Chapter 19: The Twelve Demon Moons

Chapter 19: The Twelve Demon Moons

Before the two Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen could spot him, Yoriichi turned and stood before Tanjiro.

"Just bring him here," Yoriichi said calmly.

"Alright, Mr. Yoriichi. Take care of yourself," Tanjiro replied with a bow.

"I will."

As Tanjiro and Akemiko departed, Yoriichi let out a quiet sigh of relief and turned toward the two approaching swordsmen from the Demon Slayer Corps.

The two had initially thought the lone figure ahead looked vaguely familiar, but when they got a closer look, their expressions changed drastically.

"Swish!"

Almost reflexively, both swordsmen drew their Nichirin Blades and glared at Yoriichi with extreme caution.

"Be careful! That's Tsugikuni Yuichiro!"

Yuichiro was confused. Why be careful of me?

"What are you doing?" he asked, furrowing his brows.

"Tsugikuni Yoriichi," one of them growled, "Don't think we don't know. Your brother and your disciple became demons. It's only a matter of time before you follow them!"

Yoriichi frowned. Just because his brother and disciple had turned into demons, that meant he would too? What kind of twisted logic was that?

He ignored their accusations and calmly began to walk past them.

But the two swordsmen had no intention of letting him leave.

"Stop right there!"

One of them stepped in his path, gripping his sword. "You're coming with us to see the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Yeah! Someone like you needs to be tried publicly!"

Yoriichi inwardly confirmed he had made the right decision in sending Tanjiro away beforehand. If the boy had overheard any of this, he would have been left confused and distressed.

"I agree. I should stand trial," Yoriichi said, turning toward them with a somber expression. "But I'm sorry... not now."

He couldn't die—not yet.

This wasn't cowardice. It wasn't an excuse.

Akira had warned him: if he died, she would lose control and go on a massacre.

And Yoriichi believed her.

He had seen firsthand what she was capable of. If he died, there would be no one left to stop her.

More importantly, Yoriichi had to be the one to kill Muzan Kibutsuji. With his own hands.

"Forgive me."

He sidestepped a sneak attack, effortlessly dodging the sun-forged blade, then struck the attacker's pressure point with a swift palm strike, knocking him unconscious.

The other swordsman stood frozen in place, shocked at how quickly his companion had been taken down.

Yoriichi cast him a calm glance. "Don't panic. He's only unconscious. It's freezing here—this mountain is no place to linger. Take him somewhere warm and descend immediately."

The man didn't dare stop him. He could only watch silently as Yoriichi walked down the mountain, vanishing into the snow.

---

Yoshiwara was as lively as ever—its streets glowing with lantern light, filled with the sounds of laughter, music, and the clatter of wooden sandals on cobblestones.

In every alleyway, elegantly dressed courtesans strolled with poise, their perfumes mingling with the night air. Some laughed sweetly, while others whispered temptingly, drawing the attention of wandering samurai and wealthy merchants.

Noble youths indulged in fine sake and extravagant meals, reveling in beauty and luxury until the late hours.

Graceful dancers performed under moonlight, their skin glistening with sweat, their movements fluid and enchanting. Musicians plucked the strings of the shamisen, their melodies captivating.

Amid the bustling crowd, a mysterious figure walked quietly.

A pitch-black crow perched on his shoulder, its glowing red eyes alert to every movement around them.

The man wore a loose black robe that covered the lower half of his face, revealing only eyes as dark and deep as still water.

But in this city, where strange visitors were commonplace, no one gave him more than a passing glance.

As he walked, a woman in a kimono suddenly stepped into his path.

He looked at her, then wordlessly followed her lead.

They ascended to the top floor of a secluded teahouse. A young girl quietly shut the door behind them and disappeared.

Akira looked up at the woman in front of her.

"Lord Muzan."

Yes—the woman before her was none other than Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons.

But she looked completely different now—like a noble lady of high society. If Akira hadn't known better, she might have mistaken her for an ordinary human.

Muzan studied Akira with a rare look of satisfaction in her cold, unreadable eyes.

"I've heard everything you've done."

Akira remained silent, head slightly bowed.

"You've done well, Akira. For centuries, the Demon Slayer Corps buzzed around me like flies. Weak and pathetic, yet endlessly irritating.

The Ubuyashiki clan has evaded me for generations. Each time I tried to crush them, they managed to escape.

But in recent years, thanks to you, they've started to feel fear again. My faith in you has not been misplaced. I turned you into a demon, and you have not disappointed me."

"Your praise is too much, Lord Muzan. I don't deserve it."

Akira's humility made Muzan even more pleased.

"With you by my side, I feel at ease."

Muzan's gaze sharpened.

"But I also feel a looming threat. One I cannot ignore. It comes from your former master—Tsugikuni Yoriichi. Lately, this danger has grown stronger. Because of that, I won't show myself to the outside world again... for the next hundred years, if necessary."

A wise person lies low. A foolish one runs.

Muzan continued, "You've done well, Akira, but one person alone isn't enough. I'm creating the Twelve Kizuki—the Twelve Demon Moons. I will gather the twelve most powerful demons, my most loyal and deadly subordinates."

This new hierarchy was an idea Muzan had developed recently, inspired in part by observing Akira's power and potential.

He planned to mold these demons into elite enforcers, bound to serve him alone.

"The Twelve Kizuki will be divided into Upper Moons and Lower Moons—six in each tier, ranked from One to Six."

Muzan placed a hand on Akira's shoulder.

"Akira, from now on, you are Upper Moon Two."

Akira bowed slightly. "Forgive my impudence... I shouldn't question your judgment, but... may I ask—who is Upper Moon One?"

Muzan's expression didn't change.

"Upper Moon One will be Kokushibo. Before he became a demon, he was the older brother of Tsugikuni Yoriichi. You've likely seen him before."

Akira's eyes narrowed at the name. She hadn't recognized the name Kokushibo at first.

But the moment Muzan mentioned his relationship to Yoriichi—Akira's entire demeanor shifted.