Kyogoku House.
Dressed up to look almost absurdly cute, Inosuke paced through the corridors, prowling for anything useful.
"So this is her house, huh?"
He eyed the rooms where lunch trays had been placed at the doorway and crept closer.
Suddenly, every hair on his body stood on end.
A heavy, oppressive demonic aura slammed into his senses.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps sounded above the ceiling.
"Idiot. You've already been exposed."
Inosuke's eyes flashed. The moment he felt the enemy trying to flee, he stopped bothering with stealth. He snatched up a bowl of udon from the floor and hurled it straight at the ceiling with all his strength.
Boom!
A hole exploded open.
A demonic stench poured out, so thick it felt sticky.
Inosuke fought down the nausea and chased after the sound overhead.
"You're not getting away!"
He roared, sensing the demon turn a corner in the ceiling, and he pivoted with it.
"Aww, what's this? A cute little girl?"
A sleazy-looking man blocked his path, a sweaty, hairy hand settling on Inosuke's shoulder.
"Wanna have some fun? I've got money."
"Die!"
Inosuke was in a rush, the demon above already slipping away. In panic, he drove a fist into the pervert's face.
Bang!
The man flew backward, smashing through a wooden door.
"Ah! Someone's hitting people!"
"Damn it…"
Inosuke's instincts screamed that something was off.
"Did it run down below already?"
He scanned the area, but even with Beast Breathing's spatial awareness, he could not pinpoint the demon's location at all.
"Damn it! That brat!"
Inosuke stormed out, still forcing his senses wider and wider.
"…I lost it."
Meanwhile, at the other end of the district.
Zenitsu set down the shamisen.
"This isn't right. Even if I learn the shamisen, so what? Am I supposed to stay here forever?"
He forced himself to calm down and began walking the house, looking for a chance to ask about the rumor of Kyogoku House's proprietress dying. But everyone looked weighed down, and he could not find a clean opening.
Then, sobbing reached his ears.
"What? Someone's crying?"
Zenitsu perked up, following the sound.
Slide.
He pulled open a door and froze.
The room inside was a wreck.
"What happened here? Why is everything trashed?"
A woman was crying uncontrollably. Zenitsu's protective instinct flared.
She turned her head.
Her face was covered in bruises, with a thin line of blood at the corner of her mouth.
"What happened? Did someone hit you? Did you fight? Don't tell me…"
A bad thought stabbed through Zenitsu.
The girl covered her face again and cried harder.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not yelling at you. I just… if something's wrong, you can tell me…"
Before he could finish, a chill crawled up his spine.
His skin prickled.
Someone was behind him.
When Zenitsu looked back, a gorgeously made-up woman stood there, glaring at him. Veins bulged at her temple as she snapped, voice sharp enough to cut.
"What are you doing in someone else's room?"
Zenitsu could not force a sound out.
The aura behind her was dense, almost liquid. Cold sweat trickled down his chin and darkened the front of his kimono.
That was a demon's voice.
A demon's presence.
And it was terrifying.
Zenitsu understood, with painful clarity.
A demon far too strong was standing behind him.
Worse, he had not even noticed her existence until she spoke.
"Hey. Are you deaf? I'm talking to you."
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Zenitsu's trembling back.
The commotion drew two young girls over. The instant they saw the woman, their faces went pale.
"It's Warabihime Oiran…"
The other girl hurriedly tried to explain, voice shaking.
"She just arrived recently, so…"
"So what?" Warabihime demanded. "Speak."
Zenitsu finally forced himself to turn fully. He caught one look at her face and bowed quickly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come in. Please don't blame me…"
"It's just… this room was a mess, and she was crying…"
Warabihime raised an eyebrow, studying Zenitsu.
"God, you're disgusting. You're so ugly you'd be better off dead."
"And what is that hair? Are you trying to attract attention on purpose? Being ugly isn't enough for you?"
Then she strolled toward the crying girl.
"This room is a disaster. I already told people to clean it. But it seems someone still isn't listening…"
She grabbed the girl by the ear and yanked her up off the floor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll clean it right now! Please forgive me!"
The girl sobbed and begged, but that only made Warabihime angrier.
"Shut up. Can you close your mouth for once?"
She slammed the girl down hard.
Warabihime lifted her hand again, ready to strike.
A hand clamped onto her arm.
Warabihime paused, then turned.
It was the "ugly girl" from earlier.
Zenitsu.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Warabihime's veins stood out again.
"Please… stop."
Smack!
Zenitsu went flying.
Warabihime used only one palm.
He smashed through a door and collapsed in another room, consciousness snuffed out.
"Warabihime-sama, please don't hit her!"
An older woman rushed over and gathered Zenitsu into her arms, pleading.
"She's about to start receiving clients. If you break her like this, today's business will be ruined!"
"Madam," Warabihime said softly, waving her closer. "Lift your head."
The older woman, still prostrated, raised her face.
Warabihime smiled, warm and gentle, as if her earlier brutality had never existed.
"I'm sorry, Madam. New girls need discipline."
"Please treat her injuries. I need to touch up my makeup and prepare for tonight."
With that, Warabihime ordered the attendants to bring her cosmetics.
As she applied her makeup, she watched Zenitsu's limp body through the mirror, thoughts spinning.
That earlier touch…
Unexpectedly hard.
No counterattack, but the instinctive defensive posture was there.
Not Hashira-level.
So a regular Demon Slayer, then.
Warabihime's lips curved.
A thin piece of red paper was lifted from the makeup kit. She pressed it lightly to her mouth.
Her lips turned a deep crimson, so vivid it looked like blood might drip.
"Heh. It cost me a little time and energy, but…"
"You finally took the bait."
"Demon Slayer Corps…"
"It's been a long time."
She continued refining her flawless face, voice soft as silk.
"Come on, then."
"It's been so long since I've eaten a Demon Slayer I almost forgot what they taste like."
"I'll wipe you out."
"I'll eat every last one of you."
----------------------------------------------------
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"