"Waaaah!!!"
Completely unable to fight back and thoroughly bullied by Ryuya, Shinobu Kocho finally burst into tears.
"Big Sister! He's bullying me! He's bullying me!"
Ryuya blinked.
Alright… maybe I pushed it a bit too far.
With an awkward smile, he released her.
Shinobu immediately fled into Kanae's arms, clinging to her as she cried.
"Big Sister, kill this scoundrel! He's so mean!"
Kanae gently patted her back, casting Ryuya a helpless look.
Ryuya stepped forward to explain, but Shinobu snapped, "Go away! Stay away from me! I never want to see you again!"
She bared her teeth fiercely, hiding behind Kanae's protection.
Kanao stood frozen.
In her eyes, Ryuya now resembled a terrifying demon king capable of making even Shinobu cry.
Ryuya raised an eyebrow.
If Kanao and Aoi weren't here, I'd show both sisters what real wickedness looks like.
—
Outside the Swordsmith Village.
Kaigaku had officially passed the Final Selection on Fujikasane Mountain.
He was now a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Ordinarily, a Nichirin Blade would be forged and delivered to a new swordsman.
But Kaigaku insisted on personally traveling to the Swordsmith Village to oversee the forging of his blade.
To him, this marked a new beginning.
Before departing, his master, the former Thunder Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro, and his junior disciple, Agatsuma Zenitsu, came to see him off.
"Kaigaku, you've officially become a member of the Corps," Jigoro said with a wide grin. "Whatever hardships came before are behind you now."
Kaigaku forced a smile.
Behind him.
He couldn't help recalling Ryuya and Iguro Obanai.
Especially Ryuya.
That man had nearly destroyed his reputation.
Even now, the mere thought of him sent a chill down Kaigaku's spine.
But it was over.
His future was bright.
If he continued advancing, he could inherit his master's mantle and become the next Thunder Hashira.
The thought made his lips curl upward—
Until Zenitsu appeared.
"Senior Brother! Congratulations! You're amazing! How many demons did you slay during Final Selection?"
Zenitsu's golden hair shimmered beneath the sun, his eyes full of admiration.
Kaigaku's expression instantly darkened.
This useless coward.
He couldn't understand why his master had accepted someone who could only use Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.
Being fellow disciples with Zenitsu felt like humiliation.
But Zenitsu's innocent question struck a hidden wound.
Because the truth was—
Kaigaku had done nothing.
Not a single demon slain.
When Final Selection began, he had intended to prove himself.
Instead, overwhelming drowsiness overtook him.
He lost consciousness.
For seven entire days.
He had awakened at the end of the trial unharmed.
Officially passed.
He had survived without fighting.
To others, it seemed like incredible skill.
But to Kaigaku, it was something far worse.
Because during those seven days—
He dreamed.
For the first three days of that dream, he was trapped inside a temple.
The same temple from his childhood.
The place he had betrayed.
Back then, after being caught stealing, he encountered a demon at night.
Out of fear and spite, he extinguished the wisteria incense burner that protected the temple.
The demon slaughtered the children.
Sayuri lost her sanity.
And Himejima Gyomei, who had fought desperately to protect them, was wrongly accused and imprisoned.
That memory had always haunted Kaigaku.
And in the dream, the children stood before him.
Alive.
Smiling.
They spoke his crimes aloud.
Every accusation echoed endlessly.
He tried to flee.
An invisible barrier stopped him.
He was trapped.
Three days passed in that hellish nightmare.
Every second stretched like eternity.
And that was only the beginning.
On the fourth day, the scene changed.
He stood beneath a dark sky.
Before him appeared Ryuya.
Calm.
Silent.
Watching.
Kaigaku's heart clenched.
"You…"
Ryuya didn't draw a blade.
He didn't attack.
He simply spoke.
"You call yourself strong."
The ground beneath Kaigaku cracked open.
Thunder roared overhead.
"But when it mattered most, you chose fear."
Kaigaku tried to summon Thunder Breathing.
His body wouldn't respond.
"You extinguished protection for survival."
"You slept through Final Selection."
"You want to become a Hashira?"
Each word struck heavier than any blade.
Kaigaku collapsed to his knees.
The dream continued.
On the fifth day, demons surrounded him.
They did not attack.
They laughed.
On the sixth day, Zenitsu appeared.
Terrified.
Yet still stepping forward.
On the seventh day, his master stood before him.
Disappointment filled Jigoro's eyes.
When Kaigaku finally awoke in reality, drenched in cold sweat—
The trial had ended.
He had passed.
But the dream lingered.
He could still hear the accusations.
Even now, as Zenitsu continued praising him, Kaigaku felt no pride.
Only fear.
Because somewhere deep inside—
He suspected the dream had not been ordinary.
It had felt too real.
Too deliberate.
And though he had never seen Ryuya during those seven days—
He couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been watching him the entire time.
...
Author's Note:
The full completed version of Demon Slayer: Son of Muzan (Completed) is now on Patreon!
🔥 I also have additional 18+ fanfics available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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