Moonlight spilled into the room, and Muzan's figure descended as if from the heavens, landing lightly before Mitsuba.
Behind him was Tamayo, as always with her head lowered in silence.
"How pitiful, little Mitsuba."
Looking down at Mitsuba who was raising her head to look at him from the ground, her face covered in tear tracks, Muzan smiled lightly.
After such a long time apart, his appearance and clothing showed no change whatsoever.
Still that iconic instant-noodle hairstyle, still that black kimono with gold embroidery, still that wild and unrestrained expression... everything was exactly as in Mitsuba's memories.
"Mr. Kibutsuji?"
Her already sluggish brain didn't realize the strangeness of Muzan's sudden appearance at all. Mitsuba was only stunned for a moment, then hurriedly crawled up, sat properly, and said formally:
"Somewhat improper behavior, please forgive me."
This was her instinctive behavior, completely without brain processing.
Some stroke patients in later stages often experience situations where their brain cannot react in time to sudden states, and can only respond based on habitual memories imprinted from the past.
Mitsuba at this moment was exactly like this.
Her brain didn't clearly realize that "Muzan and Tamayo shouldn't be appearing in her room right now," but instead habitually acted based on the past memory of "a guest has arrived in the room, need to entertain seriously."
"How utterly pitiful."
However, although Mitsuba herself couldn't perceive the problem, the two people before her were very clear about it.
"After only such a short time apart, your brain has already deteriorated to this state?"
Looking at the sluggish and unaware Mitsuba before him, not only did Muzan sigh, but even Tamayo's dark purple pupils revealed traces of pity.
Not reacting to Muzan's words of pity, Mitsuba quickly searched through her mind and finally remembered that matter related to Muzan.
"Mr. Kibutsuji, have you come to ask me about the Blue Spider Lily?"
"Oh? You can still remember this matter?"
Muzan was slightly stunned, clearly surprised that Mitsuba still remembered this.
"Mm."
Nodding gently, Mitsuba said apologetically:
"I'm very sorry. After you left back then, although I sent people multiple times to inquire about information regarding this flower, in the end it was all fruitless..."
"It's fine. I have spent far too much time on this flower. I originally didn't expect you to find it within just one or two short years..."
Casually brushing past the topic of the Blue Spider Lily, Muzan sat cross-legged before Mitsuba, pointing at her as he said:
"I came here tonight for you, little Mitsuba."
"For... me?"
"Correct, little Mitsuba. You are dying, and I will bring you the 'antidote.'
But before that, there is a question I very much want to ask you."
Stating this point quite directly, Muzan asked curiously:
"I very much want to know—regarding your own death, and your life up until now, have you ever felt regret, or perhaps... unwillingness?"
"Why... would you ask this?"
Her sluggish brain slowly began to turn, and on Mitsuba's face that still carried tear tracks, an expression of slight confusion appeared.
"Consider it as answering some small questions before I 'gift' you something, how about that?"
Muzan behaved with refined courtesy. Under his patient waiting, Mitsuba lowered her head in contemplation.
Regret...
Her brain once again began to operate rapidly during this process. Mitsuba quickly went through all the memories she could still recall from childhood to adulthood, then gave her answer.
"Even if I felt regret, it would be meaningless. My death is a destiny long arranged by the deities for me.
I am destined to pass away early like my mother, just as the path arranged for my brother by Them."
Yes, her death was already destined.
All she could do now was learn to accept it.
"Ah, so that's how it was..."
Hearing this, Muzan's expression showed sudden realization.
"Little Mitsuba, so you are one of those people who believe in the existence of deities?"
"Deities have always existed."
Mitsuba repeated.
Muzan smiled and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, Mitsuba, regarding this point, your understanding is wrong."
Using those plum-red blood-filled eyes to stare straight at Mitsuba before him, Muzan slowly raised his hand. He pointed his index finger to his temple position and said word by word:
"I guarantee you based on my past experiences—I am certain that absolutely no such things as gods or buddhas exist in this world."
"No, Mr. Kibutsuji..."
Recalling Yoriichi's figure in her mind, Mitsuba repeated once again with extremely certain tone:
"I have personally witnessed the birth of a miracle. I am certain that deities have existed from beginning to end."
"Hahahaha!"
Amused by her naive and adorable words, Muzan couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
Tonight he seemed especially patient, even completely unconcerned about Mitsuba's repeated "disobedient" behavior.
"Fine, in that case, little Mitsuba, let us make an assumption."
After laughing enough, Muzan looked at Mitsuba again and quickly said:
"Assume that the deities you speak of truly exist, assume that They can truly control everything in this world, assume that They truly want you to die—then, I would absolutely be impossible to appear before you tonight.
Because, my arrival announces your immortality."
Speaking this final sentence word by word, Muzan raised his hand and lightly tapped his index finger tip on Mitsuba's forehead.
The fingertip gradually hardened, slightly piercing the skin of Mitsuba's forehead.
In Mitsuba's increasingly shocked gaze, Muzan's appearance began to change rapidly.
Man, woman, child, elder, native, foreigner...
Countless different faces switched at extremely high speed on Muzan's face. He simultaneously used a voice mixing various tones and slowly said:
"My name is Kibutsuji Muzan. I am the source of all demons in this world, and also the first demon of this world!
My lifespan is endless, my strength has no visible limit. All living beings in this world are as weak as ants in my eyes!
I am the being closest to perfection in this world. The Demon Slayer Corps calls me the Demon King, and demon hunters fear me as they fear gods!
For five hundred years, no human has ever been able to challenge my power!
Little Mitsuba, if the deities you speak of truly exist, if there truly are gods in this world—then They... can only be me!"
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