Chapter 95: You

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Butterfly House.

“Sister, aren’t you worried about your husband?” Kanao asked Kanae, who was brewing medicine.

“Oh? What’s there to worry about? Zero is merely assisting Lord Uzui on a mission.” Kanae said carelessly.

“But I heard this mission is in Lord Uzui’s jurisdiction—that place…”

Kanao had heard the full account from Shinazugawa a few days ago and naturally trusted her husband, so she hadn’t thought much of it.

But then she reconsidered: Lord Uzui’s jurisdiction was no ordinary place—especially for women.

It’s not the one-in-ten-thousand you fear—it’s the one-in-a-million.

What if her husband gets corrupted by Lord Uzui? What then?

So she held it in until now, deciding it was better to tell her sister.

“Huh? Now that you mention it, I recall Lord Uzui’s jurisdiction is…?” Kanae searched her memory for the name of his territory.

“I think it’s… Yoshiwara’s Flower Street…”

The moment she recalled the place, Kanae felt a sudden unease—as if something had happened to Zero…

Kanae trusted Zero wouldn’t do such a thing; after all, he was a man of principle.

But this time, her sixth sense told her: after returning, Zero would be different.

In the end, Kanae couldn’t shake her unease.

She abandoned her medicine entirely, grabbed her Nichirin Blade, and set out.

It was already noon; if she left now, she’d arrive by midnight.

Kanao helplessly rubbed her forehead—how had her sister become so foolish in love?

“Sister, wait for me! I’m coming with you!”

In truth, Kanae’s worry wasn’t unfounded—Zero had indeed gone bad, but in a peculiar way: he’d awakened some strange trait.

Nightfall. Kyokuyoshiya.

Zero watched the darkening sky outside the window and judged the time right.

She rose and walked toward the chamber of the courtesan, Warabi-hime.

At the door, she pulled it open and saw Warabi-hime, elegantly kneeling on the tatami.

As if expecting Zero’s arrival, a tray of sweets and two teacups sat nearby.

Warabi-hime smiled warmly, like a sunny neighborly sister, and said: “Little Zero, how lovely to see you again~ I wonder what brings you here?”

One doesn’t strike a smiling face—Zero returned the smile: “You’re Warabi… Hime, aren’t you? I’ve heard much of your name, so I came to pay my respects.”

She then sat beside Warabi-hime.

Warabi… Hime?

Why does that sound so odd…

Warabi-hime thought.

Still, seeing Zero right beside her—a rare beauty—she forced herself to suppress the urge to immediately bind her to her sash.

She replied kindly: “Yes, I am Warabi-hime, yet even a courtesan cannot compare to you~ You became a courtesan in just a few days. Meanwhile, your humble sister here… I truly yield to you, utterly humbled~ hehe~”

“Is that so? This imperial one doesn’t consider herself a courtesan—it’s merely what they believe. But…”

“But what?”

Zero said nothing, gazing at Warabi-hime with a sly smile, lifting her chin with a fan and studying her face closely.

“Tsk tsk tsk~ No wonder you’re the courtesan of Kyokuyoshiya—this little face, this imperial one adores it~ Would Warabi-hime join me tonight… for a night of pleasure~?”

As she spoke, Zero licked her lips.

Warabi-hime nearly jumped back in shock, putting distance between them.

She saw the strange gleam in Zero’s eyes—she had become prey.

“This food… she’s not a lesbian, is she…?” Warabi-hime thought.

Yet, even more thrillingly, Warabi-hime felt a surge of excitement.

If so, she could easily lure her in—then devour her.

But outwardly, she feigned panic: “Z-Zero… sister… you… you mustn’t… we’re both women, it’s impossible…”

“So what?” Zero stood, closing in, one arm around Warabi-hime’s waist, the other gripping her chin.

“What’s wrong with that? You’re so beautiful—I won’t let you go, my beloved consort~”

Gulp.

Warabi-hime’s heart truly raced—was Zero serious?!

