Asakusa
Under the Taishō era night sky, the city glittered with dazzling lights.
For Tanjiro, who had lived deep in the mountains all his life, it was an overwhelming, almost surreal shock.
For Inosuke, however, it meant only one thing.
"So damn annoying."
He frowned, digging his little finger into his ear.
The luxurious haori he wore stood out glaringly beneath the neon lights. Two grotesque-looking swords hung at his waist, and in his hand was a skewer of freshly bought takoyaki, which he ate with casual indifference.
"Inosuke-kun, the udon here is really delicious!"
Tanjiro held his bowl, still stunned by the city's splendor, yet visibly comforted by the food.
"Eat faster," Inosuke urged.
"Once you're done, let's find an inn.
The air here reeks of coal smoke—disgusting."
But before the words had fully settled—
Clatter!
The bowl slipped from Tanjiro's hands and shattered on the ground, broth splashing everywhere.
Inosuke froze. The takoyaki halfway to his mouth stopped midair.
He saw Tanjiro's expression—shock, disbelief, and a hatred burned so deeply it seemed carved into his bones.
"That smell…"
Tanjiro's entire body trembled. Even if he were reduced to ashes, he would never forget it.
The scent that had lingered on the corpses of his family.
In the next instant, Tanjiro bolted into the sea of people like a madman.
"Hey! Gonpachiro!"
Inosuke shouted, swallowing the takoyaki in one bite. He grabbed his twin blades and chased after him.
Inosuke weaved through the crowd like a fish through water, never colliding with a single person.
At the same time, he locked onto the source of the anomaly.
Ahead, at the center of the crowd, there was a sound utterly out of place amid the human clamor—
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.
The sound of seven hearts beating at once, carrying an inhuman pressure.
"Kibutsuji Muzan…"
Inosuke's gaze turned icy.
He swiftly pulled the Concealment Pouch from his sleeve and hung it prominently at his waist.
The pouch's effect blurred the hunter's aura clinging to him, replacing it with a vague presence—neither fully human nor fully demon.
At the center of the street—
Tanjiro shoved through the crowd, sprinting straight toward the source of the scent. Panting, he grabbed the shoulder of a man in a Western suit.
"It's you!!!"
The man turned around.
Pale skin. Plum-red vertical pupils.
And yet—he was holding a human little girl, with a human woman standing beside him.
"Oh my?"
Muzan's voice was gentle, elegant.
"Have you mistaken me for someone else?"
Tanjiro froze.
Human…?
This demon… was pretending to be human?
Muzan's gaze fell upon the hanafuda earrings on Tanjiro's ears. Deep within his pupils, a flicker of fear-laced killing intent flashed.
Just as he was about to raise his hand and execute this insolent Demon Slayer—
A slender hand suddenly rested on his other shoulder.
"Well now, Uncle, long time no see."
A lazy voice, tinged with mock surprise, slipped into the suffocating tension.
Muzan paused and turned his head.
Before him stood a boy with a face far too beautiful, smiling brightly as he flicked open an iron fan.
It was that child—the human cub Doma had once brought into the Infinity Castle.
The one who could hear his heartbeat.
"You are…?"
Muzan narrowed his eyes. Why was this irritating human, like Doma himself, standing together with a Demon Slayer?
"Shh."
Inosuke raised a finger to his lips. Using his absolute pitch, he compressed his voice into a whisper meant for Muzan alone.
"Long time no see, Uncle Muzan."
The word uncle came out smoothly—and with razor-sharp irony.
It instantly declared his position.
Doma's adopted son.
One of their side.
The killing intent in Muzan's eyes stalled for a fraction of a second.
And in that instant—
Inosuke did something shocking.
He released Muzan and stepped in front of Tanjiro instead.
Then he bowed deeply toward Muzan, performing a flawless, formal salute—one that only the Twelve Kizuki used when facing him.
"My friend is ignorant and has disturbed your refined evening."
Inosuke raised his head. Madness glittered in his emerald eyes.
With a glance, he subtly drew Muzan's attention to the heavily modified Demon Slayer uniform he wore.
"I'm doing quite well for myself these days."
Once more, he murmured using absolute pitch.
"I'm looking for the Ubuyashiki estate.
This charcoal-selling kid is a key lead."
Muzan's gaze shifted.
Ubuyashiki—the enemy he had searched for over a thousand years.
