I don't want to be an elf!

If the Demon Slayer Corps were to clash with Ratatoskr in a place like this, with nine Pillar-level members and a demon whose strength is comparable to a top Upper Moon, not to mention how many people would be involved, the subsequent public opinion alone would be something the Ubuyashiki clan could not suppress.

The reason why the public opinion surrounding the recent battle in the red-light district was suppressed was because the shop owners in the red-light district did not want to make a big fuss and attract government scrutiny. Therefore, they cooperated with Kagaya Ubuyashiki to fabricate a reasonable excuse to cover up the incident.

However, in such a place, if a battle were to break out, even the Ubuyashiki clan would be helpless.

If the other party still doesn't show up in this situation, it can only mean that they lack the magnanimity to do so.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The clock struck midnight.

"Boom--!"

The deep, resonant sound of bells emanated from the clock tower.

Then, six dark figures appeared on the wall.

Each of them wore a different mask, concealing their figures beneath black robes, like apostles of the night walking in the darkness.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, members of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Beneath the hideous demon mask, a girl's voice rang out.

"Ratatosk, invited by invitation."

Chapter Twenty-Eight: No Longer Human (Part Two)

When Ratatosk and his entourage appeared, the atmosphere immediately fell silent.

Although they were the hosts who invited the other party to come and discuss matters, many of the Pillar-level members still subtly placed their hands near the Nichirin Blade.

Because Ratatosk doesn't seem to be very sincere.

Not only did everyone conceal their faces, but their bodies were also covered by black robes, giving them a very wary appearance.

"Is it because you're too ugly that you dressed up like this so as not to scare people?" Shinazugawa Sanemi couldn't help but scoff. "You're already here, why do something so unnecessary? Are you feeling guilty or did you never intend to take this seriously in the first place?"

"Of course we can take off these outfits, but do you have the guts to remove your Nichirin Blades?" Yushiro, wearing a one-eyed demon mask, sneered. "Our relationship has never been friendly to begin with. Since both sides are wary, let's stop wasting words here."

Upon meeting, the two hot-tempered men from different organizations immediately started fighting.

Just as they were about to say something, Kotori Itsuka and Kagaya Ubuyashiki raised their hands almost simultaneously, stopping them from making the atmosphere even more tense.

“Improving relations between the two organizations was the very purpose of this meeting,” Kagaya Ubuyashiki said softly. “We don’t know each other well, so it’s only natural that we are both wary. Sanemi, don’t be too forceful.”

"Yes......"

Hearing his lord say this, Shinazugawa Sanemi, who had originally wanted to give Ratatosk a hard time, had no choice but to shut his mouth.

However, in fact, he wasn't wrong.

Ratatosk is indeed feeling guilty.

More accurately, it was Kotori Itsuka who felt guilty.

Looking at Rengoku Kyojuro, who stood out even among the crowd, Kotori Itsuka coughed lightly twice to adjust her voice.

Originally, she was just wearing a mask to cover her face.

However, she knew that Rengoku Kyojuro would definitely be attending today's meeting, so she temporarily put on a cloak to cover her body.

Otherwise, even if he couldn't see her face, given Rengoku Kyojuro's understanding of his sister, he would have realized the leader of Ratatosk was his sister the moment Itsuka Kotori appeared.

It was precisely because they didn't want Rengoku Kyojuro to guess this that even Yushiro put on a cloak and a mask.

After all, Yushiro and Rengoku Kyojuro had met once before.

Furthermore, because he mistook the other person for Kotori Itsuka's suitor, Kyojuro Rengoku had a rather strong impression of him.

However, only two people in the organization concealed their identities, while the others openly revealed them. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would realize that Kotori Itsuka and Yushiro concealed their identities because they didn't want the Demon Slayer Corps to recognize them.

Following this line of reasoning, the Demon Slayer Corps members might very well guess that one of the Pillars present had likely met them before.

The Demon Slayer Corps has a strong intelligence network. If they figure this out and continue their investigation, Kotori Itsuka's true identity might actually be exposed.

Therefore, in order to cover for Kotori Itsuka and Yushiro, the remaining four also put on cloaks and masks, so that the Demon Slayer Corps would think that this attire was required by the organization.

Just like the Demon Slayer Corps, they have uniforms.

However, even after doing all this, Rengoku Kyojuro, standing in the crowd, still sensed something was amiss.

"These two people's voices... I feel like I've heard them somewhere before."

His hand was on his waist, as if he would draw his knife at the slightest movement, but his mind was elsewhere.

Even though Kotori Itsuka and Yushiro both changed their voices, the changes weren't significant, and the falsetto they used was very obvious; anyone could tell they were deliberately speaking in a lowered voice.

Staring at Ratatosk and his group standing on the wall, especially the girl in the middle wearing a demon mask, he felt a strange sense of familiarity.

But I can't remember where I saw it before.

Completely clueless, Rengoku Kyojuro had no choice but to put aside his doubts.

Kotori Itsuka breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he didn't immediately recognize her.

