Tokyo's Ginza in 1905 was dazzling. A different kind of vigor, where the fierce wave of civilization and enlightenment merged with Western brick buildings and gas lamp lights, unlike Kyoto's classical elegance.
Our Akatsuki Trading Company's Tokyo headquarters stood proudly in the heart of that Ginza. A sophisticated four-story stone building, with a powerful concealment and defense barrier installed by Tamamo invisibly enveloping the structure like a veil.
"Ain~ Master, Tokyo's bedroom is much wider and plusher than Kyoto's, it's great! The bedsheets are Western-style silk too, the feel against the skin is just art, isn't it?"
On the first night of arrival, Tamamo-no-Mae clung to my arm and made a nasal sound. Her tail wrapped around my leg, tickling.
The 4th floor of the headquarters was additionally decorated as our exclusive private space, with Tamamo's taste heavily reflected, making it endlessly gorgeous.
"Tamamo, let's unpack first. Unlike Kyoto, Tokyo is a den of oni. Right now they're hiding where people can't see, but there might be ones like Muzan hiding among humans. Though most are in remote areas, a city like this isn't unconditionally safe."
I spoke while staring at the darkness outside the window. Muzan must be hiding somewhere here. Not just Muzan, but probably humans pretending to be humans like Doma too.
"Worry about that later! First, receiving this Tamamo's special commemorative service for entering Tokyo is good for your mental health, Master! I'll even refill your stamina tight with magecraft!"
She slowly untied my gi strings. The room was already filled with a sweet scent mixed with Tamamo's body fragrance, and Shuten Douji who entered next languidly smiled and sat on the bed, holding a sake bottle in one hand.
"Wouldn't that be unfair if you do it alone? I wanna check what Tokyo's sake tastes like with you too, Master. Even if Master can't drink, you can drink me after I drink it. I wonder if Master can endure it?"
Her moist voice tickled my ear. Tamamo's voluptuousness and bedroom arts, Shuten's thick seduction mixed together, and then Kiyohime entered and wound around me like a snake.
The first night in Tokyo continued as a non-stop strategy meeting(?) until the dawn gas lamps went out.
Life in Tokyo flowed busily without a moment's rest. During the day, I checked the headquarters' business operations as a sound young entrepreneur, and at night, I cleaned Tokyo's darkness with the heroic spirits.
"Master! There's a rat-like bastard by the sewer at the end of that alley!"
Okita drew her sword and signaled. The lower-rank oni that was eating human livers like a fox was bisected by Okita's Shukuchi strike, and I devoured it.
Occasionally, nasty yakuza or corrupt officials also became our prey. They became nourishment to raise my physical abilities and served the dual purpose of removing obstacles blocking the trading company's funding.
A revolution also began in our main business, commerce. The initial model of the instant ramen I proposed began trial sales at the headquarters' cafeteria.
"My goodness, you just pour hot water and it tastes like this?"
"The noodles are chewy and the broth is really rich!"
The citizens' response was explosive. It was originally something that would be invented decades later, but it was the result of combining Tamamo and Kiyohime's excellent cooking skills, Tamamo's magecraft, and my modern knowledge.
Well, I only roughly knew the theory anyway.
We adopted the method where the seasoning is in the ramen noodles themselves, like the first instant ramen, Chicken Ramen, without separate soup packets.
Later, separate soup packets and toppings became popular, but initially, simple is best. Packaging those separately also costs money. We have to keep it simple for now.
"This really vibrates with the smell of money, Master. As expected of my husband! With just instant ramen, we could empty all of Tokyo's pockets."
Kiyohime burrowed into my embrace while flipping through the ledger with satisfaction.
Money is information power, and information power is survival. As the trading company's influence grew, it became easier to avoid Muzan's eyes while simultaneously increasing means to pressure him.
Who would think a trading company making money like this is run by oni? Tamamo's magecraft is top-tier even in Fate to begin with. When it comes to magecraft, Tamamo is the strongest. Before her concealment magecraft, Muzan only has a possibility of noticing at best. And even that's very low.
"Master~ New snacks came in from the Western regions this time, give me money to buy some."
"Do some work too, Nobbu."
"I'm not very confident with money matters~"
"Then train our security guys. Running organizations is your specialty. Kyoto was fine, but Tokyo is currently the center of Japan too. There could be friction not just with the Demon Slayer Corps or oni, but with humans too. Whip our human security into shape."
"Ah~ Is that so? I was bored, good timing."
"My lord! I want to do that!"
"Ushiwaka, try rolling a different team."
Nobbu and Ushiwaka are also outstanding as commanders, but that's for armies and not very suited for a trading company like this. They're heroes from the warring states era after all. Kiyo, who was a lord's daughter, and Tamamo, who held high positions in the court and did money lending, are perfect for this, and there are no other resourceful people besides them.
The Hokusai father-daughter pair also have no interest in money besides painting, Okita is just a swordsman so not really, and Shuten led oni but not humans.
Well, it's not like everyone's just playing around. Whatever the case, to firmly lay a large foundation for living in the modern era after finishing the Demon Slayer period, we have to run the trading company well. It's complicated. Somehow, the trading company work seems harder?
