When Tomioka Giyu stood at the entrance of the Fragrant Beauty Pavilion, his fingers unconsciously tightened around the hilt of his Nichirin Sword.
The vermilion gate was lined with strings of red lanterns. The flickering candlelight inside cast a glow over the gilded characters of "Fragrant Beauty Pavilion," making them glare almost too brightly to look at.
The sound of flutes and strings mixed with women's laughter drifted from within, wrapped in a heavy perfume that made the air thick and choking. Tomioka Tō wrinkled his nose instinctively.
"Sensei, it's here?"
Tō's voice was hushed, his gaze locked on the men coming and going through the doorway—most wore fine clothes, their faces flushed with drink, their eyes gleaming with open lust.
It was Tō's first time in a place like this. His whole body was tense, strung tight like a bowstring, even his breathing shallow and quiet.
"Yeah."
Giyu nodded slightly, his eyes moving toward a red poster by the entrance. The garish handwriting read: "New arrival, Miss So—beauty beyond compare, worth a thousand gold for one night."
In the past half month, seven men had gone missing in this town. All were last seen entering this very brothel.
According to informants, ever since this "Miss So" had arrived, the disappearances had not stopped.
Giyu straightened his deep-blue haori, making sure he looked like an ordinary customer. He took a small pouch of coins from his sleeve and handed it to Tō. "Follow me. Don't talk. Don't look around."
Tō gripped the pouch tightly and nodded, his palms damp.
As they stepped inside, a woman in a silk qipao dripping with gold ornaments swayed toward them. Her face was caked in powder, and when she smiled, wrinkles gathered at the corners of her eyes.
The greasy, calculating glint in her gaze marked her immediately as the madam of this house—known as Madam Kurenai.
"Well, well! What rare guests we have!"
Madam Kurenai's voice was sharp and shrill as she reached to grab Giyu's arm. "New faces, aren't you? First time visiting Fragrant Beauty Pavilion, I bet! So, what kind of lady do you want? Gentle? Fiery? Or maybe one who sings? We've got it all here!"
Giyu instinctively sidestepped, the movement so quick he nearly bumped into Tō behind him. He forced his mouth into a stiff half-smile. "We're… looking for Miss So."
"Looking for Miss So?"
Madam Kurenai's eyes gleamed as she looked them up and down. Her gaze paused briefly at the sword hanging at Giyu's waist before she quickly looked away—perhaps assuming he was a bodyguard or a wandering swordsman.
"Ah, Miss So is our top courtesan. Not just anyone can meet her. Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
Giyu pulled out another pouch of money and placed it in her hand. "Will this do?"
Madam Kurenai weighed the pouch, her smile turning syrupy. "Do? Oh, this more than does! Please, right this way, honored guests. I'll go tell Miss So myself!"
She turned toward the inner rooms and called out, "Girls! Bring our guests the best tea!"
Two women in revealing robes glided over. One reached for Giyu's arm, the other tried to pull Tō toward the seats. "Come on, pretty boy, this way~"
Tō jumped back in panic, hiding behind Giyu as his face flushed red to his neck.
He didn't dare look at them—their robes dipped so low that pale skin showed freely, and their fingers, painted crimson, brushed close to his sleeve with teasing motions that made his whole body stiffen.
Giyu frowned, quietly brushing the women's hands away. "No need. We'll find our own seats."
He led Tō to a corner table against the wall, away from the crowd. From there, he could observe the entire room without being noticed.
The lighting inside the brothel was dim, with pink veils hanging everywhere, dividing the space into faintly visible compartments.
Laughter and flirtatious voices came from behind the curtains, mixed with the clinking of wine cups. Each sound seemed to make Tō's face redder.
He kept his head down, staring at his shoes, hardly daring to breathe.
"Sensei… this place is scary," he whispered, fingers digging into the edge of the table.
"Don't talk. Watch the people," Giyu murmured, keeping his voice low. His eyes swept over each curtained booth.
The air here was muddled—not just with human desire and perfume, but something faintly sweet and foul underneath, a trace of a demon's scent. It was weak, buried beneath the heavy odor of powder and wine, but it was there.
Before long, Madam Kurenai returned, carrying a teapot, with a servant girl following behind holding a tray of fruit.
"Please wait a bit, gentlemen," she said brightly. "Miss So is still dressing. She'll be here soon."
She placed the tea on the table and let her eyes wander between the two of them before smirking. "This young one looks so nervous—first time in a place like this, isn't it? Want me to find you a gentle girl to teach you how things work?"
Tō's face turned even redder. He ducked his head lower, unable to answer.
Giyu stepped slightly in front of him. "No need. We only want to see Miss So." His voice was calm, but firm.
Madam Kurenai pouted but didn't push further. She picked up the empty tray and swayed off toward the back rooms.
As she passed one of the curtained booths, she paused, lifted the veil, and slipped inside.
Giyu's hearing was far sharper than that of an ordinary person, and through the thin veil, he could faintly make out the voices inside.
