NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64
The sixth chapter: Demons, too, have their uses (Seeking Subscription)
“Is there only one?”
Tzudoki directed her gaze toward Hagane no Tsuki, and the beautiful female ghost immediately felt a chill run down her spine. Her brother Gigifutaro instantly stepped in front of her.
“Brother?”
“I’ll hold her off, you run!”
Gigifutaro was also afraid, but his love for his sister overcame his fear of death.
“Hm?”
Tzudoki noticed the bond between the siblings and thought of herself and Tanjiro. In a certain sense, Hagane’s siblings were quite similar to the Kamado siblings.
If Tanjiro had been on the mountain back then, perhaps the Kamado siblings would have ended up like Hagane’s siblings.
Of course, this was just an assumption.
Tzudoki wasn’t Hagane, and Tanjiro wasn’t Gigifutaro.
Their only similarity lay in their genuine sibling affection.
“They can stay.”
Just as Tzudoki hesitated about whether to kill them or not, Bai Luo’s voice reached her ear. This surprised the young girl greatly.
But upon reflecting on Bai Luo’s plans for the demons, Tzudoki understood. Yes, I need to recruit some demons for Brother Bai Luo.
But, aren’t they a bit… unsuitable?
In Hagane’s siblings, Tzudoki saw immense sins, far exceeding the threshold that required judgment.
However, Bai Luo’s criteria for selecting demons weren’t solely based on the severity of their sins. More importantly, it was about the inherent value of the demon itself.
Does Brother Bai Luo want me to decide if they’re worth keeping?
Excluding factors of good and evil, Tzudoki believed keeping Hagane’s siblings might not be such a bad thing. At least they knew how to protect each other and understood what love meant.
Compared to unblemished goodness, Bai Luo evidently valued these bonds more.
“And him.”
Tzudoki glanced at Kawasubo nearby: “Even though he is stronger than Hagane’s siblings, his sins are less than theirs.”
At least compared to the swamp ghost, fewer people who died by Kawasubo’s mouth turned into vengeful spirits haunting him.
“So, what should we do?”
“Ah.”
Tzudoki suddenly remembered something: “It seems I can see these people’s past through the bloodline connection.”
Thinking so, she acted.
For Tzudoki, the memories of demons when they were human held considerable reference value.
A person may change physically when turning into a demon, but their soul remains the same.
Through this, Tzudoki could easily screen out demons worthy of a second chance.
“What are you doing to me?!”
Kawasubo, under Tzudoki’s gaze, felt as if he had no secrets left.
This feeling…
Kawasubo inexplicably felt as if he were facing Mushan from Demon Slayer World!
“Another unfortunate life story.”
Soon, Tzudoki learned about Kawasubo’s past.
When Kawasubo was still human, protecting his family was the meaning of his life.
Besides, he was forcibly transformed into a demon by Mushan.
After becoming a demon, even losing his memory, he still adhered to his principles—never harming women and children, and eating humans only when extremely hungry.
Compared to the thief-turned-demon Half-Tengu, the psychologically disturbed Gyokaku, and the emotionless Doma, they were obviously much better.
“Be grateful, for you’ve received the forgiveness of the divine being.”
Tzudoki flicked her finger lightly, and two invisible blood lines simultaneously decapitated Hagane’s siblings. Subsequently, a black vortex appeared beside them.
Tzudoki kicked both heads into it without hesitation, completely ignoring Hagane’s siblings’ screams.
This scene sent shivers down the spines of the remaining Twelve Kizuki!
“Come on, you’re joking right?”
“That’s an Upper Rank demon, and yet they were so easily defeated!”
Among the Lower Ranks, both Rei and Remnant were utterly stunned.
Especially Remnant, timid as she was, could only silently pray that Tzudoki would keep her promise and spare those who knelt in submission.
“Swish!”
Kyoukaku drew the sword at his waist, his expression cold, with no trace of inner turmoil.
He didn’t become a demon out of fear.
To surpass his younger brother, Kyogoku En’i, Kyoukaku abandoned everything from his past life.
Desiring power, desiring to become stronger!
“Is this your choice?”
Tzudoki looked at Kyoukaku’s sword with displeasure: “Loyalty to Mushan?”
According to the memories Tzudoki had seen, Kyoukaku didn’t seem like someone who was blindly loyal to Mushan.
“Loyalty?”
Kyoukaku shook his head: “That kind of thing doesn’t matter.”
The relationship between him and Mushan was merely a deal.
Mushan provided him with power and time, and in return, he chose to protect Mushan—that was all.
“…”
Suddenly, Tzudoki had a flash of inspiration and asked: “Do you desire power?”
“Then, if I say I can offer you greater power, with the condition being to abandon Mushan and serve me instead?”
Tzudoki was merely testing Kyoukaku, but in response, she faced his merciless slash.