But why this strange excitement? Why did she feel anticipation?!

Should she resist—or not resist?

She didn’t want to do *that* with “food”!

As she tried to break free, she found Zero’s strength astonishing.

How could this be?

She was Upper Rank Six—how could a human overpower her?!

Zero smirked, seized Warabi-hime’s sash, and yanked hard…

Rip.

Warabi-hime spun in place; her kimono, freed from the sash, revealed a dazzling expanse of skin—unobscured.

Her legs still wore patterned silk stockings.

Warabi-hime frantically pulled her clothes together, fury blazing within!

“This damned food dares treat me like this?! I… I… damn it! Why this strange excitement?! It’s disgusting!!”

As Warabi-hime prepared to call her [Bald] inside, Zero shoved her onto the tatami.

Straddling her, gripping her wrists, Zero said: “My little beauty… where do you think you’re going~?”

“Z-Zero… sister… calm down… we’re both women—it’s hopeless!”

“Why must there be hope? Isn’t this better? Haven’t you heard a saying?”

“W-What saying?”

“Opposite sexes exist only for reproduction—same-sex love is true love~”

【Uzui Tengen: Ruined! Zero’s gone bad—how do I explain this to Kanae and the others!?】

【The Butterfly Sisters are rushing toward this place with blades drawn.】

No sooner had Zero spoken than she leaned down, locking eyes with Warabi-hime.

Warabi-hime, so close to Zero, felt her breath, her own growing ragged.

She struggled to free her hands—but Zero’s strength surpassed hers, and she couldn’t reveal her identity now.

Helpless, she ceased resisting, slowly closing her eyes—as if surrendering: Come then~

And she felt Zero’s irresistible allure.

It wasn’t strange Warabi-hime felt this way.

Zero (Zero) had wandered the stars for millennia, constantly waging war, ruthless and decisive.

Add to that his innate temperament, wisdom, and talent—superior even among peers since childhood.

Over thousands of years, he had undergone a tangible transformation.

He carried an indescribable charm, an aura that compelled unquestioning trust.

Opposite sexes were drawn to his presence.

Of course, Luo Li had always held maximum affection for Zero—so those traits meant little to her.

Kanae and Mitsuri loved Zero partly because of this—but now, even without it, they were utterly devoted, willing to give everything for him.

Looking at the surrendered Warabi-hime, Zero found it dull.

She leaned close to Warabi-hime’s ear: “Relax, little beauty~ This imperial one will make you remember this night~ You won’t sleep a wink~ hehehe!”

Zero’s twisted laughter sent chills down Warabi-hime’s spine.

Then Zero rose from her body and left the room.

Warabi-hime straightened her clothes, brow furrowed.

Why this mix of anger and disappointment? What had she been expecting?

After all that anticipation… what was the result?

And what did those final words mean?

It felt like the wedding night—the bride prepared, the groom passed out drunk, unable to rise…

And the bride had to take matters into her own hands…

“Finally… hooked! Hehehe… Zero, you’re utterly exquisite—but first, deal with the Demon Slayer Corps!”

She issued a mental command to her sash’s duplicate: “Hide those three women in the underground chamber. I’ll devour them tomorrow night—then eliminate the Demon Slayer Corps!”

“Also, capture Kariya from Jishin-ya, Tanshi, and Zenko and Butsu from Ogin-ya!”

“Yes!” came the reply from her sash’s duplicate.

Warabi-hime gazed out the window—this time, she’d prove herself to Muzan. With her brother still alive, everything would proceed smoothly.

“Zero, wait for me! I won’t let you go—I’ll use the same method on you… then devour you!”

“And you, Kariya of Jishin-ya, Tanshi, Zenko and Butsu of Ogin-ya—you four are beautiful. I’ll capture you, savor you, and eat you all!”

Warabi-hime thought viciously, then rose, tidied her clothes, and smoothed away her disappointment.

