I don't want to be an elf!

Meanwhile, the Demon Slayer Corps, as planned, was busy with pre-battle preparations during this period.

The members responsible for gathering intelligence searched for Upper Moon Two Doma's hiding place, while the members responsible for combat moved more frequently in order to collect Muzan's blood. The Pillar members also became more serious and hardworking than usual, and began high-intensity training.

Kotori Itsuka became their sparring partner.

Ratatosk moved to a new base after his Asakusa base was discovered by Muzan Kibutsuji.

This is not a difficult task.

Having established connections with the Demon Slayer Corps, they can have as many outposts as they want.

Because of the close cooperative relationship they had established, Kagaya Ubuyashiki even allowed Ratatosk and his group to stay at the Demon Slayer Corps' base in Tokyo.

Another month has passed.

During this month, with the assistance of the entire Demon Slayer Corps, a considerable amount of Muzan's blood was collected.

After being purified by Kotori Itsuka, all of Muzan's blood that had been collected was naturally absorbed by Osamu Dazai.

The fact that the entire Demon Slayer Corps supported a single demon allowed Dazai Osamu's strength to increase at an astonishing rate.

Although it hasn't reached the level of an Upper Moon demon, it has far surpassed that of a typical Lower Moon demon, and in a one-on-one situation, it can hold its own against most of the Pillar-level members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Thanks to this, the range of his Blood Demon Arts also increased threefold.

But since there's good news, there's also bad news.

"We have already found out about the Eternal Bliss Cult you mentioned."

One month later, Kotori Itsuka, wearing a mask, was invited to the main residence by Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Even the well-informed Demon Slayer Corps, with clear leads, took a full month to find the Eternal Paradise Cult.

This is also a matter of course.

The Upper Moon Two, the Eternal Paradise Cult that Doma belongs to, is not a major cult; it is merely a heretical cult created by ignorant people in the mountains and villages.

Moreover, in order to avoid attracting attention, Muzan Kibutsuji even specifically instructed Doma to keep the influence of the Eternal Paradise Cult within a small scope, with fewer than 250 members.

Although Japan is not a large country, it still takes a lot of effort to find 250 people out of a population of 10,000.

"Finding it should be a good thing."

Kotori Itsuka crossed her arms and asked疑惑地问道, "But you don't seem very happy. Has something unexpected happened?"

"Yes."

Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded and handed the letter from the intelligence agent he had sent to Kotori Itsuka.

Kotori Itsuka took the letter and quickly skimmed through it.

As a result, his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

"Hmph... It seems that Muzan has noticed it too."

Kotori Itsuka returned the letter to Kagaya Ubuyashiki and snorted coldly.

The clue to Upper Moon Two has gone cold.

When the Demon Slayer Corps' intelligence agents located the village where the Eternal Paradise Cult was situated, they found it deserted.

There was no trace of a living person in either the church or the homes of ordinary believers.

If it were simply a matter of not finding Doma, that could be explained by the fact that he was summoned by Muzan Kibutsuji and was out on a mission.

But if there isn't a single person in the entire Eternal Bliss Sect, that would be extremely unusual.

The only explanation is that Muzan Kibutsuji noticed the Demon Slayer Corps' movements and had Doma eliminate his forces before being discovered.

Kotori Itsuka clicked her tongue in displeasure.

I waited a month, but it was all for nothing.

"What are your plans next?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked. "Will you let your subordinates grow for a while longer?"

Although defeating Muzan Kibutsuji has been a long-cherished wish of the Ubuyashiki family and the Demon Slayer Corps for many years, Kagaya Ubuyashiki handed over the decision on how to carry it out to the leader of Ratatoskr.

This is not entirely because the opponent possesses overwhelming power, but also because Ratatosk is the core of the extermination operation, and the task of defeating Muzan Kibutsuji will be undertaken by Ratatosk alone.

The nine Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, at most, provide support from the sidelines and intercept other Upper Moon demons when they appear, preventing Muzan Kibutsuji's subordinates from interfering in the battle between the two.

Moreover, although it was somewhat unbelievable, in Kagaya Ubuyashiki's eyes, this Flame Demon's understanding of Muzan Kibutsuji was even greater than that of the Ubuyashiki clan.

Not only his personality, but also his abilities, and even the abilities of his Upper Moon subordinates, are all well-known.

