The Emperor… has already become DIO's puppet?
The audience outside the screen had long anticipated this, but seeing it with their own eyes still sent a shock through their hearts that was difficult to dispel.
This was especially true for the viewers from ancient Japan. After all, the Emperor's prestige among the common people was indeed high, and he naturally had a large number of followers.
Seeing the Emperor in such a subservient state, their feelings were incredibly complicated…
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary—
[Madara Uchiha]: An existence like the Daimyo? Hmph, isn't that just a mascot? Letting him live is already the greatest mercy shown to him.
[Kagaya Ubuyashiki]: Although the Demon Slayer Corps is not a government organization, because of the existence of demons, we have countless ties to the government. I just never expected… that the government would so easily side with DIO.
[Yukino Yukinoshita]: In the Taisho era, DIO infiltrated the government, controlled the Emperor, and now holds all the power. If he wanted to, he could become the true ruler of this country tomorrow—the kind who can show his face in public.
[Otto Apocalypse]: Power… that is merely the beginning. What comes next is far more interesting. DIO wants to gain something from Muzan Kibutsuji, and he wants to do something to his Stand… In what form will that reality-rewriting power manifest?
[Conan Edogawa]: I'm actually more curious about the doctor who saved Muzan. Who on earth was he, to create such a completely unscientific medicine?
[Ai Haibara]: Indeed. This is far more outrageous than APTX 4869. After all, the most APTX 4869 can do is de-age someone, and that's only if you're lucky. But that doctor… he created a potion that could make a human practically immortal with such ease.
---o---
On the Light Curtain—
Time flowed on, leaving no trace.
Another week had passed since Shinobu was rescued by Jotaro and DIO issued the order to hunt down all demons.
A week… it wasn't a long time, but it was enough for things to happen.
During this week, if one were to ask who had it easiest, it would undoubtedly be the Demon Slayer Corps.
Easy… it was more than easy; they were practically getting paid for doing nothing. For a full week, not a single member of the Demon Slayer Corps had encountered an incident of a demon harming a human.
Even the number of demon-slaying missions had drastically decreased. Only a small handful of members had received kill orders from their Kasugai Crows.
Some of the other Demon Slayers hadn't even seen their crows for a full week.
"If only every day could be like this…"
At the Butterfly Mansion, Shinobu Kocho gazed quietly at the scenery outside, letting out such a sigh.
Experiencing a rare period of peace, both the Demon Slayer Corps and ordinary people couldn't help but revel in it.
However, Shinobu knew… lasting peace was ultimately impossible. As long as the man named DIO still existed, the world would never know true tranquility.
He was a demon more terrifying and ruthless than Muzan Kibutsuji. Beneath the quiet atmosphere, an undercurrent was surging. The crisis was ever-present; it was just a matter of when it would surface.
After a full week of recovery, Shinobu had now completely healed. The events at the Butterfly Mansion were ultimately reported to Ubuyashiki, but fortunately, the master did not reprimand her too harshly.
The fact that no one at the Butterfly Mansion had died at her hands allowed Shinobu to breathe a small sigh of relief amidst her endless fear.
Thankfully, that man named Jotaro and Kanao had arrived in time. Otherwise, she might have truly committed a grave error.
Jotaro Kujo… Thinking of her savior, Shinobu couldn't help but frown.
It wasn't that she disliked him. From a woman's aesthetic point of view, Jotaro Kujo was undoubtedly a perfect man, but…
"Hey, woman. Have you found the fabric I asked you to find?" Before Shinobu could finish her thought, Jotaro's familiar voice sounded from behind her, making her jump.
"I'm telling you, if you still haven't found the fabric for my school uniform pants, you'll have to compensate me with 200,000 yen."
"Two hundred thousand…" Shinobu's mouth twitched. She said helplessly, "Respected Mr. Jotaro, do you have any concept of how much 200,000 yen is? Besides… weren't your school uniform pants 20,000 yen?"
It wasn't that the Demon Slayer Corps couldn't afford 200,000 yen, but the price was simply too outrageous. In Japan's Taisho era, before inflation, how much did a gram of gold even cost? And Jotaro was asking for 200,000 yen right off the bat.
The Butterfly Mansion truly couldn't afford it. They might have a chance if they called Ubuyashiki over, since his family had been nobles for a thousand years…
Hearing Shinobu's words, Jotaro Kujo put his hands in his pockets and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "You ripped someone's pants, and you can't even find a suitable tailor or fabric. Isn't it only natural to pay ten times the price in compensation?"
"What's more, those were my favorite school uniform pants." He added the suffix deliberately to remind Shinobu of the pants' importance to him. After all, Jotaro couldn't care less whether 200,000 yen was a lot of money.
Right now, Jotaro only cared about two things: his school uniform pants, and DIO, who was hiding somewhere.
Seeing Jotaro's unusual obsession with his pants, a dark line appeared on Shinobu's forehead, and she was just about to try and brush him off.
But at that moment… in the sky, a Kasugai Crow flew over the Butterfly Mansion and landed on Shinobu's shoulder, delivering a new directive to her as the Insect Hashira.
"A Hashira Meeting… And I am to bring Mr. Jotaro along? I understand."
Repeating the crow's words, Shinobu turned her gaze to Jotaro. "Mr. Jotaro, the Master has invited you to attend the Hashira Meeting. According to feedback from our members, it's highly likely we have found a lead on DIO's whereabouts."
Shinobu spoke to Jotaro with a serious expression. In response, Jotaro pulled his hat down, obscuring his eyes. Has the time finally come… DIO!
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary—
A Hashira Meeting, simply put, was an annual gathering where the Hashira, at a time they were all available, would discuss the ongoing war against the demons.
