Chapter 41: The Kocho Sisters' Move |
That same night.
Pale moonlight filtered through the damaged roof of a large, majestic estate.
The building appeared to belong to a very wealthy and influential family, yet inside, a sepulchral silence reigned. A piercing, bone-chilling cold had completely overtaken the atmosphere.
This was by no means a figurative expression.
The walls, the floor tiles, and even the grass in the spacious courtyard were coated in a layer of icy frost, as if a winter that was still months away had suddenly descended upon the grounds.
But most terrifying of all were the human sculptures scattered across the courtyard and the frozen corridors—they were encased in ice from head to toe.
Whether they were scrawny servants or broad-shouldered guards...
The cold had snuffed out the flame of life in every single one of them without exception.
Whoosh!
They wore the standard uniform of the Demon Slayer Corps and colorful haori with patterns resembling butterfly wings. One possessed a beautiful and curvaceous figure, while the other was slender and petite.
The Kocho sisters had not stood still over the past year. Kanae had delved deep into the art of the sword and become significantly stronger than her original self.
Although she had not taken part in the large-scale battle against the demons back then, based on the information gathered, she believed she was now in no way inferior to the likes of the Wind Hashira or the Sound Hashira. Even if she could not emerge victorious, she felt capable of at least temporarily stalling Hantengu, the Upper Rank Four.
It is worth noting that just a year ago, holding off Upper Rank Four would have required more than two Hashira, and a prolonged one-on-one battle was considered entirely out of the question.
Shinobu had changed even more drastically.
If a year ago she had given the impression of a green and naive girl, she had now become far more serious, even inspiring a sense of reliability.
Shinobu had trained diligently throughout the year. Although her lack of physical strength remained, her study of swordsmanship had fruitfully impacted her combat abilities, and just a couple of weeks ago, she had been promoted to the position of the Insect Hashira.
Right now, they were searching for the source of a dangerous demonic aura that had been appearing intermittently in the Yoshiwara District!
This had occurred several times over the past few months, but each time the aura surfaced only briefly, making it difficult to track the demon.
Furthermore, a week ago, a squad of seven Demon Slayers investigating these incidents had vanished without a trace.
After such a loss, the organization had to take the matter seriously. Kanae had spearheaded the investigation, and the recently promoted Shinobu had joined her with Kagaya Ubuyashiki's personal permission.
"What a powerful aura..." Kanae whispered.
From the side, the graceful girl looked as though a light gust of wind might blow her off the wall, and her beautiful face radiated concern and gentleness.
But this stood in sharp contrast to her piercing, sharp gaze.
Then, the sisters turned their heads simultaneously and exchanged serious looks, understanding one another perfectly without a single word.
This was definitely...
An Upper Rank!
An aura this dense and cold stood out starkly against any Lower Rank, making it almost certain it originated from an Upper Rank demon.
But which one exactly?
At the moment, the organization knew for certain of three.
Akaza, Hantengu, and Gyokko...
It was believed that Akaza held the position of the Upper Rank Three, but by the time of the last battle, he had ascended one rank. If so, what had happened to the previous Upper Rank Two?
"Be careful, Shinobu..." Kanae reminded her gently, ignoring the fact that her younger sister had also become a Hashira.
In truth, encountering one of the Upper Ranks was not a complete surprise; after all, there was a reason the investigation had reached the point where two Hashira were required to handle it.
The sisters were prepared for this and didn't even consider retreating. They nodded to each other and, like fluttering butterflies, dashed deeper into the residence under the dim moonlight.
As they moved from the outer perimeter to the inner section of the vast estate, they came across frozen sculptures more and more frequently, surrounded by thick frost. Their frozen features expressed the sheer terror and despair of their final moments.
"Ice..." Shinobu murmured.
None of the known moons possessed such an ability.
It was currently known that Akaza was an unsurpassed master of martial arts, capable of sensing opponents' positions through his Blood Demon Art, and could even survive after having his head severed by a Nichirin Sword.
Essentially, only the sun could kill him.
There were also reliable descriptions of the abilities of Gyokko and Hantengu, as well as indirect knowledge of a demon who could instantly evacuate others using a spatial ability, though it was not yet clear if that demon was an Upper Rank.
Now, they had stumbled upon an entirely new power.
Tap, tap...
As they advanced, the demonic aura grew colder and colder, to the point that even the newly appointed Insect Hashira began to feel a chill and a sense of ominous dread.
After some time.
The sisters stopped before the central chamber.
Here, it was no longer just cold; the air reeked of blood. A distinct scent of a demon drifted from the illuminated room...
Without hesitation, Kanae and Shinobu approached the entrance, their blades already drawn and their gazes intensely focused.
Their steps were light and noiseless.
However, the expected ambush never materialized.
They passed through the main entrance unhindered and entered a spacious room lit by several lamps. Expensive carpets lay on the floor, drenched in blood that had not yet dried.
At the far end of the crimson trails stood a chair, where a young man with light hair was seated. A slight smile played on his lips as his right hand supported his chin, and a smudge of blood stained a lock of hair falling over his face. It was as if he had been waiting for the Kocho sisters to arrive.
At the same time, his left hand held a girl's head.
Just the head, without a body.
The girl's face was frozen in the terror of her inevitable death.
It looked as though she would never find peace...
"Oh, guests have arrived... I didn't expect to see such lovely girls... my joy..." the young man smiled warmly, shaking the girl's head with his left hand, "is beyond words..."
Visible within his beautiful rainbow eyes were distinct kanji.
Upper... Three...