"This vase… its symmetry is absolutely perfect!"
Those words were exactly what Gyokko loved to hear.
But the customers never stopped there.
"The craftsmanship is exquisite."
"The glaze is crystal clear."
"The shape is flawless."
"What a beautiful work of art."
These were compliments Gyokko could never hear inside the Infinity Castle.
Daki was completely speechless.
Just what kind of bizarre way of thinking did Muzan and Kokushibo possess?
Before Daki could completely give up trying to understand the situation, Rui gracefully entered the room.
Without the spider-like markings that normally appeared across his body, Rui's fair complexion, crimson lips, and delicate features made him appear astonishingly beautiful.
Even Daki couldn't help blushing slightly.
He was adorable.
As expected of the Twelve Kizuki's treasured favorite.
"Daki-sama…"
Rui approached somewhat nervously.
"What do you think of my makeup?"
"I did it myself… I'm not sure whether it looks good."
Daki examined him carefully before smiling.
"Beautiful."
"Absolutely beautiful."
Receiving such high praise from Yoshiwara's greatest oiran immediately put Rui at ease.
After spending an entire evening having her worldview completely overturned, Daki and Gyutaro finally returned to Kyogoku House.
The siblings desperately needed time to process everything they had witnessed.
Perhaps…
They simply weren't strange enough to fit in anymore.
Naturally, running the Infinity House was not entirely without trouble.
Some of the smaller pleasure houses deliberately caused trouble for the newcomers.
However, Kokushibo had no intention of exposing himself prematurely.
He simply instructed several Lower Rank demons to quietly deal with the troublemakers during the night.
Afterward…
The troublesome establishments mysteriously changed ownership.
Thus, the Infinity House expanded larger and larger.
Yet throughout all of this…
Gyokko's position as the establishment's most sought-after attraction remained completely unshaken.
Even Kokushibo and Muzan, despite their extraordinary appearances while disguised, were thoroughly overshadowed.
After all…
People did not always pursue conventional beauty.
They often preferred something mysterious and unique.
As rumors spread throughout Yoshiwara, stories about the Infinity House became increasingly exaggerated.
People claimed there was an unbelievably beautiful geisha there whose voice could transform into countless different people.
Eventually, the rumors evolved.
The mysterious geisha known as Tamako Gyokko's alias was described as an ethereal beauty unmatched anywhere in Japan.
Some even claimed that Warabihime herself was slightly inferior.
Without ever seeing Tamako's face, countless patrons secretly crowned her the true number one beauty of Yoshiwara.
Many wealthy customers spent enormous fortunes simply hoping for a glimpse.
Too bad…
Tamako never showed her face.
The customers could only continue feeding their imaginations.
With the Twelve Kizuki causing such a sensation, the Demon Slayer Corps naturally refused to be outdone.
Inside the Wisteria House, every courtesan was actually a male Demon Slayer in disguise.
The female members of the Corps simply acted as attendants and servants.
To everyone's surprise…
Giyu Tomioka looked unbelievably beautiful in women's clothing.
Even Shinobu Kocho found herself momentarily stunned.
Besides Giyu, Kyojuro Rengoku had also volunteered.
There was technically nothing wrong with his appearance…
He simply looked a little too energetic to resemble an elegant oiran.
To keep Mitsuri Kanroji away from unnecessary danger, Obanai Iguro insisted on taking her place.
His facial scars were hidden beneath a black veil.
The Wisteria House publicly claimed that she was a mysterious beauty from a distant foreign land where women traditionally never removed their veils.
The story immediately attracted countless curious customers.
The mysterious foreign beauty became the talk of the district.
Unable to reveal his face or speak much, Obanai relied entirely on dancing.
His graceful movements captivated everyone.
Every subtle sway of his waist enchanted the audience.
Although…
Some customers occasionally wondered whether they had just caught a glimpse of perfectly defined abdominal muscles beneath the flowing kimono.
Surely…
That had to be an illusion.
Of course, if anyone believed the Demon Slayer Corps' disguises ended there…
They were gravely mistaken.
