"Through hypnosis, through hypnosis, I will make you forget! Please, have mercy just once! Please, Ushiwakamaru-sama!!!"
Kumohime, as if Obanai was of no concern, prostrated herself, bowing her head to the floor.
To that extent, the being named Ushiwakamaru that appeared before them was absolute terror.
The reason was the aura emanating from her.
It was a predator's aura that stimulated the instinctive survival instinct of living beings, beyond just a feeling of strength.
'That woman… what is she? A demon? Or….'
Obanai tightly gripped the hilt of his sword, soaked in cold sweat. Kaburamaru, terrified, unraveled its coils and hid inside Obanai's clothes.
"Beings who should not be here. Disappear."
Ushiwakamaru waved her hand as if annoyed. Her attention was solely on Kumohime, prostrated on the floor.
"Don't make me laugh! Servants of demons… I'll finish you here…!"
Obanai, suppressing his fear, charged in to buy time for the corps members to escape.
"Serpent Breathing, First Form: Winding Serpent Cut!"
But before his sword could reach, Ushiwakamaru lightly drew the katana at her waist and slashed the air.
Kwaaang!
A single sword strike. But what that strike created was not a simple slash, but a massive storm of lightning.
"Kuaaak?!"
Obanai, swept away by the sword wind, flew like a paper doll and slammed into the wall at the end of the alley. An impact pain that seemed to break his spine surged, and blood gushed from his mouth.
The corps members behind him couldn't even scream and were swept away by the shockwave, falling unconscious.
"Sigh… annoying. If the smell of blood spreads, Master dislikes it."
Ushiwakamaru looked down at the fallen Obanai and corps members, taking out several paper talismans from her bosom. They were memory-erasing magic talismans made by Tamamo-no-Mae.
Paat!
As she threw the talismans into the air, they flew on their own and attached to the foreheads of Obanai and the corps members.
"The memories of the past hour will disappear. You will come to know that you simply took a short rest while tired from patrolling."
Purple light emitted from the talismans, encroaching on their minds. Obanai, in his fading consciousness, looked at Ushiwakamaru's cold eyes and lost consciousness.
'…those monsters… I will never… forget….'
"Get up, Kumohime. How long are you going to stay in that unsightly state?"
Ushiwakamaru sheathed her sword and said coldly.
"Yes, yep! I'm sorry, Ushiwakamaru-sama!"
Kumohime stood up, trembling. The queen who had been overwhelming the Demon Slayer Corps was gone, and she was cowed like a new recruit scolded for a mistake.
"Let's go. Master is waiting."
The two left the fallen Demon Slayer Corps members behind and disappeared into the darkness.
In the mansion's reception room. Akira was sitting on a high-class leather sofa, smoking a cigar and listening to the report. Beside him, Mitsuri was sitting with a worried expression, and on the opposite side, Tamamo was standing.
"…So, your identity was discovered by the Demon Slayer Corps, and Ushiwakamaru erased their memories and brought you back?"
Akira asked, holding Mitsuri's waist with one arm.
"I am ashamed, Master!"
Kumohime prostrated herself again, banging her head on the floor.
"Master. This foolish one has tarnished the family's name. Allow me to personally execute her as an example…."
As Ushiwakamaru placed her hand on the sword hilt with a murderous gaze, Kumohime gasped and held her breath.
"No, it's fine. Stop it, Ushiwakamaru."
Akira raised his hand to stop her.
"Anyway, it's a fact that the Demon Slayer Corps suspects us. Even if their memories are erased, their suspicion won't disappear. Rather, they'll feel something off and cling more persistently, wondering why they have no memory."
"But Master…."
"Kumohime was just trying her best. Don't blame her too much. Moreover, it was good that you only subdued them without killing them. If the Demon Slayer Corps were annihilated here, the headquarters would be in an uproar, making things more troublesome."
Moved by Akira's leniency, Kumohime shed tears of gratitude.
