"We're about to meet her."
"But, Tamayo, did you really think 'meeting' meant sitting down for a nice little chat over tea?"
"Ah… it's not?"
As Tamayo looked at him in confusion, Yohan and Tamayo walked hand in hand to the front of the Kyogoku House. The warm sunlight bathed the street in golden light, their shadows stretching beside them—elegant, striking, radiant.
Inside Kyogoku House—
"Wake up, Warabihime. Stop sleeping already."
The proprietress stood outside Warabihime's room, knocking as she called out.
Warabihime, reclining inside her chamber, let a glint of cold killing intent flash across her face. If it weren't for her elder brother's recent repeated warnings to stay alert, she would've killed this meddling old hag on the spot.
"I already said—no one is to disturb me during the day!"
Her voice was like ice, and the proprietress felt a chill cut straight to her bones. But thinking of the heavy pouch in her sleeve, she steeled her nerves and continued,
"Someone named Yohan is here looking for you… He said you should look out the window."
Having said all that needed to be said, the proprietress turned and fled. If it hadn't been for how generous the payment was, there's no way she would've braved the wrath of Warabihime.
Their relationship within Kyogoku House had never been as simple as boss and subordinate.
"Yohan!"
The name shocked Warabihime to her core. She had never met this man in person, but as for hearing his name—since becoming a demon, no name had left a deeper impression.
To do what he's done, and still remain human—it was enough to make her tremble.
But there was no time to be astonished now. He had come here.
How did he even find out where she was? She didn't have the luxury to ponder that anymore. What mattered now were his words.
Her room had been specially modified. During the day, not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate. The official story she told outsiders was that her body was too delicate to bear exposure.
"Should I open the window…?"
Warabihime asked herself this silently.
She was afraid—if this was a trap, then in broad daylight, she would be an easy kill. There wouldn't even be time to flee to the basement.
"No, Daki. Open the window and take a look."
Her elder brother, Gyutaro, offered a completely different opinion.
"If they really came to destroy us, we wouldn't be able to escape either way. So we might as well see what they want."
"And besides—if Muzan finds out we let this opportunity pass us by, the punishment would be far worse."
Persuaded by her brother's logic, Daki reluctantly pulled open the window.
Sunlight streamed in, and she quickly scurried into a far corner of the room. From the shadows, she carefully peeked outside.
"That must be Yohan… and who's that woman?"
She saw a man and a woman standing together on the street. The man had to be Yohan. As for the woman—Daki had no clue who she was.
Tamayo had long since vanished from the demons' records. By the time Daki and Gyutaro became demons, Tamayo had already betrayed Muzan and gone into hiding. Naturally, Daki had never seen her before.
"She's here, Tamayo."
Yohan had sensed the gaze from above and gave Tamayo a subtle nudge.
"Understood."
Tamayo caught the signal. The demon blood in her veins began to stir, her fangs elongating slightly, her eyes glowing faint crimson. She let her demonic aura radiate freely.
"That… that's—!"
Daki's breath caught in her throat.
"A demon… she's a demon!"
And yet—she was standing in sunlight!
A demon… in full sunlight!?
Daki's entire body trembled with shock. She couldn't keep calm. For demons, standing under the sun was the ultimate unattainable dream—no, obsession.
"I have to report this! I must report this… to Lord Muzan!"
Her voice was shaky and almost incoherent from excitement. The revelation was too monumental.
Down below, Yohan noted her reaction with calm satisfaction. Their goal had been achieved. The message had been sent. Now they only needed to let Muzan interpret it.
"Let's go."
Turning away, Yohan and Tamayo resumed their casual stroll through the district. Since they were already here, and it was daytime, they may as well take their time. Yohan wasn't even the slightest bit worried about Muzan showing up right now.
He would act—but not immediately. Muzan would need time. He would definitely make his move… just not yet.
….
"Lord Muzan!"
That very night, Daki rushed back to the Infinity Castle. What she had witnessed earlier had completely shattered her composure.
"Daki?"
"What are you doing back here?"
Kibutsuji Muzan looked at her coldly. Though he knew she was fiercely loyal, these days, Muzan trusted no one. Caution and secrecy were his only companions.
"Lord Muzan, today—I saw a demon in broad daylight!"
Daki's words tumbled out, urgent and breathless. She knew that according to protocol, she should've remained in the Red Light District to continue gathering intel—but this was no ordinary situation.
"What did you say!?"
Even before she could finish, Muzan's palm reached out. Their distance was close enough—and the memory fresh enough—that he instantly extracted her recollection of that day.
He saw it. He saw everything through Daki's eyes: the man and woman who appeared on the street in the bright sun. He saw her.
"Tamayo!"
There was no mistaking her.
That traitor—etched into his memory. He had once dismissed her as a harmless rodent. But now?
Now she had done it. She had succeeded.
"She… she actually did it!"
"Did she… did she really find the Blue Spider Lily?"
Muzan trembled with fury and desire. His calm was shattered. He wanted her—he had to know how she did it!
But then a new thought emerged.
"No. I don't need to know."
"I only need to consume her!"
Muzan's eyes widened in revelation. What was the point of interrogating her? If she had discovered the secret, then her flesh and blood held the key.
"That's right. If I devour her—I'll obtain the ability to walk in the sun!"
"Perfection. The perfect being!"