The group's infiltration mission dragged on for many days with no real progress—
instead… it kept drifting further and further off course.
At night, Yoshiwara became a frenzy of demons and debauchery.
At a Kyogokuya branch, a newcomer by the name of Renshi was reshaping the entire pleasure district's ecosystem in an extremely bizarre way.
"Umu! Is this your excuse for trying to skip the bill?!"
A thunderous roar shook dust loose from the rafters.
In the middle of the hall, Rengoku Kyojuro—dressed in that flamboyant crimson peony kimono—held a drunken man over his head with one hand. The man had tried to dine and dash and even started a fight.
"As a man! Paying for what you eat is only natural!
Drinking with courtesans and not paying is utterly shameless!"
"P–put me down! Do you know who I am?!" the drunk flailed wildly in midair.
"I don't care who you are! On my, Renshi's, turf—you follow the rules!"
Rengoku laughed heartily, muscles bulging, and hurled the two-hundred-pound brute out the door like a sandbag. The man landed with perfect accuracy in the trash pile across the street.
"Awesome! What skills!"
"Miss Renshi is so cool!"
"She's basically our guardian deity!"
Far from being frightened, the courtesans' eyes sparkled with hearts as they applauded wildly.
Ever since Rengoku arrived, no thugs dared harass the girls anymore. Even the owner of the neighboring shop was trying to poach her.
"Um… Rengoku-san…"
Tanjiro, who had come over to check in, clutched a rag, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"We're supposed to be infiltrating and investigating… aren't you being a little too high-profile?"
"Umu! Kamado boy! No need to worry!"
Rengoku turned back with a smile so upright it practically radiated righteousness.
"This isn't mere fighting! I'm deeply experiencing life here!
Only by becoming the guardian of this place can I better protect everyone! And besides—"
He pointed at the mountain of tips piled up in front of him.
"This money is enough to buy Inosuke boy tempura for many days!"
Tanjiro: "..."
It was over. He really had fallen in love with this job, hadn't he?
Meanwhile, on the top floor of Kyogokuya.
The atmosphere here was completely different from downstairs. No flashing blades, no violence—only… an extremely brain-melting song.
"Chubby tanuki~ chubby tanuki~ round and rolly tummy~
Pat it a bit~ boom boom sounds~ everyone is happy~"
Inosuke sat cross-legged on the tatami, tapping the rhythm on the most expensive antique vase in the room while teaching Daki how to sing.
Across from him, the fearsome Upper Rank Six listened with deadly seriousness.
"Round and rolly tummy… is it sung like this, Inoko?"
Daki blinked her big eyes, looking like an elementary schooler desperate for praise.
"No! Feeling! You have to put emotion into it!"
Inosuke scolded her like a strict music teacher.
"Imagine your stomach is like a watermelon, filled with happiness!"
"Oh! Happiness!"
Daki nodded, half-understanding.
These past few days, Inosuke hadn't rushed to act. Instead, he came to play with Daki every day—eating her snacks, spending her money, and casually brainwashing her on the side.
"Hey, Inoko."
After singing herself tired, Daki lay sprawled on the table, staring at Inosuke's pretty face.
"Your mother… that human named Kotoha. Was she really as amazing as you said?"
"Of course."
Inosuke stopped tapping, his face turning unfathomable.
"You know my perverted old man, Doma, right? Kills without blinking, eats people without even spitting out bones.
But the moment my mom hummed once, he'd obediently go kneel on a washboard."
"Seriously?!" Daki was stunned.
"That was Lord Doma!"
"That's because you don't know how scary my mom really was."
Inosuke began lying through his teeth with a perfectly straight face.
"My mom couldn't fight, but she had a kind of tyrannical love.
The wisteria cakes she made—even Lord Muzan… ahem, even my dad would cry after eating them.
Her singing could purify souls. In our Paradise Faith, my mom was the true queen.
My dad was just a tool for making money."
Daki listened, utterly mesmerized, her eyes filled with envy.
"That sounds wonderful… I want a family like that too."
She murmured softly.
