Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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Whoosh!
The gravity pulled him closer and closer to the ground as Akaza shifted his posture to maintain balance despite falling.
Bang!
Akaza landed on his feet in a mountain stance and destroyed his landing pad like a cannonball, kicking up dust and splinters of wood.
He straightened up, his muscles coiled like a dragon ready to strike at a moment's notice. He turned his head around to see his surroundings.
He began to recognize this place as the Infinity Castle.
He looked up to see the portal he had fallen through slowly closing itself. The light from the full moon he was staring at finally dissipated until it couldn't be seen anymore.
Akaza's sensors were triggered as he sensed the existence of other powerful demons in his vicinity. He spread out his perception to see that...
—Other Upper Moons were also being summoned like him.
Akaza narrowed his eyes as a thought popped into his head. He pulled back in his prodding senses as he looked at the location of their drop.
If even he, who was ranked number three, was called, then...
Muzan-sama has called for the meeting of the Upper Moons for the first time since a hundred years ago.
Each time it is held usually means...
"...An Upper Moon has died." Akaza quickly deduced the reason for such a meeting. A glint of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
'Who is it?' Akaza's eyes quickly swept over his fellow demons. Hoping to not find a certain face that irritates him deeply in his corrupted soul.
'Doma's not here, right? It's only natural that he died.'
Doma, the demon that likes to recruit human followers in large numbers.
The cult became so arrogant that they even displayed their teachings in the open. It was normal for them to be discovered by the Demon Slayers.
Clang!
Akaza's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a biwa ringing out from seemingly everywhere.
The lightning that was flickering on and off was stabilizing.
A rectangular platform erupted in front of the demonic audience, and Nakime sat on one edge, playing her biwa softly.
"Please be quiet." She opened her mouth as she looked up at her audience, revealing her huge single eye.
On it, a black kanji was written clearly that says [陸]. (tr. Six)
Akaza noticed with a raised eyebrow.
'This biwa girl... is the Upper Moon Six?'
Compared to the previous Upper Moon meetings, this one was more serious if Muzan-sama enhanced this girl to Upper Moon strength.
Akaza lowered his head, and he noticed from the corner of his eyes a familiar hair color.
He turned to see the figure he loathed with his whole being. His pupils contracted as he saw that long beige hair and the red pattern on top of his ridiculous head, like a twisted mushroom, smiling brightly at the world.
This is the [Upper Moon Two, Doma].
Doma was standing alone in the corner with that irritating innocent look on his face. When he felt Akaza's gaze sweep over him, Doma smiled and waved his hand.
"Akaza-kun~, I'm here."
"Are you looking for me? Congratulations, you found me~"
"I'm happy to see you after such a long time."
Doma said. His smile and his colorful eyes showed happiness in contrast to his dead facial skin tone, as if he didn't feel the killing intent emanating from Akaza.
His tone of voice was grating in Akaza's ear. Doma greeted him as an old friend, as a best friend. As if they had any time together to be called such.
Akaza clicked his tongue, his veins popped out at the corner of his eyebrows, and he clenched his fist unconsciously. His disgust for Doma was undisguised to all who watched the two interact.
He withdrew his gaze from Doma, as if he would be infected with a disease if he looked at the man for a moment longer.
"Not dead yet." He snorted in indignation.
Demons like Doma, who was born without the capability of feeling emotions but pretended to be a good person.
Especially when they love to consume women.
These are only two reasons for Akaza's disgust against the Upper Moon Two, who was a direct antithesis to who Akaza was and his martial arts philosophy.
"Eh—Akaza-kun, don't be so cold~"
"Let's have a good chat~"
Doma was making his way over to pat Akaza on the shoulder. Akaza's glare didn't seem to deter him in the least.
"Hey!"
Another voice rang out, sounding dissatisfied and spoiled, that came from another high platform above the audience.
She pointed her index finger at Nakime. "That biwa woman!"
Akaza looked up to see a woman who looked to be in her early twenties.
Her eyes, which usually have the kanji for six, were spotless.
This is the official [Upper Moon Six, Daki].
She was dressed in the most gorgeous clothes, and her long raven hair was neatly coiled behind her head. Her beautiful eyebrows furrowed with fury as she took in the kanji in Nakime's eye.
"Why... why is there the word '陸' in your eye?" She tilted her head as she looked at Nakime with contempt.
"I am the Upper Moon Six!"
"Muzan-sama gave me that position! Who the hell are you, you cretin!" Daki's tempers flared as she felt her position in Muzan-sama's court was being taken away. She lashed out and berated Nakime over it.
As she spoke, her hair flailed behind her and turned into white silk and plum-red ribbons. "Didn't you hear me? Answer me!"
She prepared to attack this insolent bitch even if she didn't answer her question.
—Strike first before being struck by others.
That has always been her survival creed to this day.
Clang!
"Daki-sama."
Nakime spoke softly. Her eye swept over the Upper Moons that had already arrived as she finally settled her sight on Lady Daki.
"Please don't worry." She didn't directly answer Daki's question but continued playing her instrument.
"...Huh!?" Daki frowned at her words. Two flower petal tattoos appeared on her face with pink on the edge and light purple in the center, one on her cheek and one on her forehead.
"You ugly one-eyed bitch... Didn't you hear what I was saying!?"
"Biwa girl!"
Before Daki could continue arguing, Akaza interrupted the conversation and asked the question everyone had in their mind.
"Is Muzan-sama here?"
Nakime turned her attention to the Upper Moon Three. She plucked her biwa again as she answered.
"Muzan-sama has not yet arrived."
"I see."
Daki stopped her barrage of vitriol as she saw who spoke to Nakime.
Daki contemplated whether she should continue to pursue this matter, but she decided to rein in her temper. She swallowed her pride and anger, looking very resentful.
Akaza looked around and glanced at the other Upper Moons. Adding the twin Upper Sixes who announced themself, there were exactly six demons.
Gyokko and Hantengu were standing together, though Gyokko was unusually silent.
"Where did the Upper Moon One go?"
Akaza noticed the missing demon not present in the meeting. He frowned as his gaze swept back to Nakime.
"Did he get killed?" Akaza sarcastically questioned, and amusement seeped into his voice.
Akaza rarely jests. Because he didn't believe that there was a human who could kill Kokushibo.
That man's strength is the pinnacle of existence that Akaza has been pursuing to challenge.
Nakime did not respond.
She didn't even pluck the strings of her biwa since she froze stiffly at the question.
Akaza furrowed his eyebrows when he saw this reaction.
He quickly checked his 'colleague' around him.
Even Doma, who was usually the most lively and cheerful, did not open his mouth but stood there quietly.
Akaza's pupils were filled with disbelief.
'What...!'