For the first time, Kokushibo let go of the obsessions in his heart and faced his true feelings head-on.
"So that's it... I didn't seek strength to surpass you, Yoriichi.
I only wanted the power to protect you once more."
The morning sunlight filtered through the trees.
Beneath their shade, Kokushibo sat silently before Yoriichi Tsugikuni's grave.
Then, from the soil covering the grave, something miraculous occurred—
bathed in sunlight, a single blue spider lily unfurled and bloomed.
"The Blue Spider Lily…"
The flower that he had searched for across centuries—
appeared here, above Yoriichi's resting place.
Kokushibo stared at it in stunned silence, unmoving even as night fell once more.
Then suddenly, he laughed softly.
"Yoriichi... even in death, you still insist on leaving me another riddle, don't you?"
He plucked the Blue Spider Lily and placed it gently inside Yoriichi's coffin,
sealing the lid and covering it with soil once more.
"This time, I will not lose myself again.
When next we meet, I hope you'll play that flute for me... in person."
Gripping the flute tightly in his hand, Kokushibo turned and walked away.
At that moment—
he was no longer Kokushibo,
but Michikatsu Tsugikuni once more.
Back at the Butterfly Estate—
Yosuke, Koyuki, and Umi had returned.
Shinobu Kocho, Kanae Kocho, Tamayo, Koyuki, Umi, and Yosuke all gathered around a patient lying on a hospital bed.
Koyuki asked uncertainly,
"Will this medicine really restore the sanity of an Upper Moon demon?"
Tamayo replied, her voice wavering slightly,
"Ordinary demons who receive this injection can break free from Muzan Kibutsuji's curse. They can survive with only a small amount of blood.
But this is the first time we're testing it on one of the Twelve Kizuki...
I increased the concentration of Nezuko's blood in the formula—it should work... I think."
Suddenly, Gyokko's body began to convulse violently, his flesh once again corroding away.
Shinobu quickly injected a large dose of the anti-demonic cell suppressant, barely managing to halt the decay.
Kanae frowned deeply.
"This won't work. The blood of the Twelve Kizuki is too saturated with Muzan's cells.
When Nezuko's blood activates, it reawakens those suppressed cells, causing the body to rot before sanity can be restored."
Tamayo knitted her brows, thinking aloud,
"So the real issue isn't restoring their reason.
It's finding a way to erase Muzan's curse from their blood entirely.
Only then can we proceed with the next stage of experimentation."
While the Kocho sisters and Tamayo continued their complex discussion,
Yosuke quietly slipped out of the room, rubbing his temples.
"Listening to them talk feels like torture…"
Koyuki and Umi followed him out, looking dizzy from the conversation.
"Koyuki-nee, did you understand any of that?"
"Not a word!"
Rengoku Kyojuro had already departed on another mission, so Yosuke's group hadn't seen him when they arrived at the Butterfly Estate.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were still recuperating, so since it was already late at night, Yosuke decided not to disturb their rest.
"Yosuke-sama, will you be leaving again soon?" Umi asked nervously.
Yosuke smiled.
"Not yet. Muzan's remaining Upper Moons are few. He'll likely hole up somewhere for a while."
Koyuki tilted her head.
"But if they keep hiding, what will we do?"
"Muzan's patience isn't that great," Yosuke said thoughtfully.
"Right now, he's probably growing desperate. I expect it won't be long before he sends the Twelve Kizuki out again.
But what concerns me more than Muzan... is what Kokushibo and Gyokko were actually searching for."
"It must be the Blue Spider Lily!" Umi said with certainty.
Yosuke shook his head.
"Is it really?
Based on the places they visited—all just ordinary towns—
could the Blue Spider Lily truly grow there?
Even I find that hard to believe."
Koyuki and Umi exchanged uneasy glances, unable to respond.
Yosuke frowned, deep in thought.
"I have a bad feeling.
What Muzan is searching for... may be something far more dangerous than the Blue Spider Lily."
Inside the Infinity Castle.
Of the once-proud Twelve Kizuki, only six remained—
Kokushibo, Doma, Hantengu, Nakime, and two of the Lower Moons.
In a fit of rage, Muzan Kibutsuji slaughtered the two Lower Moons on the spot.
Drenched in their blood, he snarled, his fury echoing through the castle.
"Kokushibo! Even you failed me?!
And Gyokko—captured?!"
Kokushibo's face remained expressionless.
"During the battle, we encountered Yosuke Ubuyashiki.
I was no match for him."
Something in Kokushibo's demeanor felt... different to Muzan.
Though Kokushibo was one of his subordinates, Muzan had always regarded him more as a business partner than a servant.
He trusted in his own power more than in anyone's loyalty.
Since Kokushibo knew well the nature of Muzan's curse, Muzan never suspected betrayal—and so he didn't bother reading Kokushibo's memories.
Muzan's overwhelming aura surged through the Infinity Castle.
"Yosuke Ubuyashiki!
It's you again! You always ruin everything!"
After venting his rage, he turned back toward Kokushibo.
"Did you find it?"
"Gyokko and I searched countless towns," Kokushibo replied flatly.
"We found no trace of it."
Muzan fell silent for a moment, then said coldly,
"Lie low for now.
The Blue Spider Lily may or may not exist, but I am certain that other thing does.
If it didn't, the Ubuyashiki family would have long perished.
Nakime."
Nakime bowed her head obediently.
"Continue sending your eye-spawn to search for the Blue Spider Lily—
and that other thing as well."
"Yes, my lord."
When Muzan's presence vanished, silence once again blanketed the Infinity Castle.
None noticed that when Muzan spoke the words 'Blue Spider Lily',
a flicker of light passed through Kokushibo's eyes.
"To think even you failed, Kokushibo-sama," Doma said teasingly, hiding his grin behind his fan.
"Looks like we'll have some downtime.
How about joining me in expanding the Eternal Paradise Faith? We could have some fun."
Kokushibo merely scoffed and ignored him, turning to leave the castle.
At the Butterfly Estate—
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke sat formally before Yosuke.
After listening to their tangled recounting, Yosuke summarized:
"So, to confirm—
you three, together with Rengoku, fought and killed the Upper Moon Three, Hakuji?"
"That's right! Big Bro and Third Bro were amazing!" Inosuke declared proudly, twin plumes of breath puffing from his boar mask.
Yosuke blinked in surprise.
"Wait… why are you calling Hakuji your Third Brother?"
"I dunno! Just felt right!" Inosuke replied, unbothered—as always ruled purely by instinct.
Zenitsu sighed.
"Yosuke-san, don't take him seriously. Inosuke always messes up names.
He still gets mine and Tanjiro's mixed up."
"That's not true, Zentaro! I've got them all right!"
"It's Zenitsu! You idiot!"
And with that, the two began wrestling again while Tanjiro tried desperately to stop them.
Just then, a new patient was carried into the Butterfly Estate.
When Zenitsu caught sight of him, his movements froze.
He whispered in disbelief—
"...Brother?"