"My brother treats me well too, but we have to hide in the darkness forever, and keep eating disgusting humans…
I want someone to listen to me sing too…"
At that moment, a crisp notification sounded in Inosuke's mind.
[Ding! Detected strong longing-for-family emotions from target: Daki.]
[Special quest triggered: Expansion of the Paradise Faith.]
[Quest Objective: Persuade Upper Rank Six siblings to defect to the Eternal Paradise Cult.]
[Quest Reward: Special Constitution Fusion Agent—perfectly resolves the conflict between the host's Ice Breathing and Sun Breathing. Ice and fire will no longer backlash.]
Inosuke's eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs.
Ice and fire coexisting!
This was what he'd dreamed of! With this, he could wield blazing sun in one hand and absolute zero in the other—truly cutting down gods and demons alike!
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat, his gaze instantly softening.
"Since you're that envious… why not come to my place?"
"Huh?"
Daki froze.
"I think you're pretty likable. A bit dumb, sure, but you sing quite nicely."
Inosuke coaxed her gently.
"And your brother—doesn't it get stuffy, hiding inside your body all the time?
Come to the Paradise Faith. I'll have my mom make you new clothes, and your brother… hmm,
I'll have my dad teach him how to take care of his skin."
"R-really… is that okay?"
Daki was tempted, but fear crept in.
"But Lord Muzan…"
"What's there to be afraid of?!"
Inosuke slammed the table.
"If the sky falls, my dad will hold it up!
Besides, this is just an internal transfer! It's all work—where you work makes no difference!"
Just then, Daki's back split open.
A gaunt man covered in black spots crawled out, gripping blood sickles in his hands.
Gyutaro.
He stared at Inosuke, eyes vicious—but without killing intent.
"Brother!" Daki hurriedly grabbed him.
"I heard everything…" Gyutaro rasped, looking at his sister.
"Ume… do you really want to go? To that place… with a mom?"
"Brother…"
Daki lowered her head.
"I… I want to go. I want to wear new clothes.
I don't want to be hunted by Hashira anymore."
Gyutaro fell silent for a long time. He looked at the hope shining in his sister's eyes—a light he hadn't seen in hundreds of years.
"…Alright."
He turned to Inosuke. That hideous face twisted into a smile uglier than crying.
"Hey, Doma's kid.
If you're lying to us, I'll cut you into pieces."
"But if… you really can give Ume a home."
"Then I… am willing to believe you."
Looking at the siblings, a strange sense of accomplishment rose in Inosuke's heart.
"Deal."
He extended his hand and slapped palms with Gyutaro's withered one.
"Welcome to the Eternal Paradise Cult.
From today on, I've got your backs."
Infinity Castle, deep within.
Kibutsuji Muzan sat before his laboratory table, still in a very good mood.
The more he thought about Inosuke's actions, the more satisfied he became—enduring humiliation, steady and grounded, brilliant beyond his years.
"Very good. Excellent."
Looking at the medicine in his hand, Muzan decided to add a bit more insurance.
"Though Inosuke and Daki are doing well, the enemy has two Hashira.
To ensure absolute success…"
He waved his hand.
Space twisted, and a pot appeared out of thin air.
Upper Rank Five—Gyokko.
That ridiculous face covered in tiny hands poked out of the pot.
"Lord Muzan~ Your loyal artist Gyokko is here~ Heeheehee~"
"Gyokko."
Muzan spoke coldly.
"Go to Yoshiwara. Assist Daki and Inosuke.
If those two Hashira try to flee, you're responsible for cutting off their retreat."
"Remember—follow Inosuke's commands.
That child's current layout is perfect. Do not ruin it."
"Yes, Lord Muzan!"
Gyokko wriggled excitedly.
"To witness the deaths of two Hashira firsthand—how marvelous!
I'll turn them into my most perfect artworks and present them to you!"
Watching Gyokko vanish, Muzan nodded in satisfaction.
"With three Upper Rank combatants, plus Inosuke as an insider, against two Hashira…"
"The advantage is mine."
Muzan smiled with confidence.
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