They are here today to discuss cooperation with the Demon Slayer Corps.

If her identity is exposed here, trouble will surely follow.

After all, most of the pillars hate demons.

In the original story, during the trial of the Pillars, the Water Pillar, Giyu Tomioka, was suspected of being a traitor simply because his junior brother was hiding a demon.

If these guys found out that Rengoku Kyojuro's sister is a demon, they'd cause a huge uproar.

Taking a deep breath, Kotori Itsuka moved swiftly and arrived in the front yard of the mansion.

Maintaining a certain distance to make both of them feel safe, she looked at Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"Let's get straight to the point."

As the leader of the organization, Kotori Itsuka asked without mincing words, "You invited us here for cooperation, right?"

“That’s right.” Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded slightly. “Since Ratatosk’s goal is to end the war between humans and demons, the fastest way is obviously to kill Muzan Kibutsuji, which coincides with the mission of the Demon Slayer Corps.”

"I actually approve of cooperation." Kotori Itsuka glanced at the Pillar-level members behind Kagaya Ubuyashiki. "However, there's one thing I need to clarify first."

"Please say."

“The demons who joined Ratatoskr are all demons who have broken free from Muzan Kibutsuji’s control, so even if he dies, we will not die,” Kotori Itsuka said calmly. “So, if you’re thinking that after you defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, we will die like the other demons, I advise you to reconsider.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of many Pillar-level members changed.

To be fair, none of them wanted to cooperate with the ghost.

Those who join the Demon Slayer Corps have all had some kind of grudge against demons, whether it's the murder of their relatives or friends. Their hatred for demons and Muzan Kibutsuji drives them to dedicate their lives to slaying demons, with the ultimate goal of making all demons disappear.

One reason they were willing to cooperate with Ratatoskr was indeed because all the demons would die after Muzan Kibutsuji was defeated, including the demons in Ratatoskr.

But now, the leader of Ratatosk says that they are not affected by Muzan Kibutsuji.

Even if Muzan Kibutsuji dies, they will still live on.

This is something the Demon Slayer Corps needs to reconsider.

Looking at the silent Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the various Pillar-level members with different expressions, Kotori Itsuka chuckled twice.

Then, looking at Tamayo who was wearing a Yaksha mask, he gave her a hint about what to do.

Then, Zhu Shi stepped forward and took out two jars of medicine from her sleeve.

“You don’t need to worry about it,” Tamayo said, holding up two jars of medicine. “We are not cannibals. With the help of the medicine, we only need a small amount of human blood to maintain our sanity. We don’t need to eat human flesh.”

“Ha, there’s no need for man-eating demons.” Shinazugawa Sanemi couldn’t help but speak again. “Do you think we’re children? Do you think we can believe such a clumsy lie?”

"I'm just stating the facts," Tamayo said calmly. "Besides, whether or not we gain your trust doesn't make much difference to us."

"What about the other dose?"

Kagaya Ubuyashiki didn't dwell on that question, but instead looked at the other potion in Tamayo's hand.

While it may sound unbelievable that a demon doesn't eat people, Giyu Tomioka has consistently claimed that Tanjiro Kamado's sister, who has become a demon, needs to eat people to maintain her sanity. If he's not lying, then this statement isn't too hard to accept.

Furthermore, if the two organizations really intend to join forces, they will inevitably coexist for a long time.

In time, the Demon Slayer Corps will naturally find out whether or not the demons of Ratatosk eat people.

There's absolutely no point in telling a lie that's so easily exposed.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki is now more curious about another medicine.

"If one of the potions can change the ghost's diet, what will the other potion do?"

“I’m glad you asked,” Tamayo replied calmly. “The second one is a potion that can turn demons back into humans.”

"what?!"

"Can ghosts really turn back into humans?!"

"You must be kidding..."

Upon hearing this bombshell news, not only the Pillar-level members, but even the usually composed Kagaya Ubuyashiki showed a hint of surprise on his face.

Ghosts all originated from humans.

But throughout that year, no one ever heard of a ghost being able to turn back into a human.

Several doctors in the Demon Slayer Corps once tried to create an antidote to turn demons back into humans, but they all failed for various reasons.

Now that Tamayo has actually put the finished product in front of everyone, it has naturally caused a huge reaction.

In the original story, Tamayo also successfully developed an antidote that could turn demons back into humans.

However, that was already close to the end.

However, in this world, thanks to Kotori Itsuka's activities, Tamayo was able to collect more demon blood more quickly, which naturally accelerated her research.

"If this is true, then Tanjiro, wouldn't your sister be...?"

Amidst the crowd, a glint flashed in the eyes of the silent Giyu Tomioka, and a hint of melancholy crept into his otherwise placid voice.

As the first person to meet Tanjiro Kamado, and also his senior brother who brought him into the Demon Slayer Corps, Giyu Tomioka naturally knew Tanjiro Kamado's two greatest wishes.

Firstly, it was to avenge his deceased family members.

Secondly, it was to find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human.