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I leaned close to Ume and sniffed. A strong, pungent fragrance assaulted my nose.
Made me unable to hold back. Turned my head to the other side and also sneezed.
Ume was a bit unhappy. Lifted her sleeve to smell it too: "What! I'm wearing the latest perfume. This stuff is super expensive!"
Gyutaro as usual played the role of appeasing her: "Ume, my lord isn't criticizing you. Most likely that Upper Rank demon was also wearing the same perfume as you."
Ritsuka nodded vigorously. Indicated that although the scent she'd smelled was much fainter, it was definitely this one.
Hard to believe her nose was so sensitive. During the fight, nerves stretched taut, she could still capture the demon's scent amid the thick smell of blood.
This was a lead.
Ume usually spent money lavishly. The things she bought were always the best and most expensive. People who could afford this perfume probably weren't too numerous.
"Not just not too numerous—this is a limited edition." Ume said with hands on hips. "Only sold at department stores in big cities. And only twenty bottles!"
I immediately had the intelligence corps investigate. In the city where the demon was hiding, there was also only one department store...
Since it was a precious limited product, probably not many people could afford it. Checking them one by one would eventually reveal suspicious targets.
Ritsuka only lay in bed for three days. By the fourth day, she could already get out of bed and run around everywhere.
Mind you, she was injured more severely than Sabito. Right now Sabito was still lying there unable to get up.
Her abnormal recovery speed drew special attention from the Kocho sisters. Once she could move freely, they came over with notebooks to inquire about details.
The situation at the time was extremely dangerous. Ritsuka and Sabito had initially fallen under suggestion... but they were both people of firm will. Woke up midway.
Relying on the coordination cultivated from usually fighting together, they continued pretending to be controlled, found the right moment to attack that Upper Rank demon.
It was also their first time encountering an Upper Rank demon. Still couldn't understand the huge gap between Upper and Lower Ranks. Thought this Upper Rank demon who relied on hypnosis to make them kill each other might be a type not good at combat.
"That bastard was really cunning." Ritsuka said indignantly. "She could control her own hair as a weapon, but pretended not to know how to fight."
I recalled the intelligence Akaza had revealed to me. He'd said Upper Rank Six was a female demon whose appearance was indistinguishable from humans, responsible for infiltrating human society to do things for Muzan.
During several Upper Rank meetings, Akaza had deliberately provoked them. More or less figured out each demon's temperament.
Only this demon never responded to his provocations. The attitude she displayed was humble. Absolutely wouldn't mention anything about herself. To the point even her colleagues didn't know where she usually hid.
Even Akaza hadn't uncovered Upper Rank Six's true nature. Ritsuka and Sabito losing to her wasn't shameful.
Fortunately Ritsuka had awakened the mark. Her combat power increased once again. That female demon's personality was very cautious. Unwilling to clash head-on with her. Decisively retreated.
That's why they could now lie in bed without missing any parts.
The mark that appeared on Ritsuka's body was a small cherry blossom, adorning below her left eye. Looked very beautiful.
She recalled the feeling during that battle. Deliberately made the mark appear again.
Kanae and Shinobu immediately started writing. One rapidly sketching, recording the mark's appearance. The other inquiring about how her body felt at the time.
But Ritsuka was a single-minded idiot.
She stared at Kanae with wide eyes. Could tell she was trying hard to rack her brain to answer this question.
"It's just—just the feeling of being very angry, this stupid rabbit got injured..." She spoke haltingly, incoherently. Could tell her thoughts were chaotic.
Kanae wasn't impatient either. Continued guiding her to recall the bodily changes at that time.
Ritsuka added another sentence: "Anyway, the feeling was like my body seemed very hot, heart beating very fast, as if hot blood surged up, about to drill into my brain."
Kanae thought for a moment. Wrote a sentence in her notebook: Mind and body in an excited state.
I combined my own experience to think about it. Felt that making the mark appear might require more dangerous battles.
All this needed experimental verification. Finding Upper Rank Six also needed to be top priority.
Lucky ones who could retreat unscathed from an Upper Rank's presence were few. Moreover, after Ritsuka awakened the mark, this matter couldn't be hidden among the Pillars.
No one came to disturb the recuperating Ritsuka. Everyone ran to ask Giyu for information.
No matter who asked, Giyu would brush them off with "I don't know," "This doesn't concern you or me," "Rather than asking me, why not ask the person herself—is it that you don't want to ask?"
His tone was probably too blunt. Both Obanai and Shinazugawa who were blocked by him were very unhappy...
Specifically manifested as two people who disliked Giyu directly using this as an opportunity to become good friends.
And Giyu had even fewer friends during meetings.
Seeing everyone so enthusiastic about the mark, Kagaya felt it wasn't good to hide it anymore. Announced to everyone the legend of marked swordsmen from the Warring States period, and that Ritsuka was a descendant of the Sun Breathing swordsman.
He didn't mention Michikatsu's betrayal. Only told everyone: "Due to Sun Breathing's power, Muzan and Upper Rank One hate that swordsman to the bone. Won't let go of his descendants either.
If they learn Ritsuka has awakened the mark, I'm afraid it will provoke Muzan and that Upper Rank demon. Also hope everyone will pay attention to Ritsuka's situation normally."
Because he said this, even more Pillars came to the Butterfly Mansion to see Ritsuka. Almost everyone became familiar with her, even exchanged contact information.
But Ritsuka had zero sense of crisis that she might face Muzan and Kokushibo's full pursuit. Learning there was a lead on Upper Rank Six, she jumped three feet high, wanted to go with me.
I pressed her back down: "No. You stay at the Butterfly Mansion and honestly rehabilitate. Wait until Sabito's injuries heal."
Upper Rank Six would most likely relay the news back. Kagaya's worry wasn't wrong either. Don't underestimate the shadow Yoriichi left on Muzan and Kokushibo.
The intelligence department was also very fast. In just half a month, they'd already followed the trail to investigate all targets once, singled out three most suspicious existences... but these three women were either rich or noble. Couldn't be dealt with in ordinary ways.
Since it was already known the opponent hiding was an Upper Rank demon, there was no reason to only dispatch Pillars.
Ume and Gyutaro also hadn't encountered Upper Rank demons for many years. Hearing of the opponent's existence, they were eager to try.
But they were only good at straightforward combat. This Upper Rank demon could take root in human society. The personal connections involved were intricate and complex.
I understood how tempting obtaining a strong body and immortal lifespan was to those big shots.
Human lives meant nothing at all to those upper-class people.
I knew the Demon Slayer Corps had always been quite restrained in their actions. Even openly couldn't get government recognition. It was because in the shadows, there was still a force obstructing the Ubuyashikis' actions.
Taking this opportunity, perhaps could even sever Muzan's tentacles reaching into human society, find those humans secretly colluding with him.
So I also had to go personally.
This matter was no longer as simple as just eliminating an Upper Rank Six. It involved upper-class circles.
Kagaya considered for a moment. Had Kanae and Kyojuro accompany me.
I took them together and headed to that city called Seiura.
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