"Ah… thank you, Master! I will devote my loyalty for life!"
"Alright, alright. Be more careful next time. Go out and rest."
Akira made Kumohime leave.
"Is it really okay, Akira-san? If the Demon Slayer Corps people suspect us more…."
Mitsuri, seeming uneasy, took Akira's hand.
"It's fine, Mitsuri. Anyway, they can't find evidence. And we are stronger."
Akira reassured Mitsuri and looked at Kiyohime.
"Now, the troublesome matter is settled. Let's move on to the next agenda. Kiyo, report."
At Akira's words, Kiyohime stepped forward and unfolded a map on the table. On the map, a coastal village in Japan was marked with a red pen.
"Yes, Master. Recently, through our information network, we obtained interesting news. About a merchant who deals in strange jars."
Akira skimmed through the report Kiyohime presented and smiled with satisfaction.
"Finally got a lead. Muzan's money source."
"His location has been pinpointed. He is currently in this remote fishing village, kidnapping people or using the villagers as materials to create his artistic works."
Akira smiled with satisfaction.
"Upper Moon Five, Gyokko, I presume."
Kanae, sitting beside and pouring tea, added with an elegant voice. She knew the characteristics because she had heard about the Upper Moons from Akira.
"Yes. He sells the jars he makes to human magnates at high prices, providing Muzan with massive funds. If we eliminate him, not only will Muzan's funding be cut off, but we'll also take down another pillar of the Upper Moons."
Akira put down his teacup and looked at Shinobu sitting opposite him.
"Moreover, he uses a Blood Demon Art that handles poison and aquatic creatures. Shinobu, isn't that your specialty?"
"Oh my, an Upper Moon who uses poison. How interesting."
Shinobu's eyes sparkled as she smiled sweetly.
"I'm itching to experiment whether my poison will work, or if the new neurotoxin I developed is more effective. Master, may I go and handle it?"
Shinobu, subtly calling Akira 'Master' and winking. Kiyohime glared at such Shinobu from the side.
"Of course. This mission will be entrusted to you sisters, and to Tsubaki as well. It's been a while, so go out together as a trip."
""Yes.""
"Of course, it's not just you."
Along with Akira's words, a woman opening the door and entering.
"So, there's a guy who calls himself an artist?"
Katsushika Hokusai.
She showed interest in going to deal with an artist.
"Right. He makes jars, puts humans in jars, and does grotesque work, calling it art."
"Ew, that can't be called art, can it?"
"For your information, he is older than Hokusai or Oei."
"And yet he does such things. As someone from the same origin, I can't just watch. I need to give him some education."
"Hunting demons with Hokusai-san, it's my first time, so I'm looking forward to it."
Kanae laughed happily.
"Ushiwakamaru."
"Yes, Master."
Ushiwakamaru revealed herself from the shadows.
"You come along too. To prepare for any contingencies, and especially… to ensure Hokusai doesn't go too far."
Thus, some time later, at the target's location.
A remote fishing village on the western coast. In a place where waves crash roughly, there was a dilapidated hut.
A jar slowly rose, and from it, a demon with a grotesque form appeared. A face with the positions of eyes and mouth reversed, small arms attached all over its body.
Upper Moon Five, Gyokko.
"Hyohohoho… this village seems to have many usable materials."
Gyokko looked down at the village and licked his lips. He did not feel things like jealousy.
For him, no artist other than himself existed, and others were merely materials for his great art.
Then, in his eyes, he saw the back of a woman drawing a picture at the edge of a cliff.
"Hoh? That woman… she exudes an unusual aura."
Gyokko's eyes glistened greedily.
"If I pickle such a peculiar human alive in a jar, a splendid work would emerge. The expression of screaming would be artistic. I should add her to my new work."
Gyokko perceived the woman not as an artist, but as top-grade material. He hid his body in his jar and let out a sinister laugh.
"Wait. This Gyokko-sama will sublime you into an eternal work of art."
That, without knowing it might be Hokusai.