Hearing Muichiro's firm refusal, Giyu and the others finally relaxed slightly.
At the very least
Muichiro had not wavered.
But the atmosphere among the demons changed completely.
Gyokko immediately stepped forward in agitation.
"Boy, don't reject Lord Kokushibo's kindness so casually!"
His grotesque face twisted as he pointed accusingly at Muichiro.
"Lord Kokushibo offered you demonhood because of your bloodline! Otherwise, all of you would already be dead!"
As he spoke, Gyokko prepared to summon another school of poisonous demon fish.
But before he could continue
Kokushibo casually placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Gyokko," he said calmly, "you're surprisingly eloquent."
"For years, I underestimated you."
Gyokko instantly brightened.
"O-Of course, Lord Kokushibo "
Before he could finish flattering him, Kokushibo continued speaking.
"In that case, I shall entrust this task to you."
Gyokko blinked.
"…Huh?"
Kokushibo's tone remained perfectly composed.
"It has been centuries since I last encountered a direct descendant of my bloodline."
"Therefore, I want Muichiro to become a demon."
He paused briefly before adding another sentence.
"However, forcing him would only create unnecessary problems for Lord Muzan in the future."
"He must choose willingly."
At that moment, Muichiro finally understood completely.
That was why Kokushibo had signaled for him to refuse earlier.
His great-grandfather was deliberately creating an excuse to protect both him and the Demon Slayer Corps.
As expected
Great-grandfather really was kind.
Meanwhile, Gyokko nearly collapsed internally.
"L-Lord Kokushibo, this is impossible for me!" he cried desperately.
"I only know pottery! Since when did I become someone capable of persuasion?"
At least he possessed a clear understanding of his own talents.
Unfortunately for him
Kokushibo had already decided.
"I do not care how you accomplish it," he replied coldly.
"Muichiro must willingly accept demonhood."
Now trapped in an impossible situation, Gyokko instinctively looked toward the other three Hashira.
The moment Tengen, Giyu, and Mitsuri noticed his gaze
All three tightened their grips on their Nichirin Blades.
Clearly, Gyokko was considering taking hostages.
After all, if Muichiro cared enough about his comrades, he might surrender himself willingly.
As for offending Muzan afterward?
Gyokko did not think that mattered.
No demon could possibly oppose Muzan Kibutsuji.
Then suddenly
Kokushibo spoke again.
"If my obedient descendant eventually becomes a demon…"
"…Should I help him obtain a suitable rank?"
"The Lower Ranks are beneath him."
"Perhaps an Upper Rank position would be more appropriate."
The implication landed like thunder.
Hantengu immediately understood.
Kokushibo was openly preparing a position for Muichiro among the Twelve Kizuki.
And that meant
Someone else would lose theirs.
Hantengu reacted instantly.
His emotion clones disappeared as his true elderly form emerged once more.
The cowardly Upper Rank immediately crawled toward Kokushibo and bowed repeatedly.
"L-Lord Kokushibo!"
"I believe such matters should naturally be decided by your descendant himself!"
"After all, challenging another demon through Blood Battle is the proper method of rank advancement!"
In other words
He directly pointed the danger toward Gyokko.
Hantengu truly embodied survival instincts above all else.
Gyokko nearly exploded in panic.
If Kokushibo's descendant truly targeted him in the future, wouldn't he be doomed?
Even if Muzan appreciated his pots, could that possibly compare to Kokushibo's importance?
Among the Upper Ranks, rumors had circulated for centuries that Muzan valued Kokushibo above all others.
After all
They were the only two demons who truly understood one another's suffering.
Muzan: "Your brother nearly killed me."
Kokushibo: "Mine too."
Thinking of this, Gyokko suddenly felt overwhelming despair for his future.
His expression instantly became obsequious again.
"Muichiro-kun," he said awkwardly, "perhaps we can discuss this peacefully."