Anyway, such days repeated in Tokyo. Doing the growing trading company work, hunting and eating humans or oni, learning martial arts through sparring, and having sex with multiple people at night too.
Maybe I'm not getting much stronger because I have sex too often.
As time passed like that, on the day marking one month since settling in Tokyo. After successfully opening Store 1 in Shinjuku with the highest foot traffic, I finally headed to Taki-no-Gawa, the planned location for Store 2.
"Master, Taki-no-Gawa is such a quiet place compared to Shinjuku. Did we really have to open a store near such a rural area? Well, the air is good, perfect for walks though."
Kiyohime, lying on my lap in the carriage, asked. I answered while softly stroking her hair.
"Only targeting bustling areas is amateurish. It's these outskirts that are good for deeply penetrating local residents' daily lives. And there's a castle ruin and a large park nearby, right? There are many wealthy people coming for recuperation, making it a place with definite demand for high-end medicines and daily necessities. It's not just a simple department store, but a general store close to a department store. We won't just sell expensive things. Rather, if we bring in things these locals would have to go far to buy, they'll only buy from us."
It's good for business. No matter how developing the modern era is, transportation still isn't that good in this period. Even if there are cars, they're the exclusive domain of the wealthy. Taking a train, expensive car, or carriage to buy one or two items is a big loss.
The more such a place it is, the better business thrives in this era.
It was when the carriage was climbing the hill road near Taki-no-Gawa castle ruins. Neatly maintained mansions were visible outside the window. One of the gates had a wisteria crest engraved on it.
"Oh my, look at that house. The garden is decorated so beautifully. The owner must be quite cultured."
Looking where Okita pointed, I realized it was a Wisteria House. So this is Tokyo where Demon Slayers roam. Seeing something I didn't even see in Kyoto. With wisteria there, I can't even approach that place.
Well, I could hire humans to investigate. But what would investigating a mere Wisteria House achieve?
Anyway, we arrived at Store 2. Unfortunately, material delivery was delayed, so interior construction was postponed.
While Store 2's construction was underway, I decided to personally walk around the Taki-no-Gawa area for market analysis. Identifying the most trusted businesses here and where residents open their wallets was business basics.
"My lord, the most famous place in this neighborhood is over there."
Where Ushiwaka pointed was a large, neat building—a pharmacy—located not far from the village entrance. The signboard clearly bore the characters "Kocho Pharmacy" (胡蝶薬局).
"A pharmacy? Kocho, you say?"
With a 'could it be?' feeling, I felt interest and stepped inside the pharmacy. Operating even in the evening after sunset. They probably wouldn't normally, but maybe because it's a pharmacy?
The interior was filled with the bitter yet fragrant smell of medicinal herbs. The organization was so perfect you could tell at a glance they only handled good medicinal ingredients.
"Welcome. What medicine are you looking for?"
Greeting me at the counter were a middle-aged man and woman with kindly impressions. They seemed to be the pharmacist couple with skills ranked among the best in this region. Behind them, I could see two girls organizing medicinal ingredients.
One was a beauty with her hair tied in a half-up style with a purple butterfly hair ornament, radiating a noble and elegant atmosphere beyond her years. And next to her grinding medicine with a mortar was a slightly younger girl with a pouting expression but dexterous hands, a short-haired girl with a butterfly hairpin.
"Ah, I'm the owner of the Akatsuki Trading Company newly entering this area. I was looking around the local market and stopped by to introduce myself since this place is the most famous."
At my introduction, the pharmacist couple smiled brightly and responded.
"Akatsuki Trading Company, that place famous in Ginza! Nice to meet you. This is my wife, and those girls are my daughters, Kanae and Shinobu."
"Kanae and Shinobu?"
The moment I heard those names, I felt my heart sink.
The Kocho sisters in their happy days, living as beloved daughters of a wealthy pharmacist family showered with parental love, before being attacked by an oni.
Shinobu wasn't yet the cold, ruthless swordsman handling poison, and Kanae wasn't yet the sad saint who pitied even oni.
"My, you're so young and impressive. If you don't mind, would you like to look around our pharmacy's medicinal ingredients? It seems we could form a good connection."
The wife approached me with a beaming smile.
"Ah, then I'll take you up on that. If you ever need any medicinal ingredients, you can also request them from us. We're opening Store 2 here in a few days."
"I see. The famous Akatsuki Trading Company should be trustworthy. We'll visit later. Kanae, Shinobu. Come greet our guest."
Soon after, Kanae and Shinobu approached me.
"Hello, I'm Kocho Kanae."
"I'm Kocho Shinobu!"
Two people full of innocent curiosity and kindness.
I realized. This Taki-no-Gawa Store 2 isn't just a commercial hub.
It was going to be the location of my first battlefield and canvas.
"Haha, lovely daughters. Mr. Kocho, I look forward to doing business with our trading company in the future."
I smiled sincerely at the parents and sisters.
In the spring of 1905, in a garden where butterflies landed, my new plan was sprouting.