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Chapter 32

...

Everyone's really pushing us forward.
They're all so helpful... Even in such small ways...
They're offering us their hands and picking us up.

《•|•-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-•|•》

...
Where am I?

What the hell is this place? It hurts my eyes.
I was in the middle of eating, too...
What a shame, I was enjoying my meal too.
Oh, well.

There's a woman playing the biwa.
Did she bring us here? Is that her Blood Demon Art?
This whole place makes me sick. The rooms are turning and twisting, every other Lower Moon gathered around.

I wonder why we're all here.
Everyone's here except for Lower Moon Five.

The woman strummed her biwa once more, and we were teleported in front of a woman, who stood and glared down at us all, plum-red eyes piercing us.

"Lower your heads and crouch down."

Lord Muzan!

"Prostrate yourselves."

Immediately, we all dropped to the ground.
I didn't recognize Lord Muzan.
What a powerful aura... It's giving me goosebumps.

Mukago dared speak up.
"P-Please forgive us! Since you've assumed a different form and aura..."

You fool! Shut your mouth in front of Lord Muzan!

"Who gave you permission to speak? Don't presume to voice your worthless thoughts. Answer my questions. Nothing else."

Lord Muzan continued.
"Rui was killed. I'm talking about Lower Moon Five. I have but one question to ask of you."

"Why is it you demons in the Lower Ranks are so utterly weak? You shouldn't be satisfied with just being counted among the Twelve Kizuki."
The thickness of the air changed in an instant, a pressure so unbearably tight my lungs ached.

"How is it that Koshiro has been able to grow stronger than all of you? If just one Lower Rank of only two years has devoured more humans than all of you, then shouldn't you all be ashamed?"

Lord Muzan... praised me...?
I'm honored...

"For over a century, the Upper Rank Twelve Kizuki have remained unchanged. It's always been the demons in the Upper Ranks who've disposed of Hashira Demon Slayers. But what about you demons in the lower ranks? How many times have you been replaced?"

" "That's easy for you to say, but we..." "
I can feel his glare aimed down at one of us.
Who dared  even think against Lord Muzan?

"What? Go ahead and say it."

This idiot...

"Screwed how? Go ahead and say it."

"Please forgive me, Maser Kibutsuji! Please! Please show me mercy! I'm truly sorry! I'm truly sorry! I'm truly-"