Should've said so earlier.
Got beaten for nothing. Indeed, believing in religion ruined her brain.
I waved the feather duster in my hand. Felt it was extremely handy. Perfect for whipping that cult leader's face.
The leader's residence was in the deepest part of this mansion. Before even approaching, I smelled rich, overwhelming lotus fragrance.
Lotus normally smells pleasant. But such rich floral scent all drilling into my nose... instead made me dry heave. Felt like I never wanted to smell lotus again in this lifetime.
The cultist leading the way walked to a large room's entrance. Respectfully knelt by the door. "Leader, that miss has been brought."
I heard an extremely gentle voice say, "Please let her in..."
This voice seemed pleasant and kind. But drilling into my ears caused waves of discomfort.
I couldn't help picking my ear. Had a feeling something dirty drilled in.
Probably an illusion?
I yanked the door open. Swaggered in. The leader sat on a cushion. Face full of smiles looking at me. Expression very kind.
His hair color was extremely rare. A pale white. Yet dyed with ink-splash blood red.
A pair of rainbow-gleaming eyes like gemstones. Eyes clearly inscribed with several characters.
Upper Rank Six.
Muzan assembled the Twelve Kizuki not long ago, right? Akaza was still Lower Rank now. This demon cult leader was already Upper Rank.
Real talent. While sighing, I threw away the duster. Drew the blade at my waist, stabbed straight over.
A bone-piercing chill surged toward me. Ice spikes faster by a step pierced my skin.
Obstructed by ice, my movements slowed a beat. He'd already calmly dodged the attack. Unfolded a fan in his hand.
"This miss, you and I have no grudges. Why attack me ruthlessly upon meeting?"
Seeing my expression unchanged as I pulled out ice spikes stuck in my arm, wounds rapidly healing—his face added a trace of perfectly-timed surprise.
"Oh... I see. You're that miss the lord mentioned." He folded the fan. Lightly tapped his forehead. "My cultists offended you. Truly sorry."
Muzan actually mentioned me to these demons. Eighty percent wasn't anything good.
I seemed to have inhaled some icy powder just now. Now felt my lungs were freezing into ice blocks.
Though bodily damage would rapidly repair, lung injuries still affected Breathing Style continuity. Combat techniques' effects would also be greatly reduced.
His Blood Demon Art, for swordsmen relying on Breathing Styles, could be considered a natural enemy. No wonder he became Upper Rank so quickly.
Letting him live—who knows how many swordsmen would be lost. Today, I must find a way to behead him.
I adjusted my muscle and organ structure. Made my physical state closer to Flame Breathing's successor. Blade tip lowered. Changed sword stance.
This demon seemed to show a helpless smile. "Seems you're not interested in chatting with me. What should I do? You want to hit me, but Lord Muzan doesn't allow us to attack you..."
Huh?
What nonsense was he saying?
Probably my confusion was too strong. Even without speaking, he could feel it. His eyes rolled. Face again showed that disgusting smile.
"So you still don't know Lord Muzan's painstaking efforts. He said you're still throwing a tantrum at him. Told us all to yield to you. When you calm down, you'll naturally return."
Throwing a tantrum?
Throwing a tantrum!
I painfully lived so many years. Desperately tried to escape this nightmare. Over these thousand years, cost so many innocent lives.
He only thought I was throwing a tantrum!
I admit—I lost my composure.
After so many years, again feeling Muzan's self-righteous arrogance—like those darkest days coldly slapping my face.
Upper Rank Six still smiled at me. "You're not angry, are you?"
I'll kill him first!
Angry or not, I'd lived so many years anyway. Breathing wasn't disrupted by him. Sword stance changed again. Borrowed Flame Breathing's First Form to charge.
Wide-ranging blade dispelled surrounding ice and snow. Blade unobstructed, slashed toward his neck.
Upper Rank Six's smile remained unchanged. Iron fan in hand lightly turned. Conjured a giant ice sculpture blocking before him.
That ice sculpture was enormous. Momentarily burst through the roof. Blocked him completely.
I'd seen quite a few demons using Blood Demon Art. But this Upper Rank demon was still far stronger than ordinary ones.
Beams on the roof began crackling down. A cracked gap gradually spread into the distance. I heard alarmed cries from other rooms. Suddenly looked up.
That Upper Rank demon had already escaped. But I had no time to chase him.
These remaining cultists all became his tools to delay time.
If I didn't save them, all these rooms would collapse.
Damn bastard! I'll definitely find a chance to behead him!
I grabbed my blade, cursing as I rushed toward other rooms. While evacuating crowds, went to collapsing rooms to save people.
Twenty-seven injured total. Fortunately, no one suffered fatal wounds.
The Ubuyashiki received my letter. Sent logistics teams to take over follow-up settlement work.
I cursed all the way home.
Even after returning home, eating delicious meals, bathing—I still couldn't calm down. Even got angrier the more I thought about it.
When Akaza arrived at the residence, I was still cursing that demon.
He hesitated standing by the door. Didn't quite dare step in.
I took a deep breath. Suppressed my anger. Calmly beckoned him. "Come in. Suddenly coming to find me—is there something urgent?"
Being an undercover agent under Muzan's nose was very dangerous. Even with my cover, needed to be doubly careful... Besides regular reports, Akaza usually wouldn't come.
Akaza properly bowed before sitting down. "Yes, presumptuously disturbing you. Wonder if you have arrangements this New Year's Eve? Koyuki said—she wants to invite you to visit."
I blanked for a moment. Forty years ago, Keizo passed away. I didn't appear at the funeral. Only bid him farewell from afar. Haven't seen Koyuki since.
Koyuki began living alone. But I knew Akaza often visited her... So she still lived peacefully. Had no troubles.
"Did something difficult happen?"
Akaza waved his hands repeatedly. "Not so. Koyuki just wants to invite you to visit. Haven't met in decades. Koyuki misses you very much. Wonder if you're willing to honor us with a visit?"
Misses me...? When Koyuki didn't remember the past, I kept her beside me. She indeed relied on me like a mother.
Thought after she recalled the past, she wouldn't want to see me again.
I hesitated slightly. But Akaza already proactively invited. Refusing him wouldn't be good either.
After agreeing to this matter, I asked if he'd seen Upper Rank Six.
I described that demon's appearance. Akaza's expression became very strange.
His temperament was steady. Usually didn't show emotions. But after hearing me finish, showed an expression like hearing something disgusting.
Akaza forcefully took a breath. "What you encountered—must be Doma? Last time I saw him, he was still Lower Rank One. So he's already been promoted to Upper Rank."
Called Doma, right?
Excellent. I've got a huge grudge with him now!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!