Two days later, Asakusa.
'The streets have developed this much already?! It's nighttime, but it's still so bright!'
"The buildings are so tall—what are those?! Are cities always like this?!"
Seeing Tanjiro staring around in wide-eyed amazement, Yuko quietly took Nezuko's hand and led her to the side.
With a country bumpkin like that—even if she knew him, she'd pretend she didn't.
Just kidding.
For a family that had lived in the mountains for years and made a living burning charcoal, arriving in a big city like Asakusa naturally felt overwhelming.
Especially after experiencing the impact of near-modern science and culture—the difference between city and countryside was like night and day.
Even someone like Yuko, a transmigrator who had lived here for centuries, still felt stunned at first glance.
Come to think of it, she could no longer remember anything about her previous life—neither her name nor her experiences…
"Grrr~"
An ill-timed sound broke the moment.
The two demons turned to look, only to see Tanjiro clutching his stomach awkwardly.
"I'm hungry~"
…
"Boss, one bowl of yam udon."
"…Alright." The bald shop owner looked at the three of them with a strange expression.
Three people, one bowl of noodles?
Yuko sat with one leg crossed, her elbow propped against her cheek, glancing sideways at Nezuko beside her, who was gently nodding off.
So cute.
It was rare to see a demon with such delicate, refined features.
"Hm?" Yuko suddenly startled and quickly reached out to support Nezuko, who was about to tip over.
Tanjiro looked on with a gentle smile.
"The noodles are ready."
"Ah, thank you." Tanjiro accepted the bowl from the owner and subconsciously turned to Yuko. "Miss Yuko, would you—"
He paused, scratching his head awkwardly.
Yuko leaned Nezuko against her shoulder and smiled silently.
Tanjiro blew on the surface and took a sip of the broth. The relaxed look on his face instantly changed.
That smell!!
The scent left behind at his home!
Different from Miss Yuko's scent!
Holding the bowl tightly, Tanjiro shouted in alarm, "Miss Yuko! It's Muzan!"
"It's Muzan's scent!"
Because his family had been saved, and Nezuko's condition hadn't been as dire as imagined—Miss Yuko herself being the best proof—Tanjiro didn't lose his rationality to rage.
Although her senses were sharp, Tanjiro's were even sharper. Yuko's gaze shifted slightly.
She still couldn't detect Muzan's aura yet—Tanjiro's nose really was terrifying.
She nodded faintly. "Follow him."
"Yes, I will!" Gaining Yuko's confirmation, Tanjiro set down the bowl and rushed out of the alley.
Yuko glanced back at the sleeping Nezuko, then lifted her eyes to the shop owner to speak—only to find the bald man already standing in front of her in a panic.
"…Please look after her."
"Huh?"
Before the owner could react, Yuko vanished from her spot in a flash and appeared in the alley.
"Hey!!!"
Out on the street, Yuko followed the scent trail Tanjiro had left behind.
Tanjiro had already found Muzan and was locked in a tense standoff with him.
'He's human!'
'The girl and the woman with him also smell like humans.'
'Don't they realize it? This guy is a demon—a man-eating demon.'
The woman beside Muzan looked at Tanjiro in confusion. "Do you know him?"
Muzan, holding a human child in his arms, replied indifferently, "No. How troublesome. I've never seen this child before."
Running into the boss right after leaving the beginner village—fortunately, this boss was a cowardly rat who lurked in the shadows.
Before becoming a lifeform that could conquer sunlight, Muzan would never reveal himself publicly.
Yuko scanned the crowd on both sides of the street and almost immediately spotted Tamayo and Yushiro among the people.
The two demons were mixed in the crowd, quietly watching the commotion.
Yuko nearly couldn't hold it together.
It was like searching everywhere for your phone—only to realize it had been in your hand the entire time.
She had practically turned Asakusa upside down searching before!
And yet, tonight, the two of them had just happened to come out for a stroll!
On the other side, Muzan spoke lightly, "Could it be… that you've mistaken me for someone else?"
The woman replied, "Is that so?"
A passerby walked by. Muzan's fingernails extended, slashing toward the man's nape at a speed invisible to the human eye.
Without the slightest hesitation—just as the claws were about to tear into the back of the passerby's neck—Yuko stepped forward.
A black blade arrived in an instant, driving across and intercepting the strike.
Muzan's gaze reflexively followed the sword to its owner, his rose-colored pupils contracting sharply.
Beneath the conical hat, a single strand of crimson hair drifted free.
It felt… familiar.
Clink!
A faint spark flashed.
"What was that?!" The sudden flash and sound startled the surrounding crowd.
Especially the passerby who had almost been struck—his nape chilled instinctively as he shrank back and turned around.
A figure wearing a hat, face concealed, stood in the middle of the street holding a jet-black katana.
The blade's trajectory seemed to trace the exact path he had just walked through.
The man touched his neck in terror, grabbed his wife, and hurried away.
"Murder! Murder!"
"That person has a sword! Where are the police?!"
Seeing Yuko holding a katana, the crowd panicked and shouted in alarm.
The sword ban had been in effect for decades. Someone carrying a blade while hiding their face hardly looked like a good person—anyone would assume the worst seeing this scene in the street.
As the clamor around them grew louder, Muzan's expression darkened. After casting Yuko a deep look, he left with the woman.
This wasn't how he had planned it, but… it was best to retreat for now.
"No! Miss Yuko isn't—!" Tanjiro cried out desperately, trying to explain to everyone. "We're not bad people!"
He hadn't seen anything clearly, but something must have happened just now to force Miss Yuko to draw her sword.
He had been too reckless!
Tanjiro explained frantically, sweat pouring down his face—but his words sounded weak, and the crowd even noticed the sword hilt beneath his haori.
"That kid has a sword too! They're accomplices! Stay away from them!"
"Step back! Step back! What are you doing?!"
"The one over there—put down your weapon!"
Watching Muzan's retreating figure, Yuko sheathed her blade.
At the very least, when it came to innocent bystanders unrelated to the plot—if she could save them, she would never hesitate.
Tanjiro pale-facedly explained to the police, "That's not it… we're not—"
"Scent of Illusory Blood, Visual Dream."
What was that scent?
Tanjiro froze.
Suddenly, several ribbon-like floral patterns drifted into the scene.
"Whoa, what's with these patterns?!"
"I can't see anything anymore!"
Tanjiro scanned the surroundings warily—it was a Blood Demon Art!
"Miss Yuko!" His hand went to the hilt of his Nichirin Blade, his body tense.
"It's fine."
Yuko nodded calmly to reassure him, then turned back with a smile. "If you'd shown up any later, I'd have had to bail myself out of the police station."
Who?
Tanjiro looked forward in shock.
A man and a woman with strange, eerie auras stepped into view.
They were demons!
The scent of demons!
---
Currently at chapter 393 for advance chapters
https:// ko-fi.com/rabi08