"Mother, who are those two? They don't look like regulars."
It was a woman's voice, charming but laced with caution.
"Who cares where they're from—as long as they've got money."
It was Madam Kurenai's voice, lowered to a whisper.
"You make sure to 'serve' them well. We're short on stock lately, and those two look strong. They'll be enough to feed you for a few nights."
"Don't worry, Mother. I know what to do."
The woman chuckled softly, her tone carrying a strange, inhuman allure.
"But that one with the sword—his aura feels strange. I'll have to be careful."
"What's strange about him? He's just another swordsman. No matter how skilled he is, he's no match for your tricks."
Madam Kurenai sneered. "Don't forget, all those little 'gifts' you've been giving me could buy half this town. I'll keep covering for you, don't you worry."
Giyu's eyes turned cold.
As expected, the madam and "Miss So" were working together.
For money, the woman not only sheltered a man-eating demon but also lured in victims for her—those missing men were likely all tricked the same way, only to end up as food.
Tō had caught bits of the conversation too. His face went pale.
He looked up at Giyu, his eyes wide with fear. "Sensei, they…"
"Don't panic."
Giyu placed a hand on Tō's shoulder. The steady pressure in his grip calmed the boy slightly.
"When she comes, follow my lead."
Not long after, the clear jingle of ornaments drifted down from the staircase.
Every head in the room turned instinctively—including Giyu's and Tō's.
A woman in a red gauze dress was descending the stairs.
The gauze was thin as a cicada's wing, nearly transparent, clinging to her every curve and tracing her shape in detail. Her skin was as white as fine jade, her collarbone delicate, the hint of cleavage visible beneath the fabric. Every step revealed the long, graceful movement of her legs.
Her face was breathtaking—brows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water, a crimson beauty mark at the corner of one eye, and lips painted deep red.
When she smiled, the corners of her mouth lifted just slightly, her gaze shimmering with a cold, hungry greed.
As she reached the bottom step, all music and laughter in the brothel ceased. Every man's gaze fixed on her, filled with fascination and desire.
This was Miss So—the demon.
Madam Kurenai followed behind her, her plump face almost splitting with her grin. "Miss So, these are the guests who came asking for you."
Miss So's eyes slid over Giyu and Tō. Her gaze lingered briefly on the boy, flashing with faint disdain—as if he were too small to even make a snack.
Then her eyes locked on Giyu, and that flicker of greed deepened, burning like hunger.
Giyu stared back.
He could clearly sense the demonic aura from her body—stronger and more twisted than that of the multi-armed demon he had fought before.
Her smile might have been alluring, but there was no trace of human warmth in her eyes—only an insatiable craving for flesh and blood.
Their gazes met midair.
For a brief moment, Miss So froze, surprised that this cold-faced swordsman's eyes could pierce straight through her disguise.
Then her seductive smile returned. She swayed her hips as she approached him, the scent around her growing thicker.
"This gentleman looks unfamiliar. Are you from out of town?"
Her voice was liquid silk, soft and hypnotic. Even Tō, despite himself, glanced up for an instant before quickly lowering his head, his heartbeat racing.
Giyu said nothing, his hand tightening around the hilt of his Nichirin Sword.
He could tell—this demon was no weakling. Her strength surpassed that of the lower-ranked demons he'd faced before. And with her skill at disguise and charm, she was far more dangerous.
From the side, Madam Kurenai added with a sly grin, "Miss So, this guest is quite generous. You'd better make sure he's well taken care of."
She gave the demon a meaningful look, greed flashing openly in her eyes—already calculating how much profit she'd earn once the two men were "handled."
Miss So smiled sweetly and reached out toward Giyu's arm. "Sir, why don't we go upstairs to a private room? It's quieter there… perfect for talking."
Her fingertips, cold as ice, nearly brushed his sleeve.
Giyu stepped aside smoothly, his tone calm. "All right."
He knew he couldn't fight here—there were too many people. A battle in this place would spill blood everywhere.
Besides, he wanted to see what tricks this demon had up her sleeve—and how much the madam truly knew.
Tō followed close behind, palms slick with sweat. He didn't dare look at Miss So, keeping his eyes on his teacher's back instead, silently repeating the breathing forms Giyu had taught him to steady his nerves.
Miss So led them up the stairs. Below, Madam Kurenai watched their retreating figures with a twisted smile.
Turning toward the counter, she opened a drawer and took out a stack of silver notes, stroking them with greedy satisfaction.
These were the "rewards" Miss So had given her—bought with men's lives.
In that moment, human greed seemed far colder than any demon's fangs.
Upstairs, in a dimly lit private room, Miss So pushed the door open and stood aside gracefully. "Please come in, gentlemen."
Her eyes shimmered with an unnatural light as she watched Giyu's back, like a predator savoring the sight of its prey.
Giyu took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway first.
Tō followed close behind—and the moment he crossed the threshold, the door shut behind them with a soft click.