Raising Kids in Demon Slayer to Become the Strongest

[This story was unlocked by the author on May 18, 2026. Here's a joke: I unlocked it for a month, got inspired, and came back to update this weekend.]

I'm a ghost, gravely ill and close to death.

The System said that if I recruited future powerhouses, I could grow stronger alongside them.

So I got to them before Muzan did and poached all his underlings.

The future Upper Rank Three, feared by all, was currently stealing because he couldn't afford medicine for his father.

I handed him some money. "Want to come with me? Let's build a world where no one has to steal to afford medicine."

The boy, battered and bruised from beatings, stared at me blankly. "Okay."

[Ding! Retainer loyalty +10, strength +125!]

The future Upper Rank Two, a born monster who would devour countless people, was currently locked in a room by his parents, listening expressionlessly to believers pour out their woes.

I fed him a piece of candy. "Have you heard of Muzan? His head can grow back, and even if he's chopped into 1,800 pieces, he won't die."

Doma was shocked and insisted that I take him along to see for himself.

[Ding! Retainer loyalty +20, strength +225!]

Kokushibo, Upper Rank One under Muzan, put a blade to my neck and threatened to kill me.

I whispered, "I can bring back Yoriichi. Yoriichi before he ever learns swordsmanship, a little brother who's not a genius yet and only has eyes for you, calling you big brother."

All six of Kokushibo's eyes widened. He betrayed Muzan on the spot and pledged himself to me.

[Ding! Retainer loyalty +30, strength +335!]

Upper Rank Five and Upper Rank Six joined my side one after another. My influence grew at breakneck speed. I played both sides between the Demon Slayer Corps and the Twelve Kizuki, becoming a "great benefactor" praised by both the righteous and the underworld.

Muzan, whom I had chopped into 1,800 pieces, fled home and couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

At some point, he began to feel as if his luck had been stolen. His strength had inexplicably dropped by more than half, and it was still dwindling.

The Twelve Kizuki he had assembled were all a sorry lot.

Muzan summoned the only subordinate of any use, Hantengu. "At least I have you."

Hantengu clutched his head and trembled. "Lord Muzan... shouldn't demons try to better themselves too?"

"Exactly. I hate demons who lie flat more than anything."

Hantengu immediately turned on his master, and Muzan fled all the way to the residence in Baicheng.

Seeing Akaza diligently practicing his punches at the estate, the exceptionally talented Doma, and Gyokko making money hand over fist, he felt dazed for a moment. It all seemed like it should have belonged to him.

Just then, Kokushibo came out and saw Muzan. Unable to understand why his former boss was in such a sorry state, he hesitated, then asked with a conflicted look, "Want to stay? Lord Baicheng is recruiting an Upper Rank Seven. We haven't found a suitable demon yet."

"Three-month probation. No pay, but room and board included."

To escape Hantengu's hunt, Muzan swallowed his pride and agreed, though he still felt he shouldn't have fallen so low.

Until one day, while cleaning Baicheng's study, he opened a manuscript titled The Original Demon Slayer Story...

Reader's Guide:

Out-of-character behavior included. Not an expert; I'm a fan of Akaza writing fic for my own enjoyment.

Pairing: Muzan

Focus characters: Akaza, Doma, Gyutaro, Gyokko. The Pillars' tragedies get a helping hand along the way. Includes Obanai and Mitsuri, and Doma and Kotoha.

Please check out my upcoming danmei novel, The Evil God Is Still a Model Citizen Today. Add it to your favorites if you like it. Thank you, everyone ●.●

"Starting when I was twelve, I dreamed every single day without fail."

"What kind of dreams?"

"Digging soil, growing seeds, and waiting for them to ripen."

"Moving dirt, sculpting clay figures, and defending a castle."

"Picking flowers, adopting children, and making medicine."

"They're all healthy dreams. My emotional monitoring has always been stable, and the data is available. Officer, may I leave now?"

The officer set down the statement. "Sure. What's in your pocket?"

"Oh, this? It's a lucky charm from a fortune-teller." As Lu Ren left the interrogation room, he turned back and took a black mushroom from his pocket. "A mushroom plushie. It's been with me since I was little."

Starting when I was twelve, I had strange dreams every day.

In my dreams, I became a brain and watched the back of a zombie carrying a hoe as it took away a huge patch of plants and gradually disappeared into the distance. Sometimes I could even hear myself being chewed.

In my dreams, I stood in the air and watched a colossal giant trample through the walls, its huge footprints covering the continent and laying waste to all life.

In my dreams, I stood beside a black-haired man and watched man-eating demons feast without restraint in the night, while a pair of blood-red eyes lurked behind me.

I had been dreaming since I was twelve, until yesterday evening, when I found the black mushroom from my dreams at my front door.

Theme: Even villains have a chance to become good kids.