"I have already done what I should have, according to your request. When will you give me what I want?"
Takakura Ken glanced at Kaigaku and smiled, saying, "Be patient, I will definitely do what I promised you. You too are someone born of darkness. I look forward to you becoming my colleague."
"Hurry up! I want revenge!" Kaigaku roared. "I want to become stronger!"
Takakura Ken, with a calm expression, said, "After I purify this young girl, I will give you that lord's blood. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. Please be a little patient."
'I'm not a gentleman!'
Kaigaku clenched his fists, knowing he didn't have the strength to bargain, and could only stay silent.
After hearing the conversation between the two, Shinobu was filled with shock and disbelief.
"Kaigaku! You're insane! Do you know, if you become a demon, the one who trained you, Mr. Kuwajima, will have to commit seppuku!"
Kaigaku didn't care and said, "Who cares about that old man!"
"But you," he sneered, "About to die and still have time to worry about others?"
Shinobu glared angrily and said with contempt, "You're truly scum!"
Kaigaku snorted coldly and said, "Is it wrong to live for oneself? Is it wrong to want to become strong? I want to become a strong person, not a weakling like you! Is that wrong!"
Shinobu wanted to argue, but the poison spreading rapidly through her body had already taken away her ability to speak.
'What kind of poison is this!'
Even after studying poisons for years, she was still shocked by how fierce this one was. Her tender lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.
In Kaigaku's eyes, this was nothing but weakness and guilt. He laughed wildly and became even more aggressive.
"A weakling is a weakling! Just looking at you makes me sick! A piece of trash who can't even swing a Nichirin Blade, relying on luck and tricks to become a Hashira, and you still have the nerve to act arrogant in front of me."
"You even dared to kick me out of the Demon Slayer Corps!?" Kaigaku's face twisted, and he roared angrily.
Hearing this, Shinobu's eyes became vacant, and her light purple pupils lost their usual shine.
She had always felt inferior because her strength wasn't enough to cut off a demon's neck. Even after becoming a Hashira, she still thought this way.
Although Kaigaku's betrayal played a role in the current situation, ultimately, it was because she lacked strength. If it were another Hashira, it wouldn't have ended up like this.
After all, among the Hashiras, she really wasn't suited for combat. Other Hashiras had many offensive techniques, but her Insect Breathing had only a few.
If one excluded her skills in poison, her strength might not even match an average swordsman.
Crack~ Crack~ Crack~
The stone wall in front of the two suddenly made noise, and three blood shadows leaped in instantly.
"Boss!"
The three of them lowered their heads, kneeling on one knee.
Takakura Ken frowned and said, "Didn't I tell you to attract the Demon Slayer Corps' attention over there? Why did you come back? And... where are the other four?"
The androgynous demon and the seductive female demon exchanged glances and honestly replied, "...Dead."
Takakura Ken said, "Their strength may not match the Lower Moons, but they shouldn't be that useless."
"After all, I gave them a good amount of the lord's blood. Tell me, what really happened? Don't tell me you ran into a Hashira?"
The androgynous demon gave a brief explanation of what happened that night.
Takakura Ken sneered, "Are you playing me? A guy who doesn't even have a Nichirin Blade drove you into fleeing?"
The androgynous demon was speechless.
The seductive female demon braced herself and described Jotaro's power that night. Then she added a bit more, "That thing gave off a glow just like the sun, just looking at it made us feel uncomfortable."
Takakura Ken sneered even more, saying, "Shut up. Stop making excuses for your failure! If it were really as bizarre as you say, would you have even had the chance to escape?"
The seductive female demon curled her lips. 'Don't believe me? Wait till you face him yourself! Don't blame me for not warning you.'
The androgynous demon mused, "He's definitely bizarre, but his attacks seem to have a range limit. If not, we definitely wouldn't have escaped."
"Alright, alright!" Takakura Ken said impatiently.
In his view, these were just excuses from a bunch of failures.
The seductive female demon didn't bother explaining more and instead said, "Boss, we should leave this place as soon as possible. That guy has been searching for our traces."
Takakura Ken thought for a moment, then nodded. He always acted cautiously.
Every time he hunted, he would have his subordinates distract the Demon Slayer Corps elsewhere.
"After I purify this girl, we'll leave."
Shinobu was already completely paralyzed, unable to muster even a bit of strength.
The little loli wrapped entirely in a black robe glared at her fiercely, breathing cold air from her mouth, and said word by word, "Cut... cut..."
Her small body trembled slightly, as if excited.
Shinobu's beautiful eyes looked at this demon, which reminded her of Yae who went up the mountain alone.
If she guessed correctly, the enemy Yae was looking for wasn't a bear, but her own mother who turned into a demon.
'A pitiful girl...'
Unable to protect her, Shinobu felt deep guilt. 'It's all because I was too weak.'
If she encountered a demon, that girl would have had no chance to survive. Now she could only hope that the person the demons talked about earlier was Jotaro, and hope he really had that kind of strength, and that he could save that girl in her place.
But just thinking of Jotaro's cold face and nasty personality, she felt a bit powerless. Would someone like that really care about others?
"You all please step out. During purification, I don't like men being around," said Takakura Ken gently.
The androgynous demon shrugged and stood up. Though he thought he didn't count as a man, Takakura Ken clearly disagreed.
"I hope you keep your promise," Kaigaku said coldly, then followed the androgynous demon out of the secret chamber.
Takakura Ken turned his back and walked to the square wooden table.
"Bring her over."
The seductive female demon rolled her eyes. If it weren't so cold outside, she wouldn't want to stay here with this pervert at all.
"What a cute girl," she said, revealing a wicked smile, and picked Shinobu up.
"Watch your words. How could she possibly be cute now?" Takakura Ken said with displeasure.
He was immersed in his own world and didn't seem to notice the demon dropped Shinobu at his feet.
"To this world, humans are sinners! And the vessel that breeds sinners is inside her body."
His voice softened as he looked at Shinobu, "Don't be afraid. Very soon, I will take the vessel out of your body. You will be purified. Your body will no longer breed criminals!"
His face showed a fanatical, longing expression. "At that time, you will be the most beautiful person in the world."
He spread his arms, and half the candles in the chamber were extinguished instantly. The light dimmed, and the large curtain behind him slowly fell.
Behind the curtain, nearly thirty girls were tied to stone Hashiras, completely naked, with their pelvic areas exposed.
Shinobu's purple mist-like eyes widened. It was the first time in her life seeing a hellish scene like this.
Shock, anger, sympathy, hatred… All emotions on her face eventually turned into fear.
She wasn't afraid of dying. Even being killed by a demon wouldn't make her flinch. But to suffer something more terrifying than death, she was afraid.
She was strong, but after all, still just a sixteen-year-old girl.
'Big sister...'
So helpless, facing such a cruel demon, anyone would be afraid.
"Then let the great purification ceremony begin."
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