Takeo was also surprised that Mito was actually hiding one of the Twelve Kizuki.
However, he suspected that this particular Twelve Kizuki member had only arrived recently—no more than a month or two ago.
More boldly, it was likely that this Lower Moon demon had been recently promoted. After all, the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, had just killed one of the Twelve Kizuki.
If that were the case, then this Lower Rank Three's position was quite precarious.
Putting aside the reason for the Lower Rank Three's appearance in Mito for now, Takeo turned his attention back to Ayako and began asking about her connection to the missing scholars.
"You brought those scholars to be food for the demon?"
Takeo's gaze darkened. This behavior reminded him of the late Hanako.
Ayako shook her head repeatedly. "No… no, it's… it has… it has a habit of having people write biographies about it…"
"Biographies?"
"Yes. It wants them to write it into stories… and then… it acts out whatever it wants within the story…"
Ayako explained nervously.
Her words made Takeo understand why the demon had been targeting those scholars.
So, that was it—this was a demon obsessed with personalized storytelling. It kidnapped people just to make them write custom narratives for it.
This concept… was oddly ahead of its time.
But then again—this was an opportunity.
Looking at Ayako in front of him, Takeo reached down, pulled her up from the ground, and said:
"Take me to it. Later."
"!?" Ayako stared at him in shock. "You… you already know… about the characters in its eyes…"
"Yes, I know," Takeo said softly. "But I came here specifically for him. Don't worry about me—just take me there. What happens after that has nothing to do with you."
"No… no… no, no, no, no, no!"
Ayako clutched her head, crying out in despair. "If I bring you there, and you attack it… then I'll definitely be eaten! I… I can't—!"
Shhhk—
This time, Takeo didn't bother with gentle words or further persuasion. He unsheathed one of his Nichirin swords and pointed it directly at her.
"Then let's be direct. If you take me there now, you might live a little longer. If you don't, you'll die right here. So—what's your choice?"
Takeo's gaze locked on Ayako, expression unreadable and deadly serious.
He wasn't bluffing.
And he believed Ayako would make the smart decision.
In the end, it was actually a simple choice.
Painfully simple.
…
The demon that had been threatening Ayako was hiding somewhere near Kairakuen.
Every time Ayako brought a scholar there, the Lower Rank Three would take the person away using a method she couldn't comprehend—then vanish into its hidden lair.
Ayako could have led Takeo straight to that location… but if she did, it would be undeniable proof of her betrayal.
And Lower Rank Three would kill her—brutally, and without hesitation—just like the last person who brought a Demon Slayer.
So instead, she chose to lead Takeo partway up the mountain. That way, she could pretend to be nothing more than a clueless girl who didn't realize he was a Demon Slayer.
If she played the fool… maybe she wouldn't be killed. Maybe.
Ayako was tense as she walked slowly up the mountain path with Takeo.
The moon had risen high in the sky. As Ayako's steps grew slower and more hesitant, Takeo gave her a silent push on the back.
Then he began his performance:
"Ms. Ayako? What's the matter? We're not even at the top yet."
"I… I know…"
Pressed to continue, Ayako had no choice but to keep moving forward.
Takeo held Ayako's hand, wearing a slightly dazed, almost lecherous expression—like a lustful fool.
In reality, he was fully alert, his senses sharpened and focused on his surroundings. He was simply waiting for the demon to appear so he could draw his sword and strike the moment it showed itself.
But the expected scenario—Lower Rank Three suddenly appearing and abducting him—never happened.
Instead, the air became thick with a distinctive scent—the same demonic scent Takeo had detected on Ayako before.
The scent of Lower Rank Three.
Where!?
The moment the smell reached him, Takeo's eyes scanned the surroundings. His nose twitched subtly as he sniffed the air, looking quickly to both sides—but he couldn't see any trace of the demon.
Still, the scent was getting stronger… closer… and closer…
Until—
Under his feet!
Under my feet!! Takeo immediately looked down—but he didn't draw his sword.
In that split second, he had already assessed that whatever was beneath him wasn't the demon itself.
It was a shadow—so dark, so thick, that it couldn't be natural.
A shadow!?
His body began to sink, and in the blink of an eye, Takeo was pulled beneath the surface, engulfed by the darkness as the shadow dragged him swiftly away.
…
The movement was fast. The shadow coiled tightly around Takeo, carrying him underground at incredible speed.
After several seconds, the pitch-black surroundings began to fade.
The darkness gave way to dim candlelight, flickering gently ahead of him.
Only then did Takeo realize he was being pulled into a large room.
It was an ordinary Japanese-style space, with brown-green tatami mats covering the floor. An antique floor lamp stood in the corner, casting a dim, flickering light.
But Takeo wasn't alone.
On either side of him knelt two scholars, heads bowed low to the ground. Each held a brush in their right hand and a long, blank scroll in their left, scribbling furiously across the paper.
Their bodies trembled with exertion, and sweat streamed down their faces. Yet they quickly wiped it away with their sleeves, trying desperately not to let a single drop fall onto the scrolls.
These two… they were the missing literati from earlier.
Only two? Then the other two...
Takeo's heart sank slightly as he continued scanning the room. But when his gaze shifted to the center, his breath caught in his throat.
There, reclining in the main seat at the center of the room, was none other than Lower Rank Three.
That much was expected—and certainly not the reason Takeo's breath had stopped.
What truly shocked him were the figures standing beside the demon.
They wore Demon Slayer Corps uniforms, and they each held Nichirin swords in hand.
But instead of attacking the demon, they stood beside him like loyal guards.
Takeo could tell immediately… this wasn't their will.
Their faces were twisted with pain, resentment, and humiliation. It was clear—they wanted to resist, but couldn't.
They seemed to be under the demon's control, much like Ayako had been, though the degree of manipulation appeared even more severe.
And behind all of them, there was another Demon Slayer—someone who looked barely alive.
His arms were bound to a long wooden board, his body suspended like a crucifixion. His head hung low, and his entire frame was covered in wounds.
Only the occasional groan of pain proved he was still clinging to life.
When Takeo's gaze landed on that figure, his hands began to tremble. His breathing grew rapid, and his eyes locked on the person suffering the most.
"Yoshizuru… Asato…"
Takeo spoke the name slowly, his voice shaking.
Perhaps hearing his voice, the man raised his head with difficulty. Their eyes met.
At first, Yoshizuru's expression was one of shock—then confusion.
But almost immediately, that expression shifted to urgency.
Run.
His eyes said it clearly.
He was begging Takeo to escape. To get out of there—before it was too late.
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o(*￣▽￣*)ブRead 12 Advance chaps—P@treon: HornyFBI