In traditional Japanese folklore, the names Nure-onna and Ushi-oni always appear together.
They work in tandem, with Nure-onna typically luring humans, and Ushi-oni then preying on them.
The origin of Nure-onna is said to be human women who drowned in the sea, their spirits transforming into demons that attack humans.
The origin of Ushi-oni can even be traced back to the great general Minamoto no Yorimitsu during the Heian period.
Of course, in this world, such monsters from folklore do not exist.
These monster stories are all exaggerations created by people who encountered man-eating demons.
All demons currently existing were originally human, transformed by the Demon King Kibutsuji Muzan through his blood.
"So… how did you know there would be two demons?" Giyuu asked, puzzled. "You've only been here for half a day?"
'Damn it, should I tell him I've already been fed octopus once?'
Haruto replied earnestly, "It's my senses. I sensed the aura of two different demons."
Some people are born with extraordinary sensory perception that others lack (like Tanjiro's sense of smell), so Giyuu easily accepted this explanation.
So what should they do now?
Haruto looked up; the paper lanterns had already been lit, and everything looked the same as before he died.
The difference was that last time he was alone inside Nekki-ya, preparing to break into Nure-onna's lair.
Now, he watched Nekki-ya from a detached perspective, with Tomioka Giyu standing beside him, nichirin blade in hand.
What should they do?
Was killing Nure-onna the only way to draw out Ushi-oni?
But what was the relationship between Nure-onna and Ushi-oni?
Since they weren't twin demons, after one was killed, a demon's nature would dictate it hide even deeper… so why would Ushi-oni immediately rush out?
As Haruto pondered, his gaze towards Nekki-ya suddenly sharpened.
The pure young woman walking out of Nekki-ya, wearing a beige cherry blossom kimono… wasn't that Nure-onna?
Her smooth long hair, how deadly it was when she strangled someone—he still couldn't forget it.
Giyuu followed Haruto's gaze, his breath hitched, and he immediately tightened his grip on his nichirin blade.
It's a demon!
"Wait."
Haruto grabbed his arm, lowering his voice, "Don't rush. Let's see where she goes."
Judging by the time, at this point last time, he should have already infiltrated Nekki-ya, scanning the entire hot spring inn with his consciousness.
It was then that he discovered Nure-onna, who had eaten humans, and went to slay her with his blade.
Haruto vaguely had a clue.
Does she go out after eating humans?
Using Haruto's excellent consciousness capture, the two followed Nure-onna from a distance as she walked in the darkness, away from the bustling hot spring street, to a secluded coastline.
"Time to eat."
Nure-onna sliced her arm, and blood surged wildly from the wound, spilling into the seawater.
In the dark distance, a huge shadow moved from the deep sea.
"Guji guji…"
This was the sound of mucus rubbing; the ox-headed octopus monster appeared on the shore, hungrily pouncing on Nure-onna, several tentacles wrapping around her limbs.
After her limbs were torn off, a chilling, teeth-grinding chewing sound followed, then a few squishy sounds of limbs regenerating.
Nure-onna's voice sounded very angry: "Hey, that's enough!"
"This is mine… what I deserve…"
Ushi-oni's voice was very deep, and after chewing, he suddenly became enraged: "It's all… the taste of men!"
"Puji!" A tentacle shot out, directly piercing Nure-onna's chest.
"I said, that's enough!"
Nure-onna's hair shot out, wrapping round and round the tentacle that had pierced her chest.
Her face showed extreme impatience: "Hiding in a hot spring inn, only men will come!"
"Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!"
Ushi-oni's tentacles wildly slapped the water: "You don't want… I don't want…"
"Yes, yes, I'm a bitch."
Nure-onna sneered, "Whose fault is it that my man is a useless demon? Scared out of his wits by a Demon Slayer Swordsmen passing by a few years ago, only daring to hide in the deep sea all day?"
Hmm? There's gossip to hear?
Haruto and Giyuu exchanged glances, both perking up their ears.
"He was a dangerous guy…" Ushi-oni stopped slapping the seawater with his tentacles: "He was stronger than all the swordsmen I've ever seen…"
"But Lord Douma's blood wasn't given to us to hide! We must eat more humans! Weak demons will be forgotten by the higher-ups!"
Nure-onna's expression became grotesque: "If we can't even become a Lower Moon in a few more years, we'll be… turned into fertilizer by Lord Douma!"
Douma?
Haruto raised an eyebrow in confusion, just about to ask Giyuu if he had heard of him when bullet comments suddenly started appearing before his eyes.
Haruto's scalp tightened, but thankfully, no death warnings appeared in the bullet comments, nor was the screen full of "Danger" like last time.
[Douma-head, why is it him again?]
[Why does Douma love turning men and women into demons so much?]
[You're so weak after drinking Upper Rank Two's blood, just restart your lives]
[LOL, my big husband and little husband's reaction while listening to gossip is so funny.]
[Expressions: ⊙ω⊙ / ⊙ω⊙]
Wait… Douma is Upper Rank Two?
Haruto gasped, realizing he had just gained a major piece of information.
It should be known that throughout the Demon Slayer Corps' hundred-plus years of fighting demons, their intelligence on demons was limited to only some Lower Moon demons.
Let alone the Demon King Kibutsuji Muzan, even the six Upper Rank members of his Twelve Kizuki were mysterious entities to the Demon Slayer Corps.
The snippets of information obtained today were crucial intelligence for the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, this information could not be directly reported to Kagaya Ubuyashiki because he couldn't explain its source.
Giyuu gently touched Haruto's arm: "We can't wait any longer; that octopus is going back."
From a distance, Nure-onna and Ushi-oni had completed their strange meal, and the giant octopus body was writhing, preparing to return to the sea.
Haruto nodded gently; Sora circled above Hirano, ready to call for support immediately if any Demon Slayer Swordsmen arrived.
Since preparations were complete, then… let's go!
The two youths split left and right, their wooden clogs making rustling sounds on the fine sand as they ran, and Ushi-oni immediately turned his head vigilantly.
"Bitch… you've attracted Demon Slayer Swordsmen!"
Haruto attacked Nure-onna first; he had already fought her once, and facing her long hair, the Flame Breathing, which could burn, had an even greater advantage.
Giyuu leaped, a flash of blue blade light striking Ushi-oni.
"Watch out for his tentacles!"
Haruto shouted a reminder, blade light flashing as he cut off the long hair around him.
"Bastard! They're just two brats! What are you afraid of!"
Seeing Ushi-oni cowering in the sea, Nure-onna cursed loudly: "Useless creature, you were useless as a human, and you're still useless as a demon!"
The white-haired boy's swordsmanship was sharp, almost every strike aimed at her vital points, as if he was very familiar with her attack methods.
Under such pressure, Nure-onna retreated step by step, almost having half her face split by a "First Form: Unknowing Fire."
Seeing Nure-onna severely injured, Ushi-oni finally stopped hiding.
He extended his tentacles to attack Tomioka Giyu; after the latter skillfully dodged, his massive body leaped onto the shore.
Nure-onna, who was thought to be helpless, surprisingly transformed, her lower body turning into a long snake tail!
As the two humans and two demons faced off, Haruto and Giyuu exchanged glances, both knowing in their hearts.
A fierce battle was about to begin.