[Moon Breathing Technique: Type One – Dark Moon Palace]
A single horizontal cut unleashed countless small crescent-shaped air blades flying before Tzudoki’s eyes.
Kyoukaku’s target was obvious—Tzudoki’s neck!
However…
“What?!”
Kyoukaku’s six eyes trembled simultaneously.
Before him, a delicate finger blocked the blade effortlessly!
“What nonsense!!”
Kyoukaku couldn’t comprehend, nor was he willing to believe.
He swung his blade repeatedly, employing various forms of the Moon Breathing technique, but every single one was effortlessly deflected by Tzudoki.
Throughout the entire process, Tzudoki never moved a step, and not a speck of dust touched her.
“Do you feel the gap between us?”
Tzudoki shook her head and asked again: “Then, I will give you one last chance, surrender or die?”
“…”
Kyoukaku’s face twisted as he stared at the towering Tzudoki above him.
Vaguely, he seemed to see his younger brother once more.
That man, standing apart from the world, speaking in the most indifferent tone, negating his life, everything he had ever known!
How could talented individuals understand the desires of ordinary people!
Whether it was Mushan from Demon Slayer World or Tzudoki, those favored by the divine, those who could effortlessly obtain everything…
Why?
Why should you have it so easy?
“Roar!!”
The jealousy and rage threatened to consume Kyoukaku entirely.
He feared no death.
What he craved was to personally surpass the strong, proving his belief that he was no weaker than others!
Thus, he swung his sword again.
Even knowing it was a provocation to Tzudoki.
Even if the price of non-surrender was death…
Death could not extinguish Kyoukaku’s jealousy and hatred towards those who seemed to possess unfair advantages.
“Sigh!”
On the other side, seeing Kyoukaku’s decision, Tzudoki’s expression became rather grim: “Am I, actually not that smart?”
Alright, given Tzudoki’s character, she would never utter such words.
Gentle, kind, virtuous, and considerate Tzudoki could only reach her limit by directly exterminating demons.
However, the outcome of Hagane’s siblings made Tzudoki realize something important.
Bai Luo’s tolerance for demons far exceeded that of the Demon Slayer Corps!
No matter how many people were killed, how much blood debt was accumulated, none of it mattered to Bai Luo.
After all, those who died weren’t ones Bai Luo cared about.
If the demons could be useful to Bai Luo, he had no reason to refuse them.
Therefore, Tzudoki questioned the souls of demons like Kyoukaku, making them choose between loyalty and power.
If Kyoukaku chose power and betrayed Mushan,
From the Utamaru family to Mushan, and then to Tzudoki,
Definitely a triple traitor in the Demon Slayer World.
Such individuals had no qualifications to become followers of Brother Bai Luo!
Unfortunately…
Kyoukaku didn’t fall into Tzudoki’s trap.
Blinded by anger, he avoided a direct death by sheer luck.
“Seems like you’ve disappointed me, Tzudoki.”
Bai Luo had been observing everything happening here since the beginning. After giving initial advice, he hadn’t spoken another word.
“Sorry.”
Tzudoki said: “Brother Bai Luo, I acted on my own accord.”
“No problem.”
Bai Luo didn’t mind Tzudoki’s bait-and-switch tactics; the young girl was just trying to help him vet candidates: “Go ahead according to your thoughts.”
“Let you conduct the first round of reviews, while I’ll handle the final selection.”
“However, Tzudoki, you must understand that the world isn’t black and white.”
Bai Luo said: “Of course, I’m not favoring anyone.”
“At least in the world I envision, good people deserve good returns, and evil people naturally meet their match.”
This statement wasn’t just about demons; it also pertained to various situations Bai Luo might encounter in the future.
For example, encountering revolting individuals and killing them outright might be too merciful.
Handing them over to someone like Kyoukaku would undoubtedly give those evil people a worse-than-death experience.
Thus, Bai Luo’s ranks needed both pure-hearted good people and ruthless executioners.
What he needed to pay attention to was their attitudes towards their comrades.
Among the good, there are indiscriminate saints, and among the wicked, there are those who sacrifice themselves for their loved ones.
Bai Luo valued the latter.
As long as you care for your own, Bai Luo could tolerate your existence.
“I understand, Brother Bai Luo.”
After ending communication with Bai Luo, Tzudoki didn’t even glance at Kyoukaku who continued attacking.
“Bang!!”
The girl casually clenched her hand, instantly crushing Kyoukaku’s sword and all the bones in his body. Simultaneously, a curse suppressing the demon’s regenerative abilities spread throughout Kyoukaku’s body.
The black vortex reappeared, swiftly enveloping Kyoukaku who had lost his ability to fight.
There, in that dark prison, he would endure the pain of shattered bones until Bai Luo rendered his verdict, only then would he find relief.