"You should at least have some self-awareness! Just look at yourself! Even if you were sold at a clearance sale, barely anyone would want you!"
Standing to the side, Tengen Uzui threw out a look of utter disdain and words equally full of contempt.
Pfft—
Zenitsu felt as if an arrow had pierced straight through his heart. He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Hey! You weird old man! Do you think everyone can look good in any outfit like you?!"
"You change clothes and suddenly you look like some handsome guy!"
Uzui proudly puffed out his chest.
"I am the God of Flashiness! I can pull off any style!"
"Don't forget I'm your superior! You have to listen to me!"
As he spoke, Uzui rolled up his sleeves as if he were about to throw another punch.
Aoyama quickly grabbed his wrist.
"Mr. Uzui, now isn't the time to argue."
"Tanjiro and Inosuke have already been sent into brothels. We still need to place Zenitsu in another one."
Uzui slowly suppressed his anger after hearing that.
Then he walked ahead and led them toward another establishment—Kyogoku House.
"Senior Brother Aoyama … Tanjiro—no, Tanjiko—and Inoko were already taken away. Do you think they'll be okay?"
Zenitsu finally calmed down and started worrying about their safety.
"They'll be fine."
"Right now, the important thing is getting you into Kyogoku House."
Zenitsu froze.
Then he grabbed Aoyama 's sleeve with teary eyes.
"So even you think I'm the worst one, don't you, Senior Brother?!"
Aoyama sighed inwardly.
This kid's thinking was completely off-track.
They were on a demon-slaying mission, yet he was still obsessed with ranking their cross-dressing appearances.
"Zenitsu, I didn't say that."
"At Tokito House, they liked Tanjiro because he looked honest and hardworking."
"At Ogimoto House, they liked Inosuke's beauty."
"As for you…"
"…they didn't seem to like anything."
Zenitsu's fragile heart shattered instantly.
They passed through the smoky alleyways and arrived at the suspicious brothel Kyogoku House.
The three of them spoke with the madam, hoping she would take in Zenko.
The madam rejected them immediately with a wave of her hand.
"This child is too ugly!"
"No customers would like her."
Seeing the madam about to drive them away, Uzui panicked.
He grabbed Zenitsu and shoved him forward.
"Recently we brought in several girls, but they were all taken by other houses!"
"This is the only one left unsold!"
"Please just take her!"
The madam still didn't respond.
Uzui continued desperately.
"You can have her sweep toilets if nothing else!"
"She's basically damaged goods! I'll give her to you for free!"
"WHAT?!"
Zenitsu screamed in outrage.
He had gone from being sold cheaply to being given away for free!
Aoyama coughed lightly, reminding Zenitsu to keep up his disguise.
Zenitsu quickly reacted and changed his voice to a feminine tone.
Hearing that she could take the girl for free, the madam hesitated.
Though she still wasn't impressed by Zenko's appearance.
Aoyama stepped forward, took Zenitsu from Uzui, and patted his head.
"Zenko may be a little ugly…"
"But she has talent."
He grabbed Zenitsu's head and gave him a meaningful look.
Then he pointed to a nearby woman playing a shamisen.
Zenitsu understood immediately.
His hearing was exceptional.
As long as he heard a song once, he could reproduce it perfectly.
It was one of his hidden talents.
Zenitsu picked up the instrument and played the melody flawlessly.
The madam's eyes widened.
Seeing that Zenko had talent—and was free—the madam finally agreed.
"Very well. We'll take her."
Uzui bowed repeatedly in thanks.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"She'll sweep toilets for you if nothing else!"
Then he and Aoyama left Kyogoku House.
Zenitsu clenched his fists tightly.
Inside his heart, a fire ignited.
He silently swore an oath.
One day—
He would become the number one Oiran in Yoshiwara.
And when that day came, he would make Tengen Uzui, the man who tried to give him away for free, regret everything.
Outside the room, voices whispered.
"Did you see the new girl?"
"They say she can play any instrument after hearing it just once!"
"She's incredible."
"Yeah… but she's a bit ugly."
"Still surprising they accepted her."
Inside the room, Zenitsu played the shamisen furiously, flames of determination burning in his heart.
The madam watched with interest.
Her many years of experience told her something.
This "ugly girl" had potential.
A powerful drive.
A burning desire to rise higher.
She glanced at the servants whispering nearby.
"Just wait and see."
"I can feel it."
"She has the determination of someone who wants to prove something to the man who abandoned her."
The two servants didn't fully understand what she meant.
Meanwhile, at Tokito House, Tanjiro worked hard doing heavy chores while speaking in a slightly feminine voice.
While working, he overheard someone mention Oiran Suma being "dismissed."
That was the name of Uzui's wife.
Tanjiro immediately stepped forward to investigate.
At Ogimoto House, Inosuke had infiltrated thanks to his delicate face.
The madam dressed him up beautifully, making his features even more refined.
Unfortunately, his rough voice still made it obvious he was male.
Before selling him, Aoyama had threatened him repeatedly:
Do not speak.
So no matter what people asked him, Inosuke stayed completely silent.
He waited for everyone to leave so he could secretly search for clues.
Meanwhile, Aoyama and Uzui separated to investigate the district.
They disguised themselves as ordinary customers and visited different brothels, searching for information about Uzui's wives and the demon hiding in the Entertainment District.
The streets were noisy.
Women stood outside every house, waving at passing men.
Aoyama carefully observed the surroundings.
For now, nothing seemed unusual.
He was certain a demon was hiding somewhere in the district.
But after walking around several times, he still couldn't detect any demonic aura.
Which meant the demon had concealed its presence.
This kind of cat-and-mouse search was truly exhausting.
Suddenly—
A heavily made-up woman grabbed Aoyama 's arm.
"Sir, would you like to come inside and have some fun?"
Aoyama 's expression turned cold.
His gaze dropped to the hand gripping his arm.
"Let go."
"Ah—!"
The woman froze.
She quickly released his arm.
Aoyama brushed off the spot she had touched and continued walking forward.
Meanwhile, Uzui stood on a rooftop overlooking the district.
Even after carefully observing several suspicious brothels, he found nothing unusual.
Inside Kyogoku House, Zenitsu listened carefully to every sound.
Amid the noise and chatter—
He heard something else.
A girl crying.
Sensing that something was wrong, he followed the sound.
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