What intrigued the audience outside the light curtain, however, was the crow's mention of a lead on DIO's whereabouts.
[The Youkai of Boundaries]: DIO… isn't he hiding himself quite well? He doesn't even have to lift a finger to hunt demons.
[Hachiman Hikigaya]: Ordinary demons are one thing. While the Upper Ranks' combat power is inferior to DIO's, they are still capable of causing devastating damage to ordinary people.
[Yukino Yukinoshita]: It seems ordinary people aren't even aware of the existence of demons. Aside from them, that world is almost identical to the Taisho era of our world.
[Utaha Kasumigaoka]: The Taisho era, huh… 20,000-yen pants, 200,000-yen compensation. It looks like Shinobu will have to declare bankruptcy to pay that off…
---o---
On the Light Curtain—The scene shifted.
The camera now moved to the Infinity Castle.
Perhaps to avoid arousing suspicion, Muzan Kibutsuji had currently taken the form of a small child.
But even so, he remained holed up in the Infinity Castle, not daring to step outside for even a moment.
"Damn it! Damn it all! What's gotten into those government officials? Didn't I tell everyone not to provoke them?!"
Inside the Infinity Castle, Muzan raged, the very air around him trembling slightly.
His eyes were bloodshot. Muzan Kibutsuji felt absolutely terrible. In his thousand-year life, the last time he had felt this way was when he faced Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
He had been hiding perfectly well in the Infinity Castle, but now the Japanese government, which had previously been completely indifferent to the existence of demons, had suddenly gone mad, beginning to indiscriminately capture all demons.
The demon-hunting units formed by the government were equipped with advanced technological weapons, and their efficiency in catching demons was no less than that of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Some of the Lower Ranks had already been captured and imprisoned. As for some of the less valuable demons, they were simply hung from trees to await death by sunlight at dawn.
Now… even if he were an idiot, he would have figured it out. The government's current demon-hunting decree was clearly targeting him.
Muzan's goal had always been the Blue Spider Lily, so he avoided dealing with the government whenever possible.
Especially now. A hundred years ago, the government wouldn't have dared to provoke him. But times had changed, and weapons had undergone a revolutionary transformation. If the government was truly determined…
Then Muzan Kibutsuji might not actually be able to defeat these demon-hunting teams composed of mere mortals.
Of course, what infuriated Muzan the most was the report that followed from his subordinate.
"Lord Muzan, according to intelligence from demons in the outside world, the one behind the large-scale demon hunt… is DIO!"
With his head bowed and his back slightly bent, Kokushibo spoke from Muzan's side. He was the only one who could speak during Muzan's rages and escape unscathed.
However, despite his extremely calm tone, Kokushibo himself was not in a good state. It wasn't because of the government's siege on demons; that child's play couldn't harm him.
The reason he was like this was because of the psychological trauma from being instantly defeated by DIO.
Another Yoriichi had appeared. Although he bore no resemblance to Yoriichi in personality or ability, his immense power reminded Kokushibo of the man who had nearly killed him in an instant.
This time… he had to prove to Yoriichi that his path was the correct one. He had to achieve victory in his battle against DIO.
"Isn't it because you two are usele—"
Just as he was about to lash out to vent his emotions, Muzan thought about the current situation and forcibly suppressed his inner rage.
As Upper Rank One, Kokushibo was the backbone of the demons in his absence. Furthermore, there was now another Demon King besides himself.
All of the Upper Ranks were present. Each and every one of them was crucial to him now. Muzan still needed to rely on their power to escape his current predicament.
"Lord Muzan, if we cannot figure out the reason for his sudden appearance, we cannot possibly be his opponent."
Upper Rank Three, Akaza, spoke up. He swore… DIO was the most powerful being he had ever encountered.
That elusive power, like teleportation, was simply too unexpected.
Being defeated in a single encounter had dealt a huge blow to Akaza's pride, but it had also ignited his fighting spirit. He could feel it in his bones—the supreme state.
If he met DIO again, he was certain he could break through his limits and reach that legendary supreme state!
"DI—O—! I gave him enough face! The moment he entered Asakusa, I withdrew all the demons from that area!"
Muzan's face was twisted in a grimace as he continued, "But now, he is still not satisfied! He is madly squeezing our living space!"
"Absolutely, I absolutely cannot let this guy continue!"
"Inform all the demons that can be summoned! We will attack Asakusa directly! If this goes on, we'll just be picked off one by one by DIO!"
Gather all the demons and launch a full-scale assault on DIO. He had to completely crush DIO in the cradle before his power base was fully consolidated.
Perhaps, as DIO had said, everyone in this world lives for the sake of peace of mind.
And right now, Muzan Kibutsuji was the one who lacked it the most.
Originally, he was the one and only Demon King in the world. All demons obeyed his command. Apart from the sun, nothing could harm him.
But now… DIO's appearance had knocked Muzan off his pedestal.
DIO was not Yoriichi, someone who could be defeated by the passage of time. DIO was a Demon King just like him. The longer this dragged on, the smaller his chances of victory became.
Rather than waiting for DIO to find the Infinity Castle and throw him in jail too, it was better to take a gamble now, while he could still gather a large number of demons.
As if suddenly enlightened, this was the first time Muzan had not chosen to flee when facing a powerful enemy, nor to cower in the Infinity Castle.
The pressure from DIO was too intense. So intense that Muzan even broke his own long-standing order, commanding the demons to unite and fight against DIO.
The six Upper Ranks, plus Muzan himself, and numerous other demons. Such a lineup was enough to annihilate the Demon Slayer Corps several times over. But now… it was all being marshaled to deal with just one man.
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: A little preview, Kars will be making his appearance very soon. It will only be a few chapters until it's his turn.