"Tamazuki-sama, Yosuzume was unsuccessful and let Yuki-onna escape!"
Still in that unfinished building, Yosuzume appeared behind Tamazuki, accompanied by a whirlwind of black feathers.
"It doesn't matter, she is just a small youkai. Originally, I intended to capture her and force the Nura Group to come and rescue her, so I could use her as a sacrifice for my blade. Since that plan doesn't work, I'll have to use the last resort."
Holding the Demon Lord's Mallet, Tamazuki's expression was cold. Since the plan to lure the Nura Group here had failed, he had no choice but to activate Plan B.
Thinking of this, Tamazuki's entire body began to radiate youkai energy, and his eyes flickered.
Looking at the demonic blade in Tamazuki's hand, Yosuzume's eyes flickered.
"Yosuzume, continue to observe the movements of the Nura Group. Inform me immediately if there are any unusual activities."
Turning around, Tamazuki, who had transformed into a tanuki monster, held his blade and walked down the stairs.
This time, Yosuzume did not respond, but a gust of wind passed, and she turned into black feathers and flew away.
Below the abandoned building at that moment, youkai energy shot toward the sky. The clouds high above were stirred into a vortex by this unrestrained demonic aura. Youkai, each with their own weapons, gathered here. These were the Shikoku Youkai who had arrived at Tamazuki's call.
"Tamazuki-sama!"
At the front of this group of youkai stood the members of the Seven Companions formed by Tamazuki: Hari Onna who used her hair as needles, the enormous and incredibly strong Tearai Oni, Sleeve God who kills with curses, Gangi Kozō who can control water, and Inugami, who was now only an empty shell.
However, something unexpected had happened to Sleeve God, which was a pity for such excellent malice.
Of course, Yosuzume was also among them, and Tamazuki himself naturally was not part of that group of youkai. "Seven Companions" — he never said he would follow those weaklings. Those youkai had always been only his tools.
"Today I will surpass my father. The destruction of the Nura Group is only the prelude."
Looking at the lower youkai, who were boiling with excitement at his appearance, Tamazuki murmured, drawing the Demon Lord's Mallet from its sheath.
"Tamazuki-sama…"
The one-eyed youkai, seeing Tamazuki approaching him, was incredibly excited. He gestured, wanting to show submission to this young youkai. However, before the foul saliva stopped flying, Tamazuki suddenly swung his blade.
"Pff!"
The blade sank into flesh, but no blood splattered. Instead, together with flesh and youkai energy, everything was absorbed into the chipped blade in Tamazuki's hand.
Feeling the feedback from the Demon Lord's Mallet, Tamazuki let out a long breath. This power, this intoxicating demonic power!
Tamazuki tightly gripped the Demon Lord's Mallet, and his gaze fell upon the stunned youkai who had not yet reacted to what had happened.
They could not believe why their respected Tamazuki-sama would turn his blade against his own people. Wasn't Tamazuki-sama leading them to restore the Eighty-Eight Demons' Night Parade?!
"Tamazuki-sama! W-what are you doing?!"
"T-Tamazuki-sama! No, no!!!"
"Run! This tanuki has gone mad! He's gone mad!!!!"
In an instant, the abandoned building fell into chaos. Facing the pleas for mercy from his former subordinates, Tamazuki mercilessly swung his long blade, slaughtering more than half of the youkai in a moment.
"H-he really attacked his own people…"
Behind Tamazuki, Gangi Kozō covered his eyes with his hand, as if unable to bear the bloody scene.
Hari Onna also frowned, casting a glance at the puppet-like Inugami beside her. For the first time, she doubted her decision to follow Tamazuki.
Tearai Oni, on the other hand, watched the scene with excitement. His wild nature did not shy away from blood; on the contrary, he enjoyed it.
In just a moment, all the youkai present were slaughtered by Tamazuki.
The chipped blade glowed with a faint purple light, and blood dripped from its edge. The cracked blade now looked eerily demonic.
"The Demon Lord's Mallet is crying. It wants more malice. It's time to launch a full attack on the Nura Group!"
With youkai energy boiling around him, Tamazuki's black eyes flickered with a red glow. He murmured, looking at the "Seven Companions" he had gathered. That piercing gaze made the three remaining conscious youkai tremble.
Hari Onna was the first to react, bowing to Tamazuki:
"Tamazuki-sama has obtained the supreme demonic blade! He will surely bring down the Nura Group!"
Seeing this, Tearai Oni and Gangi Kozō quickly reacted, imitating her and bowing.
"Of course I will."
Tamazuki's tone was full of confidence. As he spoke, his gaze fell on Inugami.
Inugami's youkai power had long been absorbed by him, and that body, far superior to ordinary youkai, he had refined into a puppet using a secret technique.
"Inugami, Inugami, it's a pity you were too foolish, provoking an existence that even I do not dare to provoke. Come, let us see my great army. Tonight we will level the Nura Group! And pass on to that exalted one that the youkai general who rules Ukiyoe Town has changed. I hope… that exalted one will keep his promise and will not attack me."
Sheathing the Demon Lord's Mallet, Tamazuki withdrew his gaze and walked out of the building.
That exalted one he spoke of was none other than Nakano Yu.
