Chapter 45: Side Quest - Bloody Purge
"Miss Muzan, have you seen the latest firearms? How do they compare to your demon subordinates?"
Muzan Kibutsuji, dressed in a black kimono embroidered with flowers as red as blood, exuded an aura of noble, cold elegance. It was a level of grace that even the ladies of the great noble houses could not hope to match. This was the reason Prince Hirohito had been willing to speak with her in the first place.
Muzan sat in the guest's seat below him. Her expression was tranquil, her every movement silent. Hearing the prince's question, she paused for a moment before answering. "Their destructive power is decent. A skilled soldier with sufficient ammunition could hold off several ordinary demons."
She offered neither scorn nor praise. This caused the smile on Prince Hirohito's face to fade slightly, but he quickly recovered, shaking his head with a laugh. "Indeed. These firearms are, in the end, mundane things. They are a far cry from the immortal demons under your command, Miss Muzan."
Muzan did not reply, which was a tacit agreement.
She had little interest in the so-called Restoration or reforms. In her eyes, these humans, who would turn to dust in a few short decades, were merely flaunting their fleeting time in the sun. They were supposed to be nothing more than her food.
But one day, several years ago, she had, for some unknown reason, received a revelation. Muzan Kibutsuji hated and cursed the gods, so she certainly didn't believe it was a divine message. But it had inexplicably made her understand many things.
She realized the sheer number of humans. She realized the greed and complexity of the human heart. She no longer looked down on humanity; instead, she began to control it. The results of this change in strategy were remarkably effective. Coincidentally, the Meiji Restoration had just ended, and Japan was entering the Taisho era. Every industry, every city was undergoing massive changes. There was so much restless ambition and desire that she could exploit. For example, the military factions that were constantly emerging and were now beginning to vie for control of the entire country.
Though the military giant Katsura Tarō had been defeated in a power struggle several years ago, the military factions still held the advantage. More and more powerful figures came to realize Muzan's terrifying power. More importantly, the old men among them, unwilling to die, fell to their knees before her, begging for the elixir of "immortality."
Hah. Muzan sneered inwardly. In her thousand years of existence, she had never imagined that humanity could be such a weak species. After all, a human like Yoriichi Tsugikuni was a miracle that appeared only once in a millennium.
Prince Hirohito had already gathered some information on the Blue Spider Lily. He believed that it wouldn't be long before his own long-held wish could be fulfilled. After that, he could slowly deal with the so-called Demon Slayer Corps. Then, everything in the world would be his for the taking.
Suddenly, from a priceless glass vase in the dimly lit room, an ugly creature crawled out. In an instant, several figures appeared behind Prince Hirohito, shielding him.
[Upper Rank Five - Gyokko], seeing this, grinned mockingly. These foolish humans. They let their guard down around Lord Muzan, yet they're on high alert the moment I appear. They don't even realize that Lord Muzan is the most terrifying monster in this world.
Muzan nodded, signaling for Gyokko to speak. She paid Prince Hirohito no mind. In fact, a significant portion of the country's elite had already become demons who depended on her for their very existence.
"Lord Muzan, we've found traces of the Demon Slayer Corps near Mt. Fujikasane. One of the Lower Rank Candidates and a security officer under the command of the Minister of the Left are dead."
Muzan's expression remained unchanged. Hirohito also showed no reaction. Was the death of a single security officer really a major event? Dealing with the Ubuyashiki Clan's transgressions was a matter the Minister of the Left could handle on his own.
Gyokko knew Lord Muzan would react this way. He continued, "Also, two humans have asked to serve you, my lord. They claim to know the exact location of the [Blue Spider Lily]. They also know the identity of the human who killed the security officer and the Lower Rank tonight…"
"Oh?"
Muzan Kibutsuji's crimson eyes narrowed. In an instant, she began to read and search through Gyokko's memories. She saw the two figures in the night-ops gear, their special skills, and… their greed for power…
"Gyokko, you've done well," she said. "I am very interested in these two humans."
Heian-kyō was once the capital of Japan. But as the Heian period ended, its past glories—the age of gods and monsters, the mysterious powers—all faded away. The Emperor of Japan had moved the capital to the former city of Edo, now known as Tokyo.
In Kyoto, the Minister of the Left frowned. He, too, was wearing a military uniform. The current cabinet was controlled by the military factions and the new capitalists who held the country's wealth. He had chosen to side with the militarists, and in truth, that faction was on the path to success. He could feel that the entire nation was boiling with a post-Meiji Restoration fervor, an irrepressible desire for destruction that desperately needed an outlet, a war that would engulf the entire world. Just like the war that was currently raging in the distant West.
"Minister! Minister!"
An urgent shout startled him from his thoughts. The soldiers behind him were all holding long rifles. He wasn't guarding against commoners or the outdated samurai. He was guarding against the demons.
From the shadows of the great hall, a demon with the clear characters for [Lower] and [Two] in its eyes looked upon the so-called Minister of the Left with contempt. But Lord Muzan had forbidden them from eating these officials without orders.
"Minister of the Left! Security Officer Hirano and the demons sent to Mt. Fujikasane are all dead! Only a few returned, and they say they encountered a Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps!"
The Minister was still calculating what he could extort from the Ubuyashiki Clan over Hirano's death—that family's wealth was enough to feast on for a lifetime—when suddenly, the powerful demon in the shadows moved.
The demon known as [Rokuro], who had long black hair and an equally thick beard, twitched its nose. It emerged from the shadows and, ignoring the Minister's guards, said, "A strange scent. Human. And… very strong."
The Minister's heart leaped. He immediately waved his hand. In the courtyard, a squad of army soldiers instantly raised their rifles and took up defensive positions. Those Demon Slayers… their swordsmanship was said to be no weaker than that of the legendary Shinsengumi. Thank goodness for guns.
But in the next moment, several figures appeared on the outer wall. They threw a few black objects into the courtyard.
BOOM!
High-explosive grenades from a high-tech world detonated in Taisho-era Japan.
As flesh and blood flew, the Minister was thrown into a state of uncontrollable shock by the terrifying explosion.
Rokuro's pupils also constricted. The power of those firearms was likely enough to threaten a Lower Rank demon. He instantly became a blur, pouncing on the intruders, but Vincent roared and threw himself in the way. The Professor also raised her hand cannon in an instant, and it boomed.
…
[You have triggered the Side Quest: Bloody Purge.]
[Quest Description: Many humans have defected to the demon faction. Purge them. You will receive an additional reward for each one you kill.]
[Failure Penalty: None]
[Bonus Reward: Killing high-ranking figures may reward you with Singularities.]
A flash of light in Kaito Shirogane's hand, and the silver revolver appeared. Without even aiming, he raised it and fired a single shot into the great hall.
Thwump!
The Minister of the Left's eyes went wide, and he slumped in his chair. He had been shot between the eyes. The back of his head exploded, and he died instantly.
[You have killed the Minister of the Left, Kono Kosuke. You have gained 300 Dimensional Points.]
[Side Quest: Bloody Purge bonus reward triggered. All mission participants have received 1 E-rank Singularity.]
Kaito let out a whistle. He hadn't expected that his lucky shot would trigger the effect of [Misfortune's Knock] so perfectly.
Vincent and Elizabeth's eyes lit up. They hadn't expected the side quest triggered by this madman to have such a high reward. Killing a single ordinary plot character had given them a Singularity.
Only the Professor frowned, a deep worry in her eyes. She knew that the higher the reward, the greater the danger.
This world was becoming more and more dangerous.