𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

三十二

𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ー 残酷な意図

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐰𝐨
⎡ 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 ⎦

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Muzan, the progenitor of all demons, was a being who had lived for centuries. Having consumed the flesh and blood of thousands of humans, he built his reign upon their deaths—deaths that gave him the strength to overpower any who stood in his way. Of course, there were always those who tried to defy his power, so naturally they needed to be eliminated.

No matter the cost, they would die.

All Demon Slayers would die.

It was the very reason he created demons in the first place: to have them find what he desired, and to kill as many Demon Slayers as possible. His most powerful demons were the Twelve Kizuki, and as Muzan turned his head to the third ranking member of the group, his once lilac eyes snapped to their usual red color whilst veins then scrawled across his pale skin.

"Have you found what I have asked for?" He asked in a deep and almost silky voice.

"I looked into it, but came up empty," Akaza answered stoically and with no emotion. "Having no way to even confirm it's existence... I was unable to locate the Blue-Spider Lily."

"And?" Muzan continued to glower at the man, unimpressed.

"I will continue to do my utmost to live up to your expectations, Muzan-sama," Akaza swallowed, knowing he couldn't keep the truth from his master since Muzan could read the minds of all his subordinates. "The Hashira that you ordered me to kill though... I have failed you. Something—"

"It's a shame you would lower yourself by making up excuses... Akaza," the man pretending to be a boy proclaimed, his expression distorting into a calm anger as a clawed finger lifted in Akaza's direction, a gust of wind brushing past the Upper Rank that ripped his vest and created rivulets of vein-like markings on his body. "You couldn't even kill a Hashira even though a demon beating a human is a forgone conclusion. What I want is for the Demon Corps annihilation." He ripped the pages of the book until it was shredded, his voice having risen with each word as he continued, "Pummel the life out of every single one of them and never let them enter my sight again! It's hardly a complicated task... and yet, I'm still waiting for it to happen. What do you have to say about that?"

Akaza grit his teeth, both his anger and hatred growing tremendously at the words of dismay that he received from his master.

It's all that woman's fault.

That damn woman!

"Are you keeping things from me, Akaza?" Muzan further questioned, gripping the book by the front and back covers to rip it clean through the spine, not a shred of caring for the piece of literature as he tossed it to the floor. "There were three other Demon Slayers there... and now a woman? Why did you fail to kill them off after I made the point of sending you there since you happened to be nearby? Akaza... Akaza... Akaza..."

At that point, blood was now flowing from Akaza's nose, eyes, and mouth, his expression strained and contorting into one of pain as he tried to keep in the pure agony of Muzan's words. Shaking violently, his muscles straining, Akaza almost couldn't stand the pure disinterest reflecting in that red gaze of Muzan's.

"You have disappointed me," Muzan then turned back to his books. "To think that you couldn't kill a mere Hashira, and to think another distracted you from your task—a woman, no less. How far you've fallen, Upper Three. Dismissed."

Akaza gave a low bow before he exited the room, leaving Muzan alone until his supposed father entered the room asking about the loud noise he heard. Muzan merely narrowed his eyes, the red hues reverting back to the lilac color it was before the Upper Rank had arrived. Being the first demon, the one that was most powerful, it was quite convenient to slip into the minds of his subordinates to see what they truly thought. And what he saw from the mind of Upper Moon Three truly was captivating.

That woman...

From Akaza's memories, she appeared at first weak and futile... but after...

After...

I want to know more.

Turning away from where he was watching Akaza's departing figure disappear into the night, Muzan faced his fake father. The moment Akaza no longer felt Muzan's burning gaze on him, the moment the fury and humiliation that he felt seeped into his very blood. It ate away at him until all he could think about was (Y/N) and how she had tricked him into thinking she was weak—that she was insignificant.

But she lied.

His lips pulled back into a snarl as his fingers ate away at the bark of a tree, the large object taking the brunt of his frustration. Since (Y/N) was indeed a woman, he would never allow himself to stoop so low as to hurt her or kill her despite the fact that she was the one who had ruined everything. Breathing in deeply, veins protruding from his skin as his whole body tensed, he let out a slow sigh.

Straightening, his eyes grew cold.

(Y/N)... that's your name.

A smirk curled itself onto his lips, his fangs glimmering in the white moonlight.

I will find you again and expose you.

I will follow you wherever you go... you'll never be able to be rid of me.

Never.

꧁꧂

【 大正の秘密 | 𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐇Ō 𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 】

► Akaza feels both admiration and hatred for (Y/N) and her strength, wishing to not fight her nor kill her, but to find out just how strong she truly is

► Muzan saw clearly how Akaza views (Y/N) and finds such a strong demon quite intriguing to have under him, especially with how she had been hiding her power so well all along

► Muzan vaguely recalls turning (Y/N), but not to the point where it stands out in his memory

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