Because of the scar across his forehead, Tanjiro Kamado could only work as a general assistant around the establishment.
Zenitsu Agatsuma, blessed with an extraordinary ear for music, became one of the performing geisha.
Unfortunately…
His popularity remained painfully average.
Then came the Wisteria House's two greatest attractions.
Inoko…
And Muichiro Tokito.
Inosuke, disguised as "Inoko," possessed breathtaking beauty.
Meanwhile, Muichiro's hairstyle carefully arranged into elegant twin tails by Mitsuri unexpectedly became an enormous success with the customers.
As for Inoko…
All he needed to do was quietly sit there and smile.
That alone was enough to leave many guests completely mesmerized.
Although he barely spoke throughout the day, his silence only made him seem even more mysterious.
Before long, customers throughout Yoshiwara began referring to three famous beauties.
Tamako of the Infinity House.
Muichiro of the Wisteria House.
Inoko of the Wisteria House.
Privately, people even nicknamed them…
"The Northern Voice and the Southern Beauties."
Of course…
All of it was merely a disguise.
The real mission remained far more important.
That night…
Tengen Uzui silently observed the Entertainment District from the rooftops.
He searched every street and every building for any trace of the mysterious creatures.
Reports from the Kakushi stationed around the perimeter stated that there had been absolutely no sightings along the routes the creatures should have taken.
Furthermore…
Every one of them had seemingly disappeared without a trace.
There were only two possible explanations.
Either the creatures had sensed the Demon Slayer Corps' preparations beforehand and hidden themselves…
Or…
They had already entered Yoshiwara before the Corps arrived.
Because the three factions constantly kept one another in check, the number of missing people within the district had actually decreased dramatically.
No one wished to become the first side to expose themselves.
Even Daki now received her blood packs through Kokushibo's carefully constructed underground passageways and her obi sashes, ensuring that no one discovered her hunting methods.
Standing atop the rooftops, Tengen remained completely unaware…
That Kokushibo was watching him from an even higher rooftop.
"…Troublesome."
"So the Demon Slayer Corps really came."
"…And those mysterious creatures are here as well."
Daki had already reported seeing the ribbon-like appendages belonging to those monsters somewhere within Yoshiwara.
Kokushibo immediately realized that all three factions had unknowingly converged upon the same battlefield.
He would have to reconsider his next move.
With everyone waiting for someone else to reveal themselves first…
Charging forward recklessly would be foolish.
At that very moment…
Inside another establishment…
Mumei was growing increasingly irritated.
He gathered several of his strongest subordinates together.
"What's happening?"
"The Demon Slayer Corps should already have infiltrated Yoshiwara."
"So why haven't they appeared?"
He turned toward Baran.
"Has your establishment accepted any new workers recently?"
Baran shook her head while gracefully adjusting her kimono.
"None."
"We haven't received a single newcomer."
Standing nearby, Moko frowned.
Among all the disguised monsters, her domineering bearing looked completely out of place.
"Our establishment hasn't accepted anyone new either."
At that moment, another elegant female voice interrupted.
"Could they have entered one of the two newly opened pleasure houses?"
The speaker was Kiran, another elite subordinate whose strength rivaled both Moko and Baran.
Moko immediately rejected the idea.
"Impossible."
"Absolutely impossible."
"How could the Demon Slayer Corps possibly have enough money to open an entire pleasure house?"
However…
Mumei suddenly recalled the intelligence he had gathered.
Combined with what his master had said before entering hibernation…
The Demon Slayer Corps was secretly supported by the Ubuyashiki Family, the wealthiest family in Japan.
After a moment of awkward silence, Mumei coughed lightly.
"…It's possible."
"The Demon Slayer Corps has always been cunning."
"They never stop coming up with unexpected strategies."
He immediately gave new orders.
"Send trusted men to investigate those two newly opened establishments."
"Remember."
"Never investigate alone."
Only after everyone had departed did Mumei slowly remove a special reagent his master had entrusted to him before entering hibernation.
He stared at the vial thoughtfully.
"If…"
"…even the Demon King appears…"
"…then Master's true plan can finally begin."
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