The Black Dog Demon and the Bat Demon had been successfully scared off by Horitake's impersonation of Hantengu.
Moreover, he had laid a false trail at the very end to ensure these two demons would unwittingly execute his ploy to sow discord.
Watching them flee into the distance through his Spirit Vision, Horitake finally relaxed completely. He placed the lid back on the box containing Hantengu and stuffed it securely into his backpack.
Shinobu walked over from the adjacent room. Having witnessed Horitake's entire operation, she couldn't help but remark, "You really are something, Horitake-san."
Horitake smiled, feeling that his stroke of inspiration had indeed been quite good.
"It was lucky. If those two demons hadn't delivered themselves to our doorstep, I really wouldn't have had a way to use this opportunity to plant discord.
"Now it's set. As long as Muzan confirms that Hantengu has betrayed him, he definitely won't trust his subordinates as he did before. It might even cause chaos within their ranks."
As he spoke, Horitake began to change his clothes, putting on his usual Demon Slayer Corps uniform and his purple cloud-patterned haori.
Watching his actions, Shinobu was puzzled.
"Horitake-san, what are you doing?"
"Just letting those two demons go isn't enough. I intend to kill them both."
This statement left Shinobu thoroughly confused.
"W-Why?
"If you wanted to kill those two demons, why did you let them go just now? Wouldn't it have been better to kill them right at the start?"
Horitake shook his head and began to explain to Shinobu.
"It's not like that.
"Letting them go just now was absolutely necessary. My performance has all but convinced those two demons that the person in this room is Hantengu himself.
"However, since they didn't see Hantengu with their own eyes, when this news reaches Muzan, he will still harbor some suspicion."
Shinobu still couldn't quite follow Horitake's logic.
"Speak clearly. What exactly is going on?"
By now, Horitake had finished changing. He looked at the bewildered Shinobu, smiled, and began to explain his plan and reasoning in a different way.
"Sister Shinobu, let's speak hypothetically.
"Assume I am Hantengu. Just now, I was found by those two demons. I refused to see them and scared them off, telling them to pass a message to Muzan that I have wronged him.
"But the moment those two demons leave, and once I, Hantengu, calm down, I would realize that something is wrong.
"What is wrong?
"I shouldn't have let those two demons go!
"Why?
"Because those two demons possess tracking and searching abilities.
"If they could find me, Hantengu, the first time, they can certainly find me a second time!
"Finding me the first time doesn't matter. But what about the next time? If they come looking for me again, what if they bring Muzan with them?
"Wouldn't I, Hantengu, be dead without a burial place?!
"So, after they leave, I think it over calmly and realize this won't do. I must kill these two demons with tracking abilities to eliminate future trouble!
"That way, Muzan will never be able to find me again!"
Realization dawned on Shinobu. She finally understood completely; so that was the logic.
If Hantengu really let those two demons go and ignored them, allowing them to escape scot-free, that would indeed be a flaw in the story.
Fully dressed now, Horitake hurriedly instructed Shinobu.
"Alright, Sister Shinobu, don't dawdle. If we wait any longer, those two demons will run too far. Hurry up and change. Once you're dressed, we'll track them together and wait for the chance to kill them!"
Shinobu indicated she understood. Since it was serious business, she immediately ran to the adjacent room. Using the paper sliding doors for privacy, she quickly changed into her Demon Slayer uniform and butterfly-patterned haori.
However, while changing, Shinobu still felt something was unclear. Her mind was still stuck on one little curve in the logic. She asked Horitake through the partition while dressing:
"But it still doesn't seem quite right.
"If you were Hantengu, why didn't you just kill those two demons right then and there? Why wait for them to run away before killing them? Isn't that doing unnecessary work?"
Horitake felt utterly helpless.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, my dear Sister Shinobu! The problem is that I am not really Hantengu! The real Hantengu is in the box, half-dead.
"I obviously couldn't open the door to kill those two demons. If I opened the door, wouldn't everything be exposed?!
"After we kill those two demons, Muzan will definitely examine their memories.
"When that happens, we can present Muzan with a false illusion.
"The illusion is this: Hantengu was hiding in the inn room, refusing to see anyone or come out. After Hantengu chased the two demons away, he regretted it, fearing they would find him again. So, he chased after them and killed them.
"The main goal is to manufacture this specific false impression for Muzan."
"Oh, oh, oh... I get it now! So that's how it is! You really have thought of everything, Horitake-san!"
As she spoke, Shinobu finished changing.
The two of them opened the window of the second-floor room, leaped out, and began bounding across the rooftops, moving quickly in the direction the Bat Demon and Black Dog Demon had fled.
There was a specific technique to this pursuit.
Horitake activated his Spirit Vision. Utilizing the ability's x-ray and telescopic functions, he located the retreating figures of the Bat Demon and Black Dog Demon from a great distance. They hung back, tracking them from afar.
Horitake didn't forget to explain to Shinobu beside him.
"Sister Shinobu, we can't follow too closely.
"Those two demons are a black dog and a bat. I'm not yet sure what the bat's Blood Demon Art is, but the black dog's art is likely super-enhanced olfactory tracking.
"If we get too close, they might discover us, and then the counter-intelligence plan will fail.
"So we can't get too close. Fortunately, my Spirit Vision can see them from far away. Following them leisurely from a distance is enough."
Shinobu, following in Horitake's footsteps, nodded to show she understood. But in reality, she wasn't entirely clear on one thing.
"Understood. I'll leave the tracking to you.
"But... there is still one thing I don't quite understand. Could you enlighten me, Horitake-san?"
"What don't you understand?"
"It's just... how are we supposed to kill these two demons? How do we make Muzan believe that it was Hantengu who killed them?
"Look, whether it's your lightning, my Wisteria poison, or our Nichirin Swords—none of these are methods Hantengu uses to kill.
"As long as we kill these two demons, once Muzan checks their memories and sees how they died, won't it all be exposed?
"And coming back to the point, how does Hantengu kill demons? We don't know that at all!"
Shinobu's question hit the nail on the head. It was a very important point.
How do demons kill demons? How would Hantengu kill a demon? This issue had to be clarified!
In truth, Horitake wasn't entirely sure about the answer to this question either.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"