Demon Slayer: Muzan, will you dance too?

"Aren't you resting at this hour?"

A gentle voice suddenly rang out, and Kiyokawa Izumi appeared silently in the darkness. Nighttime was his domain, and he wasn't exaggerating.

Even though Zenitsu had very keen hearing, he failed to notice Kiyokawa Izumi's presence.

If someone hadn't spoken up, neither of the two brothers would have known he had been there.

Upon seeing Kiyokawa Izumi, Kaigaku suppressed his excitement and greeted him respectfully.

Kaigaku, who always addressed others as "the master," also explained his behavior—the reason he didn't rest late at night was because he felt that his daily training was insufficient and he needed to work harder.

Zenitsu remained silent, his head slightly lowered in extreme self-consciousness, his expression completely hidden.

One was struggling with self-doubt, while the other was desperately trying to prove himself; this amusing scene was witnessed by Kiyokawa Izumi.

With a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth, he suddenly asked.

"Zenitsu, after you pass the final selection, would you like to become my stepson?"

The calm tone in which he said this made it seem as if he were asking: Don't you think the moon is very round tonight?

What did you have for dinner?

A casual remark struck Kaigaku's mind like a bolt from the blue.

He could barely control his expression.

With his head slightly bowed, he didn't even dare to look up, afraid to let this person notice the jealousy, anger, and disbelief on his face.

What he wanted to hear was: Kaigaku, you're really hardworking and talented. How about becoming my stepson? You'll become an outstanding Naruto!

Why is this happening?

Why is that?

Why can't this powerful pillar notice his own efforts? Why can't he notice his own talent?

Damn it!

Why would he be attracted to that kind of trash?

He tried his best to control his changing expression, his head bowed low, his hands clenched tightly under his sleeves.

This guy who has no self-awareness is seriously underestimating Kiyokawa Izumi—with his head down, can't he sense the change in your emotions?

Subtle body movements and noticeably rapid breathing all indicated that Kiyokawa Izumi was about to lose control of his emotions.

"The trash you despise has actually gained the Pillar's favor. Aren't you resentful? Aren't you furious?"

"But what does this have to do with me?"

Kiyokawa Izumi did it on purpose.

This guy is just so inhuman, and he doesn't care at all what Kaigaku is thinking.

Slander or contempt are things that Kaigaku can tolerate, given his personality.

Drinking dirty water to survive, stealing to make a living, and willing to kill others to stay alive—what is there that cannot be tolerated about such a selfish and self-serving character?

Even if you teach him a lesson with your strength, he can still bury his head in the ground.

What broke his defenses the most was Kiyokawa Izumi's neglect of him.

He was standing right there, and his talent and strength far surpassed that of this trash in front of him, yet this pillar ignored him completely.

His casual attitude almost made him lose control of his emotions, but reason told him that he couldn't lose his composure in front of him.

Whether he tried his best to control himself or lost his composure on the spot, it made no difference to Kiyokawa Izumi.

Because I don't care!

If this guy could turn into a demon on the spot, Kiyokawa Izumi might praise him as awesome and enthusiastically ask him how he did it.

But such a thing is impossible.

Returning to Zenitsu, he didn't look up when he was being insulted, nor did he look up when Kiyokawa Izumi appeared, perhaps because he didn't want this acquaintance to see his current state of disarray.

Zenitsu thought he would leave disappointed, but to his utter surprise, Zenitsu asked him if he wanted to be his stepson.

Are you kidding me?

They said that because they felt sorry for him, right?

Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi sometimes likes to joke... Compared to his own cowardice and lack of courage, his senior brother is more worthy of being his stepson, right?

Grandpa has said countless times that we should learn from our senior classmates.

My senior is more outstanding than me.

"This kind of silent rejection makes me lose face. I'm no worse than the other pillars, do I need to think about it for so long?"

Or do you think I'm joking with you?

Would I joke about something like this?

"Why? He can't learn anything except the First Form, what right does he have to be your stepson?"

It was Kaigaku who lost control first. After realizing that Kiyokawa Izumi was not joking, he suddenly looked up and questioned her in a somewhat out-of-control manner.

His last shred of reason told him that what stood before him was a pillar.

The words he spoke were still respectful enough; at least he didn't refer to Zenitsu as trash again.

But he couldn't understand it and desperately needed an explanation!

"Is it important?"

Upon receiving such an unexpected answer, a look of astonishment appeared on Kaigaku's face.

Isn't that important?

He can't learn any other moves!

"As long as you can cut off the demon's neck, there is no essential difference between one move and countless moves."

The wooden sword at his waist was suddenly drawn, appearing before his eyes with unimaginable speed. There was no special technique involved; it was just a simple slash.

"How many can withstand this strike from me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a tree as thick as a man's waist was snapped in half, and the force continued to shatter several panes of glass by the window.