Lying?
Looking at Mizuki's bitter smile, Kokushibou was somewhat lost in thought.
What is there to lie about?
He had never thought Mizuki would deceive him about something like this.
Ever since she was little, Mizuki had no interest in typical feminine hobbies. Although she was forced to learn many things, she seemed more adept at secretly watching him practice swordsmanship.
Kokushibou couldn't figure out why Mizuki would deceive him.
What was the reason?
As if noticing the confusion in Kokushibou's eyes, Mizuki slowly spoke, "The reason I said that was simply because back then... no, it was because your eyes only held Yoriichi..."
Hearing his younger brother's name, Kokushibou couldn't help but clench his fist.
Mizuki seemed not to notice his unusual reaction and continued, "The reason I spoke those words to you was that I hoped you would notice that you were also being chased by others..."
"But you cared too much about Yoriichi, you wanted to prove yourself too badly, to the point where you lost yourself."
"I originally hoped you would understand that as Michikatsu, as yourself, you were also a unique existence..."
But he hadn't expected... that Michikatsu would solidify his belief in wanting to become stronger because of her... Kokushibou's breathing quickened, and his mood became much heavier.
Mizuki's heartfelt words caused him a burning pain in his internal organs, a pain more severe than being pierced by the scarlet blade just now.
Kokushibou suddenly remembered a period when he had intensely disliked his sister.
Compared to Yoriichi's indifference toward everything, Mizuki seemed to have mastered the Transparent World; her clear eyes appeared to see through everything in the world.
During that time, talking to Mizuki was a kind of inner torment.
That feeling was like... like having his skin and flesh peeled off him alive.
Stark naked, without any privacy.
It was disgusting... so disgusting he wanted to vomit... Even now, after hearing Mizuki say these words, Kokushibou was not entirely relieved.
Mizuki's expression was wistful: "If I had known earlier that this matter would become a burden for you, I wouldn't have said it in the first place."
Kokushibou's pitch-black nails dug into his palm, and an incomprehensible sense of irritation welled up in his heart.
This feeling was terrible, like having one's dark past exposed in public.
A trace of impatience surged within Kokushibou.
"Regarding what you said two months ago in the Entertainment District..." Mizuki suddenly changed the subject.
Kokushibou subconsciously looked up.
The Entertainment District?
Had he said anything?
"I don't think I answered you last time..." Mizuki smiled, "About turning me into a demon..."
Kokushibou's expression became visibly irritated. Was she going to reject him again?
Yoriichi didn't, and neither do you... neither of you can understand him.
What is so wrong with becoming a demon—"I think I can say it... regarding this matter..."
"In terms of the outcome, I am actually very happy."
Kokushibou's eyes widened slightly, as if he had heard something unbelievable.
"Then..." he spoke subconsciously, but completely forgot what he was supposed to say.
A smile appeared at the corner of Mizuki's mouth: "You're right, the feeling of being reborn is truly wonderful..."
After all, as a modern person, she didn't hold much reverence for things like demons and monsters in her mind.
The reason she feared becoming a demon was partly the worry that she wouldn't be able to control her desire to eat human flesh after becoming one.
The other part was the worry that her thoughts would be seen by Kibutsuji Muzan.
But both of these concerns had been addressed effectively, so what remained were naturally good things.
Moreover, Mizuki genuinely felt it was wonderful to be alive now and to meet everyone.
Therefore, in terms of the outcome, Mizuki didn't actually hate the fact that Kokushibou had turned her into a demon.
After a brief adjustment of his mood, Kokushibou said silently, "Then why did you reject me?"
"Do I have a reason to agree to you?" Mizuki countered. "After all, how can one comfortably help an existence like Kibutsuji Muzan, who harms living beings?"
"I don't care that you abandoned your human identity, but is strength gained by harming others truly strength?"
"I am well aware of your efforts, but..."
"You can no longer become stronger."
Kokushibou frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"
"Because you don't have the courage to continue getting stronger." Mizuki looked up at him. "You aren't jealous of Kibutsuji Muzan's strength, and you don't want to become stronger than him. You are merely... jealous of your own younger brother."
"For you, anyone else could actually be stronger than you; you just don't want the one who is stronger than you to be your own..."
"Shut up!" Kokushibou suddenly roared.
He thought she might have something new to say.
In the end, it was still these irritating words.
She kept talking... Mizuki closed her mouth, looked deeply at him, and after a long moment, she closed her eyes slightly.
"I understand."
Mizuki gently drew Shura from her waist; the snow-white sharp blade emitted a holy glow under the moonlight.
Kokushibou said expressionlessly, "There is no meaning in continuing this fight."
Still as stubborn as before.
"Who knows?" Mizuki slowly drew her palm across the blade; a streak of blood quickly covered the snow-white length of the sword.
The dark-red blade emitted faint chills, completely opposite to the heat of the scarlet blade that warped the air.
"Mizuki, your blood might already possess the ability to substitute for a scarlet blade."
Recalling Tamayo's voice in her mind, Mizuki took a deep breath.
If... if you can truly slay demons... then please show her.
Mizuki's renewed fighting spirit caused Kokushibou to frown deeply. "You've always been like this, never listening to me."
Why won't you just listen?
Mizuki took her stance and replied faintly, "Perhaps it's because the one walking the righteous path is me, not you."
Righteous path?
That sort of thing doesn't matter at all.
Mizuki no longer hoped to persuade him; the gap between them had not lessened because of this exchange.
A tragic, thick barrier had long separated them.
She had understood a long time ago that as long as Michikatsu remained jealous of his younger brother, he could never turn back.
A wisp of white mist escaped Mizuki's mouth, and her chest rose and fell slightly.
"Snow Breathing, Seventh Form: Snow - A Fissure of Light."
The bloody thread streaked across the dark night.
Kokushibou took his stance, and the focus in his eyes intensified.
Mizuki's figure moved faster and faster in his vision.
However... she was not impossible to repel.
"Moon Breathing, Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe - Heavenly Full Crescent!"
The continuous, massive crescent blades spread out in all directions, carrying countless small, round moon blades, their formidable power seeming intent on destroying everything around them.
Facing this nearly despair-inducing area attack, only an increasingly icy chill remained in Mizuki's eyes.
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