The location engraved upon Doma's Ice Monument—Yosuke knew it very well.
It was the place where he and Muzan Kibutsuji first crossed paths,
the place where both of them had first become demons.
It was also once the ancestral land of the Ubuyashiki family.
When Yosuke arrived at the ruins of the Ubuyashiki estate,
he immediately sensed a familiar aura—one identical to his own.
Muzan Kibutsuji stood amidst the rubble.
The two faced each other in silence, neither making the first move.
Instead, they seemed to drift into memories of the past.
"Ubuyashiki Yosuke," Muzan spoke first, "this used to be your room.
I came here the very night you first became a demon. Do you remember?"
Yosuke recalled the memory vividly.
"Of course I remember. That night, you tore off one of my arms…
and even said it tasted terrible."
Muzan gave a low chuckle.
"To be honest, I regret it. I don't know why I didn't kill you that day.
I wanted to—completely. But in the end, I held back."
"Then why?" Yosuke asked quietly. "Why did you spare me?"
Facing his only rival—and his only brother—
Muzan smiled bitterly, almost self-mockingly.
"I can hardly remember anymore.
Perhaps I thought… if I killed you, I'd truly be alone in this world."
He stared directly at Yosuke.
"To be frank, Ubuyashiki Yosuke, I can see it—you're not the kind of man
who risks his life for humans.
So why do you stand against me?
We are the first demons—the origin of all.
If we joined forces, this world would be ours for the taking.
Yet you stubbornly oppose me… all for those foolish, ignorant humans."
Yosuke didn't deny it.
"You're right. I'm not someone who sacrifices himself for humanity.
When I first became a demon, I thought I could do whatever I wanted.
Once I had power, the people without it… they seemed like ants to me."
Muzan extended his hand.
"It's not too late, Yosuke. Join me.
Everything I possess—I'll share it with you.
Half, or even more."
But Yosuke didn't answer. Instead, he asked,
"Muzan Kibutsuji… do you remember Ubuyashiki Mikako and Ubuyashiki Takuto?"
Muzan frowned. The names sounded vaguely familiar,
but he couldn't recall.
"Who are they?"
Yosuke's eyes dimmed with sorrow.
"They were our parents.
Have you even forgotten the people who gave us life?"
Muzan sneered.
"Parents? Don't make me laugh.
I have no interest in the dead.
They brought me into this world, yet cursed me with a frail, dying body.
I have hated them ever since.
And you, Yosuke—don't you hate them too?"
Yosuke shook his head.
"Hate them? Never.
Father and Mother gave me life, they gave me love.
Even when I might not live to see another day, they never gave up on me.
I have nothing but gratitude for them."
"That's the difference between us, Muzan.
The moment you became a demon, you abandoned your humanity—
your responsibility as a person,
and the warmth of those who cared for you.
You may be the strongest being in this world,
but are you truly content?
When you look back and see that no one stands beside you,
don't you feel lonely? Don't you feel… pitiful?"
Muzan's expression hardened.
"Lonely? I have countless demons who are loyal to me!
What's pitiful about that?
The weak, who live and die at the mercy of the strong—they are pitiful.
Humanity, responsibility, compassion—these are worthless.
Only eternal life is truth.
When death comes, nothing remains. So what's the point of anything else?"
Yosuke answered coldly,
"Those demons you command—you've only subdued them through fear.
When the balance of power shifts,
the first thing they'll do is rise up and destroy you.
Humans, when they die, do not simply vanish.
The greatness of humanity lies in inheritance—
passing one's will to the next generation.
True eternity does not lie in living forever,
but in the immortality of human will."
Muzan clenched his fists, as if making an oath.
"I need no such intangible inheritance!
I will become the strongestundying,unaging, unbound by the sun!
As long as I remain the strongest,no one will ever defy me!"
Yosuke met his gaze calmly.
"Even if you conquer the world, Muzan,loneliness will still consume you.
In the end, your eternal life will become a curse—unable to live, unable to die.
Is that truly what you desire?"
"Ubuyashiki Yosuke," Muzan hissed, "don't think you can sway me with your words.
For a thousand years, I have never wavered from my goal.
But you—spouting noble ideals just to fill the emptiness in your heart.
Compared to me, you're nothing but a hypocrite!"
Yosuke nodded slightly.
"You're right again. My heart is empty.
At first, I continued on only because of the duty Mother entrusted to me.
But along the way, I met many kind souls—
people who gave meaning to my solitude,and strength to keep moving forward.
I'm no saint, Muzan.
I simply wish to fulfill the responsibility that is mine to bear."
Muzan scoffed.
"Responsibility? For those fragile insects called humans?
That's like a tiger taking responsibility for a lamb it's about to eat.
Do you even hear yourself?
You and I are not the same as humans!
When I die, the next one they'll hunt will be you.
Humans are a hypocritical, self-devouring race—even without demons, they'll still slaughter one another until they destroy themselves."
Yosuke smiled faintly.
"Humans may be flawed—filled with greed, anger, delusion, pride, and doubt—
but they also possess countless virtues:
love, kindness, forgiveness, humility, creativity, courage, resilience,integrity, vitality… and above all—hope."
Muzan raised his arms high.
"I am the hope of all demons!"
Yosuke shook his head.
"No. You are not hope.
You are fear. You are despair.
You will never represent hope."
Muzan's expression darkened.
"Ubuyashiki Yosuke… it seems your decision is made."
"My decision has never changed," Yosuke replied.
"There are many who've placed their hopes in me now—
and I won't betray them."
Muzan laughed mockingly.
"They only see you as a weapon—to restrain me.
When I'm gone, they'll kill you next.
You can never coexist peacefully with humans.
You are a demon. Don't forget what you are!"
Yosuke's eyes burned with quiet resolve.
"Perhaps you're right.
But here and now…
I stand before you—not as your brother,but as your sworn enemy."