Izutsumi—after Tanjiro had become the dungeon master—had been entrusted by Tanjiro with a request: to be brought to Kairo Retsu and the others.
At the time, the Winged Lion had dispatched a griffon to carry Izutsumi. However… Izutsumi had fought with the griffon midair.
That griffon had been surprisingly resilient. Without injuring Izutsumi, it had managed to hold out until now before crashing—
which explained why Izutsumi was now appearing before everyone.
"Don't come near me! You weirdo who changed my clothes!!"
As the group approached, Izutsumi didn't seem particularly wary of Laios and the others, but she showed clear rejection toward Kairo Retsu.
"?!"
Izutsumi's words instantly set off a mental storm among the four of them.
"Uwah! A scumbag, huh…" Chilchuck looked at Kairo Retsu with an indescribable expression.
"Izutsumi! What's this about changing clothes?!" Marcille grabbed Izutsumi at once, demanding answers—while also glaring at Kairo Retsu with the same expression as Chilchuck.
Senshi, meanwhile, spoke to Kairo Retsu with a tone of kind reproach. "I believe changing someone's clothes without permission is wrong."
"Captain, I can't believe you did something like that…" Laios looked at Kairo Retsu in shock, as if he never imagined him capable of such behavior…
"What kind of looks are you all giving me?!" Kairo Retsu panicked. "Do I look like some kind of pervert?! Don't insult my character! Sure, I admit I'm kind of a furry, and I'm not entirely opposed to that kind of thing… but I didn't do anything bad!"
"Izutsumi's clothes were soaked, and it was the Felynes who helped her change! What does that have to do with me?!" Kairo Retsu said righteously. "If anything, the gear she's wearing now—we gave her for free!"
"Wait a sec, Izutsumi—weren't you with Tanjiro? How's he doing now?" Kairo Retsu turned to Izutsumi curiously.
Though still cautious of Kairo Retsu, Izutsumi nevertheless recounted everything that had happened to the group.
"Let's hope we're not too late."
After hearing Izutsumi's explanation, Kairo Retsu immediately dashed up the mountain, with Laios and the others following closely behind.
When Kairo Retsu arrived at Tanjiro's home, he saw the Winged Lion sitting next to him with a look of satisfaction tinged with regret, as if still savoring the taste of Tanjiro's desire.
"Ah, so you're here."
The Winged Lion, upon seeing Kairo Retsu and the others, greeted them with unexpected calm. "As expected, you people defy conventional logic. I thought that monster would've stalled you much longer."
"That's…" Marcille looked in horror at the nearly lifeless Tanjiro lying on the ground.
After having all his desires devoured, Tanjiro was now nothing more than an empty shell. If left unattended, he would simply die.
When all desire is consumed—not even the will to survive remains. He would simply lie there, hollow, waiting for death to come.
Marcille also came to a sudden realization: if Laios and the others hadn't convinced her to give up the dungeon master's power, she too might have ended up like this.
"You look quite satisfied."
Kairo Retsu looked down at Tanjiro on the ground. "You knew Tanjiro was bait, and still you ate him."
"Because I couldn't help myself."
The Winged Lion licked its lips, still savoring the aftertaste. "It was the first time I've tasted something like that…"
"I'm starting to look forward to what the rest of you will taste like!" Hunger burned in the Winged Lion's eyes. "It was the first time I've devoured a desire that carried sympathy toward me… Do you have a way to make that desire resurface? I want to taste it again. Tanjiro can recover, right?"
"You really liked Tanjiro's desire, huh."
Kairo Retsu grinned.
Facing the Winged Lion now, Senshi, Chilchuck, and Marcille no longer felt the sanctity they did when they first laid eyes on it.
The Winged Lion's face now carried a disturbingly human expression—one filled with ravenous hunger.
"You really can't resist bait, can you?"
Kairo Retsu spoke like someone scolding a mischievous, gluttonous child. "Still want more, huh? Still hungry?"
"We've got a few more hunters, after all."
Kairo Retsu smiled at the Winged Lion. "You can pick me right now. Grant my wish. Devour my desire. I'll even take you back into the dungeon."
"Because even though you know it's bait… you still want to eat it, don't you?" Kairo Retsu said plainly. "You can't control your appetite at all…"
"I really do… want to savor your flavor in detail."
The Winged Lion made no attempt to hide it. "I want to taste all your desires. If I could, I'd even spend another thousand years letting yours ferment to its peak… What kind of flavor would that be, I wonder?"
"But that's exactly why… the best bites must be saved for last."
The Winged Lion spoke with joy. "Humans call this… a surprise course, don't they?"
"Every dish has an unknown flavor, and the first appetizer alone whets the appetite this much." The Winged Lion stared intently at Kairo Retsu and Laios. "I want it so badly."
Laios widened his eyes and raised both hands, signaling, "Look at me! I can be the dungeon master right now!"
Kairo Retsu said, "Then eat me already. Do I not look tasty enough? Why save me for later?"
"This is… the pursuit of gourmet perfection," said the Winged Lion as its body began to fade. "I'm truly looking forward to the next flavor…"
"Hey! Don't leave!!!"
Laios watched helplessly as the Winged Lion vanished, collapsing in disappointment. "It left again… Am I really destined to be the last course?"
"Hey!"
Marcille turned to Kairo Retsu, flustered. "Isn't your companion in serious danger right now?! Why are you all acting like you're ready to let the Winged Lion do the same thing to you?!"
"What's going on?! Why did Tanjiro end up like this…"
Marcille had a good impression of Tanjiro. During her brief time traveling with the hunters, he seemed to be the kindest one among them.
"It's fine. We can bring him back right now."
Kairo Retsu grinned. "No harm in waiting a little—because, according to our code…"
"The later someone shows up… the stronger they are! Right, Laios?!"
"To hell with being a dungeon master! If we're going for it—we're becoming Demon Kings!!!"
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