………

Just as Zero returned to his room, Sanjin hurried over and asked, “Zero, are you alright? I heard you went to see the courtesan Juexi—did she hurt you?”

Zero turned with a faint smile and said, “I’m fine, everything’s good.”

Seeing this, Sanjin had nothing more to say, gave a few parting words, and left.

But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before turning back and saying, “Zero, over a dozen guests have asked to see you—what do you want to do?”

“I’m sorry, I’m feeling unwell today.”

“Alright… alright then. I’ll tell them—you rest well.”

“Mm, thank you.”

“Don’t be so formal—I care about you too, don’t I? After all, you’re my favorite little (yáo) girl (qián) (shù).”

After exchanging a few more polite words, she left Zero’s room.

“Tonight… everything must end!”

Then Zero summoned his messenger crow, Snow, and ordered it to relay to Uzui Tengen: when the signal sounds, prepare to move!

Kill Upper Rank Six!

…………

“So we’re making a grand entrance? Hahaha! Perfect! Then I’d better get ready too!”

Uzui Tengen received the message from Snow and felt his blood boil.

He went to a secluded spot, whistled a special tune, and summoned two muscle rats.

These were Uzui Tengen’s trained ninja rats—highly intelligent from his special conditioning, and immensely strong, each capable of lifting a sword with ease.

He instructed the two to deliver the Nichirin Blades to Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke.

He pulled a paper from his pocket, followed the address written on it, and went to wait near the center of the Flower District for the signal.

“Maki, Hina, Suma—hold on just a little longer, I’m coming to save you!”

Meanwhile, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke also received the message.

Upon hearing it, all three understood the mission would end tonight, and each began preparing.

They waited until just before midnight.

Tanjiro resumed his true identity, donned the Demon Slayer Corps uniform, and slung his wooden box onto his back.

Sneaking unseen, he arrived at Kairo’s courtesan quarters.

“Miss Kairo, forgive me for disturbing you.”

Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Kairo turned and glanced—she found the face vaguely familiar, resembling Zero’s, and asked, “Are you… Zero’s brother?”

“Huh? No, I’m Zero. For special reasons, I disguised myself as a woman to infiltrate the Tokiwa House.”

“Huh?” Kairo could hardly believe it.

“So you’re Zero! When I first heard your voice, I thought you were naturally like that—I never imagined you were truly a boy. Your makeup is incredible.”

“Zero senior helped me with all of this.”

“Zero senior?”

“Yes—the courtesan Zero from the Kyokuyoku House.”

“What?!” Kairo never expected that the Zero courtesan everyone in the Kyokuyoku House had been gossiping about was also a man…

“I never thought Zero… he was a man too. What’s going on with your appearance?”

“Yes, Miss Kairo, I’ll be brief—I’m leaving the Tokiwa House. Could you please deliver these letters to the owner and the others?”

As he spoke, Tanjiro placed a stack of envelopes before Kairo.

“Inside are payments—covering my meals and expenses during my stay. Please give them to them. The mission has been ordered—I must leave!”

Seeing this, Kairo seemed to relax, smiled gently, and said, “You’re truly worried about little Suma.”

“Yes, Miss Kairo. Don’t worry—I will rescue the missing ones!”

“...Thank you. Knowing you’ll say that, I can rest easy. And I—I’m leaving here myself in a few days.”

“Really?! That’s wonderful!” Tanjiro was glad to hear Kairo was leaving too.

“Yes—I never thought anyone would actually want to marry someone like me… I’m truly happy now. But… precisely because of that, I’m worried about everyone left behind.”

Even if something suspicious happens, I have no way to investigate… so… I don’t want you to vanish too, little Tan.”

Kairo’s sincere concern warmed Tanjiro’s heart.

“Yes, Miss Kairo. Thank you.”

After bidding farewell to Kairo, Tanjiro swiftly departed for the rendezvous point to meet the others!

But when he arrived, he received another message:

Zenitsu is missing!

…………