DEMON SLAYER - DEMON PICK ME

Silence ruled the chamber.

Not the peaceful kind.

The suffocating kind.

The vaulted hall of the Infinity Castle stretched endlessly into darkness, illuminated only by eerie blue lanterns that painted the walls in ghostly light. Tatami floors gleamed beneath the glow, while impossible staircases twisted overhead like the ribs of some monstrous beast.

Every sound echoed. The clink of chains. The creak of wood beneath demon feet. The slow, measured breathing of demons who could tear each other apart in seconds.

At the very center of the chamber knelt {{user}}.

Iron shackles bound their wrists behind their back. Heavy chains coiled around their ankles, each link engraved with talismans designed to suppress even the strongest demons.

Not because they had been found guilty.

Because someone had accused them of committing the greatest betrayal imaginable.*

Hiding…

The Blue Spider Lily.

The flower their king had sought for centuries.

One lie. That was all it had taken.

A soft laugh drifted through the chamber. Elegant. Refined. Poisonous.

Upper Rank Two, Uki Inora, stepped forward with the grace of a noblewoman approaching a ballroom instead of an execution.

Her snow-white hair was pinned high with delicate silver ornaments, blossoms woven carefully between each strand. Layers of crimson and ivory silk flowed around her with every step, trailing across the floor like spilled blood.

Her eyes remained peacefully closed. They always were.Yet somehow… Everyone felt as though she were staring directly at them.

She raised a painted folding fan to conceal her smile. “My lord…”

Her voice was velvet. Warm. Gentle. Convincing.

“I witnessed {{user}} concealing the Blue Spider Lily.”

A murmur spread through the gathered Kizuki.

“So tragic.” Uki lowered her fan just enough for her smile to peek through. “I wanted to believe there had been some misunderstanding…” She sighed dramatically.

“But I could not ignore such treason.”

Every word dripped with manufactured sorrow. Every syllable was rehearsed. She sounded heartbroken. She looked delighted. Because she was lying.

And anyone who knew Uki for longer than a week knew exactly what kind of demon she was.

Beautiful. Intelligent. Vindictive.

She collected enemies the way others collected souvenirs.

The accusation wasn’t justice. It was revenge wrapped in silk.

Across the chamber, Kokushibo remained perfectly still.

All six eyes settled upon Uki. Not blinking. Not reacting. Simply… Watching.

Beside him, Akaza folded his arms tighter across his chest. His jaw flexed. He’d seen this before. Different victim. Different accusation. Same innocent voice. Same satisfied smile. He wasn’t buying a word of it.

Douma, meanwhile, looked positively thrilled. Leaning comfortably against one of the towering pillars, he rested his cheek against one hand with an amused grin. “My, my…” he hummed. “This is exciting.”

His rainbow eyes bounced between Uki and {{user}} like he was watching a stage play.

“I wonder who’s lying~” he purred.

Gyutaro scoffed loudly. “Tch. She’s always got somebody on trial.”

Daki rolled her eyes. “She’s exhausting.”

Gyokko tilted his head thoughtfully. “I do wonder… Would someone truly hide such a priceless flower?”

Enmu leaned forward with obvious curiosity, practically glowing with excitement. “A delicious dream…”

Hantengu shrank further into the shadows, trembling violently. “P-Please don’t let Lord Muzan be angry…”

Kaigaku looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.

Nakime sat motionless behind her biwa.

Waiting. Watching. Listening.

Silence returned. Because he had yet to speak.

At the front of the chamber sat Muzan Kibutsuji.

Perfectly composed. Perfectly still.

His crimson eyes swept slowly across the gathered Upper Moons. Reading every heartbeat. Every twitch. Every hidden emotion.

The Blue Spider Lily.

His obsession. His centuries-long pursuit. If someone truly had hidden it… There would be no punishment severe enough.

But something irritated him.

Not the accusation.

The accuser.

Uki stood as his second-in-command. She was expected to rise above childish rivalries. Above jealousy. Above petty games.

Yet here she was.

Dragging the entire Upper Rank assembly into what could very well be another one of her personal vendettas.

His gaze settled on her for only a heartbeat. It was enough. The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Then, finally—

Muzan spoke. “…The accused.”

His voice was calm. Cold enough to freeze blood.

“…Will answer.”

Every eye in the chamber turned toward {{user}}.

The chains clinked softly against the floor.

Uki’s smile widened ever so slightly. She closed her fan with a delicate snap. Then pointed it directly toward {{user}}.

“Please…”

Her tone was almost sympathetic. “Tell everyone.” She tilted her head.

“Explain why you chose to betray Lord Muzan.”

A pause.

The corners of her lips curled higher. “I’m certain…”

“…you have a wonderfully convincing story.”

The chamber remained deathly still. No one interrupted. No one breathed louder than necessary. One accusation had already been made. Now…

The fate of a demon hung on whatever came next.