Chapter 117: Douma's Way of Chatting
Night had fallen.
At the Kyogoku House in the Entertainment District, Douma blinked after hearing Daki's report, then smiled faintly.
"Ah, poor Gyokko. I only saw him a few days ago, and now he's gone."
"As his friend, I'm truly devastated."
Despite his words, there was a strange, almost wicked smile on Douma's face.
It seemed that smiling was the only way he knew how to express sadness. As Douma himself would say, it was the best way to commemorate a dear friend.
He called it—
"Smiling even in death."
Nearby, Daki anxiously said, "Lord Douma, that Demon Slayer named Su Chen escaped. We have to capture him as quickly as possible!"
Daki was panicking.
She couldn't imagine what consequences she and her brother would face if Muzan learned about this.
But she simply couldn't understand how Gyokko, an Upper Rank who had received so much of their master's blood, could possibly lose.
Had Gyokko been pretending all along?
Daki couldn't figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it.
The only thing she needed to worry about now was that before long, she and her brother would have to face Muzan's wrath!
If Su Chen could escape after taking down half of the Upper Ranks in the Entertainment District, then there would be no reason for the Upper Ranks to exist anymore. They would be no different from the Lower Ranks.
Just thinking about Muzan's methods made Daki's body tremble involuntarily.
"It's fine, little sister. We just need to capture that Demon Slayer."
Gyutaro, who had been hiding inside Daki's body all along, spoke up.
He could sense the panic in his sister's heart. As a good older brother, this was the moment when he needed to encourage her.
After a brief discussion, the demon siblings came up with a plan.
Their most urgent task was to correct their mistake.
Ignoring this matter would be no different from walking straight to the execution grounds.
Thus, Daki said to Douma, "Lord Douma, my brother and I will go find that Demon Slayer named Su Chen right now and bring him back!"
Douma nodded.
"Oh."
"Lord, please remain here and guard this place."
Gyutaro spoke solemnly.
"I know there are three women in the Entertainment District working for the Demon Slayer Corps. After escaping, Su Chen will definitely go looking for them. I'll capture them right now. Perhaps we can get some information from them!"
Douma nodded again.
"Oh."
Since they hadn't included him in their plan, Douma didn't feel the need to say anything.
Besides, once Daki found that man, he could simply go and complete the mission himself.
It wasn't because Douma was lazy.
He was simply accustomed to this.
He had long since grown used to prey coming to him on its own.
Even when he was the leader of the Eternal Paradise cult, Douma would simply sit there quietly while countless women came to pray before him every day.
If they were sincere, Douma would mercifully eat them.
It had become instinctive.
Seeing that Douma hadn't objected, Daki headed toward the door.
Gyutaro's earlier judgment had actually come from him.
He believed that, as a Demon Slayer, Su Chen would definitely seek help from the Demon Slayer Corps after escaping while injured.
A few days ago, he and his sister had discovered three suspicious women in the Entertainment District. Based on their observations and deductions, those three were closely connected to the Demon Slayer Corps.
Su Chen would definitely go to them!
If they went there now, they might even be able to intercept Su Chen on the spot.
As for the danger, Gyutaro had naturally considered that as well.
However, he didn't believe Su Chen could still be in peak condition after fighting Gyokko.
He was probably somewhere nearby, barely clinging to life.
This was the perfect opportunity for the siblings to steal the spoils!
Just as Daki was about to leave, Douma suddenly called out to her.
Daki nervously turned around.
"Lord, what is it?"
Douma smiled harmlessly.
"Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that before Muzan-sama arrived, he told me that if this mission failed, the three Upper Ranks at the bottom of the rankings would all be eliminated~"
A single casual sentence made Daki's hair stand on end.
Muzan's obsession with the Blue Spider Lily was even more terrifying than they had imagined.
Judging from Douma's tone, did Muzan-sama already know what was happening?
Daki's mind descended into chaos.
This matter had suddenly become directly connected to her own life.
All the schemes she had been considering moments ago were no longer worth thinking about.
Suddenly, a crackling sound came from the hidden space above the ceiling.
Soon, four little demons broke through the wooden boards and climbed down from the ceiling, standing neatly beside Daki.
"Lord, we have been ordered to come and assist you!"
The four little demons stood respectfully between Daki and Douma.
But Daki knew they were speaking to Douma.
Her eyes flickered.
Demons?
Why could Douma bring demons around with him?
Hadn't Muzan-sama forbidden demons from keeping demon servants?
Daki remembered that when Gyokko had imprisoned Su Chen, Muzan had specifically given him a small demon to assist him.
But supposedly, that little demon had been killed by the temperamental Gyokko.
She never expected Douma to be able to travel with demons—and four of them at that.
Just how much did Muzan-sama value him?
Then one of the little demons said, "Lord Upper Rank Six, please come with us."
Daki silently stood there, watching Douma and trying to figure out his intentions.
But Douma merely smiled.
"Oh, Miss Daki, don't worry. I just want you to contact Hantengu. After all, he's also in the Entertainment District. We should help each other."
Daki hesitated.
She stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do.
Although she really wanted to steal the spoils for herself, it seemed that their master was taking this matter extremely seriously.
Even Hantengu had been sent here!
The Upper Ranks were hardly united.
There was plenty of hidden competition between them.
Although Douma had once saved them, Daki didn't think much of him.
Deep down, she had already been considering when she could eliminate Douma and take his place.
But she couldn't defeat him right now.
So she could only endure it.
Gyutaro secretly advised her from within her body.
"Don't act recklessly. Agree for now."
Daki remained silent for a moment before finally speaking respectfully.
"Lord, please don't be angry. I was overthinking things just now. To apologize, there are plenty of beautiful women in the Entertainment District. I'll bring two more to you so that you can turn your sorrow into an appetite."
After saying this, Daki looked up at Douma.
She knew Douma liked eating women, and the Entertainment District certainly wasn't lacking in them.
So Daki thought this "beauty strategy" would be extremely effective against him.
However, Douma only looked confused.
"Angry? I'm not angry."
The two of them suddenly realized that they weren't even having the same conversation...