Chapter Thirty-Six: After All, He Is a Man

Chu Fan awoke around noon, taking his time as he enjoyed his lunch. If one were to ask why he hadn’t attended the Hashira Meeting to provide intelligence, it wasn’t because he was at a loss about how to become stronger. In the world of Demon Slayer, the Hashira possess a life-risking fighting style, activating their marks and achieving the ultimate martial arts state—Transparent World. This allows them to completely conceal their presence and see through every movement of their enemies.

Reaching the ultimate Transparent World of martial arts is, to say the least, a formidable challenge. But the life-risking mode that comes with activating the mark almost guarantees death before the age of twenty-five. Chu Fan wasn't certain whether triggering this would affect his evaluation for completing the Demon Slayer world. Now he understood: since the main quest was “Survival,” requiring him to live until the end before the nine Hashira and Tanjiro Kamado died, then conversely, the fewer Hashira who perished, the higher his evaluation would be.

The difficulty of the main quest was measured not by his own strength, but rather by the rank of the Chosen One. That’s why, as a level 3 Chosen One, his difficulty rating for choosing the human camp was so high. Over time, Chu Fan realized that upon entering a derivative world, the effects of cultivation, though far slower than directly using Chosen Coins or allocating attribute points, were undeniably effective. His improvement in swordsmanship was proof enough.

It meant that by traversing multiple derivative worlds, and gradually growing to become a level fourteen Fatebearer, his combat experience, skills, and physical condition would inevitably reach a certain standard. Even when faced with malicious circumstances, Fatebearers who chose the human camp would be capable of clearing the world without resorting to mere survival, but rather by achieving results in each world.

Reflecting on this, Chu Fan felt everything was clear. The Chosen One’s trial in Jujutsu Kaisen was level 10, not because that demoness was weak, but because the trial didn’t require going it alone—there were other paths. Though Chu Fan was familiar with the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, he wasn’t well acquainted with the environment of Tokyo’s various districts. He didn’t know where to find powerful sorcerers to help him, so he could only wait passively.

When entering a derivative world, one must maximize the use of their abilities and intelligence to complete the mission. If one is able to choose to act alone, the Chosen Paradise will value them higher and reward them more generously. Chu Fan now felt he understood the true law of survival in Chosen Paradise: judge which path to take according to the circumstances, complete the main quest, survive from one world to the next, and grow ever stronger.

This realization brought a shift in Chu Fan’s perspective. He no longer feared that Muzan Kibutsuji would hide and refuse to emerge. Chu Fan already had two plans. One was for Lord Kagaya Ubuyashiki to deliberately expose his location, letting Muzan learn of it. If Kagaya Ubuyashiki died, the Ubuyashiki family’s communication ability would be lost and the Demon Slayer Corps would collapse. Muzan would certainly want to annihilate the Ubuyashiki family.

The second—and final—plan was to wait for Nezuko Kamado’s evolution. Once she developed the ability to withstand sunlight, Muzan would be desperate to devour her and gain the same power. If the first plan failed, Chu Fan would simply wait until the news reached Muzan’s ears, which would surely lure him out.

Personally, Chu Fan felt the first option was most likely, and he wasn’t afraid that Kagaya Ubuyashiki would refuse. After all, Kagaya was a man willing to sacrifice himself and his wife to lure Muzan out. That way, Chu Fan could enter Infinity Castle and slay the other Upper Moons. Killing an Upper Moon brought a hefty reward of five thousand Chosen Coins, and it would quickly reduce the risk of Hashira deaths.

Having killed one Upper Moon already, Chu Fan decided not to stop there; he would head to Yodun next and eliminate Upper Moon Six. That demon’s attacks were poisonous, capable of killing in just a few minutes. If the Upper Moons truly banded together, Upper Moon Six would be a troublesome adversary from the sidelines.

“Crow, take me to Yodun,” Chu Fan said after finishing the lunch prepared by Kiku.

“Lord Illusory Feather… You want to go to Yodun… Yodun… Yodun?” Kiku, tidying up the dishes, blushed and stammered as she spoke.

“But I can understand you, Lord Illusory Feather,” she continued. “You’re handsome and charming, but still a man. It’s only natural to want to go to Yodun for some fun and relaxation. Please remember to be careful and stay safe.”

Before Chu Fan could respond, Kiku muttered to herself, then bowed deeply, offering her advice with utmost sincerity.

“I have some business to take care of there. If all goes well, I’ll return quickly,” Chu Fan replied offhandedly, seeing Kiku’s demeanor. He glanced at the crow, which immediately spread its wings and flew off, with Chu Fan following behind.

“No need to make excuses to me, but I suppose it’s understandable. Lord Illusory Feather is, after all, a man—some things are better left unsaid,” Kiku sighed as she watched him depart, her expression full of understanding.

“If Lord Illusory Feather ever needed companionship, I wouldn’t refuse,” she thought. “Why go to a place like Yodun…”

Returning to her room, Kiku looked at her reflection in the mirror, at her full figure and her self-assessed attractive appearance, feeling a bit disappointed. Now that she was one of Lord Illusory Feather’s subordinates, she no longer needed to wear the Hidden Squad’s mask. The Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps were always on the front lines, constantly facing death. When assigned to serve Lord Illusory Feather, she had mentally prepared herself.

But upon meeting him, she found him strikingly handsome, quiet and easygoing by nature. She felt he was a good man; if he ever had a request, she would do her best to fulfill it. Why hadn’t he chosen her, but instead gone to Yodun? Was she not attractive enough?

Kiku understood Lord Illusory Feather’s desires as a man but was left in doubt about her own appearance.