The world was black, bizarre, and fantastical.
In that instant, Gyutaro seemed to see many things.
He saw his younger self, born at the very bottom of the pleasure district, ostracized because of his ugliness. In the pleasure district, beauty was everything.
So, everyone thought he was just a burden, a waste of money just by being alive, even his mother.
Until Daki was born. Back then, she was still called Ume.
Ume possessed beauty that overwhelmed adults even at a young age. This made Gyutaro, who had been proud of it, gradually shed his inferiority complex and allowed him to gain a foothold in the pleasure district.
Everything was developing in a positive direction. Gyutaro firmly believed that his sister would become a proud courtesan, and then they would have a good life.
At that time, they would be together forever.
Forever and ever…
But when his sister was thirteen, she stabbed a samurai in the eye to resist him. He then set her on fire, leaving her a burned husk, barely alive.
In that instant, Gyutaro felt the sky collapsing.
A cold night, with snow falling.
His spirit on the brink of collapse, he cried out in grief and anger, unleashing the injustice deep within his heart.
Why?
Why was fate always so unfair?
Hatred piqued the demon's interest. The then Upper Rank Six took them before the Demon King, and they received the Demon King's blood.
Many years later…
Upper Rank Six became two people, one called Gyutaro, the other Daki.
His sister became a proud courtesan.
And they were still together.
Unfortunately, they were about to die now.
In a daze, Gyutaro saw that very beautiful girl, crying, running towards him.
At least, they were still together.
…
“You have successfully defeated Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki. Mission rewards: Random Blood Demon Art of Upper Rank Six x1, Random Blood Demon Art of Upper Rank Six x1, Shard of God's Stone x15.”
Byakuya stood amidst the ruins, a light screen appearing before his eyes.
The final hidden mission was completed.
At the same time, Byakuya understood why there were two identical rewards instead of “x2”.
Because one reward was a random Blood Demon Art from Gyutaro, and the other was a random Blood Demon Art from Daki.
Ultimately, Byakuya received two Blood Demon Arts: Daki’s Eight-Layered Serrated Blades, and Gyutaro’s Blood Spilling Camellia.
However, neither was of much significance to Byakuya. He couldn’t use Blood Demon Arts anyway unless he became a demon.
But they could be traded. Though, Blood Demon Arts were relatively difficult to trade, as not everyone was willing to become a demon.
Fortunately, Byakuya also possessed Sound Breathing, and an advanced version at that. Coupled with a Blood Demon Art, he wondered if he could exchange it for another black item.
As Byakuya pondered this, he left the ruins.
If nothing unexpected happened, Tengen Uzui should be appearing with the Demon Slayer Corps. There would be nothing for him to do afterward. He had already completed his mission, and the story would now proceed with the Demon Slayer Corps.
Soon, Byakuya disappeared at the end of the street.
The inn where he was staying was far away and had not been damaged by the battle. Byakuya bypassed everyone and climbed through the window, throwing himself onto the floor in a starfish position.
“So tired!”
Byakuya was confident he could defeat the Upper Rank demon, after all, he had the Aries Saint Cloth and the Thunder Fruit.
But he was still tired. Gyutaro was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined.
Perhaps, dealing with a higher-numbered Upper Rank would have been easier. After all, Gyutaro and Daki’s twin abilities were truly troublesome. Without understanding their intricacies, it was impossible to kill them both.
Just as Byakuya was thinking…
“Boro boro, boro boro boro, boro boro…”
On Byakuya’s body, the Steel Slime solidified into a Den Den Mushi, and its ringing began.
“Huh? Gao Ming, is he that impatient?”
Byakuya looked at the Den Den Mushi, then froze. The Den Den Mushi that appeared was not Gao Ming’s, but Jin Sha’s.
Byakuya casually answered, “Hello?”
Jin Sha’s weak voice came through the Den Den Mushi, “Hello, Byakuya, I’m dying.”
Byakuya blinked and said, “Ah?”
Jin Sha said again, “I’m severely injured, I might die.”
Byakuya paused, then indifferently replied, “Oh.”
Jin Sha asked, “You won’t save me, will you?”
Byakuya replied, “That depends on what price you’re willing to pay for me to save you.”
In other words, without any benefit…
Then, Jin Sha’s life or death was of no concern to Byakuya.
Having cooperated in the past meant nothing. Byakuya only acted for his own benefit. If there was no benefit, it had nothing to do with Byakuya, and he had no intention of wasting time on matters that did not concern him.
“That’s exactly what you would say, truly devoid of any human kindness…” Jin Sha said, then suddenly coughed violently. After a while, she continued, “I want to pay anything to beg you to save me, but I think it’s useless. I’m really close to death, you won’t be able to make it in time.”
Byakuya thought for a moment and said, “Considering we know each other, there’s a bit of a connection. What do you plan to engrave on your tombstone? I can do it for you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t remember that connection.” Jin Sha coughed violently again, then said, “I’ve sent you something via Pelipper delivery.”
Byakuya asked curiously, “Hmm?”
Jin Sha said, “Your goal is definitely the Central Tower, to leave this place, right? After all, you are so strong.”
Byakuya nodded, “Yes.”
Jin Sha said, “Do you know? You don’t actually need to go to the central area to have a chance to talk directly with a god.”
“Oh?”
Byakuya became interested. This was something he didn’t know, and even in his previous life, Byakuya had never heard of it.
Jin Sha said, “Some forbidden zones, or hidden missions, will feature gods. These gods were originally gods from various worlds. You should know that some worlds really have gods.”
Byakuya nodded, “Yes, the Mythological Civilization Worlds.”
Jin Sha said, “But gods cannot bring their divine essence into the world battlefield. After all, they are gods. Therefore, gods in the world battlefield will replace the original gods and play their roles.”
Byakuya suddenly understood, “So, by finding these types of forbidden zones or hidden missions, there’s a chance to talk directly with gods?”
“Yes, however, the chosen ones from the Mythological Civilization Worlds are very rare, and these types of forbidden zones and hidden missions are naturally even rarer.” Jin Sha gasped, “But I found one, and what I sent you is related to it.”
Byakuya fell silent for a moment and asked, “What do you need me to do?”
Jin Sha replied, “Liu Shiyue, the Vice President of the Hidden Dragon Society.”
“Hmm, I understand.” Byakuya said, “He will die.”
A laugh came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Byakuya said, “Now that I’ve received the item, fulfilling the agreement is what I should do.”
Jin Sha was silent for a moment, then said, “Goodbye.”
Byakuya replied, “Goodbye.”
…