As soon as they arrived at the entrance to his family's home, Yoriko saw them. The sight was a dagger to his gut. The maids were lined up, perfectly composed, and his father stood with a stiff, formal air. Beside him were the three figures he had just seen in the district, their brown uniforms a jarring sight against the elegant backdrop of the courtyard.
I was right. A wave of cold dread washed over him. He had to be calm. He had to be the perfect son.
"Ah, Yoriko," his father began, a forced smile on his face. "You've finally returned. Come, meet our esteemed guests."
Yoriko released Hana's arm and offered her a reassuring, albeit strained, smile. He then walked forward, his mind a whirlwind of thought.
"This is my eldest son, Yoriko," his father said, gesturing toward him.
"A pleasure to meet you, Yoriko-san. My name is Kenko," the slayer said, bowing respectfully.
"I am Amaki," the younger boy mumbled, bowing clumsily. His eyes darted everywhere but at Yoriko's face.
The tall woman stepped forward, her movement precise and deliberate. "And I am Ruzuki. It is a pleasure to meet you, Yoriko-san." Her voice was cold and formal, like a blade of ice.
"Y-yes, a pleasure to meet you all," Yoriko replied, his tone still perfectly polite.
A nervous boy, a polite but stern man, and a woman who looks like she'd kill me without a second thought. He had to admit, the Demon Slayer Corps sent a strange mix of people to the front lines. Ruzuki stepped forward, her cold gaze sweeping over the family. "We won't take up too much of your time. We wanted to discuss the possibility of a demon lurking around the city. You are aware of the existence of demons, correct?"
The maids' faces went pale. They glanced at one another, their whispers dying on their lips. Even Hana looked confused and frightened.
"Demons?" Yoriko said, his voice laced with feigned surprise. He gave a nervous little shake of his head, denying the very knowledge he had spent years acquiring. "Are you sure? I haven't heard a single thing about it."
I was correct. They really are here for a demon. A cold thrill ran through him. Still, a demon here? That's a recipe for disaster, especially with this many people around.
"Do not be a fool," Yoriko's father said, his voice cold and devoid of warmth. "Demons are not well known to the public, but they do exist, lurking in the night. These three are part of a group that handles them."
Yoriko's world tilted. His blood ran cold.
My father… he knows about demons? How?
He stood frozen, his mind scrambling to make sense of this new reality. All this time, he had believed he was alone in his knowledge, alone in his contempt for the Corps. He had thought his father a pampered, oblivious fool, trapped in the superficial world of the Entertainment District. But here he was, speaking of demons with a casual, almost business-like tone.
"This demon you speak of," Yoriko's father began, his voice flat and businesslike, "are you able to kill it?"
Kenko bowed his head slightly. "We don't know yet."
The father's expression did not change. He simply nodded once, a gesture of cold acknowledgment. "I see… Well, is that all you've come here for?"
"Yes," Ruzuki answered, her voice as formal as ever. "Your family is a major part of this district. We thought it was right that you be aware and careful."
That's a lie, Yoriko thought, a cold smile forming on his face. You're here because you need something. He knew how the Corps operated. They would never risk exposing themselves to a civilian unless they were desperate. They needed information, a place to rest, or maybe a way to track the demon through the district's intricate web of gossip and information. And his father, of all people, was in the perfect position to give it to them.
A demon in his own hometown.
He needed to take care of it, and to do that, he would need as much information as he could get.
Yoriko spoke up, his voice clear and confident. "Otosan, I have an idea. How about we house them? They can offer us their protection."
His father looked at him, his brow furrowed in confusion. The Demon Slayers' eyes widened in shock.
I am willing to at least put aside my dislike towards them just for this, Yoriko thought. It was a cold, calculated decision. By keeping them close, he would be able to listen in on their plans, track their movements, and learn everything they knew about the demon. They would be his unwitting tools, their resources at his disposal.
He held his father's gaze, a subtle but knowing look passing between them. He was not asking for permission. He was offering a business proposition, one that would give their family a distinct advantage.
"That is not a bad idea," his father said, the cold, calculating look in his eyes softening slightly. "Very well. We will arrange rooms for the three of you to stay at." He looked pointedly at Kenko. "I assume it won't take long to get rid of this demon?"
"Of course not," Amaki nervously replied, a slight tremor in his voice.
