At last, Rengoku Kyojuro could no longer restrain himself.
His father's final words replayed vividly in his mind, and the tears he had been holding back finally fell.
He choked as they streamed down his cheeks, soaking into his Demon Slayer Corps uniform.
"Father, you have always been my pride and the role model I strive to surpass!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes glistened.
Hearing Kyojuro's affirmation, he felt as if he were hearing it on Shinjuro's behalf.
"The flame of the Demon Slayer Corps will never be extinguished. It will be passed down from generation to generation. Kyojuro, though your father died a heroic death, his spirit lives on. The flame has now been passed to you. You must shoulder it, become the new Flame Hashira, fight fiercely for your father and the Demon Slayer Corps, burn brightly, and slay evil demons."
"Master, I will not disappoint my father or you!"
Kyojuro wiped his tears, his fiery gaze steady and resolute.
For a fleeting moment, he felt as if a firm hand rested on his shoulder, and his father's voice echoed in his ears.
"Kyojuro, you will always be my pride. I entrust the future of the Demon Slayer Corps to you. Become the Flame Hashira."
Father… I understand.
Taking a deep breath, Kyojuro suppressed the grief and stood.
"Master, thank you for relaying my father's final words. If there is no urgent matter, please allow me a few days to mourn before resuming my duties."
"Amane, I entrust the affairs of the Demon Slayer Corps to you for the next few days. I will accompany Kyojuro to pay respects to the Flame Hashira."
"Understood," Amane replied gently.
"Kyojuro, let us go."
Though Kagaya rose calmly, his illness had worsened. Even simple movements required effort now.
A Difficult Request
Not long after Kagaya and Kyojuro departed, Amane received an unexpected visitor.
Flower Hashira Kochou Kanae had come.
And her request was heavy.
"Kanae, do you truly wish to leave the Demon Slayer Corps? Have you considered it carefully?"
Amane's expression dimmed.
The Corps was already in a fragile state. Losing the Flower Hashira now would only worsen matters.
"I have thought it through," Kanae answered calmly, her smile gentle yet resolute.
Amane did not ask for her reasons.
Whatever they were, she respected Kanae's decision.
"I understand. I will inform the Master. After you leave, please take care of yourself."
"Thank you, Lady Amane."
With a sweet smile and a broken Nichirin Blade resting in her scabbard, Kanae stepped into the moonlit night.
Ryuya… wait for me.
Eternal Paradise Cult – Nightfall
By the time the bright moon hung high in the sky, Ryuya had already arrived at the entrance of the Eternal Paradise Cult.
Shinobu Kocho and Kanroji Mitsuri were waiting.
The moment Shinobu saw him, she rolled her eyes and immediately drew her Nichirin Blade, holding it defensively in front of her chest.
Not to kill him.
But to stop him from getting handsy again.
First he pinched her face.
Then he spanked her.
He was escalating.
Absolutely not letting him near her again.
Even if he had technically saved her life that morning.
Yes.
After thinking it through, Shinobu realized Ryuya had indeed saved her from Doma.
But that didn't mean she would thank him.
Never.
"Put away your blade," Ryuya said with a narrowed smile.
"Why? So you can tease me again?"
She stepped back cautiously, Mitsuri following close behind her.
"If you don't put it away, I'll tease you right now~"
Ryuya raised three fingers and began counting down.
"Three."
"Two."
Hmph!
At the last second, Shinobu sheathed her blade.
If she could beat him, would she have to tolerate this tyranny?
"So obedient. As a reward, I'll pinch your face."
Before she could react, Ryuya twisted her cheek between his fingers.
"Ryuya! You scoundrel! You don't keep your word! I believed your nonsense, ah!!"
Like a furious cat, Shinobu clawed at him.
"I never lied. I said it was a reward."
Ryuya smirked and stepped back lightly, then turned to Mitsuri.
"Want to grab dinner?"
"No!"
"Yes!"
Shinobu and Mitsuri answered simultaneously.
Shinobu shot Mitsuri a stiff smile.
Mitsuri scratched her braid awkwardly.
She hadn't eaten all day.
Her stomach was rumbling.
Humans need food.
Missing a meal was torture.
In the end, Ryuya dragged a reluctant Shinobu and a delighted Mitsuri to a ramen shop in town.
He ordered three bowls, and they sat together.
"Hehe!"
Mitsuri eagerly lifted noodles with her chopsticks and slurped them with the broth.
"It's so good!!"
Her eyes sparkled as she ate happily.
"Disgusting."
Shinobu poked at her bowl, glancing sideways at Ryuya with open disdain.
His mere presence seemed to ruin her appetite.
"Sister Shinobu, why did you come looking for me? Were you hoping to be teased? If so, you should be satisfied by now and can head back."
"I don't have such strange hobbies!"
Ryuya chuckled.
"Then why are you here? Does your sister, Kanae, know you came to find me?"
"My sister doesn't know."
"So you ran away without telling her? Careful, you might get spanked~"
"I am not a child anymore!"
Shinobu felt like having a normal conversation with him was impossible.
This bastard only knew how to talk nonsense.
"Then why are you looking for me?"
"I'm not looking for you! Don't be so narcissistic. I'm here for my sister. Only for my sister!"
"Ah, right, right, right."
"What's with that perfunctory tone? I'm serious!"
...
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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