Drip…
A drop of water quietly landed on the small wooden table in front of Courtesan Koinatsu, dampening the small plate of tea leaves she had just arranged.
Koinatsu looked up in confusion, only to witness a bizarre and horrifying scene.
A colorful ribbon, its long body twisted like a nimble serpent, had coiled itself around the ceiling beam without warning.
Most terrifying of all, the ribbon bore a face—a face with sharp fangs, the visage of a demon!
"What is this?!" Koinatsu gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
The next moment, the ribbon let out a cruel shriek.
"Stop pretending, you little bitch! I despise women like you—phony, self-righteous, and sickeningly sweet!"
Whoosh!
The ribbon shot toward Koinatsu like a striking snake.
"Forest Breathing First Form: Iron Birch Slash!"
A verdant blade light illuminated the room from outside, accompanied by a sudden gust of wind.
The overwhelming force of the slash erupted from the Nichirin Blade, carrying a mountainous momentum.
The crimson-green Nichirin Blade shattered the door in an instant, charging straight at the ribbon demon.
Rip!
"Ahh!!"
The blade sliced through the ribbon effortlessly, and the demon let out a piercing scream.
"Moriki-sama?"
As the blinding gust of wind subsided, Koinatsu recognized the figure who had burst into the room—it was Shinichi, who had been lying in wait all along.
However, Shinichi's appearance was slightly unusual at the moment.
Instead of the Demon Slayer Corps' black uniform, he wore a woman's blue-green kimono.
Even more startling, his face was adorned with feminine makeup, and he sported a long black wig.
Whoever had dressed Shinichi had done an impeccable job.
To an unfamiliar eye, Shinichi would not be recognized as a handsome young man but rather as a cold and elegant beauty.
"Koinatsu-san, thank you for your help. Please leave this place immediately."
Still clad in the kimono, Shinichi ignored the discomfort of his disguise, his focus razor-sharp.
As if prepared for this, Koinatsu nodded and fled the room in the direction Shinichi indicated.
Outside, Wisteria House staff were already waiting to escort her to safety.
"You're just letting that little bitch go? Aren't you afraid I'll tear her apart first before coming for you, brat of the Demon Slayer Corps?!"
A sinister voice suddenly hissed in Shinichi's ear, laced with temptation but dripping with murderous intent.
Above!
Swish!
Beneath the kimono, Shinichi wore not cumbersome wooden sandals but sturdy deerskin boots.
With a powerful step, he spun his Nichirin Blade, unleashing a surge of verdant energy from below.
"Forest Breathing Fifth Form: Soaring Bamboo Slash!"
Boom!!
The wooden roof was blasted open with a massive hole, dust scattering everywhere.
Amidst the chaos, clang!!
Shinichi's Nichirin Blade collided with several agile, flexible objects, sending sparks flying with each metallic clash!
"Well, well! Such speed and strength! You must be a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps!"
With a single slash, he forced the figure back.
As the dust settled, both Shinichi and the owner of the voice got a clear look at each other.
Just as Shinichi had estimated, the voice belonged to a cruel female demon.
However, this demon's appearance was rather striking.
Aside from a few scant, fiery ribbons covering key areas, the rest of her pale, cold skin was largely exposed.
A waterfall of white hair seemed to glow faintly under the moonlight.
Sharp red claws rested on her slender waist, while her perfectly proportioned face boasted flawless features.
Her lips curled, revealing neat yet razor-sharp fangs.
The plum blossom mark on her cheek didn't mar her beauty—instead, it added an alluring charm.
Her pale green eyes, brimming with murderous intent, had vertical pupils like a beast's.
Within each eyeball, the characters for "Upper Moon" and "Five" were clearly etched.
Ribbons floated behind her, writhing as if alive—the very same ribbons that had blocked Shinichi's Nichirin Blade moments ago.
Upper Rank Five—Daki!
"Tch, finally showing yourself, huh? You Upper Ranks really know how to hide," Shinichi straightened up, flexing his wrist slightly as he smirked at Daki.
Admittedly, Daki was the most visually striking demon Shinichi had encountered so far.
Meanwhile, Daki curled her lip in disdain and sneered outright.
"Seriously, what's with you Demon Slayer Corps and your disgusting habits? Do all men love cross-dressing? That blond brat was the same—just looking at him made me sick. I hate eating filthy humans like that. So after I kill you, I won't devour you right away. I'll wash you clean first before taking a bite."
At her words, Shinichi's expression faltered for a moment.
Cross-dressing—well, it hadn't exactly been by choice.
To avoid alerting the enemy, he'd had no other option.
It was Koinatsu who had done his makeup, even joking afterward that Shinichi had great features and would've made a lovely girl.
After checking the mirror, Shinichi had to admit—he did look rather good.
Shinichi's plan had been simple: use the news of Koinatsu leaving the red-light district to lure out the Upper Rank.
Under the pretense of a grand courtesan celebration, he'd drawn as many civilians as possible to the western side of the district while clumsily "exposing" Koinatsu's whereabouts.
Based on intel, Shinichi had deduced that the Upper Rank Demon lurking in the red-light district—one with a penchant for devouring beautiful humans—would never pass up a chance to prey on Koinatsu, whose beauty and fame were unmatched.
And now, Daki's appearance confirmed his suspicions.
However, Shinichi likely hadn't considered this: while he was luring out the Upper Rank, the Upper Rank had also been luring him out.
"Hahaha, foolish fools! If I truly wanted to devour that wretched Koinatsu, do you think you could stop me? For days, I've endured you little insects scurrying about under my nose. Now, I'll take your heads and offer them to Muzan-sama!"
Daki's beautiful face twisted into a ferocious grin as she raised her hand, causing the ribbons fluttering behind her to suddenly lash out violently.
"Blood Demon Art: Eight-Layered Obi Slash!"
Eight massive ribbons expanded wildly, filling the sky as they surged toward Shinichi, instantly sealing off all his escape routes.
Swish!
Shinichi's heterochromatic eyes sharpened instantly as his Nichirin Blade glowed faintly with a pale green light.
BOOM!!
...
"The battle has begun, Hantengu-dono" said Upper Rank Six - Kamaro, now dressed in a crisp suit, grinning at the deformed figure beside him.
"Eek eek eek! So scary!"
Hantengu merely trembled, curled into a ball.
Sighing at this sight, Kamaro's golden eyes flashed with mischief.
"Very well, let me help you, Hantengu-sama."
Swish!
Sharp black claws cleanly severed the neck beneath Hantengu's grotesquely large head.
Squelch—
Fresh flesh rapidly regenerated at the severed stump of Hantengu's neck and head.
"Such insolence!"
"Giggle~ Finally, I can join the fun! So happy~"