"Becoming a demon is wonderful! Rapid regeneration, immense power, eternal youth…"
He lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"And our benefits are excellent."
"The boss even disguises himself as women sometimes!"
The battlefield fell silent.
Even Kokushibo froze slightly.
So the Upper Ranks actually knew about Muzan's disguises that thoroughly?
Meanwhile, the four Hashira instantly caught onto the important information hidden within Gyokko's careless words.
Muzan could alter his appearance freely.
That meant
He could already be living among humans unnoticed.
Possibly even disguised as a woman.
This information alone was enormously valuable.
Muichiro pretended to hesitate for a long moment before shaking his head firmly.
"No."
"I will never side with demons."
An excellent performance.
And more importantly
He deliberately grouped Gyokko and the others together while subtly excluding Kokushibo.
In Muichiro's eyes, his great-grandfather remained different.
Unfortunately, Gyokko completely failed to notice the hidden meaning.
"You stubborn brat…" he muttered bitterly.
Kokushibo merely glanced toward the distance calmly.
"Do not pressure him too much, Gyokko."
"I shall give you one month."
"One month to convince him willingly."
The moment those words were spoken, Muichiro instantly understood what he needed to do next.
"Let my comrades leave first," he said immediately.
"Then… I'll consider it."
The four Hashira could not continue fighting here.
Not against Kokushibo, Gyokko, and Hantengu simultaneously.
If the battle truly continued
All of them would die.
Even though Tengen and the others hated retreating, they also understood clearly:
Kokushibo was deliberately allowing them to escape because of Muichiro.
In a sense
The Demon Slayer Corps now owed him a debt.
Gyokko looked utterly conflicted.
"Lord Kokushibo… are we truly letting them leave?"
"If Lord Muzan learns about this…"
Kokushibo remained completely unconcerned.
"They are insignificant."
"If you wish to kill them, do so yourself."
"But Muichiro must not die."
He paused slightly.
"After all, I still need to consider which Upper Rank position would suit him best."
The implication was devastating.
Gyokko suddenly realized he had become the obvious sacrifice.
Originally, he had merely wanted to earn praise.
Now he was practically standing on the execution platform already.
Finally
Gyokko sighed in utter defeat.
"…Go."
At this point, he could only pray Muzan would not inspect his memories personally.
As long as that did not happen, he could simply claim the Monjushiro had all been exterminated.
As for the Demon Slayer Corps?
What Demon Slayer Corps?
He saw nothing.
Truly
Both Kokushibo and Gyokko were intelligent.
Unfortunately, the methods they used were shameless beyond belief.
Even professional defenders of morality would struggle to justify them.
Meanwhile, Hantengu silently admired Gyokko's sacrifice from the side.
At least compared to Gyokko, his own survival chances had increased considerably.
And thus
Under the watchful eyes of three Upper Rank demons
The four Hashira successfully withdrew from Shizuoka Prefecture alive.
Deep within the Infinity Castle, Muzan Kibutsuji continued studying the remains of a Monjushiro specimen.
Ever since hearing the creatures had begun evolving rapidly, Muzan had spent an entire day and night researching them obsessively.
Gyokko knelt nervously before him.
"We… successfully devoured all Monjushiro in Shizuoka Prefecture."
Not once did he mention the Demon Slayer Corps.
Fortunately for him, Muzan seemed unusually distracted.
"Good… good…"
"That's acceptable."
"Now leave."
Immediately afterward, Nakime used her Biwa to expel Gyokko and Hantengu from the Infinity Castle.
Even though dawn had not yet arrived.
Truthfully
Nakime had wanted them gone much earlier.
Gyokko constantly left foul-smelling puddles and fish slime everywhere he walked.
Meanwhile, Hantengu habitually scratched walls, floors, doors, and staircases whenever he panicked.
If not for fear of angering Muzan
Nakime might have thrown them out long ago.
In her eyes, they were nothing more than troublesome brats who failed to appreciate the beauty of the Infinity Castle at all.