Muzan stared at Kokushibo. Kokushibo stared back.
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Kokushibo had seen Muzan lose composure before, but rarely this rattled. Muzan had seen Kokushibo injured, but never with a wound that wouldn't heal, still bleeding.
Dramatically, the same person caused both their states!
What a coincidence!
Muzan eyed the unhealing gash on Kokushibo's chest, recalling Horitake's eerie lightning and its effect on demons. Shocked, he asked: "Kokushibo! Were you wounded by that lightning user!?"
Kokushibo caught the word "too," realizing: "Was Muzan-sama's rage also because of that man?"
They locked eyes, both struck by the absurdity.
Two pinnacle demons, targeted by the same man within hours! They were momentarily speechless.
Muzan growled, baring his ferocity: "That man must die! No matter what!"
Kokushibo bowed slightly, showing loyalty: "Muzan-sama, I will slay him."
Muzan was pleased. Kokushibo's strength was unmatched, second only to him. Arrogant as a demon, Muzan believed Horitake no match.
"Good. That lightning swordsman is yours, Kokushibo. Any intel on him, I'll send ghosts to inform you."
"Thank you, Muzan-sama. That man came for me. Here's what happened…"
Kokushibo recounted the clash, then asked earnestly: "How did he enrage Muzan-sama?"
Muzan fell silent. He couldn't admit Horitake's piercing words had shaken him—that would undermine his authority.
Deflecting, he said: "Petty nonsense, not worth mentioning. Your wound, Kokushibo—how is it?"
Kokushibo glanced at his chest, expression dark: "His lightning counters us demons. My wound heals like a human's—slowly. It'll take time."
He apologized: "Sorry, Muzan-sama, for showing such weakness."
Muzan, lenient with his ally, replied: "It's fine, Kokushibo. Rest and recover."
"No need to worry, Muzan-sama. This minor wound won't hinder my loyalty!"
"I don't doubt that, Kokushibo. But… shouldn't you stop the bleeding and stitch it? It's a long wound."
Kokushibo blinked, confused: "Sorry, Muzan-sama. First time with an unhealing wound. How do I stop bleeding? Stitch it?"
The air grew more awkward.
Muzan, a millennium old, and Kokushibo, centuries old, had never faced unhealing wounds. Infinity Castle lacked medical supplies for bandaging—no one anticipated this.
What now? It was daytime—where could they find gauze or bandages? Muzan's lab had vials and tools, but nothing for wounds.
Kokushibo's chest kept bleeding. Demons had strong blood regeneration, but this was excessive.
Amid the awkwardness, Narume weakly spoke: "Kokushibo-sama, we're demons. We control our blood. Just stop it from flowing."
Muzan and Kokushibo had an epiphany. Right!
Kokushibo focused, and the gash stopped bleeding.
Even stoic Kokushibo felt embarrassed, repeating: "First time with an unhealing wound. Not used to it."
Muzan nodded.
The bleeding was stopped, but stitching? Muzan, with his medical knowledge, knew such a deep wound wouldn't close without stitches.
What to do?
Since Narume solved the last issue, Muzan looked to her, eyes demanding a solution.
What a terrible boss!
But Narume had an idea—one she couldn't voice.
Hugging her biwa, she glanced at a cabinet, gave Muzan a look, then lowered her eyes.
Muzan followed her glance, realizing.
Under Kokushibo's puzzled gaze, Muzan approached the cabinet, rummaging inside.
From Kokushibo's angle, behind Muzan's figure, he glimpsed… kimonos!? Gorgeous, geisha-style ones.
Kokushibo's expression turned odd. He glanced at Narume, questioning: Are those yours?
Narume silently shook her head.
Kokushibo's look grew stranger but relaxed. He'd seen such things over centuries.
Muzan pulled out needle and thread, saying: "Not medical supplies, but it'll do, Kokushibo."
Kokushibo bowed: "Thank you, Muzan-sama."
Muzan approached with the needle and thread, then stopped.
The two demons locked eyes. The atmosphere turned bizarre.
Would… Muzan stitch Kokushibo's wound!?
No, no, no! This felt… off!
Narume, watching, covered her face with her biwa, imagining something.
Muzan sensed the oddity, angrily tossing the needle and thread to Narume: "Narume! You do it! Stitch Kokushibo's wound!"
Kokushibo, unable to endure the weirdness, grabbed the needle and thread: "No need. I'll stitch it myself!"
He left. Muzan, feeling uneasy, hurried off to tinker with his vials.
Narume sat alone, occasionally plucking her biwa.
Ignoring the castle's recent destruction, today was a harmonious day in Infinity Castle, wasn't it? (Laugh)
But with the castle in ruins, how would Muzan fix it? Who would repair it? Were there skilled craftsmen among demons?
Or was Infinity Castle tied to Narume, who could slowly restore it?
Who knows.
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