Demon Slayer : Breath of The Forest

"You're making it hard not to be suspicious" Shinichi said, eyeing Shokyu with a sidelong glance—his features eerily resembling Muzan Kibutsuji.

The quiet reception room was simply furnished with a few modest tea tables.

However, since all three present were Demons, no tea was served.

Shinichi sat cross-legged, while The Martial Demon and Shokyu knelt formally in seiza.

Shinichi scoffed inwardly—what was the point of such pretenses for beings who had lived centuries?

At Shinichi's words, Shokyu smiled gently—an oddly warm expression on a face so different than Muzan cold visage.

"It's quite an old tale. If you don't mind my rambling, Shinichi-san, I'd be happy to share my story."

At this, The Martial Demon frowned and interjected.

"Hey! Hey! Shokyu, none of your long-winded sagas. Keep it short. This kid probably doesn't have the patience—and even if he does, I sure don't. Cut it short, or I'll lose my temper first!"

Hearing this, Shokyu shook his head bitterly.

"You never appreciate a good story. Only Shunichi back then was willing to listen to me properly." His gaze returned to Shinichi, who was already regarding him with bored eyes.

With a sigh of regret, Shokyu peach-colored eyes took on a distant, nostalgic gleam as he began recounting an ancient tale—the origin of the Demons.

Over a thousand years ago, during the Heian period, a male child was born into a powerful noble family in Kyoto.

Yet from birth, the infant was so weak he was nearly mistaken for stillborn.

Had he not finally cried out after five minutes, the world might never have known the story of the Demons.

That child was none other than Muzan Kibutsuji, progenitor of the Demons.

Frail as if afflicted by an incurable disease, he hovered near death, unlikely to live past twenty.

Desperate, Muzan sought countless renowned physicians throughout his youth, yet none could cure him.

As despair took hold, his nature grew increasingly dark and cruel.

But just as Muzan reached the depths of hopelessness, he encountered a compassionate doctor.

To prolong Muzan life, the doctor devoted himself to developing a medicine, claiming it could strengthen Muzan constitution—though the treatment would be slow and gradual.

Initially, Muzan endured the therapy.

Yet as time passed with no improvement—only worsening symptoms—he grew convinced of the doctor's failure.

In a fit of rage, Muzan brutally murdered him.

Yet shortly after the killing, Muzan discovered the medicine had begun working.

His body became unnaturally powerful, granting him immense strength, resilience and terrifying regenerative abilities.

But before he could rejoice, Muzan realized to his horror that he could no longer walk in sunlight, condemned to dwell in darkness—and had become a flesh-craving Demon who preyed on humans.

It turned out that the doctor medicine had not yet reached its final stage.

The last step of the medicine was to allow Muzan to overcome sunlight and become a completely new life form!

The most crucial ingredient recorded in the deceased doctor's notes was—the Blue Spider Lily, the very thing Muzan had pursued for a thousand years.

He wanted to become the most perfect being!

This was the story of Muzan, the world first Demon.

However, behind this story, there was a small interlude.

Back in that noble family, the male infant Muzan who was born actually had a twin brother.

But unlike his elder brother, the equally frail younger brother had never managed to cry.

Only when the servants were about to bury him did he let out a faint wail.

Even though the younger brother survived, according to the strict primogeniture system of the Heian period, his fate was merely to spend the rest of his life in a temple.

Perhaps out of momentary pity from their noble father, or perhaps because he thought the younger brother—who was even weaker than the elder—might not even live to adulthood, the younger brother was also kept in the estate.

While the elder brother received treatment, the younger brother underwent the exact same treatment.

This younger brother was Shokyu.

But unlike Muzan cruel and merciless nature, Shokyu was gentle and kind-hearted.

The two brothers were like polar opposites.

Yet, in Muzan eyes, he never regarded this younger brother as anything more than a pitiable wretch with no inheritance rights—that was Muzan opinion of Shokyu.

Faced with Muzan's increasingly violent demeanor, Shokyu wished to change it, but he was powerless.

The hierarchical system of the Heian period was simply too rigid.

To prevent as much tragedy as possible, despite his own body being weaker than Muzan, Shokyu resolutely persuaded many doctors who had initially sought to treat Muzan to leave—because those who failed to cure Muzan would be killed.

Then came that day when an unknown wandering doctor suddenly visited, confidently claiming he could cure Muzan terminal illness.

By then, Muzan had already fallen into despair and saw this doctor as his last hope, so he naturally did not refuse.

Shokyu, however, was astonished.

Muzan illness had long been known throughout the capital—even the imperial physicians were helpless.

How could an ordinary wandering doctor possibly have a solution?

In private, Shokyu secretly sought out the doctor, urging him not to throw his life away for greed and wealth.

He tried to persuade the doctor to flee, even offering some of his own savings.

But the doctor merely smiled and refused, immediately recognizing that Shokyu suffered from the same terminal illness as Muzan.

"Money means nothing to me. Curing the sick is my duty, nothing more" the doctor words still echoed in Shokyu ears to this day.

From that day onward, the doctor also began delivering medicine to Shokyu daily.

Gradually, Shokyu became deeply impressed by the doctor's skills, even considering becoming his disciple.

He always referred to the doctor as "sensei."

But what happened next took everyone by surprise.

Muzan suddenly lashed out, killing the doctor and becoming a terrifying man-eating Demon!

Before Shokyu could process everything, his own body underwent a drastic transformation.

On the day the doctor delivered medicine to Muzan, he had also brought medicine for Shokyu.

Shokyu also turned into a demon.

However, perhaps due to the different medicine concocted by the doctor, or perhaps by fate's design, Shokyu wasn't particularly powerful.

The only thing he gained was an extended lifespan.

Both Muzan and Shokyu, now demons, were completely banished from their noble family and erased from the family registry.

From then on, Muzan became the progenitor of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, while Shokyu remained the gentle Shokyu.

That noble family was the Ubuyashiki family.

****

"This is my story. I apologize that my elder brother Muzan, has committed countless atrocities over the past millennium. My teacher and I also bear responsibility. So now, the only purpose left for my continued existence is to send my brother Muzan to hell" Shokyu said with a smile.

Shinichi was utterly dumbfounded.

TN : Do you think Maple breathing or Maple Hashira a good name?

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