"Good. Yoriko," his father commanded, "while we get their rooms ready, please accompany our guests."
What?! Why me? We have maids and servants for that! Yoriko's mind screamed in protest. He had wanted to observe them from a distance, to be the invisible puppet master.
"Yes, Otōsan," he replied, his voice a perfect mask of polite resignation. His smile, though, felt as though it was made of stone. The game had just become much more difficult.
The sitting room was a small, elegant space, but the air in it was thick with a heavy silence. The three Demon Slayers sat around a low table, each with a cup of freshly brewed tea before them. The subtle scent of jasmine filled the room, but it did nothing to cut through the palpable awkwardness. Amaki fidgeted with the hem of his uniform, his gaze fixed on the table. Kenko sat stiffly, his hands resting on his knees as if at attention. Ruzuki, on the other hand, was unnervingly still, her eyes calmly observing Yoriko's every move.
This is a waste of my time, Yoriko thought, a perfect smile fixed on his face. He watched them with the cool, analytical eye of a hunter. They were uncomfortable. They were out of their element. Good. It gave him an advantage.
He picked up his teacup, taking a slow sip before setting it down. "I must apologize for my father's abruptness," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "He can be… single-minded when it comes to business."
The three Demon Slayers remained silent. Yoriko smiled wider.
"I hope the tea is to your liking," he continued, letting his gaze rest on Kenko. "I imagine you don't get many opportunities to enjoy such luxuries on your… travels." His words were polite, but he felt the jab in them. You're not used to this kind of life. You're a low-ranking thug, a tool.
Kenko took a slow sip of his tea. "It is excellent, Yoriko-san. We are grateful for your family's hospitality." He paused, his expression hardening slightly. "However, our gratitude is secondary to our mission. We are here to find a demon."
"These demons you speak of?" Yoriko asked, his smile never wavering. "Are they hard to defeat?"
He wasn't asking out of idle curiosity. This was the information he needed. He wanted to know how much of a threat this demon was, and more importantly, how much of a threat these three were to his own mission.
Kenko's expression remained polite, but a flicker of pride crossed his face. "All demons are a challenge, Yoriko-san. But we are trained to deal with them."
Ruzuki remained silent, her eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to see through Yoriko's charming facade. Amaki, on the other hand, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the rim of his teacup.
Yoriko's smile widened. He had their answer. They were confident, but not overly so. They were still treating this as a routine mission. Good. That meant they were underestimating the demon. It gave him an advantage.
"I see," Yoriko said smoothly. "My family's business relies on peace and quiet in this district. Any information you could share would be of great help to us."
Ruzuki's eyes narrowed, and she cut in, her voice like the cracking of ice. "Information? There's only so much we can say to the public. After all, you aren't that familiar with demons, are you?"
Kenko shot her a discreet, warning glance, but Ruzuki held her cold stare on Yoriko. Her words were a direct challenge, a test of his knowledge, and an expression of her clear contempt for a civilian.
Yoriko's smile did not waver. So, a condescending one. You believe I am a fool. Good.
He set his teacup down with a quiet clink. "No, you are quite right," he said, his voice as smooth as silk. "My family's business is with the living, not the dead. What a terrible thing to have in our beautiful district. The people would be terrified."
He gave a small, dramatic shiver, acting the part of a sheltered, horrified nobleman. "We are counting on you to handle this matter. You are the professionals, after all." Ruzuki's gaze dropped to Yoriko's waist. Her eyes, as sharp as a blade, fixated on the hilt of his sword.
"That hilt on your waist," she said, her voice cutting through the polite air. "I see it has no blade."
The room's air grew colder. Kenko shot her a bewildered look. Amaki flinched, his eyes darting from Ruzuki to Yoriko's sheathed sword. She wasn't just being rude; she was being direct. This was a challenge.
Yoriko's smile did not waver. Inside, his mind raced. He had been so careful to hide his sword, but he hadn't thought to hide the fact that it was missing.
She is sharp. Sharper than I thought.
He laughed lightly, a soft, charming sound. "Ah, you have a keen eye, Ruzuki-san. My father has a collection of fine antiques, and I have taken an interest in them. I am a collector, you see. I have always preferred the art of the hilt to the brutality of the blade."
"I see," Ruzuki said, her eyes never leaving his. "One final question."
The air in the room grew colder.
"Are you familiar with the Midnight Hunter?"