Night, Yoshiwara Red-Light District.
As an officially sanctioned red-light district, night is the beginning of the day for Yoshiwara.
Under the glow of colorful neon lights, the gorgeously dressed courtesans swayed their hips, blowing kisses to the pedestrians on the roadside.
Invited by the courtesans, men who had finished their day's work showed knowing smiles and entered the pleasure houses to begin their rich nightlife.
"Truly hideous."
Inside the house named Satonaya, Daki stood on the second floor looking down at the crowd below.
As an Upper Rank Demon, Daki had a pursuit of food that was different from ordinary demons.
Simply put, she didn't eat ugly people.
Compared to those hideous and filthy things, she preferred to eat beautiful women and handsome men.
However...
"Not a single one worth looking at."
Gazing at the street where people came and went, Daki, who hadn't gained much these past few days, narrowed her eyes.
"Brother, it's time for us to change locations."
"Then let's change locations."
A raspy voice came from behind her.
Facing his sister's request, Gyutaro chose to support her without hesitation.
"Where do you want to go?"
"Kyogoku-ya."
Daki gave her answer.
As a top-tier house in the Yoshiwara Red-Light District, the quality of the courtesans at Kyogoku-ya was very high.
If she moved into Kyogoku House, even without any appealing customers, she wouldn't lack for food.
What was most important, however, was that she had taken a liking to Kyogoku House's current top courtesan—that beautiful woman.
"Let's go, brother."
Having made her decision, Daki no longer hesitated. She turned around, preparing to head towards the first floor of the pleasure quarter.
But just then, Gyutaro's voice sounded out: "Sister, there's a Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Hmm?"
Daki stopped in her tracks: "Where?"
"Right on the street. He appeared just as you turned around," Gyutaro replied.
To better protect Daki, he usually hid on her back.
With one in front and one behind, they would never miss any information from their surroundings.
Like at this moment, after Daki turned, the street scene appeared in Gyutaro's view.
"A thunder-patterned haori... If I remember correctly, that's the attire of the Sound Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps."
"What Hashira it is doesn't matter. What matters is that killing him will please Lord Muzan."
Daki returned to the window.
Her gaze swept across the street, and she quickly found the person Gyutaro had mentioned.
It was a black-haired youth wearing a thunder-patterned haori, with a nichirin blade hanging at his waist.
Staring at the other's handsome face for a moment, Daki subconsciously licked the corner of her mouth.
Good. She now had one more reason to act.
"He's looking over here."
Gyutaro's voice sounded again.
As if sensing Daki's gaze, the black-haired youth on the street looked up, his eyes meeting hers.
The moment their gazes connected, Daki raised her hand and pulled out the hairpin from the back of her head.
As if a seal had been undone, Daki's black hair turned snow-white, and different characters appeared in each of her eyes.
[Upper Rank], [Six].
Witnessing this scene, the black-haired youth who was merely passing by froze for a second, a look of surprise flashing across his face.
Then, in the next instant, his figure blurred and vanished from the spot, charging towards the pleasure quarter.
"Heh, another one who isn't afraid to die, as expected."
Daki wore an expression that said she had anticipated this.
As Upper Rank Demons, she and Gyutaro had killed a total of twenty-two Hashira.
Some of these Hashira were very weak; she could handle them alone.
Others were quite strong, requiring Gyutaro's help to defeat.
But regardless of their strength, none of these Hashira had shown any sign of retreat during battle.
"Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, I'll give you a chance to utter your last words."
Watching the black-haired youth who had moved from the street to the second floor of the pleasure quarter in just a few breaths, a mocking smile appeared on Daki's face.
"Before I kill you, is there anything you'd like to say?"
"My luck is pretty good."
A smile appeared on Lynn's face.
Because, knowing the original story's plot, he had gone directly to Kyogoku House not long ago.
As a top-tier establishment in Yoshiwara's pleasure district, Kyogoku House had an extremely large number of courtesans.
Lynn spent over an hour wandering among the women before realizing one thing.
The timeline he was in now was too early; Daki hadn't yet come to Kyogoku House.
"I had already given up on the plan, but I never expected you to deliver yourself right to me."
"Good luck? Giving up on the plan?"
Daki frowned: "Have you gone mad? What nonsense are you spouting?"
