Demon Progenitor Development Project

Several months passed, and winter arrived in Kyoto, with the weather gradually turning cold.

Another day of missing air conditioning.

Muzan was physically weak, so his charcoal-burning was ineffective.

Burning too much will produce a lot of smoke, which is harmful to the respiratory tract.

If you don't burn enough, cold air can enter your body, making you more susceptible to catching a cold.

Ultimately, only one method remained—the way primitive people kept warm.

They pressed their bodies together to prevent heat loss.

It is said that penguins in the North and South Poles do this.

……

Outside the palace, the ground was covered in snow, so thick that a single step could bury a child. The cold air condensed into glistening frost flowers under the eaves, a work of art crafted by nature.

Muzan didn't appreciate it at all; he just wanted to tremble in his bed.

Winter, a season that can seal Muzan Kibutsuji.

Every winter, Muzan could never go out; he could only shiver in his thick blankets and drink medicinal soup to prevent catching a cold.

Inside the sleeping quarters, wisps of smoke rose from the charcoal brazier, warming the room.

The child huddled under the covers, not even peeking out, the thick animal skin blanket forming a small mound.

Upon seeing this, Shugo chuckled, recalling the scene from his childhood when he would hide under the covers and secretly read extracurricular books by lamplight.

Pull the shivering child out.

The child immediately nestled against Shugo like a fledgling bird caught in a storm.

Shugo held Muzan in his arms, sharing his warmth with him, and then touched his hands and feet, which were cool to the touch.

He immediately frowned.

Remembering what the doctor had said, Shugo wrapped the child in animal skin and carried him back to his house.

"Where to?" the toddler asked.

“If you live with me, you’re weak, so you can’t use too much charcoal…” Hiiragi kept nagging.

Pressed against the boy's hot chest, Muzan listened quietly to the other's ramblings, an unprecedented emotion welling up inside him, washing over his heart like a hot current. For the first time, he felt the filial piety a cub feels for an elder.

What a strange person.

Why are you so concerned about me?

My father has never cared about me this much.

Muzan buried himself even deeper into the other's well-endowed chest, like a cat showing its soft belly to a human, his actions conveying a sense of intimacy.

Hiiragi tucked the person into the blanket and told someone to add more charcoal to the fire.

As the next heir of the Fujiwara Hokuke family, Shugo has always been treated as if he were the head of the family, and his charcoal is always of the highest quality, producing very little smoke and not being pungent.

After tucking the person into the blanket, Shugo took off his outer clothes and lay down himself, then let out a comfortable sigh.

Lying in bed after a long day of work, after taking a shower, is the happiest moment for a corporate slave.

"Can't sleep?" Shugo could feel the breathing of the person next to him.

Muzan shifted his body, feeling a little uncomfortable sharing a bed with someone.

Especially when you close your eyes, your ears can easily detect another strong heartbeat.

Its presence is too strong.

Shugo imitated the mother, gently patting the toddler's back while humming an off-key tune.

The lyrics are pieced together from different parts, and the lyrics are unclear.

The sound gradually faded into the distance, and Muzan couldn't stop his eyelids from drooping.

Throughout the entire winter, Muzan never stepped out of his room, staying in Shuuga's bedroom to hibernate.

Shugo, seeing the child huddled under the covers for warmth, also became very interested.

As a result, Muzan acquired several cartoon animal pajamas made of animal skin.

Various forms of young Muzan have been unlocked.

Shugo happily picked up Muzan's rabbit ears and gave them a good rub.

Muzan put down the candy in his hand, hurriedly pulled the ears off the hood of his pajamas, and glared fiercely at Shuugo.

"Don't touch a single flower on my head," Muzan mumbled incoherently.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shugo directly took the snacks from Muzan's plate and ate them in a few bites.

The little black-haired child was stunned.

A moment later, Muzan let out a sharp scream and punched the hateful adult in front of him with his little fists.

Ren Guang, who was adding charcoal to the fire, looked away as if he had seen something that hurt his eyes.

Young master, how old are you?!

Winter passed by in a playful and chaotic manner, and spring soon arrived.

In early spring, the chill of winter still lingers, and new buds have sprouted from the soil beneath the snow.

The season of withering and renewal is interdependent with the season of life, representing the cycle of life and death in nature.

Muzan was also born in this cycle of reincarnation.

As usual, Hiiragi gave the birthday boy a gift—a wooden cat carving.

In his previous life, Shugo was a craftsman who was able to support himself and his family of cats by making figurines, so his skills were naturally quite good.

The cat is depicted in a realistic style, and it is sculpted very lifelike.

Looking at the wooden cat carving, she asked in confusion.

"Why did you give me this?" He wanted the football that Agu had, even if he couldn't play it.

The cat's design doesn't follow the conventional cute style; instead, it presents a minimalist aesthetic. The kitten is depicted curled up, its tail wrapped around itself, creating a visually thin and pitiful appearance.

Shugo crouched down to meet the child's gaze.

"This is our first birthday since we met, and this cat was made in your memory."

Is this cat me?

Muzan once again looked at the wooden cat carving with a critical eye.

This cat looks thin and small.

She doesn't resemble him at all.

Muzan's eyes darkened as he thought of that fat, ball-like Agu.

Will Shugo find him too thin?

The sensitive child immediately began to have many unpleasant thoughts.

Shugo's words interrupted Muzan's thoughts, "Nene will give me a present on my birthday too."

"Agu gave me a painting before. What is Ningning planning to give me in return?" Although he couldn't figure out what the painting depicted at all.

Muzan: ...

Unable to think of anything, Muzan solemnly recalled what he could give away.

Send a painting? He had never studied painting, and his paintings were not good. He didn't want to send them away, and he didn't want to be ridiculed by that fat ball.

Sending him those expensive jewels? All the ones he had were gifts from Shugo. Even if he's clueless about worldly affairs, he knows he shouldn't give gifts away.

Seeing Muzan deep in thought, Shugo found it amusing.

"What does Hiiragi want?" Muzan seriously decided to listen to the opinion of the person receiving the gift.

"Hmm..." Shugo looked at Muzan's unusually serious little face and hallucinated the scumbag boss who looked like a child in overalls.

Upon closer reflection, Shugo could only picture Muzan in a rage, and couldn't imagine what the scumbag boss looked like when he smiled.

Muzan Kibutsuji is either angry or on his way to being angry.

"Ningning, smile at me on my birthday. I want your most beautiful smile."

"Huh?" Muzan said.

"Can my smile be a gift?" Muzan wondered, looking at Shugo's intrigued face.

……

A few days later, Shugo received news that Muzan had a stomachache;?

The servants who served Muzan said that Muzan insisted on stuffing it into his mouth, and even though his expression was so painful as he swallowed it, he still forced himself to swallow it.

Shugo asked Muzan, but Muzan shook his head and didn't answer, looking like he didn't want to talk about it.

Can't figure it out.

"I don't know why you did this, but your stomach capacity is limited. Don't push yourself too hard. If you want to increase your food intake, you have to wait until you've recovered." Shugo sighed, earnestly advising Muzan.

Muzan, who had just vomited, huddled listlessly in the boy's arms.

It was like a kitten that had suffered a lot, snuggling in its owner's arms and purring softly.