household, working from dawn till dusk…

"I concealed some details back then. I only told my lord, and I asked him to keep it secret from you."

"Although Nezuko became a demon, she has broken free from Kokushibo’s control! I originally intended to bring her back with me, but… even if I had, I couldn’t guarantee her safety!"

"Why?" Shibui Shinobu asked, puzzled.

"If a demon existed within the Demon Slayer Corps, who do you think would spare her?" Zero replied.

Everyone present fell silent in thought, except for Tomioka Giyu.

Especially Shibui Shinobu—with his violent temper, he certainly wouldn’t let her live.

Zero continued: "Moreover, I cannot guarantee whether her escape from control is temporary or permanent…"

"To put it bluntly, before I met Kanao and the others, I would have only taken Xiao Yue and found a way to leave this world—I could have completely ignored the fate of this world! Now, even if I don’t care for you, I must care for Kanao, Mitsuri, and Xiao Yue!"

"A parent’s love is pitiful—no parent can endure seeing their child transformed like this."

"You all hold an unyielding grudge against demons, but Kujira-san only wants her child to live well."

"Imagine—if Nezuko were your closest kin, your brother or sister, and she became a demon yet never harmed anyone—what would you do?"

"I mean no disrespect—I only wish to tell you that demons were once human, and the true culprit behind all this is Kokushibo."

"Sometimes, the human heart is more poisonous than the deadliest poison…"

In a corner, an unremarkable figure knelt, trembling.

There was no choice—the pressure radiating from the Pillars was simply too overwhelming!

Even when restrained, it was still palpable!

He could barely breathe…

Zero saw this and said: "Murata, leave now."

"Yes! Thank you, Pillar Zero!" He carefully exited the room, closed the wooden door, and fled as if escaping.

The meeting lasted until nightfall.

After the meeting ended, Zero went to Chouji’s house, spoke briefly with Tanjiro, then returned to his estate carrying the wooden box with Nezuko inside.

That night, Kujira Kamado and her children embraced Nezuko and wept together.

For this family, reunion was the most beautiful thing.

Zero and Xiao Yue watched this scene, and it felt profoundly beautiful to them too.

………

Meanwhile, inside the Infinite Castle, Kokushibo held a meeting.

He summoned only the Lower Moons.

Qing!

A single string pluck, and the remaining three Lower Moons appeared in various corners of the Infinite Castle.

Gazing at the twisted, upside-down architecture, the Lower Moons looked bewildered, unsure what had happened.

The three Lower Moons were:

Lower Moon One—Enmu.

He had medium-length black hair with magenta tips and longer blue-green ends, looking effeminate!

On his cheeks were three large yellow squares and three small yellow squares; he wore a long black coat and white-striped pants.

Lower Moon Two—Rokuro.

He looked like a middle-aged man, with long black hair and a full beard.

Lower Moon Six—Kanroji.

A 【 Gong 】 character was tattooed on his face; a short maple-leaf-shaped ponytail was tied at the back of his head.

Kanroji looked around and noticed three Lower Moons were missing.

Lower Moon Three, Four, and Five had not appeared.

Qing!

Another string pluck, gathering all the Lower Moons together on the platform below.

Kanroji immediately realized and looked up at the platform, where two demons now stood.

One was a woman in a kimono, graceful and elegant; beside her knelt another woman holding a shamisen.

At this moment, Kokushibo had taken the form of a woman, standing atop the platform, looking down with contempt at the three bewildered Lower Moons.

His eyes were filled with disdain!

Then he spoke in a man’s voice: "Kneel before me!"

The three Lower Moons involuntarily dropped to their knees.

"Lord Kokushibo… it’s Lord Kokushibo! I didn’t even sense it! His form and scent are completely different—this mimicry is so precise, so terrifying!"

Kanroji thought.

Cold sweat instantly drenched his face.

"Rui was killed—he was Lower Moon Five!… Lower Moon Three and Four are dead too."

