Chapter 211: Why kill you at 211?
Infinite City, the Jade Seat.
This was the deepest part of Infinite City, situated at the summit of a colossal structure resembling a cliff.
It was incredibly vast and spacious, so much so that one could hardly see its edges at a glance, giving the impression of being at the very edge of the world. There was only a solitary throne resting upon it, exuding a sense of solemnity and the king’s majesty.
Kibutsuji Muzan sat there with his eyes closed, as if in a light slumber.
Until at one moment, his eyes suddenly snapped open, his snake-like gaze locking onto something in front of him, revealing an utter indifference.
That indifference symbolized his lofty solitude.
That indifference symbolized his ruthlessness.
Anyone who saw those cold eyes would realize in an instant that, despite his human appearance, the man before them was undoubtedly a creature different from humans—a monster.
Now, such a monster was here, confronting the advance of another.
"They’re here?" Kibutsuji Muzan said coldly, "Sooner than I expected. It seems Nakime truly has been occupied by those annoying Hashira."
The response to Kibutsuji Muzan was the sound of footsteps.
Approaching the throne unhidden, the footsteps were bold and forceful.
Reiger stepped toward the throne, step by step, and without a second thought, drew his sword and slashed.
"Boom!"
Flames swept across, striking the throne and shattering it into pieces.
Kibutsuji Muzan, however, had left the throne a second before Reiger drew his sword, leaping into the air and landing in front of him.
His demeanor remained indifferent, as if he was no longer swayed by emotions, and he sneered at Reiger, "What? You don’t like seeing someone speak from above in front of you? Or don’t you want to look up to me?"
Reiger still did not respond to this remark, merely calmly sheathing his sword.
However, beside him, Tamayo appeared with Yushirou.
"Kibutsuji... Muzan...!"
Seeing the enemy she had dreamed of killing, Tamayo finally let go of her former composure, exhibiting a fierce and hate-filled expression.
"It is you, Tamayo," Kibutsuji Muzan also turned his gaze to Tamayo, his own face twisting slightly as he said, "I knew you wouldn’t let this opportunity pass. You damn traitor!"
"I’ve waited too long for this day, Kibutsuji Muzan!" Tamayo shouted loudly, "For hundreds of years, every moment I’ve fantasized about this day’s arrival, and now, your end has finally come, you damn monster!"
"If I am a monster, then you are one too, Tamayo," Kibutsuji Muzan regained his composure and said, "I really don’t understand, you killed your own husband and daughter, yet you seek vengeance against me. It’s simply illogical."
Saying this, Kibutsuji Muzan turned towards Reiger, dismissing Tamayo’s rage and spoke.
"The Demon Slayer Corps too, every one of them wants vengeance against me, and for that, they are even willing to throw away their precious lives. I cannot comprehend such foolish actions either."
"They could have lived, so why throw away their own lives for the death of others?"
"What do they consider life to be?"
For someone like Kibutsuji Muzan, his own survival was always of the utmost importance; anything could be sacrificed as long as he could live on.
He cherished life, loved it dearly, but only his own life—that’s why he would never understand why the members of the Demon Slayer Corps would be willing to give up their lives for others who were already dead, consumed by demons.
Because those were their nearest and dearest?
Because they were family?
So what?
The dead are dead, and once they are gone, everything is lost. In that case, why not be grateful for being alive and cling to that slim chance to survive forever rather than seeking revenge against me?
Is it because those people died because of me?
But what does that signify?
"The world is full of accidents of all kinds, and there are even natural disasters that kill tens of thousands. Do humans seek revenge against natural disasters?"
"I have lived longer than any natural disaster, and I am not human, so those killed by me are as if they faced a natural disaster. Why then do they want revenge against me?"
"Especially the Ubuyashikis, a bunch of short-lived spirits clinging onto me, establishing what they call the Demon Slayer Corps. That is nothing more than a gathering of madmen, no different than a cult."
"Especially you," Kibutsuji Muzan pointed at Reiger.
"I don’t know where you learned the ’Breath of the Sun’ from, nor why you claim to be Tsukiguni Yoriichi, but as far as I know, you don’t have any family or friends who have died at the hands of demons."
"I haven’t even uncovered any trace of your past; you are as though you have simply popped out of nowhere, whether it be family or friends, I can find not a single one."
"With that being the case, why do you help those madmen from the Demon Slayer Corps to kill me?"
"It makes no sense!"
These phrases, these words, filled Tamayo’s mind with rage, almost causing her to lose her senses.