This child raised by Doma had infiltrated the Demon Slayer Corps… to help him find Ubuyashiki?
The bait was enormous.
So enormous that even a creature as paranoid as Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't help but feel tempted.
"Hmph."
Muzan snorted. Of course he wouldn't fully trust it—but he didn't mind keeping such a tool around to observe.
Still, the disturbance at hand needed to be dealt with.
At that moment, a couple of passing civilians approached.
Muzan's true nature flared instantly. He didn't need Inosuke's help—he would create chaos himself, and deliver a warning to this adopted son while he was at it.
Slash!
His nails elongated. Too fast for the eye to follow, they sliced across the husband's neck, injecting demon blood.
"Aaaahhh!"
The man mutated instantly, screaming as he lunged at his wife, jaws snapping.
"Dear! What's wrong with you?!"
The woman shrieked.
The crowd erupted.
"Ah! Murder! A monster!"
Screams and cries overlapped in panic.
"Stop!"
Tanjiro could no longer care about Muzan. He couldn't allow innocent people to be harmed.
He lunged forward, jamming his sword sheath into the newborn demon's mouth and slamming it to the ground.
"Inosuke-kun! Help me! Hold him down—don't let him kill anyone!"
Police whistles rang out. The crowd scattered in all directions.
Muzan coldly observed the scene, turning to leave—but as he passed Inosuke, his steps slowed slightly.
Inosuke stood in the shadows, his back to Tanjiro. He didn't move to help.
Instead, he slowly extended his hand toward Muzan, palm up.
A gesture of asking.
"You want trust?"
Muzan murmured.
"Then prove your worth.
If your body can't handle it… die here."
Thrust!
Muzan's finger pierced straight into Inosuke's palm.
He injected blood—highly concentrated, heavily cursed demon blood.
"Ugh…"
Inosuke let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale.
Agony surged through him, as if molten lava were burning its way up his arm.
Cells screamed. Nerves tore apart.
His Ice Spirit Physique went into overdrive, extreme cold wrapping tightly around the raging demon blood, preventing it from rushing straight to his heart.
He clenched his teeth, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth—yet he remained standing.
He even forced out a provocative smile toward Muzan.
"Th… thank… you… for the gift…"
Muzan stared at the boy.
Someone who endured the curse without exploding, without losing his sanity or transforming.
At last, a hint of satisfaction surfaced in his eyes.
A good seed.
And a rabid dog.
"Don't disappoint me."
Leaving those words behind, Muzan vanished into the night with his "family."
Only after he was completely gone did Inosuke slump against the wall, gasping for breath. His left arm had turned dark purple, veins bulging grotesquely.
"Damn it… that was way too much…"
He gritted his teeth.
Just then, the surroundings blurred.
Brilliant, dreamlike patterns bloomed in the air.
The noisy street, the panicked crowd—it was all sealed away, as if separated into another world.
Blood Demon Art: Bewitching Blood — Vision-Confusing Incense.
A gentle yet resolute female voice spoke.
"Even after becoming a demon, you struggle desperately not to eat humans…
Such willpower is truly moving."
Inosuke lifted his head.
A beautiful woman in a kimono approached slowly.
Tamayo.
Behind her, Yushiro stood glaring at them, his face screaming stay away from that woman.
"The boy carrying a demon… and that one…"
Tamayo's gaze fell on Inosuke's discolored arm, shock flickering in her eyes.
"A boy injected with a massive amount of demon blood, yet still retaining human reason…
Come with me. Both of you."
Inosuke shook his arm. It hurt—but he knew he'd gambled right.
He'd successfully caught Muzan's attention and obtained his ticket as a double agent.
At the same time, he'd drawn Tamayo's interest.
"Tch. Finally show up, huh? Nursemaid."
He straightened, regaining his arrogant posture.
Walking over to Tanjiro—still restraining the struggling newborn demon—Inosuke hoisted the creature up with one hand.
"Let's go, Gonpachiro."
He tilted his chin toward Tamayo.
"Someone's inviting us for tea.
And while we're at it… help me fix this useless arm."
Tanjiro stared, completely dumbfounded.
"Huh? Inosuke-kun… do you know her?"
"Nope."
Inosuke met Tamayo's violet eyes, a playful smile curling on his lips.
"But I can smell it…"
"The scent of a traitor."
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