Kokushibo’s voice sounded calm, but inside, his rage was boiling over!

The deaths of other Lower Moons meant nothing—but Rui was his favorite.

"I only want to know one thing: why are the Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki so weak?! Though the Twelve Kizuki are few, this is not an end—it is a beginning…"

"In over a hundred years, the Upper Moons have remained unchanged—the ones who have slain Demon Slayer Pillars are always Upper Moons! But the Lower Moons? How many have been replaced over time?!"

As Kokushibo spoke, he forced back his fury, gazing at the Lower Moons before him as if they were trash.

Kanroji dared not contradict him, thinking: "Even if you asked me, I wouldn’t know…"

"[Even if you asked me, I wouldn’t know]—what exactly? Tell me!" Kokushibo, having read his thoughts, asked coldly.

Kanroji turned pale—he hadn’t expected Kokushibo could read his mind: "My thoughts are exposed! This is bad…"

"Why is it bad? Speak up!" Kokushibo roared.

Seeing Kanroji unable to speak, Kokushibo’s arm twisted into a monstrous shape, opened its jaws, seized him, and lifted him high into the air.

"Lord Kokushibo, forgive me! Please spare me! Have mercy! I’m so sorry! Truly, so sorry!" Kanroji begged in terror.

But Kokushibo’s eyes showed no emotion—he mercilessly commanded the monstrous arm to open wide and swallow Kanroji whole.

Puch!

Blood sprayed everywhere as Kanroji was devoured, splattering Enmu and Rokuro.

Rokuro trembled uncontrollably; Enmu stared at Kokushibo with glazed, rapturous eyes, his face flushed.

Kokushibo continued: "I am dissolving the Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki—the Upper Moons alone are sufficient. Finally, the two of you—do you have anything to say?"

Rokuro immediately spoke: "I’m still useful! I can serve you! Give me time!"

"Oh? Then tell me—what use are you? With your current strength, what can you possibly contribute?"

"Blood…!! If you grant me blood, I will adapt—I will become stronger and fight for you!"

Hearing this, Kokushibo’s veins bulged with rage: "Why should I obey your orders and give you blood? You shameless wretch—what use are you?!"

"N-no… Lord Kokushibo, forgive me…"

Puch!

Instantly, Rokuro was also swallowed by Kokushibo’s monstrous arm.

Now, only one Lower Moon remained: Lower Moon One.

"Finally, do you have anything to say?" Kokushibo asked the remaining Lower Moon One.

Gekko Ichiji said excitedly, “It feels like a dream—I’m honored you’d personally handle me, and hearing the dying screams of other demons brings me such joy!”

I love seeing others’ misfortune and suffering—what a beautiful dream this is. Thank you for saving me until last!”

Yami’s flowery words plunged Muzan into thought, then he smirked wickedly.

A deformed arm sprouted a bony spike, piercing Yami’s neck and injecting his own blood.

“You’re impressive. I’ve chosen you. I’ll share my blood with you.”

Glug! Glug!

As the blood flowed in, Yami endured the agony of corruption, his adoration for Muzan deepening.

“If you can’t adapt to my blood, you’ll die. But if you embrace it, you’ll gain greater power—and serve me!”

Lying on the ground, Yami remained entranced, as if Muzan’s treatment was a divine gift.

“Go eliminate the Demon Slayers! If you kill the hunter with the flower earring, I’ll give you more blood…”

Muzan paused, then continued, “If you kill the Demon Slayer Pillar who wields the Sun Blade Scythe and bring me his head, I won’t mind promoting you to Upper Moon.”

Clang!

As he finished speaking, Mukago plucked her shamisen, hurling Yami out of the Infinite Castle.

Yami stared at the memories Muzan had given him, his excitement and euphoria intensifying.

Tanjiro’s figure and Zero’s back appeared in his mind.

