Inside Shiren House
The house fell silent as the Boss and Boss Lady stared at Tanjiro and his companions. Their appearance alone was enough to leave the two in shock.
But then their eyes landed on Raiden, standing beside the group with arms crossed, and they lit up.
"She… if you entrust him to me, I can definitely train him to become the next Oiran of Shiren House!"
The Boss Lady's delight grew with each glance. From the first moment, Raiden radiated Oiran-level elegance. How could such a refined beauty be placed among these messy-looking novices?
"No."
Raiden's refusal was firm, leaving Uzui Tengen momentarily dumbfounded. Since Raiden was dressed as a woman, his target was clear: Upper Rank Six, Daki. Daki, the Oiran of Kyogoku House, could only be approached there.
"Why not choose someone else? I'm sure, with the Boss Lady's guidance, anyone could shine," Tengen suggested, stepping into the light. His chiseled face caused the Boss Lady to blush.
"Well, taking one shouldn't be a problem," she conceded.
"Then I'll entrust one to your care. Thank you, Madam."
Watching Tengen effortlessly charm the Boss Lady, Raiden's jaw tightened. He could do that too! Why wasn't he wearing women's clothing like the others? All this talk about his familiarity with the district and being reliable—he knew it was nonsense.
"Then I'll take the one in the middle; he looks honest," the Boss Lady decided, finally choosing Tanjiro.
"I'll do my best!" Tanjiro squeaked in a high-pitched voice.
With Tanjiro left at Shiren House, Raiden led the others out. Inosuke had been chosen and escorted by the Ogimoto House Boss Lady, leaving Raiden's gaze on Koikatsu, the Oiran parading through the streets.
Koikatsu's gentle personality reminded Raiden of Tanjiro. But this only fueled Daki's resentment. The day before, Daki had attacked, attempting to control Koikatsu with her sashes. Tanjiro had intervened, officially starting the fight.
Raiden had considered confronting Daki directly to force a resolution. But her sashes moved with independent intent. A rash approach could be disastrous. He decided to enter Kyogoku House with Zenitsu first, using himself as bait to locate the sash.
Seeing Tanjiro and Inosuke successfully hired, Zenitsu, eager not to be outdone, prepared to demonstrate his skill—the Shamisen.
Electric arcs crackled as he played, conveying both skill and frustration. Even Raiden was impressed.
"This newcomer plays the Shamisen beautifully," a geisha whispered.
"Her appearance isn't remarkable, but she has skill," another replied.
"She got in only because a beautiful girl accompanied her," said a third.
"Beautiful? Where is she? I want to see a girl the Madam herself admires."
"Over there, leaning by the door. She's close to the girl playing the Shamisen," a geisha pointed.
Raiden leaned against the door of Kyogoku House. The kimono, though unusual for him, accentuated his presence. Its soft fabric and intricate patterns gave him a graceful elegance. Loose strands of hair brushed his neck, adding subtle allure. Minimal makeup highlighted his deep eyes, which seemed to pierce anyone who met his gaze.
Nearby, geishas whispered, stealing glances.
"No wonder the Madam praised her; that face is simply a gift from the heavens," one murmured.
"Yes, her eyes are truly captivating," another agreed.
Night fell, and the Entertainment District came alive. Raiden and Zenitsu were assigned separate rooms, side by side. The rooms were equal in size, but their treatment differed vastly.
Raiden was gently guided by the Madam to dress and prepare, while Zenitsu frantically practiced the Shamisen and koto.
"Report immediately if anything happens. Do not act alone," Raiden instructed before leaving. Zenitsu would be fine, but Raiden had another task in mind—locating Daki's sash to end the battle efficiently. The kimono, elegant yet cumbersome, made movement awkward.
Zenitsu nodded and returned to his music.
By the end of the night, Raiden was allowed to rest. Most of his hours had been spent learning etiquette and hospitality, leaving him clenching his fists in frustration. If Tengen had appeared now, Raiden doubted his patience would have lasted.
In his room, he exhaled, removing the restrictive kimono and sitting upright.
[Do you choose to fuse Blood Demon Art · Lord of Crystallization (Mastery) now?]
[Yes]
Since acquiring Doma's Blood Demon Art, Raiden had been constantly active, almost forgetting he still had one ability to fuse. With prior experience fusing Akaza's Blood Demon Art, the process went smoothly.
The only challenge was the rapid drop in body temperature during fusion, coating him in frost.
As the last wisp of icy aura merged into him, the room chilled sharply.
Raiden opened his eyes. Crystalline light glimmered in his pupils, marking the completion of the Lord of Crystallization's fusion.
He extended his hand, concentrating on the newly fused power. Moisture in the air condensed into a delicate ice sculpture.
The sculpture took form, eventually shaping into a miniature Ice Man, one-third his height, composed entirely of transparent ice crystals.
Its expression mirrored Raiden's stern gaze, its eyes sharp and observant. It seemed alive, looking at him expectantly.
"Not bad. A weakened version of myself. Let's see if it can use Transparent World."