Even now, with the Demon Lord's Mallet in hand, Tamazuki could not muster even a trace of rebellious thought. That afternoon, the pressure from the young man had been etched into his mind like a nightmare.
That was a power with which youkai could not compare. Neither he, nor any other youkai, were its equal!
"What should we do?! The Shikoku Youkai have attacked! The intelligence said those youkai wouldn't gather until tomorrow! How could they be so fast?!"
"The Supreme Commander isn't here either. Could it be that he ran away?"
"Damn it! How dare you question the Supreme Commander!"
Within the Nura Group, a group of youkai had already begun arguing. The cause of the dispute was none other than the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Demons' Night Parade led by Tamazuki and the missing Supreme Commander of the Nura Group — Nurarihyon!
In the backyard of the Nura Group, in contrast to the panic of the lower youkai in the front yard, Nura Rikuo sat beneath a cherry tree, still wearing his dark purple kimono. In front of him crouched a youkai with a crow's head, a human body, and two wings on his back.
That youkai was called Kuroumaru, the eldest son of Crow Tengu, and he was also in charge of gathering intelligence and aerial surveillance over Ukiyoe Town.
"Young Master Rikuo! The Shikoku Youkai have already moved toward Ukiyoe Street!"
"They have already… moved?"
Hearing this, Nura Rikuo raised his gaze toward the cherry tree, deep in thought.
"What? Are you afraid?"
At that moment, a disdainful voice sounded above Nura Rikuo's head.
The evening breeze blew, and cherry blossoms fell. A young man, dressed in the same clothes as Nura Rikuo but with a long blade in white wooden scabbard at his waist and silver hair falling like a crescent moon, appeared.
The young man looked at Nura Rikuo, his eyes full of contempt and confusion.
He was none other than his youkai side — Rikuo Nura!
"I am human, of course I will be afraid of youkai."
Nura Rikuo's expression was calm as he returned the gaze.
"Is that so? So you allow the Nura Group to be destroyed in your hands?"
Hearing that, Rikuo Nura raised an eyebrow, lightly jumped down, and landed in front of Nura Rikuo…
"I am just powerless."
Turning his head, a trace of unwillingness could be heard in Nura Rikuo's voice. He was only human, completely incapable of opposing youkai, let alone… saving the Nura Group.
"Powerless? Rikuo, by nature you are youkai. You have one quarter of Nurarihyon's blood in you. You are youkai, not human. Do you still refuse to accept that?"
Listening to Nura Rikuo's resigned words, Rikuo Nura suddenly drew the long blade from his waist and with one swift motion cut Nura Rikuo's glasses in half. The blade hovered above the bridge of Nura Rikuo's nose, his voice cold.
"…Maybe we can ask Nakano…"
Facing the gleaming blade, Nura Rikuo fell silent. Suddenly, the figure of a young man flashed in his mind and he immediately wanted to suggest it, but before the words could leave his mouth, Rikuo Nura interrupted him:
"Impossible! He won't help us. This is a battle between youkai. In the end, no matter who wins or loses, to that exalted one it is only a different anthill in front of his doorstep, completely insignificant!"
"…"
Rikuo Nura's reasons were reasonable, leaving Nura Rikuo speechless for a moment. He could only stare at him silently.
"I will give you a chance. Give me your body. From now on, I will handle matters with the youkai, and you deal with human affairs."
Exhaling a turbid breath, Rikuo Nura sheathed his long blade, extended his hand toward Nura Rikuo and said.
"…Alright!"
After a moment of astonishment, Nura Rikuo placed his hand into Rikuo Nura's.
At that moment, human and youkai finally reached an agreement.
At that moment, in the backyard of the Nura Group, Kuroumaru looked at the absent-minded Nura Rikuo, his eyes full of resentment. He did not think his young master was so useless as to allow those petty youkai from Shikoku to trample over him!
But… until now, his young master had not reacted at all. Had he truly decided to surrender?!
Thinking of this, Kuroumaru felt a surge of anger he could not release.
"Young Master Rikuo! Please, lead the Hundred Demons of the Nura Group to drive the intruders from the night! We are fully prepared!"
With his last trace of hope, Kuroumaru slammed his fist into the ground, earnestly pleading with Nura Rikuo.
Just when Kuroumaru thought his young master would avoid this battle as before, he heard an unexpected response:
"Alright!"
Hearing that, Kuroumaru suddenly raised his head, a cherry blossom petal falling onto his head. The human boy who had been sitting beneath the cherry tree had disappeared, replaced by a young youkai with the bearing of a great general!
"Young, Young Master!"
Looking at Rikuo Nura, Kuroumaru was stunned, obviously unable to believe that this powerful youkai before him was his young master.
"Kuroumaru, notify the youkai around Ukiyoe to gather in Ukiyoe Town. Issue the order for our youkai to prepare their weapons and welcome the enemy!"
Casting a glance at Kuroumaru, Nura Rikuo's voice was cold. After saying that, he walked toward the front yard of the Nura Group.
"Yes! Young Master!"
Looking at Nura Rikuo's back, Kuroumaru responded, then spread his wings and soared into the sky, flying into the distance.
After tonight, it will be decided whether the Nura Group survives or falls!
It will also be decided whether the supreme youkai general of Ukiyoe Town is a tanuki or Nurarihyon!