Inside the dim room, the smell of blood-stained rags mingled with the rank odor of unwashed bodies, creating a revolting atmosphere.
One man, his face a sickly sallow yellow, looked at the leader with the severed leg and asked with a trace of apprehension, "Boss Kondo, that brat is... strange. Are we really going to fight someone like that to the death? I've heard rumors that the men we hired to kill Gyutaro are all dead. And their bodies... they say they were all mangled, like they'd been gnawed on by wild beasts. Not a single one was whole. People are saying that brat Gyutaro isn't even human—that he's a man-eating demon. Since we didn't succeed, maybe if we just leave them alone, they won't come looking for us. So, how about we just—"
Before the sallow-faced man could finish, Kondo whipped a dagger from his robe and plunged it directly into the man's throat. As a spray of hot, thick blood splattered across his face, Kondo looked like a vengeful ghost clawing its way out of hell.
"Chojiro, you were always good at weighing the pros and cons. But this time, why did you choose to betray us? Did you think I didn't know?"
Kondo twisted the blade. "I gave you money to hire men to kill Gyutaro, and you pocketed more than half of it! You only sent two men after that brat, and they were just starving beggars! Anyone could kill a pair like that, no matter how weak they were! And to cover up your greed, you made up this pathetic excuse about demons! Do you have any idea how much I gave you? It was enough to hire nine strong thugs! Even if a real demon showed up, nine men would have torn it apart! Do you understand me?!"
Kondo spoke while repeatedly stabbing the dagger into Chojiro's throat. The torrent of blood made it impossible for Chojiro to utter a single word of defense.
"Hey! I remember your wife and kid are quite pretty, aren't they? Once this is over, I'll sell them to the district. I'll split the money from their sale among the rest of the men here as compensation for your greed!"
Only as his body and consciousness spiraled into darkness did Chojiro realize the truth: he had been turned into a sacrificial lamb to bolster morale. Only through his death could Kondo erase the men's fear of Gyutaro; only his blood could spark their fading courage.
As the men around him erupted into excited, bloodthirsty roars, Chojiro's life reached its end.
He hadn't done any of those things. It was all Kondo's lie. He cursed them—he cursed every single one of them to die a horrible death! But what about his family? That bastard Kondo would definitely make good on his threat!
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
But no matter how much resentment he felt, it could only manifest as a wet, gurgling sound in his throat. He died, a cold corpse exchanged for the "warmth" of the coins his brothers-in-arms would soon receive.
A short distance away, the Peace Officer stood watching the scene with a smirk of pure contempt.
Humans truly are ugly creatures...
Yet, it was these ugly creatures that possessed such rare, delicious bodies. Looking at Chojiro lying in a pool of blood, the officer's mouth split into a wide grin, and a few drops of thick, foul-smelling saliva leaked from the corner of his lips.
He was going to eat these men—all of them. He was so close; he could feel a unique power gestating within his body. It was his Blood Demon Art. As soon as he manifested it, he would gain Lord Muzan's attention. He would receive more blood, perhaps even becoming one of the Lower Ranks!
No, maybe even the Upper Ranks were within his reach!
Visions of being favored by Lord Muzan danced in his head. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Stumbling upon this scene was an unexpected delight. He had originally come looking for the wounded brat from the afternoon, but after hearing a commotion, he decided to take a look. Who knew he'd find such a treat?
And based on what these men were saying, they were connected to that brat. In that case, he'd just eat this entire group when the time came! They didn't look particularly appetizing, but they would serve as a fine side dish to accompany the main course.
He had a premonition: once he consumed that boy, his Blood Demon Art would finally bloom!
Being a Peace Officer was such a convenient role. He could take those "commoners" to the dungeon whenever he pleased and feast on prisoners at his leisure. No one ever cared if they lived or died.
He, Yamada Mura, might just become the first demon in hundreds of years to climb from the Lower Ranks to the Upper Ranks.
The flesh on his palms began to writhe as small, suction-cup-like mouths emerged. They allowed him to cling to the walls, and as he moved through the shadows of the night, flakes of plaster fell like snow—a grim omen of the future to come.
Meanwhile, at a roadside soba stall, a man with vibrant orange-red hair named Rengoku Mujuro was sampling a bowl of buckwheat noodles. From time to time, he would let out strange, boisterous exclamations like, "Umu! Tasty!"
He looked at the stall owner, who was hunched over cutting vegetables, wiped some broth from his lip, and asked with a bright smile, "Old man! Have there been any reports of deaths around here lately?"
The old man looked up slightly. Beneath his heavy eyelids were eyes filled with a numbing apathy. He coughed twice, his voice devoid of emotion. "Deaths? Dozens, maybe hundreds happen here every day. If you're asking, I can only tell you about the ones that happened on this specific street."
Hearing this, Rengoku Mujuro's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly. He rubbed his chin, his expression turning heavy with regret. "Is that so... It seems that even in a great city like Yoshiwara, so many tragedies still occur. However! Old man, I believe that as long as life goes on, things will surely get better! Don't you agree?!"
Faced with this strange man suddenly trying to cheer him up, the stall owner thought he was incredibly naive. Yet, being around someone like that actually lifted his spirits a little. His mouth twitched into a weary smile.
"If things turn out the way you say, then I'd be truly grateful."
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Demon Slayer: Starting by Snatching Daki(52 Chapter- Ongoing)
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