“These… are Muzan’s memories… Ha… ha… If I kill these two… I’ll get even more blood… This is… incredible… Just like a dream… Hahaha…”

…………

…………

Since the Spider Mountain incident, two or three days had passed.

During this time, Kie Kamado occasionally brought the children to visit Tanjiro, speaking with nothing but concern and comfort, urging him to rest well.

This filled Tanjiro with happiness.

He must grow stronger quickly, eliminate Muzan Kibutsuji soon, and remain with his family forever.

On this day, Murata arrived early at Butterfly House to visit Tanjiro and the others.

“Hey, you guys!”

“Ah! Mr. Murata! You’re safe—that’s wonderful!”

After the Spider Mountain battle, Murata had only suffered minor skin abrasions on his fingers—no other injuries.

He’d been summoned to the Pillars’ Meeting, but only to report on the Spider Mountain battle—nothing more.

Still, recalling that night’s scene left him vividly haunted.

He’d nearly pissed himself from fear.

“Tanjiro, who’s that?” Zenitsu asked beside him.

“That’s Mr. Murata—he fought with us at Spider Mountain!” Tanjiro replied.

Murata watched the two chatting happily, feeling a pang of envy and despair.

“I envy you so much… Compared to me, it’s terrible! What a hell… The Pillars are terrifying… Even though today’s swordsmen are far stronger than before, some old-school ones still refuse to obey…”

Murata sat beside Tanjiro’s bed, venting endlessly.

Just as he complained, the Butterfly sisters appeared behind him.

“Hello.”

“Ah! Pillars! Lady Butterflies! Hello! Goodbye!” Murata, terrified, leapt up and bowed deeply before fleeing in panic.

“So beautiful~” Zenitsu stared at Kanao, eyes sparkling.

He rushed up to her, smiling nervously, “Hello, beautiful lady—do you have a lover? If not, could I court you?”

Kanao smiled gently. “Oh dear, I’m sorry—but I already have a husband who adores me.”

“Huh???!”

Plop! Splash!

It sounded as if Zenitsu’s heart had shattered like glass.

“Aaaah! Why does such a beautiful girl have a husband?! I can’t accept it! Who is he? Where is he?!”

Zenitsu’s fury boiled inside him!

He had to know who Kanao’s husband was!

He was ready to challenge him to a duel—to prove to Kanao who the real man was!

“Oh dear~ My husband is standing right behind you~ Hehe~”

Kanao pointed behind Zenitsu.

Zenitsu turned—and froze.

“Zero… Zero-nii… Hehehe… So the beautiful lady’s husband is you? Amazing!”

Zero said nothing. He tapped his chin in thought, then turned to Shinazugawa Kyojuro, who was handing out medicine, and said, “Kyojuro, Zenitsu’s recovery may take a long time. Please double his dosage—get him healed quickly.”

“Yes, Zero Pillar,” Kyojuro replied.

“Nooo! Not again! I already got double the dose—why add more?! Aaaahhh!!!”

Zenitsu collapsed onto the floor, thrashing and screaming.

Kyojuro grabbed the back of his robe and tossed him onto the bed, then held a cup of medicine before him.

Zenitsu opened his mouth to refuse—but saw Zero holding a black object emitting crackling blue sparks, grinning at him with terrifying warmth.

He immediately pinched his nose and gulped the entire cup down.

Then Zero turned to Tanjiro. “Tanjiro, you’ve recovered well. It’s time to begin physical function rehabilitation training.”

“Huh? Physical function rehabilitation training? What’s that?”

“It’s to prevent stiffness and deterioration during recovery—muscle contraction exercises, joint mobility drills, things like that—to accelerate healing,” Kanao explained.

Soon after, Tanjiro and Inosuke were taken first for rehabilitation training.

Zenitsu, still not fully recovered, was temporarily excluded.

Since Shan Yi’s body had not yet fully recovered, he did not participate for now.

…………