Daki wanted to gouge out her own eyes—she'd rather be blind right now.
Oh, great Nine-Tailed Fox Grandma above… Lord Muzan's taste was truly insane.
"Daki, I'll take this one. And don't question my judgment."
Muzan held the black kimono in his hand, casting Daki a cold, disapproving glare.
Considering you're just a child, I won't bother arguing with you.
"Y-Yes, Lord Muzan… please take your time."
Daki forced a smile so stiff she felt her face might crack.
As soon as he obtained the kimono, Muzan had Nakime pluck her biwa strings, instantly summoning him back to the Infinity Castle.
The melody echoed, and Muzan appeared inside a private chamber.
Before putting on the women's clothing, Muzan first altered his body.
His flat chest and abdomen shifted, swelling into delicate curves—his beauty intensifying to an even more dazzling, seductive degree.
She picked up a mirror and admired herself.
The more she looked, the wider the curve of her crimson lips grew. Muzan was clearly very pleased with her own reflection.
"Oh, Your Excellency… you summoned me to see you in this outfit…?"
Gyokko slid out from a teapot behind her.
His Blood Demon Art allowed him to travel through any pot; his reconnaissance ability was unmatched.
For Muzan, summoning Gyokko was as easy as forming a thought—more convenient than a phone call.
Gyokko's eyes bulged at the sight of Muzan.
He recognized Muzan's aura instantly, but…
Why was Lord Muzan wearing women's clothing?
Was this… some special hobby?
Still… he had to admit… Muzan looked stunning.
"Gyokko."
Muzan lifted her beautiful chin, pleased by the shock on Gyokko's face.
It seemed the attire was working perfectly—Gyokko's expression stroked Muzan's ego in just the right way.
"Y-Yes, Your Excellency?"
"I have a task for you."
"A task?"
"Yes. Secretly follow Ryuya. Do not let him discover you. Find out what he's really doing."
"Ah—Young Master Ryuya?"
Gyokko blinked, confused.
Follow Ryuya? Without being detected?
Was Lord Muzan asking him to… secretly protect Young Master Ryuya?
Was he worried about Ryuya's safety?
Because if it were simple surveillance, Muzan could read a demon's memories.
There was no reason for covert tracking.
So, the uninformed Gyokko naturally assumed it was for Ryuya's protection.
Muzan read his thoughts and didn't bother correcting him.
He didn't want anyone to know Ryuya had slipped out of his control.
That secret belonged only to Muzan.
"I will act exactly according to your instructions, Your Excellency!"
Gyokko vowed with heartfelt respect.
Lord Muzan is too good… truly the model of a doting father! Spoiling his child, holding him in his palm, protecting him carefully… truly admirable!
Muzan nodded with satisfaction.
Gyokko might not excel in combat, but his reconnaissance and counter-recon skills were exceptional.
He had originally considered Nakime, but Nakime was irreplaceable—his ultimate survival trump card.
Nakime must never be put at risk.
"Begin your mission."
Gyokko immediately sank into his pot and vanished—
—Martial Arts Dojo.
The dojo was constructed of rough stone, vast and imposing.
Automaton puppets lined the walls; most were damaged, their surfaces cracked and beaten, fists having struck them countless times.
Only one figure stood in the center.
Short peach-pink hair.
Body covered in deep blue tattoos.
Prayer beads rattling around his ankles with every movement.
And in his golden eyes—
Upper Rank Three.
"Brother Akaza, your martial arts seem to have improved quite a bit."
Ryuya walked toward him with an easy smile.
"R-Ryuya?!"
Akaza's eyes lit up with pure excitement.
He rushed forward, grinning ear to ear.
"Brother! You're finally here! Come on, come on, let's fight right now! Those weaklings are so boring I can't get motivated. I still hate weaklings the most—but you, Brother Ryuya… you're a warrior among warriors!"
Akaza lived and breathed martial arts.
He hated the weak.
He respected the strong.
And he had forgotten the reason behind both.
Ryuya sighed and drew his nichirin blade.
He was here to ask Akaza for a favor, yes—
But this was also the perfect chance to test his power against an Upper Rank.
Fight first.
Ask questions during the battle.
"Haha! I'm getting fired up! Brother Ryuya—here I come!"
Akaza pressed his hands together, his aura flaring.
"Blood Demon Art: Destructive Kill — Compass Needle!"
He stomped the ground—
Cracks burst outward—
An enormous pressure exploded from his body—
A glowing ice-blue snowflake pattern formed beneath him.
The cherished hair ornament of Koyuki—his fiancée.
Not that he remembered her anymore.
Ryuya breathed deeply.
Facing Akaza's unleashed aura, he didn't flinch.
He lifted his blade.
"Moon Breathing, First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace!"
"Such speed! Such refined technique!"
Akaza laughed wildly.
"Destructive Kill — Random Style!"
Blue light burst from Akaza's fists as he struck Ryuya's nichirin blade with his bare hands.
CLANG!
His fists were hard as steel.
Ryuya couldn't help but be stunned at the absurd toughness.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Akaza unleashed a flurry of punches.
Any ordinary Demon Slayer—even a Hashira—would have their blade knocked from their hands.
But Ryuya held firm, unmoving as a mountain.
"Incredible! Truly incredible!"
Akaza leaped, twisting into a lethal kick.
"Destructive Kill — Leg Style: Crown Splitter!"
"Moon Breathing, Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Flow!"
Crimson moon blades spiraled around Ryuya, forming a rotating shield.
Akaza tried to force his way through—
A careless misstep—
—and the moon blades shredded his lower leg into fragments.
"Such powerful offense!"
Akaza backflipped away, putting distance between them.
"So fierce! Every strike aims at a vital point! Young Master Ryuya and Lord Akaza are showing no mercy!"
From a cracked pot tucked in a dark corner, Gyokko peeked out, observing silently.
Despite the intensity of the battle, Gyokko wasn't worried about Ryuya.
Demons killing each other was extremely difficult.
Even if their heads shattered, their regeneration could restore them within moments.
"…Why is my blood flow slowing down?"