Chapter 26: Hot Springs, Hot Tempers, and a Furious Muzan
The dust had barely settled from the massacre of the Upper Moons when Inosuke threw his arms into the air.
"VICTORY! WE'RE UNSTOPPABLE!" he roared, shaking the nearby trees so violently that a confused crow fell off a branch.
Tanjiro, still processing the absurdity of what had just happened, gently pushed his sword back into its sheath. "I… I can't believe it. That was Upper Moon-level power… and they were wiped out in seconds."
Zenitsu, still lying flat on his back, opened one eye. "See? See?! I told you! Saitama-san isn't human! He's like a god! A god of baldness and destruction!"
Saitama stretched his arms lazily. "Huh. That took a bit longer than I expected."
"LONGER?!" Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke all shouted at once.
Nezuko clapped her hands again, still utterly delighted.
"Alright," Saitama said, dusting off his cape. "Now, where's that hot spring you guys were talking about? After all this, I seriously need a soak."
Tanjiro snapped out of his daze and gave an awkward smile. "Oh! There's a famous Demon Slayer hot spring not too far from here. It's a recovery spot for Slayers between missions."
Zenitsu's eyes sparkled. "Hot springs… meaning bath time with cute girls?" He instantly sat up, only to be smacked on the head by Inosuke.
"Don't get pervy, yellow boy! This is a warrior's bath!" Inosuke declared, puffing out his chest.
The group started walking toward the hot spring, but none of them noticed the shadow that flickered through the trees above them. A lone black crow flew toward the Slayer Corps headquarters — bringing news that would surely make the Master choke on his tea.
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Deep in the Dimensional Fortress
Muzan paced furiously, his form flickering between his usual elegance and a monstrous, pulsating mass of blood and hatred.
"Dead. DEAD. DEAD!" he hissed. "Upper Moons are not disposable pawns! They were centuries of my work! And now they're gone. Because of a BALD HUMAN?!"
Nakime remained still, fingers poised over her biwa strings, afraid to breathe too loudly.
Muzan's crimson eyes narrowed into slits. "Fine. If they can't handle him… I will."
It had been centuries since Muzan himself stepped onto the battlefield. He preferred to orchestrate destruction from the shadows. But this time, his pride — and his very existence — was on the line.
A ripple of blood spread across the floor, forming a crude map of the forest. Nakime tuned her biwa, ready to warp Muzan directly into the Slayer hot spring if ordered.
But for now, Muzan clenched his fists. He would wait. Study. Learn.
Because even a calamity like Saitama had to have a weakness… right?
---
The Hot Spring
Steam rose into the air, carrying the soothing scent of minerals and herbs. The hot spring was built into a rocky hillside, separated into male and female sections by a tall wooden fence. The sound of bubbling water filled the air, accompanied by the occasional laughter of Slayers who had no idea what had just happened in the forest nearby.
Saitama stared at the water. "So… just sit in it?"
Tanjiro smiled. "That's right! It's very relaxing. Helps with muscle pain and stress."
"Don't need help with either of those," Saitama muttered, but he still stepped in, the warm water swallowing him up to his neck.
Inosuke cannonballed into the water, sending half the spring splashing onto the rocks. "This is the bath of champions!"
Zenitsu melted into the water, his eyes rolling back with pleasure. "This… this is heaven."
Tanjiro, sitting calmly, glanced at Saitama. "Saitama-san, I wanted to ask… where did you come from? How did you get so strong?"
Saitama thought for a moment. "Ah… it's nothing special. Just trained every day. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run. Every day."
The three Demon Slayers froze.
Zenitsu's mouth hung open.
Inosuke stared in disbelief.
Even Tanjiro looked concerned. "That's… all?"
"Yup." Saitama leaned back. "Oh, and I didn't use the air conditioner, even in summer."
There was a long silence.
"That's stupid," Inosuke finally said.
Zenitsu's face crumpled. "That's all?! All this time I thought you unlocked some ancient secret technique or inherited a god's blessing! And you're telling me you just did P.E. exercises?!"
Tanjiro laughed awkwardly. "It's… inspiring, in a way."
Saitama shrugged. "I didn't do it to get strong. I just wanted to be a hero."
Nezuko peeked over the fence, her bamboo muzzle bobbing as she tried to figure out what the fuss was about. Saitama gave her a small wave.
For the first time in a while, things felt peaceful.
---
Back in the Female Section
Kanao, Mitsuri, and several female Slayers relaxed in the spring, chatting about missions and new training routines. Mitsuri suddenly perked up.
"Did you hear? Something insane happened nearby! A whole group of Upper Moons got wiped out!"
Kanao's eyes widened. "By who?"
"No one knows yet," Mitsuri said. "But I heard it was just one person."
The Slayers murmured in disbelief, but Kanao's sharp senses picked up something strange.
There was… an aura nearby. Not demonic, not human. Something beyond.
She glanced toward the wooden fence, where a bald head floated lazily above the water.
"…What the—?"
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Muzan's Fury
Miles away, Muzan's teeth clenched so hard they cracked.
Through Nakime's vision, he saw the hot spring scene — Saitama relaxing, casually washing his head, while Upper Moons were nothing more than a footnote in his day.
"Enough," Muzan growled. "I'm ending this myself."
He would personally go to that spring. Not as the elegant businessman, not as the terrifying demon lord hiding in the dark, but as the ultimate being — the first and strongest demon.
This bald fool… Saitama… had no idea what was coming for him.
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End of Chapter 26