The killing of the esteemed national ruler by a demon had enormous, unforeseen consequences for both demons and the Demon Slayer Corps.
Zekawa's wanted posters quickly spread across every domain and territory... wherever there were people, there were notices.
This also brought the 'demon,' a creature that had only existed in folk rumors, into the public eye for the first time.
Muzan even personally dispatched Upper Ranks to hunt down Zekawa.
His anger over this incident was beyond suppression.
"Why? Why is this happening?" Muzan couldn't understand.
Once someone became a demon, they were supposed to be controlled by the will within his cells.
Logically, the boy named Zekawa should never have acted against a high-ranking Shogunate official without orders.
All demons were to act according to his arrangements; their freedom was limited.
He could also use his cells to ascertain the boy's location and thoughts.
The only explanation was that the boy had somehow broken free from the influence of his blood.
This made Muzan inevitably think of Oboro...
Was this his doing?
Because when the human world began to reject demons, all demons would have nowhere to hide. The number of demons under his command was not large... they simply couldn't compare to the vast human population.
The sooner Zekawa died, the sooner this matter would calm down, and the impact on demons would be minimized.
Otherwise, as events progressed... he, the Demon King, would eventually be exposed to everyone's sight.
Once the whole world knew of his existence, how could he hide?
If he had obtained the Blue Spider Lily and successfully evolved to his ideal state, it would be fine, but now... he still had weaknesses.
On the other side, the Ubuyashiki family also dispatched Hashira to track down Zekawa.
The Shogunate had begun to publicly offer rewards, seeking skilled individuals capable of slaying demons.
Since ancient times, demon slayers had always existed... and some within the Shogunate were aware of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Therefore, regarding the death of the ruler, some believed the Demon Slayer Corps bore an inescapable responsibility.
However, the situation had not yet become truly serious. Otherwise, if the Shogunate wanted to control the Demon Slayer Corps, the Ubuyashiki family would be powerless to refuse.
They couldn't even hide or escape quietly.
Because the entire realm belonged to the Shogunate.
Furthermore, after the ruler's death, an heir from the Tokugawa family ascended the throne.
At this time, Edo was already in turmoil, with rebellious factions and rogue armies rampant everywhere. If the ruler had not been assassinated, the situation might have remained barely stable. Now, this incident created an opportunity for many daimyō and factions who wished to establish themselves as kings. In just one month, many regions plunged into war.
Everything seemed to trigger a chain reaction, igniting a powder keg...
Accelerating the arrival of the apocalypse.
A living hell began to unfold.
...
Oboro, meanwhile, remained secluded, receiving daily reports of various news from outside.
Conflicts on all sides had been ignited.
The world instantly plunged into a bloodbath.
Armies clashed on battlefields, and secretly, the conflict between the Demon Slayer Corps and demons also intensified... The number of refugees fleeing and displaced grew daily. Even within Oboro's district, the Magistrate's Office personnel were overwhelmed and unable to manage.
Cases arising daily were simply too numerous to handle... In fact, for survival, many common people were forced to turn into brigands, looting, burning, and committing all sorts of atrocities.
A seemingly calm lake, merely by Oboro tossing a small pebble, had created monstrous waves.
However, Oboro's concerns were limited to a few points.
One, some members of the Demon Slayer Corps were recruited by the Shogunate to provide personal protection to important figures.
This was a tactic used by the Ubuyashiki family to deal with the Shogunate at present.
To provide an explanation.
Two, Zekawa had not yet been apprehended and was likely still on the run.
Three, demons were frequently appearing all over the country... clearly, Muzan was working tirelessly to increase his available workforce.
The demons under his command were dying at an astonishing rate every day.
He wouldn't be able to rest for a while.
Four, the existence of demons had become widely known among the populace. At least many people now knew that demons feared sunlight... and that once their heads were severed, their danger would drastically decrease.
"That's right, the pain is only temporary..."
For a period, countless pieces of information accumulated, making Oboro feel as though he heard the world screaming in agony.
He also sensed that the 'little tree,' representing this world, was trembling violently, conveying its displeasure to him.
"If you want to bear better fruit, you must endure greater pain... If you merely wish to be a plant in a greenhouse, there's no need to make this deal with me."
"People living in a peaceful era find it difficult to possess conviction, nor will they form powerful bonds! My legacy of will needs people to carry it, so I must create the conditions for producing inheritors."
"And the inheritance of will can only be best nourished in endless hatred and suffering. The power of demons, the power of breathing techniques... for the entire world's power system to evolve... this step is unavoidable."
This was Oboro's reply to the 'little tree' at the time.
However, the 'little tree' also exposed Oboro's hidden intentions.
"That's right... I am conducting an experiment."
Oboro no longer concealed it.
He needed the lives of this world, be it the Demon Slayer Corps or demons... to leverage everyone's collective wisdom to help him deduce a higher level of power than mere breathing techniques.
To help the system complete advanced cultivation methods.
So that he could utilize them when traveling to other worlds.
This was also his goal.
Later, the 'little tree' severed its consciousness link with Oboro.
However, the situation in reality did not change, indicating that the will of the Demon Slayer world did not interfere, nor did it guide people's destinies... it passively agreed to Oboro's terms, making this deal.
One day, several months later, Oboro once again left his residence, embarking on a journey with two maidservants.
He was about to act...
To seek new inheritors of will.
The current environment would cultivate many promising talents.
Additionally, with the recent decline of the demon side becoming evident, to maintain balance, he also needed to secretly assist Muzan.
...
One day, in a remote village.
Blood flowed like rivers, and corpses lay everywhere.
The entire village had been massacred, with only one man escaping the ordeal. He was covered in wounds, gravely injured.
He had fallen unconscious during the battle, and was mistakenly believed to be dead.
When he opened his eyes, he saw his wife, children, and relatives already cold corpses.
He embraced their remains, wailing loudly, his expression twisted in agony.
Soon, his furious gaze subsided, replaced by despair. He picked up a sword from the ground, intending to take his own life.
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before the man, casting a shadow over the sunlight.
"Giving up?"
"Giving up is easy; anyone can do it. But striving and changing is difficult."
"Don't you intend to do something for them?"
The man, his eyes dull, looked up at the somewhat blurry figure standing before him, obscured by the dazzling sunlight.
"You are the only one brave enough to wield a sword and stand against an entire army."
"To those high above, your lives and deaths are insignificant... But... what wrong have you done?"
"You are merely living cautiously... striving for survival, you are not in the wrong."
"They are the ones in the wrong."
"This chaotic world... is wrong."
"Who... are you?" the man asked, his lips dry, his eyes glazed over.
"Me? I am... the one who grants you a new life..."
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"