Gusion looked up sharply but saw only a crow descending—not the figure he expected, but a talking crow.
"Kasugai crow… Yes, I am Gusion."
Gusion replied. For a moment, he thought it was his roommate calling him.
Then he recalled, when he was catching up on the series in the End Space, he'd noticed that the Demon Slayer Corps' Oyakata-sama's crow had a voice quite similar to his roommate Aizen in the Bleach world.
"Thanks to swordsman Gusion's valiant effort, slaying seven of the Twelve Kizuki including Upper Moon Six, swordsman Gusion is now promoted as the Demon Slayer Corps' tenth Hashira."
The crow hovered nearby, relaying the message. "Thunder Hashira, the Oyakata-sama will convene a Hashira meeting in three days. I will guide you to the meeting location."
Gusion understood after hearing the crow's message. No wonder his reputation was soaring—turns out the Oyakata-sama had been spreading the news, and now he was promoted to Hashira thanks to his achievements.
"I've become a Hashira… Does that mean I have subordinates I can command?"
Gusion asked. Unlike during the day, he was now entering the city at night. Although he wanted to confront Muzan and slay him immediately, if a fight broke out in the city, many innocent civilians would be harmed.
Therefore, he hoped the Demon Slayer Corps could do some advance work and evacuate civilians to reduce casualties if a battle did begin.
"If Thunder Hashira requires, I can send word to gather Demon Slayer Corps members in this area. By midnight, up to ten can be assembled."
The crow replied.
Gusion was a bit disappointed, but after thinking it over, it made sense. The Corps was never large to begin with, and with their forces spread nationwide, they were as rare as legends—just like the demons.
Yes, actually, there weren't many demons.
Only Muzan Kibutsuji could create demons, but he didn't like to do so. He always thought he should be the only perfect being, and only made more demons to have them search for the Blue Spider Lily.
So, looking at the overall population, even with demons running rampant, the population of Japan continued to rise.
Most people would never encounter a demon or a Demon Slayer in their lives. Those who did were simply unlucky.
"Forget it—wait outside the city. I have something to do in town."
Gusion gave up on summoning reinforcements. With so few people, they'd take too long to arrive and wouldn't be much help. If a fight broke out, they'd just be cannon fodder, so he preferred to enter quietly and investigate alone.
…
Night fell over Asakusa, lanterns flickering to life.
Neon lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, casting a dazzling array of light and shadow and cloaking the city in mystery.
Shops along the streets were brightly lit, their signs competing for attention in the night sky. Warm yellow light spilled from sliding doors, mingled with laughter and the clinking of dishes. Vendors' cries rose and fell, the scent of grilled fish mingling with incense, teasing the appetites of passersby.
People hurried through the crowds, some in groups, others alone, their faces marked by the fatigue and hope of daily life. Occasionally, a woman in kimono would pass, her gentle makeup radiant under the lights.
A wooden boat glided across the river, the boatman's paddle stirring the water and scattering the starlight.
Gusion sat at the bow, the gentle night breeze brushing his face, his eyes reflecting the starry sky and city lights.
In this era, Asakusa was undoubtedly one of Japan's most prosperous districts. The people here lived happily, smiling and blissfully unaware that their city was already under the rule of demons.
Gusion altered the appearance of his black nightmare, donning a straw hat and a wide robe, looking like a wandering ronin.
After entering the city, he had already spotted three demons. They hadn't noticed him, and he hadn't acted rashly.
Because of Muzan, many strong foes were gathered here. If a battle broke out, the civilian casualties would number in the tens of thousands, so for now, Gusion suppressed his desire for treasure chests.
He didn't consider himself particularly virtuous, but he didn't want his own desires to cause mass casualties among civilians.
Of course, he wouldn't let concerns for civilians stop him from acting. Just as police can't be blamed when hostages are killed by terrorists if their demands aren't met, the fault lies with the evil of the terrorists, not the police's bravery.
If the Corps ignored Asakusa, the demons would continue to devour people, and some explorers would be even more brutal, killing not for hunger but for pleasure.
So, if the Corps sat back and did nothing, people would still die slowly. He couldn't let concerns keep him from acting.
Gusion thought things through. He would consider civilian safety in general, but if the Muzan faction discovered him and battle broke out, he would fight with all his might.
He couldn't protect everyone, but he could kill every man-eating demon, avenging the dead.
…
As Gusion wandered Asakusa, looking for Lady Tamayo's residence, the explorers of Muzan's faction within Asakusa gathered.
In a dark alley, the explorers—strangers until now—gathered to discuss the events of the day.
"The group with the 'Brother Dragon' is dead."
"They arranged things well in Yoshiwara, even prepared a canopy for daytime fighting, but with Upper Moon Six's help, they were still wiped out."
"Looks like a powerful Hashira has appeared. Our mission won't be so easy after all."
The explorers spoke cryptically, knowing that Muzan could sense the state of anyone who inherited his blood.
While explorers had to keep the existence of the End Space a secret, Muzan's blood allowed him to read their minds. The End Space's protection could obscure their real thoughts, but if they spoke openly about the End Space, Muzan would know instantly.
"Yoshiwara is very close to Asakusa. He might not have left and could be in Asakusa now."
"That's perfect. I don't believe he can be at full strength after that battle. If we find him and kill him, we'll be fine."
"That's probably what the boss wants as well. Let's…"
As they discussed, a voice suddenly echoed in their minds.
It was Muzan Kibutsuji's command.