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Chapter 167: Daki's Appetite is Whetted
Standing in front of the Kyogoku House, Suyan read the name on the lanterns and felt a sudden wave of relief. Thank goodness Shinobu had forced him to take this mission instead of coming herself. Given Shinobu's reliance on poisons, her lack of raw physical strength, and the fact that she hadn't yet mastered Nen despite being a contracted user, she almost certainly would have died if she faced Daki here.
Daki might have looked weak in the original story—getting casually decapitated by the Sound Hashira in their first exchange—but her status as an Upper Rank demon was entirely genuine. By her own admission, she had personally killed seven Hashira in her lifetime. Combining her immunity to standard decapitation with the overwhelming strength of her older brother, Gyutaro, lurking in the shadows, she was an absolute nightmare for regular Demon Slayers.
The butterfly effect was getting a little ridiculous. A mission that wasn't supposed to land in the Sound Hashira's lap for another two years had somehow ended up assigned to Shinobu today.
If he remembered correctly, Daki had dug a massive subterranean cavern beneath the Kyogoku House, using it as a literal larder to store her human prey. But Suyan wasn't particularly interested in the macabre details, nor did he care much about the siblings' Blood Demon Arts. To be frank, their abilities were rather lackluster.
Daki's Blood Demon Art involved creating prehensile sashes that carried portions of her power and consciousness, effectively acting as independent clones. It sounded versatile, but it meant she divided her total strength rather than generating new power, severely weakening her main body. When her power was split, her hair turned black; when she recalled it, her hair reverted to its true white. Gyutaro's ability was even more straightforward: he created dual blood sickles coated in a lethal poison, effectively fighting with the same concept as Shinobu, just scaled up. In terms of raw combat power, Gyutaro couldn't even match any of Hantengu's clones aside from Zohakuten.
In the original plot, the defeat of these siblings relied entirely on perfect, miraculous matchmaking. Flashy Guy was a former shinobi with a natural, superhuman resistance to poison, allowing him to briefly survive Gyutaro's lethal venom. And if that wasn't enough plot armor, Nezuko's Blood Demon Art, Exploding Blood, happened to perfectly counter the poison, burning away the toxins inside the Hashira and the trio without harming their bodies, while also granting Tanjiro's sword a Crimson Red Blade effect.
Since their Blood Demon Arts were too underwhelming for Suyan to bother stealing, his interest rested entirely on Daki herself. After all, according to the lore, Daki was the undisputed number one beauty of the Demon Slayer world.
The number one beauty! Who wouldn't be curious? Furthermore, the Kyogoku House was a high-end brothel. In his entire life, Suyan had never actually seen the inside of a historical red-light district.
Without hesitating, Suyan pushed aside the curtain and strode straight into the Kyogoku House. Because the sun was still high in the sky, the establishment was virtually empty, giving the lavish interior a slightly desolate feel.
"Excuse me, sir, but we have not yet opened for business. If you are looking to spend some money, please return this evening."
As soon as Suyan walked in, a woman dressed as an attendant approached him. There was no cliché arrogance or snobbery in her tone; she remained entirely polite and respectful, completely ignoring the bizarre fact that the man had a live crow perched on his head.
"I know," Suyan nodded. It was a red-light district. Opening at night was standard practice.
"Then..." The attendant breathed a sigh of relief, assuming he understood and was about to leave gracefully. She opened her mouth to politely see him out, but Suyan cut her off before she could say another word.
"I'm here to eat," Suyan said bluntly.
"Eat!?" The attendant paused, giving Suyan a highly skeptical look. Coming to a high-end brothel in broad daylight just to order a meal? Then again, considering he was wearing a live bird as a hat, this behavior seemed entirely on-brand. Perhaps he was one of those eccentric artists deeply influenced by the recent influx of Western culture?
Maintaining her professional courtesy, the attendant smiled. "Sir, we do not offer that kind of service at this hour. If you are looking for a meal, I can recommend several excellent restaurants nearby, such as—"
"How about now?" Suyan raised his hand. With a casual flick of his wrist, a delicate leaf made of pure gold materialized between his fingers.
The attendant stared at the gleaming object, bewildered. "What is that!?"
"Gold," Suyan replied plainly.
"Pardon!?" The attendant was stunned. Pure gold forged into the shape of a tree leaf? This only cemented her belief that the man was an eccentric weirdo. However, anyone who could casually pull out precious metals was absolutely not someone a mere attendant like her could afford to offend.
She stared at the gold leaf, looking deeply conflicted. "But, sir..."
"Hmm?" Suyan flipped his palm again. In the blink of an eye, a thick handful of solid gold leaves appeared in his grasp.
Gold was valuable, but its worth was relative. For Suyan, who had the backing of an entire separate dimension and possessed the Metal Frenzy Nen ability to effortlessly manipulate and shape metal, he could produce as much gold as he wanted.
"Xiao Hong, what on earth are you doing!? Why are you trying to shoo a customer away!?" A woman with heavy makeup—which did little to hide the deep wrinkles on her face—hurried over and immediately began scolding the attendant.
"Madam Omitsu, I was just—"
"Hush now," the woman known as Madam Omitsu interrupted, physically pushing the young attendant aside. "No 'buts.' I will handle this gentleman. Go attend to your chores."
"Yes, Madam." Xiao Hong bowed her head and quickly retreated.
With the attendant gone, Madam Omitsu finally let out a breath of relief. What did a lowly servant know about hospitality? So what if he just wanted to eat? As the manager of the Kyogoku House, her job was to cater to the whims of men who could effortlessly pull out handfuls of gold. She plastered on a radiant, accommodating smile.
