Inspired by the eponymous Japanese manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is a moving tale of resilience, love, and bravery. With a millennium-old human-demon conflict at its core, the story explores the multifaceted nature of trials and tribulations faced by different characters through meticulous examination of themes like redemption and sacrifice.
While some of the characters that feature in Koyoharu Gotouge's popular manga are heroic and brave, others are downright evil and depraved. These villains have a number of characteristics that lend to their evil nature, and greed is just one of them. These are the most selfish characters in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.
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5 Hantengu
A Twisted Villain
Upper-Rank Four of the Twelve Kizuki is paranoid and delusional whenever he is faced with tough choices. Incapable of introspection and self-criticism, Hantengu deflects blame for his crimes onto his victims. In his worldview, he is always the scapegoat who deserves to be treated kindly.
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Hantengu's over-reliance on a twisted understanding of events makes him a dangerous demon, as he possesses incredible power. His extreme self-centeredness and egocentric actions not only exacerbate his fantasies, but also drive him to commit heinous crimes without a hint of remorse. Nearly all of Hatengu's sins are manifestations of his selfishness and narcissism.
4 Doma
The Manipulative Upper-Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki
Unlike other members of the Twelve Kizuki, Doma is uniquely charismatic and deceptive. Although he appears calm at all times, deep down he is calculating and thinks about the long-term consequences of his actions. Interestingly, Doma is a nihilist who does not believe in the afterlife. However, he uses his charismatic nature to pose as a believer in gods, and has even formed a cult called Eternal Paradise Faith.
Doma manipulates his followers into worshipping him and, under the guise of listening to their troubles, frequently murders them. In front of other demons, he maintains a jovial and unassuming façade to mask his true intentions and gather intel. The Upper-Rank Two looks down on humans, and feels no over while taking their lives. Like other narcissists, he thrives on using his charm to control, gaslight, and manipulate his victims to take advantage of them.
3 Kokushibo
A Demon Slayer;s Brother, Who Became Muzan's Trusted Ally
Born as Michikatsu Tsugikuni during the Sengoku Era, Kokushibo is the brother of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Although he worked hard to become a good swordsman, he was unfortunately no match for his gifted sibling, who could defeat well-trained fighters from a young age. Michikatsu became envious of Yoriichi and devoted himself to surpassing him. Eventually, he grew up to become a strong demon slayer and created the Moon Breathing technique.
However, Michikatsu's achievements were always overshadowed by Yoriichi's talent. These experiences and the accompanying jealousy pushed Michikatsu into a reckless pursuit of power, which ended up turning him into a demon, known as Kokushibo. Yoriichi, who detested demons, was hurt by his brother's shameful decision. He had always looked after Michikatsu's best interests, but failed to save his sibling.
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As if this betrayal wasn't hurtful enough, Kokushibo eventually confronted Yoriichi when he was past his prime and on the verge of death. Yoriichi overwhelmed his demon brother and could have even killed him, had he not passed away from old age during the battle. The incident did appear to make Kokushibo emotional, but he remained Muzan's closest ally for centuries after his brother's death and played a critical role in wreaking havoc on the human race. Since he is one of the strongest demons alive, the Upper-Rank One undoubtedly took countless lives to become more powerful.
Kokushibo's downfall did not come until he realized that he had turned himself into a grotesque monster in his selfish quest for power and immortality. This acceptance also came with a painful realization that he had let Yoriichi down with his greedy actions, despite receiving selfless love from him.
2 Kaigaku
Jigoro Kuwajima's Disciple Embraced Evil
Like many orphans, Kaigaku had a difficult childhood. Growing up on the streets made him prioritize self-preservation over everything. Since it was almost impossible to procure food through moral means, he had to resort to stealing. The values instilled at such an early age shaped Kaigaku's character, and he turned out to be a self-centred, conceited, and brash person.
Kaigaku was adopted by Gyomei Himejima along with a few other orphans at a temple. Back then, the Stone Hashira was not a demon slayer. Despite struggling to make ends meet, Gyomei dedicated himself to giving the children in his care a dignified life. Since demon attacks were common in the region, he made strict rules that no one should leave the temple premises after dusk. Kaigaku not only broke the rule, but when a demon found him, he helped that demon attack Gyomei and his peers to save his own skin.
Kaigaku later met the former Thunder Hashira, Jigoro Kuwajima, and became his disciple. He trained alongside Zenitsu and frequently bullied him. After becoming a demon slayer, he encountered Upper-Rank One Kokushibo during a mission. Once again, he decided to save his own skin and accepted Kokushibo's offer to become a demon. When Jigoro learned about Kaigaku's decision, he committed seppuku to atone for his disciple. Zenitsu was never the same after he learned about Kuwajima's death. When he confronted Kaigaku in the Infinity Castle and told him about their mentor's death, the latter not only laughed, but made it clear that he had no regrets.
1 Muzan Kibutsuji
The Demon King is Loyal to None
Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji is not only the strongest being in existence, but he is also the most selfish. During the Heian Era, when he was just a human being, he struggled with a terminal illness. His doctor tried his best to come up with experimental medicine to treat him. But overlooking his dedication and hard work, Muzan brutally murdered him after losing faith in the treatment's efficacy. He eventually learned that his doctor had been right after all, but he never showed an ounce of remorse for taking his life.
Muzan's ungrateful and egocentric attitude only got worse when he turned into a demon. Kibutsuji mercilessly butchered countless humans in his pursuit to conquer the sun so that he could become invincible. His infatuation with power and immortality caused an endless bloodbath that unleashed terror and despair for centuries. But with each era, Muzan only became more callous and narcissistic, never regretting the pain his selfishness caused.
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Demon Slayer
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Studio
- ufotable
- Creator
- Koyoharu Gotoge
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix
