Only a single clang rang out.
The Nichirin Blade—striking as if against solid stone—hit Ryuya's neck.
Seeing this, Kanae Kocho couldn't help but smile bitterly, her eyes filled with grief.
Mr. Demon… he didn't draw his blade.
That's right.
Ryuya didn't even unsheathe his Nichirin Blade. He didn't dodge. He simply allowed Shinobu Kocho's strike to land on him.
"Why… why can't I cut through!?"
Shinobu's face twisted with panic. She braced her left hand over her right, trying desperately to push the blade down.
But the result was the same: Not even a millimeter of movement.
"Sister Shinobu, you're still too naive. With that level of strength, you can't cut off my neck."
Ryuya sneered, lifted a finger, and flicked Shinobu on the forehead.
Bang.
Shinobu yelped, clutching her forehead as she was blasted backward—straight into Kanae's arms.
"Shinazugawa, the sun is about to rise. Let's kill these two demons first. We'll deal with Kanae's situation afterward."
"Fine!"
Gyomei Himejima and Sanemi Shinazugawa—having recovered from the earlier blow—charged forward at once.
"Stone Breathing, First Form: Serpentine!"
"Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!"
Gyomei's axe and flail, combined with Sanemi's raging wind, shot toward Ryuya with devastating force.
"Moon Breathing, Sixth Form: Eternal Night – Solitary Moon!"
Crimson moon blades rippled outward, crossing and overlapping in vicious arcs.
Whenever Ryuya swung his Nichirin Blade, the icy poison infused in his blade's aura slowed movement.
Even a light graze would suppress the Hashira's speed, making pursuit impossible.
This was the power of one of his System talents: Glacier Amplification.
The moment he unleashed the technique, Ryuya had already retreated, grabbing Doma by the collar before vanishing into the shadows untouched by sunlight.
"Goodbye, my lovely friends!" Doma cheerfully waved, as if performing a farewell dance.
The rising dawn made Kanae Kocho tremble with unfamiliar fear.
For the first time in her life, sunlight felt threatening.
And yet—deep inside—she was also relieved.
Without this dawn, Gyomei and Sanemi might have been in danger.
"Sister, get inside the cave—the sun will burn you!"
Shinobu reacted instantly. Before Kanae could speak, she had already sensed the danger and dragged her demonized sister to safety.
The Stone Hashira and Wind Hashira didn't interfere nor assist—they simply allowed Shinobu to hide Kanae inside the cave.
All they could do was wait for nightfall.
As for Kanae's state, they would have to inform the Master and await his judgement.
A remote tavern nestled among bamboo forests, with thin trails of smoke drifting into the morning air.
Ryuya, having separated from Doma, didn't immediately report to Muzan.
Instead, he walked into the nearly deserted tavern.
"Guest, your wine."
The waiter placed the pot of wine onto the table, his eyes briefly lingering on the Nichirin Blade at Ryuya's waist.
Confused, but smart enough not to ask, he quietly excused himself.
Ryuya sipped slowly until a familiar, lively voice chimed in.
"Master, I'm here. Did you miss me?"
Ryuya set down his bowl and looked at the girl perched on the stool.
Dark green hair cascaded down to her calves.
She removed her fox mask, revealing a youthful, charming face.
Her large green eyes blinked at him. With her rabbit-like demeanor, she looked up at Ryuya as he curved his lips.
"Makomo. How did the things I asked you to do go?"
Yes—it was Makomo.
A girl who, in the original course of events, would have been raised by Sakonji Urokodaki as an orphan.
But because of a fateful encounter—when Ryuya visited this tavern to drown his sorrows and found her being harassed by a demon—he killed the creature effortlessly and took Makomo in as his disciple.
"Master, don't jump straight to missions! I have good news—Makomo is now an A-rank Demon Slayer Corps member!"
"Oh?"
Approval flickered in Ryuya's eyes.
In the Demon Slayer Corps, excluding Hashira, ranks went from A at the top down to J at the bottom.
A year ago, Makomo had been J-rank.
Now she had risen to A-rank. Her growth was remarkable.
Of course, Ryuya had placed her in the Corps for a reason—she was the perfect method to monitor the Corps' movements from within.
"Master, you should praise Makomo!"
Ignored, Makomo leaned forward, grabbed Ryuya's hand, and placed it on her head.
Ryuya stroked her hair gently.
Makomo beamed in bliss, then continued, "Master gave Makomo two missions, but Makomo has only completed one."
"Still no news about the Blue Spider Lily?"
The Blue Spider Lily—daytime only, vital for sunlight resistance—was something only a human could search for.
That was also why Ryuya never turned Makomo into a demon.
Not for Muzan's sake—hell no.
But for his own purposes.
"So then… you've found Tamayo?"
The second mission.
Tamayo—the only demon who escaped Muzan Kibutsuji's control.
Ryuya hated being controlled, hated Muzan's influence even more.
Working with Tamayo was vital.
But she was cautious. Ordinary demons couldn't find her.
Makomo, however, could.
"Yes! Master was right! I pretended to be injured, and the kind Miss Tamayo really showed up!"
Makomo rolled up her sleeve—revealing small, cleanly cut incisions.
Ryuya's eyes lowered. A faint sense of guilt flickered across his face.
Makomo giggled, unbothered, pulling a bamboo tube from her waist and handing it to him.
"Master, you must be thirsty. Drink."
Ryuya hesitated only a moment before opening it.
A sweet scent drifted out—fresh, rich blood.
Makomo's blood.
Her cuts had been made for this purpose.
Rare Blood—irresistible to demons, like divine nectar.
Ryuya drank it all in one go. The sweetness lingered in his mouth, intoxicating and warm.
One bamboo tube wasn't enough to satisfy him—but Makomo's condition didn't allow more.
If he truly wanted to devour her, Makomo couldn't resist.
She wouldn't even try.
"Do you want more, Master?" she whispered, eyes soft.
"It must be hard to hold back, right? Makomo knows Master doesn't eat people—only Makomo's blood. But Makomo can't satisfy Master, right?"
She leaned closer, voice trembling with devotion.
"This time… Master can do as he pleases. Makomo won't cry. She won't make a sound. Master doesn't need to be gentle."