"Welcome, good sir. I am Omitsu, the manager of the Kyogoku House," she introduced herself with a deep bow.
"Hello," Suyan replied coolly.
"I overheard that you wish to dine with us today, sir?" Madam Omitsu asked politely.
"Correct."
"And what might you be in the mood for? Do you have any dietary restrictions?"
Suyan waved a hand dismissively. "Anything is fine. Just bring out as many of your local specialties as possible." He then casually shoved the entire handful of gold leaves directly into Madam Omitsu's hands.
No matter what world you were in—unless it was an apocalyptic wasteland like the Highschool of the Dead universe—money talked. The moment the heavy gold pressed against her palms, Madam Omitsu's smile became so blindingly bright that the wrinkles on her face practically smoothed themselves out.
Feigning modesty, she tried to push his hand back. "Oh, sir, this is far too generous. I couldn't possibly..."
Suyan didn't take the gold back. Once he finished his meal, he was going to have a little chat with the demon hiding in this establishment. If things escalated, there was a very high chance he would level the entire building. He figured the gold could serve as advance compensation for the property damage.
Blissfully unaware of his true intentions, Madam Omitsu simply assumed Suyan was an unbelievably wealthy patron. Coming to the Entertainment District just to order lunch was undeniably eccentric, but for this much gold, she was willing to humor him. She discreetly squeezed the gold leaves to confirm their authenticity, her smile widening. "I understand completely. Please, come with me, sir."
Suyan followed her without a word. She led him through the lavishly decorated corridors until they arrived at a luxurious private suite, gesturing for him to take a seat.
"Please make yourself comfortable, sir. I will have the kitchen prepare your meal immediately," Madam Omitsu said. As she turned to leave, she paused, offering a suggestive smile. "Ah, would you like me to arrange for a few of our lovely girls to pour your drinks?"
"No need."
"Very well."
As Madam Omitsu closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but quietly judge the eccentric man. Spending a small fortune just to eat lunch in a brothel? He even refused the offer of female companionship. Still, feeling the heavy gold in her hands, a sense of professional guilt washed over her. It felt wrong to take this much money without offering the establishment's best service.
Maybe I should arrange something special, she thought. Should I ask Warabihime to see him?
Warabihime was the most beautiful Oiran in the Kyogoku House, but she had a notoriously vile temper and rarely took clients. However, considering Suyan was not only incredibly generous but also undeniably gorgeous, he perfectly matched Warabihime's strict criteria. Surely a man as eccentric as him couldn't resist the charms of the most flawless woman in the district. Warabihime only needed to whisper in a man's ear to leave him completely captivated—literally swooning at her feet.
If Warabihime served him well, the Kyogoku House would secure a permanent, obscenely wealthy patron.
Mind made up, Madam Omitsu quickened her pace and headed straight for the top Oiran's private chambers.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Who is it!?" a lazy, highly irritated voice called out from within.
"It's me," Madam Omitsu called back. "Are you awake, Warabihime?"
"It's you, you old hag." The voice inside dripped with venom. "You had better give me a very good reason for waking me, or I swear I won't let this go."
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Madam Omitsu's cheek. Even as the owner of the Kyogoku House, she was forced to walk on eggshells around Warabihime due to the girl's flawless beauty and terrifying temper. For a fleeting second, she regretted letting the gold rush to her head. But she had already come this far.
"A-A customer has arrived, and he—"
Suddenly, the door slid violently open, revealing a face of such suffocating, breathtaking beauty that it could steal any man's soul. However, the expression on that flawless face was cold and condescending. Warabihime tilted her head, glaring down at the madam.
"Huh? Old hag, are you going senile!? Not only is it not business hours, but have you forgotten my strict conditions for taking a client!?"
"No, no, of course not!" Madam Omitsu wiped her brow, frantically explaining. "The gentleman who just arrived is extraordinarily handsome! He is easily the most beautiful man I have laid eyes on in all my years here. I guarantee he meets your standards!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Warabihime's annoyance instantly evaporated, replaced by genuine curiosity. Pushing her irritation aside, she licked her lips and gave the madam a warning look. "You had better not be lying to me."
"I swear it, my lady!"
"Very well. Take me to see this customer of yours, Madam Omitsu." Warabihime smiled gently, her demeanor instantly shifting from a venomous harpy to a perfectly polite, elegant maiden. The rapid change was so jarring it was almost scary.
"R-Right this way." Madam Omitsu turned around, wiping another drop of sweat from her forehead. No matter how many times she saw it, Warabihime's terrifying ability to instantly switch faces always sent shivers down her spine.
It didn't take long for the madam to lead Warabihime to Suyan's room. She pointed at the sliding door. "He's right in there."
"Thank you. You may leave," Warabihime smiled politely. If the man inside truly was as handsome as the old hag claimed, she certainly didn't want any witnesses when she began her feast.
Yes, the peerless Oiran known as Warabihime was, in reality, Daki—Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki. "Warabihime" was simply the latest alias she used to hide in plain sight. She adored the lavish lifestyle of an Oiran, revelling in the adoration of men and the luxury of hand-picking her meals. Because of this, she would fake her death or leave the district every decade or so, only to return under a new name and reclaim the title of top Oiran.
Daki gracefully slid the door open, her voice as sweet as honey. "Excuse me, sir. I am coming in."
The moment she stepped inside, her eyes locked onto Suyan, who was sitting casually by the table. Her eyes instantly lit up. The old hag hadn't exaggerated—he was breathtaking. She had never eaten a man this gorgeous before.
Daki subconsciously licked her lips. Suyan had successfully whetted her appetite.
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