The night was already deep. Even the people of Yoshiwara were beginning to disperse, each returning to their own homes or seeking pleasure for the night. The city that never sleeps would eventually be swallowed by the darkness.
On the top floor of the Kyogoku House, within the oiran's chambers, Suzuki Makoto smiled as he accepted the sake cup handed to him by Warabihime.
"The night grows late, Miss Warabihime."
"Yes, it does."
The woman feigned a seductive look, playfully sticking out her tongue to lick her lips as if to entice Suzuki Makoto—she loved to devour beautiful things, so she rarely targeted men. The oiran of Yoshiwara were her favorite.
But she hadn't expected the man she met today to be so beautiful as well. It made her want to try a change of pace.
"Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask."
"On such a beautiful night, how could a humble woman like myself refuse your request?"
Suzuki glanced at the clock in the room—true enough, this was the time of night most favored by demons and monsters.
"Then please, Miss Warabihime, show me the number in your eyes."
The scene fell silent for a moment. Suzuki Makoto instantly sidestepped to dodge the swinging obi sash, launching himself out the window. As he grabbed the Nichirin Blade he had left on the roof, he fired a red firework he had been carrying.
"A little mouse from the Demon Slayer Corps, you're quick to scurry away."
The oiran no longer possessed any of her former beauty or poise, only the ferocity of a demon.
"Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll graciously accept this gift—for I am Upper Rank Six!"
Suzuki Makoto looked at the number in her eyes and revealed a perfectly timed hint of confusion.
"Upper Rank Six? Impossible. How could you be so weak? You're only slightly better than that Lower Rank One from before. This is an Upper Rank Six?"
Veins bulged on Daki's forehead as the obi sashes behind her instantly lashed out at Suzuki Makoto.
"After I've twisted off all your limbs, we'll see if that mouth of yours is still so tough!"
The man casually deflected all the incoming sashes. According to the original plan, he was supposed to wait until the other rescue missions were complete before going all out. Since his opponent was being so cooperative, he was happy to take it easy.
A green firework shot into the sky. Daki's expression changed; she could feel that the obi demon she had sent out had been destroyed. Then came a second firework.
"So those little bugs were also sent by the Demon Slayer Corps. They kept their mouths shut, I'll give them that."
Then her expression completely changed, and she instantly became enraged.
"How dare you lay a hand on my prey?!"
A third green firework rose into the sky. A full-powered Tengen Uzui was clearly demonstrating the strength of a Hashira.
Several obi sashes flew in swiftly from a distance and entered Daki's body. As her aura surged, she began to roar excitedly.
"Never mind. If they run, I can always catch them again. But if I can capture a Hashira, I'll surely be praised by Lord Muzan again—"
Huh?
Why am I suddenly upside down?
And this body in front of me... why does it look so familiar?
Suzuki Makoto stood behind Daki's severed head, his gaze fixed with great interest on her body.
The other demon coexisting with this Upper Rank Six was finally willing to move.
He watched as Gyutaro crawled out of Daki's body and nodded in satisfaction.
This demon's strength was what one would expect from an Upper Rank Six. That oiran demon was absurdly weak, and her attack methods were the kind not even worth recording. In any case, this new guy's weapons at least looked like something a human could use.
"So it was you who cut off my sister's head?"
Gyutaro stared at Suzuki Makoto. Upon seeing the man's face, the hatred in his heart rose to a new level.
"That's right. After all, she lied and told me she was Upper Rank Six. I could only advise her not to make such grand claims."
Suzuki Makoto smiled as warmly as a spring breeze, but the blade in his hand firmly blocked the twin sickles in Gyutaro's.
"Still, I'm a bit surprised to see your sister isn't dead. Aren't you going to put her head back on?"
"Brother! My head is having trouble healing!"
Daki's panicked voice distracted Gyutaro, but facing the man before him, he didn't dare spare one of his own eyes to help his sister heal.
Footsteps were approaching. The three groups, having completed their missions, had arrived. When Tengen Uzui saw the two demons, he finally understood why Suzuki Makoto had referred to them as both male and female.
"Upper Rank Six... is actually two demons?"
"Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke—I'm leaving the female demon to the three of you! Cut off her head and show me the results of your training!"
Suzuki Makoto sent Gyutaro crashing into the ground with a single slash and turned to give his orders.
"Yes, sir!"
The three drew their blades without a hint of hesitation. There was no doubt in their expressions; instead, they were filled with eagerness.
"Lord Suzuki, I'll assist you!"
"No, Mr. Uzui. Please keep an eye on my disciples. She's still an Upper Rank Six, after all. Even if she's disappointingly weak, I'm still a little worried."
With another slash that cut Gyutaro in half at the waist, the man found another moment to speak.
"Huh? But... alright, I understand."
Tengen Uzui glanced at Gyutaro, who was being utterly dominated, and realized that the only reason Suzuki Makoto wasn't finishing the fight was likely to put some pressure on the three youngsters.
If that was the case, there was no need to rush. He might as well provide backup.
He had no intention of helping the three boys either. His opinion of this demon was the same as Suzuki Makoto's—she was so weak she didn't seem like an Upper Rank at all.
Gyutaro was furious, and Daki, who had just managed to grow back a layer of skin, was a mix of shock and anger. But one of them was being beaten so badly by Suzuki Makoto that he was crying out, while the other was hopelessly trapped in a three-on-one assault.
Tengen Uzui watched the battlefield where the three boys fought the single demon, the astonishment in his eyes impossible to hide.
No matter how weak this oiran demon was, it was only in comparison to a Hashira like himself. Her strength was still far greater than that of an average Lower Rank demon. Yet these three boys, who had only just been promoted to an intermediate rank, were already able to overpower her?
The one in the boar mask was easily handling the obi's attacks, the boy with the box on his back could slice right through the steel-hard sashes, and the yellow-haired one was even more incredible—even the demon couldn't keep up with his speed.
He looked over at Suzuki Makoto, who was continuing his one-sided beatdown, and for a moment, he didn't know whether to envy the talent of his students or praise Suzuki Makoto's formidable teaching abilities.
"In the end, it makes me feel like I'm the one who's completely useless here."
The Sound Hashira sat down cross-legged, a melancholic expression on his face.
This time, really—I wasn't flamboyant at all!
_____
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