"You don't need to know too much."
Lynn took a step forward, his hand gripping the nichirin blade at his waist.
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!
"Watch out!"
As if sensing something, Gyutaro shouted a warning.
At the same moment, the ground beneath Lynn's feet exploded. He turned into a blur, crossing over ten meters in an instant to appear right in front of Daki.
"Huh?"
Daki's eyes widened in shock. She instinctively raised her hands to block in front of her.
Sssshhh—!
A crisp tearing sound rang out. Daki's hands, along with her head, were severed in one slash.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lynn grabbed her head with his free hand and dashed out of the pleasure quarter.
"Damn you! Stop right there!"
Gyutaro emerged from Daki's back, roaring in fury before picking up Daki's body and giving chase.
As an Upper Rank Demon, Gyutaro was extremely fast, closing a large portion of the distance in just a few breaths.
But just then, Lynn's speed suddenly increased sharply, widening the gap between them once more.
"Bastard! Let go of my head!"
Seeing her brother being left behind, Daki lost her composure, her expression twisting with rage.
Having been an Upper Rank Demon for centuries, this was the first time she had been in such a sorry state.
Not only had her head been cut off, but she was also being carried around like a piece of cargo.
"You're dead! You damned bastard, I will definitely..."
"Shut up!"
Lynn punched Daki in the face: "Keep yapping and I'll toss your head into a cesspit!"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Heh, I really would!"
Lynn immediately made a sharp 90-degree turn.
"No! Don't! I was wrong!"
Daki's eyes widened, the anger on her face instantly replaced by terror.
As a local power in Yoshiwara, she knew better than anyone what lay ahead of Lynn.
Realizing he wasn't joking, she, for once, set aside her pride and begged for mercy.
"I won't speak! Do whatever you want, just don't throw my head into the cesspit!"
"To be honest, I preferred your earlier, unyielding attitude."
Lynn raised an eyebrow, then turned again to rush in his original direction.
After losing her body, Daki, with only a head left, was extremely limited in what she could do.
Carrying Daki's head—and with Gyutaro in pursuit—Lynn quickly fled Yoshiwara's pleasure district and arrived at a mountain range nearby.
"Lynn!"
Kocho Kanae, who had been waiting here, sprang out from a corner and rendezvoused with Lynn.
"Take this."
Lynn tossed Daki's head over, then slammed on the brakes and turned around.
Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!
The solid ground shattered under his feet as Lynn shot forward like lightning, appearing before Gyutaro.
"So fast!"
Gyutaro's pupils contracted. Instinctively, he dropped Daki's body and raised his sickles.
BOOM—!
A deafening crash sounded. A terrifying force transmitted through the sickles and slammed into Gyutaro's body.
His feet left the ground as he was sent flying backward, crashing through over a dozen trees before smashing into the earth.
At the same moment, Lynn appeared right in front of him.
Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit!
Four slashes fell in an instant. The sharp blade severed Gyutaro's limbs in the blink of an eye.
By the time Gyutaro realized what had happened, he had already lost his limbs, reduced to a mere torso.
Of course, losing limbs wasn't a fatal injury for an Upper Rank Demon. If Gyutaro wished, he could fully regenerate in a short time.
However, ...
Feeling the cold steel pressed against his neck, Gyutaro wisely halted his regeneration.
"Mr. Gyutaro, you wouldn't want your sister to be exposed to sunlight, would you?"
"At this point, whether she's exposed to sunlight or not doesn't make much difference."
Daki's head had been cut off, and his own head was also at the other's mercy.
If Lynn wanted to kill him, a slight exertion of force would end this battle.
Staring at the black-haired youth whose strength far exceeded expectations, Gyutaro narrowed his eyes.
"Aren't you going to finish it?"
"Whether I do or not depends on you."
Lynn took out a syringe: "I need you and your sister to cooperate with me on some research. If you're willing to help, I can let you die a little later."
"Heh, you'll regret this."
"Regret what? Is that useless Kibutsuji Muzan going to suddenly jump out and punch me?"
"..."
Gyutaro, who had been about to utter a threat, fell into silence at Lynn's words.
Compared to being captured alive by Lynn for research, he began pondering a more serious issue.
His boss, Kibutsuji Muzan, probably hadn't heard what Lynn just said... right?
...