The world went quiet.
Yushiro was dumbfounded.
What the hell...
Mr.?
Mr. Ryosuke?!
I just went to brew a fucking cup of tea, how did he become 'Mr. Ryosuke'?!
That bastard Demon Slayer who just stepped on me like trash and chopped off my arm!
Lady Tamayo, actually, actually...
As everyone knows, in Japan, calling someone by their last name versus their first name indicates a different level of relationship and recognition.
Yushiro's vision went dark, and countless images flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
That bastard Demon Slayer approaching Lady Tamayo with a hypocritical smile, Lady Tamayo responding gently, that bastard's hands and feet starting to wander...
No—!!!
Lady Tamayo wouldn't!
How dare this filthy Demon Slayer! What gives him the right?!
"Yushiro!"
Tamayo's voice rang out again, followed by a sigh: "Put the tea down, then get out."
Immense grievance and confusion rampaged within Yushiro's chest.
"Lady Tamayo..."
Yushiro's voice was dry and trembling, carrying an unbelievable accusation.
"Get out."
Tamayo repeated, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Yushiro's lips trembled a few times.
He glared viciously at Ryosuke, and finally bent over stiffly, placed the tea tray on the low table, and walked out.
The Japanese-style room fell into a subtle silence.
"I apologize for the embarrassment, Mr. Ryosuke."
Tamayo nodded slightly in apology: "Yushiro... is just too nervous about me."
"Understandable, his loyalty is commendable."
Ryosuke nodded, his gaze sweeping across the tightly shut door: "It's just that his brain doesn't work too well, and he gets hot-headed easily."
Tamayo: "..."
She decided to skip this topic.
"I agree to the partnership you mentioned just now."
Tamayo's voice became solemn: "Developing a medicine to turn demons back into humans is my lifelong wish. If one day it can truly deal a fatal blow to Muzan, I, Tamayo, would not hesitate even if it meant dying ten thousand times."
"Very well."
Ryosuke leaned forward slightly: "What do you need?"
He wasn't sure if the Blue Spider Lily was what Tamayo needed.
After all, the official lore only said that thing could turn Muzan into the ultimate creature.
As for the medicine to turn demons into humans...
The formula was never explicitly stated!
Everything would require Tamayo's research.
"The key breakthrough point lies in the blood of the Upper Rank demons."
Tamayo paused, then said slowly: "Especially the Upper Rank demons. The higher their rank, the purer Muzan's power contained in their blood samples."
Ryosuke's fingers tapped lightly on his knee, making a soft knocking sound.
Just like in the original story.
The Twelve Kizuki must be killed!
Ryosuke thought to himself.
When he chopped off Muyaku's neck back then, the system clearly stated he was a Final-stage Demon.
Above that, it would probably be the Lower Rank demons of the Twelve Kizuki.
But the gap in strength between the two was not just a little bit.
It was like the difference between a Quasi-Emperor and a Great Emperor.
Even though there was only a thin line separating them, the difference in strength was like clouds and mud.
A beginner Great Emperor could slap five or six peak Quasi-Emperors to death with one hand, which was simply ridiculous.
With Ryosuke's current strength, even a Final-stage Demon was tough, let alone a Lower Rank.
He still needed to kill more small fry to develop and grow!
Ryosuke pulled a wild smile.
"Alright."
He agreed crisply and cleanly: "There will come a day. When I chop off an Upper Rank demon's head, I'll pack up the blood and send it to you immediately."
Tamayo was stunned.
Yushiro was dumbfounded.
No way! You're bragging, bro!
You? Kill an Upper Rank?!
In your dreams, more like it!
Tamayo was also momentarily speechless.
Even though she had lived for hundreds of years and had seen all sorts of humans and demons, she had never seen someone so...
Someone who declared they were going to hunt an Upper Rank demon with such absolute certainty, as if it were a matter of course.
The almost blind confidence and ruthlessness emanating from him left her momentarily speechless.
Tamayo could only nod slightly: "...I will await your good news."
"There's one more thing."
Ryosuke changed the subject, looking around: "It's time to change your hiding place."
Tamayo was not surprised.
This place had already been discovered by Ryosuke.
Although he had no malicious intent towards them, what about the other members of the Demon Slayer Corps? What about Muzan and his demons?
No matter what the considerations were, they could no longer stay in this hiding place.
After a moment of silence, Tamayo nodded solemnly.
"You are right. I will make arrangements to leave Asakusa with Yushiro as soon as possible and find another hidden place."
With the matter settled, Ryosuke had no intention of staying long.
He stood up and rolled his shoulders.
"Then that's it. I should get going. As for the method of contact..."
He glanced in the direction of the door, pointing out meaningfully: "You guys should be better at that than I am."
"Please rest assured." Tamayo stood up to see him off.
The two walked to the entryway. Yushiro stood there with his arms crossed like a door god, his gaze stabbing straight into Ryosuke's back.
Ryosuke walked out without a care.
"Mr. Ryosuke..."
Tamayo called out to him.
"Hm?"
Ryosuke looked back.
"Will we be able to meet again?" Tamayo asked.
Ryosuke smiled. Instead of answering yes or no, he simply reached out his hand.
Tamayo was slightly taken aback, looking at that hand with its distinct knuckles.
After a brief hesitation, she raised her fair, slender hand and gently placed it in Ryosuke's palm.
Bang!
Yushiro, standing on the side, turned ashen, his heart shattering into pieces on the floor.
No way!
Lady Tamayo!!!
Tamayo looked at Ryosuke and nodded slightly.
Ryosuke's hand was dry and warm, bearing thin calluses from years of gripping a sword, transmitting the vigorous vitality and strength belonging to the living.
"Of course we will."
Ryosuke's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power: "Because our goal is the same."
"Whether it's an ideal, a wish, or simply to end this damn era of demons... we are all walking in the same direction."
"Our paths are the same."
He gave Tamayo's cold hand a firm squeeze, then let go without a trace of lingering attachment.
"I'm leaving. Take care."
With those words, he didn't look back again.
The pitch-black haori traced an arc, and his figure quickly blended into the darkness of Asakusa City.
Tamayo stood by the door, warmth still lingering on her fingertips.
She looked in the direction Ryosuke had disappeared, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving upwards.
Into the darkness and struggle of four hundred years, a faint glimmer of light seemed to have finally pierced through.
Coming from a strange Demon Slayer who claimed he only wanted to survive.
"Lady Tamayo!"
Yushiro lunged over, his voice carrying a sob and an unresolvable jealousy.
"How could you... how could you let him touch your hand?!"
"That bastard!"
"What kind of magic potion did that damn Demon Slayer feed you?!"
Pointing in the direction Ryosuke disappeared, he trembled all over with anger, leaving several visible scratch marks on the pillar he had just been leaning against.
Tamayo withdrew her gaze and shook her head.
She couldn't explain it either, only casting a faint glance at Yushiro.
"Yushiro, pack our things. We are leaving Asakusa."
"But..."
"No buts."
Tamayo turned and walked into the house.
"Immediately."
Yushiro looked at Tamayo's back, his teeth grinding loudly.
Bakayaro!
That bastard Demon Slayer named Ryosuke!
You better die out there!
Die at the hands of the Twelve Kizuki!!!