But just as Tamayo was about to rush out, Reiger put out his hand to stop her.
"Indeed, if we really think about it, I have no grudge against you," Reiger said calmly, surprising Tamayo with his words and causing Kibutsuji Muzan to pause before he eventually laughed.
"Yes, you and I have no grudges, and there’s really no need for us to fight to the death like this."
Kibutsuji Muzan spoke in a rare tone of advisement.
"Why bother with mere humans and those madmen from the Demon Slayer Corps? With your power, you could become an immortal and noble existence, just like me."
"I could give you half of my own blood, making you an equal King of Demons, and once I create a drug from the Blue Spider Lily that can overcome sunlight, we could share it together, becoming perfect, immortal beings."
"Don’t imagine me as a tyrant who can’t tolerate the existence of others at the same level. What I’ve always desired is perfect life, immortality. As long as I can achieve that, everything else is trivial to me."
That was actually true.
Kibutsuji Muzan only wanted immortality, only wished to become the perfect existence. Whether or not there was a second such being in the world, he could choose to turn a blind eye.
So...
"Come, become a perfect existence with me, a perfect King of Demons. Day or night, all shall be under our dominion."
Kibutsuji Muzan extended a hand to Reiger, his tone full of seduction.
"Mr. Tsukiguni!"
Tamayo was suddenly anxious.
But she hadn’t noticed that Reiger had been quite calm all along; whether it was Kibutsuji Muzan’s infuriating innocent proclamations or his logical enticements, none had caused him to waver in the slightest.
"It seems that you’ve misunderstood me." Reiger said indifferently, "Indeed, I have no quarrels with you, but what about those who had no grudges with you yet you killed?"
The smile on Kibutsuji Muzan’s face froze.
"You’ve killed many; some as your food, some seen as threats to be eliminated, some killed because they were an annoyance to you, yet others died on a whim, to vent your frustrations, or as victims of your violent temper, ultimately meeting their deaths miserably."
"When you killed those people, was it because family or friends died at their hands?"
"When you killed those people, were they bearing no grudges against you?"
"Yet you killed regardless, which by your own words, is completely senseless."
Reiger lifted his gaze, setting it upon Kibutsuji Muzan.
"So, why must I have a grudge against you to kill you?"
"Why can’t I kill you just as a means to make myself stronger, as if you were my food?"
"Why can’t I view you as a threat to be eliminated?"
"Or is it that I can’t find you an annoyance, or perhaps on a whim I feel it intolerable, and so I’ve come to kill you?"
"This doesn’t seem like something too hard to understand compared to your own methods, right?"
Reiger’s words, with an almost mocking smile, made Kibutsuji Muzan’s face grow dark.
And Reiger’s discourse went on.
"In your view, seeking revenge against you is the act of a lunatic, as seen by the Demon Slayer Corps, but to me, your analogy of yourself as a natural disaster is equally ridiculous."
"Yes, humans do not seek revenge against natural disasters because no one believes they can defeat them."
"And you? You can’t seriously believe you’re as terrifying and invincible as a natural disaster, do you?"
Reiger, watching Kibutsuji Muzan whose forehead now sported a throbbing vein, spoke with a colder voice.
"You are just a rat that can move in the night. Compared to the Ubuyashiki family, you are but a restless spirit who has scrounged through a thousand years."
"No one believes you’re invincible; even though you’re powerful, humans still see hope in killing you, evidenced by the arrival of Yoriichi."
"Before the truly strong, you have only the right to flee in disgrace."
"And yet, you dare compare yourself to a natural disaster?"
"It’s laughable!"
As soon as Reiger’s words ended, a tendril-like whip suddenly slashed through the air, charging at him fiercely.
"Boom—"
With a muffled sound, the ground shattered under the whip, bursting forth rocks and debris, reducing the spot where Reiger stood to a deep crater.
Reiger, holding on to Tamayo and Yushirou, floated back gently, avoiding the strike.
Kibutsuji Muzan retracted the whip, and his entire appearance began to change drastically.
His hair turned white, his clothes burst open, and his body became enveloped in a dark mire-like shadow. With mouths sprouting from various parts of his body, multiple whip-like tubes writhed and danced around him.
On his face now was an expression of sheer violence.
"If you want to kill me, then come and try!" Kibutsuji Muzan roared.
"I don’t need your permission to do so," Reiger said as he released Tamayo and Yushirou, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
Nakime flew in the sky, watching all of this, while relaying the news.
The final battle between humans and demons, a confrontation determining the future ruler of this world, thus erupted in full force.