During the time the nine Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps were training, they were not only training their physical abilities, but also undergoing special training based on the information about the Upper Moons provided by Enma.

Therefore, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who is used to giving orders, felt comfortable handing over the decision-making power.

"No, we can't wait any longer."

After a moment's thought, Kotori Itsuka decisively said, "It's time to lure the enemy in; there's no need to delay any longer."

The third side quest requires her to expedite the final battle between humans and ghosts.

If it drags on for too long, it will be difficult to complete the task perfectly.

She had been waiting for news of Doma for a full month. Now that the leads she had were gone, there was no need to delay any longer.

Kotori Itsuka's true intention in dealing with Doma was to extract Muzan's blood from him to enhance Dazai Osamu's strength, and then eliminate one of Muzan Kibutsuji's generals before the final battle.

Although it was a pity that he didn't get the blood of Upper Moon Two, Dazai Osamu absorbed a lot of Muzan's blood during this period of time thanks to the full support of the Demon Slayer Corps, and the coverage of his Blood Demon Art was barely enough.

"Get all the pillars ready."

The moment had finally arrived, but Kotori Itsuka remained remarkably calm, speaking softly.

"Let the news out; it's time to lure the snake out of its hole."

----------

----------

Three days later, inside Infinite City.

In this strange and distorted space, Muzan Kibutsuji was conducting some kind of experiment in one of the rooms.

However, although he had all the necessary experimental equipment, he did not focus on the various medicines.

Soon after, the sound of a shamisen being strummed could be heard.

The space within the Infinite City shifted, and a woman dressed in a kimono, with black hair that almost completely covered her face, appeared before him.

"grown ups."

Nakime, Muzan Kibutsuji's most valued subordinate who controlled the Infinity Castle, lowered her head and reported to her master: "My clone has already obtained information about the whereabouts of that Flame Demon and his subordinates."

Upon hearing this, Muzan Kibutsuji put down the test tube in his hand.

He hadn't heard any good news in a long time.

"Get all the springs ready."

A ruthless and exhilarating glint flashed in Muzan Kibutsuji's crimson eyes.

"This time, we must capture Ratatosk and that woman in one fell swoop."

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Flame Demon and the Ghost King

Late at night, in a dense forest outside Tokyo.

A mansion sits in this remote and secluded place.

This is one of the Demon Slayer Corps' bases, usually used for training reserve members and as a transit point.

But now, all the people who used to live here have left.

Inside the main hall, all the members of Ratatosk were present, scattered in twos and threes.

Some had solemn expressions, as if they were prepared to die, while others had shifty eyes, as if they were wary of their surroundings.

They've been waiting here for hours.

Yushiro and Tanjiro Kamado even began to suspect that Muzan Kibutsuji hadn't tracked their movements and that they had been wasting their time.

But seeing Kotori Itsuka calm and composed in the center of the main hall, she swallowed the question she wanted to ask.

Muzan Kibutsuji will definitely appear.

That's what their commander told them before the mission began.

Three days ago, they and the Demon Slayer Corps had already begun to consciously spread information about Ratatoskr.

Kibutsuji Muzan's former pharmacist, a successor of the Sun Breathing technique, possessing two demons immune to sunlight, and also holding the power to free other demons from the control of the curse and turn them back into humans...

With so much bait laid out in front of Muzan Kibutsuji, no one doubted that he wouldn't walk into the trap.

Their only worry was that their movements were too well-hidden, making it impossible for Muzan Kibutsuji to find them despite his best efforts.

After all, in order to avoid him realizing that this was a trap to lure out the snake, Ratatosk and his group acted very discreetly.

Even the location of this stronghold is deep in the mountains and forests.

However, their worries were clearly unnecessary.

"Da da da..."

In the silent main hall, the sound of leather shoes hitting the ground could be heard.

Through the faint moonlight, everyone's gaze turned to the entrance of the main hall.

A man dressed in a suit and tie, with jet-black curly hair and scarlet eyes, came into their sight.

The man removed his top hat, as if he were a guest.

The fish is hooked.

Yushiro immediately shielded Tamayo behind him, his hand already forming a talisman.

Tanjiro Kamado placed his hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, ready to draw it at any moment.

A demonic horn grew on your head, and your beautiful face became more frightening.

A hint of excitement flashed in Dazai Osamu's eyes as he looked with great interest at the Demon King, whom everyone hated to the core.

"They really came out in full force, Muzan."