The world went quiet.
Yushiro was stupefied.
What the hell...
Mister?
Mr. Ryosuke?!
I just went to make a cup of tea, how did he become "Mr. Ryosuke"?!
Just moments ago, that bastard Demon Hunter was stepping on me like I was trash and chopping off my arm!
Lady Tamayo... actually... actually...
As everyone knows, in Japan, addressing someone by their surname versus their given name implies a different level of relationship and recognition.
Yushiro's vision went dark, and countless images flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
That bastard Demon Hunter approaching Lady Tamayo with a fake smile, Lady Tamayo responding gently, that bastard's hands and feet starting to get wandering...
No—!!!
Lady Tamayo wouldn't do that!
How dare this filthy Demon Hunter! What gives him the right?!
"Yushiro!"
Tamayo's voice rang out again, sighing: "Put down the tea, then get out."
Huge grievance and confusion crashed around inside Yushiro's chest.
"Lady Tamayo..."
Yushiro's voice was dry and trembling, carrying an accusation of disbelief.
"Get out."
Tamayo repeated, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Yushiro's lips quivered a few times.
He glared daggers at Ryosuke, and finally, stiffly bent down to place the tea tray on the low table and walked out.
The Japanese-style room fell into a subtle silence.
"I apologize for making you witness that, Mr. Ryosuke."
Tamayo nodded slightly in apology. "Yushiro... he is just too nervous about me."
"Understood. His loyalty is commendable."
Ryosuke nodded, his gaze sweeping over the closed door. "It's just that his brain doesn't work too well; he gets hot-headed easily."
Tamayo: "..."
She decided to skip this topic.
"I agree to the partnership you mentioned earlier."
Tamayo's voice became solemn. "Developing a drug to turn demons back into humans is my lifelong wish. If one day it can truly succeed and deal a fatal blow to Muzan, I, Tamayo, will not hesitate even if it means death."
"Very good."
Ryosuke leaned forward slightly. "What do you need?"
He wasn't sure if the Blue Spider Lily was what Tamayo needed.
After all, the official lore only said that thing could turn Muzan into a Jo-level creature (Ultimate Lifeform).
As for the drug to turn demons into humans...
The formula really wasn't explicitly stated!
Everything required Tamayo's research.
"The key breakthrough point lies in the blood of the Upper Moon demons."
Tamayo paused, then said slowly, "Especially the Upper Moons. The higher the rank, the purer Muzan's power contained in their blood samples."
Ryosuke's fingers tapped lightly on his knee, making a soft thud thud sound.
Just like in the original work.
Can't avoid killing the Twelve Kizuki!
Ryosuke thought to himself.
When he cut off Meng E's neck, the System clearly indicated he was an End-tier Evil Demon.
Above that, presumably, would be the Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki.
But the gap in strength between these two wasn't just a little bit.
It was like the difference between a Quasi-Emperor and a Great Emperor.
Clearly only separated by a thin line, but the difference in strength was like clouds and mud.
A beginner Great Emperor could slap five or six peak Quasi-Emperors to death; it was ridiculously disparate.
With Ryosuke's current strength, an End-tier Evil Demon was tough enough, let alone a Lower Moon.
Still need to kill more 'small breads' to farm up!
Ryosuke pulled a wild smile.
"Sure."
He agreed decisively. "That day will come. Once I chop off the head of an Upper Moon demon, I'll pack up the blood and send it to you immediately."
Tamayo was stunned.
Yushiro was confused.
No! Are you bragging, bro?!
You? Kill an Upper Moon?!
You getting on the heated brick bed (going to sleep/dreaming) is more like it!
Tamayo was also speechless for a moment.
Even though she had lived for hundreds of years and seen all kinds of people and demons, she had never seen someone so...
So matter-of-factly declaring they were going to hunt an Upper Moon demon.
The almost blind confidence and ruthlessness radiating from him left her speechless.
Tamayo could only nod slightly: "...I await your good news."
"One more thing."
Ryosuke changed the subject, looking around. "You should change your hiding place."
Tamayo wasn't surprised.
This place had already been discovered by Ryosuke.
Although he bore no ill will toward them, what about other members of the Demon Slayer Corps? What about Muzan and his demons?
Regardless of the reason, this hiding place could no longer be used.
After a moment of silence, Tamayo nodded solemnly.
"You are right. I will arrange to leave Asakusa with Yushiro as soon as possible and find another hidden place."
With business concluded, Ryosuke had no intention of staying longer.
He stood up and moved his shoulders.
"That's it then. I should go. As for how to contact me..."
He glanced at the door, implying something. "You should be better at that than I am."
"Please rest assured." Tamayo stood up to see him off.
The two walked to the entryway. Yushiro stood with his arms crossed like a door god, his eyes staring holes into Ryosuke's back.
Ryosuke walked out without a care.
"Mr. Ryosuke..."
Tamayo called out to him.
"Hmm?"
Ryosuke looked back.
"Will we meet again?" Tamayo asked.
Ryosuke smiled. Instead of answering "yes" or "no," he simply extended his hand.
Tamayo was slightly stunned, looking at that hand with well-defined knuckles.
After a brief hesitation, she raised her own fair, slender hand and gently placed it in Ryosuke's palm.
Bang!
Yushiro on the side turned grey-white, his heart shattering into pieces on the floor.
No!!!
Lady Tamayo!!!
Tamayo looked at Ryosuke and nodded slightly.
Ryosuke's hand was dry and warm, with thin calluses left from years of holding a sword, conveying the vigorous vitality and strength of the living.
"Of course we will."
Ryosuke's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power. "Because our goals are consistent."
"Whether it's ideals, wishes, or simply to end this damned era of evil demons... we are walking in the same direction."
"Our paths are the same."
He squeezed Tamayo's cold hand firmly, then let go without a trace of lingering attachment.
"I'm off. Take care."
With that, he didn't look back.
His ink-black haori drew an arc, and his figure quickly merged into the darkness of Asakusa city.
Tamayo stood by the door, warmth still remaining on her fingertips.
She watched the direction Ryosuke disappeared, the corner of her lips curling upward unconsciously.
Four hundred years of darkness and struggle seemed to finally have let in a sliver of light.
From a strange Demon Hunter who claimed he only wanted to live.
"Lady Tamayo!"
Yushiro threw himself over, his voice carrying a sob and undissolvable jealousy.
"How could you... how could you let him touch your hand?!"
"That bastard!"
"What kind of magic potion did that damned Demon Hunter feed you?!"
He pointed in the direction Ryosuke disappeared, trembling with rage. The pillar he had been leaning on earlier now bore several deep claw marks.
Tamayo withdrew her gaze and shook her head.
She couldn't explain it clearly herself; she just glanced at Yushiro indifferently.
"Yushiro, pack our things. We are leaving Asakusa."
"But..."
"No buts."
Tamayo turned and walked into the house.
"Immediately."
Yushiro looked at Tamayo's retreating back, his teeth grinding loudly.
Bakayaro!
That bastard Demon Hunter named Ryosuke!
You'd better die out there!
Die at the hands of the Twelve Kizuki!!!