The world went silent.
Yushiro was stunned. What... "Mr."? Mr. Ryousuke?!
I was only gone long enough to brew a pot of tea! How did he go from a bastard Slayer who stepped on me like trash to "Mr. Ryousuke" in five minutes?!
In Japan, the transition from using a last name to a first name—especially with a respectful honorific—signified a massive shift in intimacy and recognition. Yushiro's vision went dark. His mind uncontrollably flashed through scenarios: the fake-smiling Slayer leaning in, Lady Tamayo responding gently, those filthy human hands getting bold...
NO—!!!
Lady Tamayo wouldn't! How does this disgusting Slayer dare?! On what grounds?!
"Yushiro!" Tamayo's voice pulled him back. She sighed. "Put the tea down, and then... leave us."
A wave of immense grievance and confusion crashed through Yushiro's chest. "Lady Tamayo..." his voice trembled with disbelief.
"Leave," she repeated. There was no room for argument.
Yushiro's lips quivered. He gave Ryousuke a look that could have curdled milk, stiffly set the tea tray down on the low table, and marched out.
A subtle silence settled in the washitsu.
"Forgive his behavior, Mr. Ryousuke," Tamayo said, bowing slightly. "Yushiro is... simply very protective of me."
"I understand. Loyal to a fault," Ryousuke nodded, glancing at the closed door. "Just a bit thick-headed. Easy to provoke."
Tamayo: "..." She decided to skip that particular topic.
"I agree to the partnership you proposed," Tamayo said, her voice turning solemn. "Developing a medicine to turn demons back into humans has been my life's ambition. If one day it can truly deliver a fatal blow to Muzan, I, Tamayo, would gladly give my life."
"Excellent." Ryousuke leaned forward. "What do you need?"
He wasn't sure if the Blue Spider Lily was what she needed for the cure—canonically, that flower was only to make Muzan a "Perfect Lifeform." The cure for demonism was a separate research project.
"The key breakthrough lies in the blood of the Twelve Kizuki," Tamayo explained. "Specifically the Upper Ranks. The higher the rank, the more pure the trace of Muzan's power within their blood samples."
Ryousuke tapped his fingers on his knee. Duk-duk-duk. Just like the original story. He had to hunt the elite.
When he killed Mue, the System labeled him a "High-Tier" demon. Above that were the Lower Moons, and above them, the Upper Moons. The power gap wasn't linear; it was a cliff. Using his past life's logic, it was like the difference between a high-level mob and a World Boss.
With his current strength, a High-Tier was a struggle. An Upper Moon? He'd be lucky to survive the first five seconds.
I need to harvest more 'small fry' to level up, Ryousuke thought, a wild grin spreading across his face.
"Fine," he promised. "There will come a day. When I take the head of an Upper Moon, I'll pack the blood up and send it to you immediately."
Tamayo froze. Yushiro (listening at the door) was baffled. Is this guy for real? You? Kill an Upper Moon? You can't even climb into bed without help!
Tamayo, who had seen hundreds of years of Slayers come and go, had never met someone who spoke of hunting Upper Moons with such casual, business-like certainty. The sheer audacity—and the cold intensity behind it—left her speechless.
She finally nodded. "...I shall await the good news."
"One more thing," Ryousuke said, looking around the room. "You need to change your hiding spot."
Tamayo wasn't surprised. Ryousuke had found them. If he could, others could too—whether it was more Slayers or Muzan's search parties. This location was compromised.
"You're right. I will make arrangements to take Yushiro and leave Asakusa as soon as possible to find a more secluded home."
With the deal struck, Ryousuke had no reason to stay. He stood up and stretched his shoulders. "That's that, then. I should get going. As for contacting me..." He glanced toward the door. "I'm sure you're better at secret messages than I am."
"Rest assured," Tamayo rose to see him out.
At the entrance, Yushiro was standing like a stone guardian, his eyes boring holes into Ryousuke's back. Ryousuke ignored him and stepped toward the exit.
"Mr. Ryousuke..." Tamayo called out.
"Yeah?" He looked back.
"Will we... see each other again?"
Ryousuke smiled. Instead of answering "yes" or "no," he simply extended his hand.
Tamayo blinked, staring at the calloused hand. After a brief hesitation, she placed her pale, slender fingers into his palm.
CRACK! Off to the side, Yushiro turned grey and white, his heart metaphorically shattering into a thousand pieces. Nooooo! Lady Tamayo!!!
Tamayo looked at Ryousuke. His hand was warm and dry, with thin calluses from years of sword training—it pulsed with the vibrant energy of the living.
"Of course we will," Ryousuke said, his voice carrying a strange weight. "Because our goals are the same."
"Whether it's an ideal, a wish, or just to end this cursed era of demons... we are walking in the same direction."
He gave her cool hand a firm squeeze and then let go without lingering. "I'm off. Take care."
He didn't look back. His dark haori caught the wind as he vanished into the shadows of Asakusa.
Tamayo stood by the door, the warmth still lingering on her fingertips. Looking at the spot where he disappeared, her lips unconsciously curved upward. After four hundred years of darkness, a tiny sliver of light had finally broken through—delivered by a strange Slayer who claimed he just wanted to survive.
"Lady Tamayo!" Yushiro pounced, his voice a mix of tears and jealousy. "How could you let him touch your hand?! That bastard! That lowly Slayer! What kind of spell did he put on you?!"
He pointed at the alley, shaking with rage, his claws leaving deep gouges in the wooden pillar he had been leaning on.
Tamayo pulled her gaze back and shook her head. She couldn't quite explain it either. She simply gave Yushiro a calm look.
"Yushiro, pack our things. We are leaving Asakusa."
"But—!"
"No 'buts'. Immediately."
Tamayo turned and walked back inside. Yushiro stared at her retreating back, his teeth grinding audibly.
Damn you, Ryousuke! You bastard Slayer! You'd better die out there! I hope you run into the Twelve Kizuki and get eaten!!!