Chapter 114: The First Three Upper Ranks Are Coming! Is Katsuragi Ren in Danger?
Gyokko seemed furious, even forcing his regenerative abilities to temporarily repair his throat so he could speak.
But before he could say anything, Ren interrupted him.
"Gyokko, time is running out. Take a good look at yourself!"
Gyokko stared at his own body, his head trembling.
"I... I am art!"
"Exactly. So tell me, who are you dying at the hands of? And who killed you?"
Gyokko became excited.
"I am art! Art killed me, so I killed myself?! I'm going to become art! I'm going to become a work of art!"
"Exactly! You're about to become a masterpiece. Didn't we agree on this?"
Ren carefully positioned Gyokko's head before drawing his Nichirin Sword once again.
Ren had always kept his promises. Since he had promised Gyokko that he would create a masterpiece, he would put everything he had into doing it properly.
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust—Curve!"
Clang!
Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack!
Ren's blade flashed.
In an instant, hundreds of slashes carved through Gyokko's head. Whether Gyokko agreed or not, Ren directly sculpted the demon's head into a lifelike chamber pot.
Under the moonlight, the little chamber pot gradually faded away into the air.
It was the last beautiful moment of its existence.
Unfortunately, the one who had created it would never get to see it.
But none of that mattered.
Ren had completed his task.
"Goodbye, Gyokko. You're the first demon I've ever killed."
"Thank you for becoming my experimental subject."
Ren sheathed his Nichirin Sword and walked toward the basement door.
With some unease, he pushed it open.
Life was sometimes like this.
Whenever you worked desperately hard to accomplish something, there would always be a door waiting in front of you.
Behind it might be a pleasant surprise.
Or it might hide an even more dangerous enemy.
Anything was possible.
But regardless of what waited behind that door, it was the result of everything Ren had fought for.
It was a new opportunity.
Ren tightened his grip around his Nichirin Sword.
His breathing flowed through every inch of his body.
He didn't hesitate.
No matter how powerful the enemy ahead might be, he would return to the Butterfly Mansion.
He would see Kochou Shinobu again!
Creak—
Under the moonlight, the door slowly opened...
Night had fallen, and countless stars glittered in the sky.
Streetlights illuminated the roads from one end of the street to the other, their brilliant glow turning the darkness into something resembling daylight.
The streets of this sleepless city were packed with people, filled with noise and excitement.
Black cars roared down the roads, symbols of wealth and status, their drivers stepping on the gas and leaving clouds of exhaust behind.
The shops lining both sides of the streets were brightly lit, their windows filled with exquisite goods that caught the eyes of passersby.
The enticing aroma of food drifted through the streets as people gathered around stalls, tasting delicacies and enjoying the flavors.
Street performers put on dazzling shows, attracting crowds who stopped to watch, applaud, and cheer.
The entire sleepless city was bursting with energy and passion.
It was a place where people could forget their troubles and indulge in the pleasures of life.
This place was once known as the Red-Light District.
In this bustling city, a small boy wearing a red coat and a hat walked alone along a street corner, observing everything around him with great interest.
He had a pair of rainbow-colored eyes, while his hair was as white as an oak tree.
His steps were light.
As he watched the lively scenes around him, a strange smile remained on his lips.
Yet there was something unsettling about that smile.
It was almost... fake.
"Cling~"
Suddenly, the sound of a biwa rang out.
The scenery around the boy instantly changed.
His body suddenly expanded, and he landed inside a room at Kyogoku House.
The man looked expressionless.
"Ah, I still can't imitate Lord Muzan as perfectly as I'd like~"
It turned out that the boy had been a demon.
His childish appearance had merely been a temporary disguise.
Once he stopped imitating the form, the numbers in his eyes returned to normal.
Upper Rank Two.
That's right.
The demon Muzan had sent to rendezvous with Gyokko was none other than his powerful subordinate, Doma.
Doma pursed his lips and smiled harmlessly.
"That must be Lady Nakime's ability, right? Honestly, I rarely get the chance to travel for work. I was actually hoping I could go out and enjoy the scenery..."
"My lord."
A woman's voice suddenly interrupted Doma's monologue.
A newcomer entered the room.
She was a beautiful woman dressed in luxurious clothing, her skin white and smooth as snow, delicate as polished jade.
Her face was small and exquisite, her chin slightly raised, revealing a faint aristocratic air.
Her makeup was heavy, and her expression arrogant.
Yet in front of Doma, she obediently knelt.
The name Kyogoku House referred to a brothel, making the woman's identity easy to determine.
She was an oiran.
Doma immediately recognized her.
"Oh? Long time no see, Daki!"
A trace of nostalgia appeared on Doma's face.
"I remember the last time we met, you looked like an ugly monster, covered in burns. Now you've got yourself a new skin. What a transformation, hehe."
Daki's petite body trembled.
Although she knew this lord spoke without thinking, she still wanted nothing more than to beat him to death.
Fortunately, Gyutaro inside her body stopped her in time.
"Hey, sis. Don't get carried away. You can't beat him."
Daki took a deep breath before raising her head and forcing a smile.
"Lord Doma, may I ask why you're here?"
Doma scratched his head.
"I don't really know. The boss told me to come help find someone. Daki, do you know where he is?"
Daki nodded.
"I do."
The news that Gyokko and Hantengu had discovered the location of the Blue Spider Lily had already spread.
How could Daki and her brother, Upper Rank Six, possibly remain unaware of it?
Gyutaro had previously gone to see Gyokko, and Daki had been there as well.
The siblings still remembered Gyokko's smug expression at the time, his grin practically splitting his face.
And the bastard really had obtained some information.
They had heard that after Muzan learned about the situation, he had even given Gyokko additional blood as a reward.
Daki had been extremely envious.
Gyokko must be living comfortably in his house right now, right?
After all, someone like Gyokko, who had recently gained special favor from their master, had received blood rewards from Muzan three times over the past seven days.
His appetite must have increased considerably.
Maybe the next time I see him, he'll have gotten fat.
"Then, little Daki, take me to see Gyokko."
"I also need to thank him for that pot he gave me last time. It's perfect for sticking heads into."
Daki nodded again.
"Yes."
Just as the two demons were about to leave, a pink sash suddenly shot down from the ceiling before returning to Daki's body.
It was Daki's Blood Demon Art.
She had secretly left the sash beside Gyokko without his knowledge. Through it, Daki could receive information about what was happening around him.
After receiving the information, Daki's expression changed.
Her footsteps immediately stopped.
Doma blinked.
Then he pursed his lips into a smile and stood up as well.
Daki raised her head, her face filled with terror.
"Oh no~!"