A world of black, bizarre and colorful.
In that instant, Gyutaro seemed to see much.
He saw his young self, born at the very bottom of the pleasure district, ostracized for his ugliness. For in the pleasure district, beauty was everything.
So, everyone thought he was a burden, a waste of money just by being alive, even his own mother.
Until Daki was born, when she was still called Ume.
Ume possessed a beauty in her youth that overwhelmed adults. Gyutaro, proud of this, gradually lost his inferiority complex, and thus found his place in the pleasure district.
Everything was developing in a good direction. Gyutaro firmly believed his sister would become a top courtesan, and then they would have a good life.
They would be together forever.
Until eternity, forever…
But, when his sister was thirteen, she stabbed a samurai in the eye to resist him, and was then set on fire by the samurai, leaving her barely alive and disfigured.
In that moment, Gyutaro felt the sky collapsing.
A cold night, with snow falling.
His spirit on the verge of collapse, he cried out in his heart, filled with righteous anger.
Why?
Why was fate always so unfair?
His hatred piqued the interest of a demon. The Upper Rank Six at the time brought them before the Demon King, and they received the Demon King's blood.
Many years later…
Upper Rank Six became two individuals, one named Gyutaro, the other Daki.
His sister became a top courtesan.
They were still together.
Alas, now they were going to die.
In a daze, Gyutaro saw that beautiful girl, running towards him, crying.
At least, they were still together.
...
"You have successfully defeated Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki. Mission rewards: Upper Rank Six Random Blood Demon Art x1, Upper Rank Six Random Blood Demon Art x1, Shard of God's Stone x15."
Byakuya stood amidst the ruins, a luminous screen appearing before his eyes.
The final hidden mission was complete.
At the same time, Byakuya understood why there were two identical rewards instead of a "x2".
It was because one reward was a random Blood Demon Art from Gyutaro, and the other was from Daki.
Ultimately, Byakuya received two Blood Demon Arts: Daki's "Eight-Layered Striking Silk" and Gyutaro's "Crimson Scythe".
However, neither held much meaning for Byakuya, as he couldn't use Blood Demon Arts unless he became a demon.
But they could be traded. Still, Blood Demon Arts were relatively difficult to trade, as not everyone was willing to become a demon.
Fortunately, Byakuya also had the Sound Breathing, and an advanced version at that. With the Blood Demon Arts, he wondered if he could trade for another black item.
Thinking this, Byakuya left the ruins.
If nothing unexpected happened, Tengen Uzui should be appearing with the Demon Slayer Corps. His part was over; he had completed his mission, and now it was the Demon Slayer Corps' story.
Soon, Byakuya disappeared at the end of the street.
The inn he stayed at was far away and undamaged by the battle. Byakuya skillfully evaded everyone, climbed through the window, and threw himself onto the floor in a spread-eagle pose.
"I'm exhausted!"
Byakuya was confident in defeating the Upper Rank demons, thanks to the Aries Cloth and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
But he was still tired. Gyutaro was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined.
Perhaps, fighting higher-numbered Upper Ranks would have been easier. After all, Gyutaro and Daki's twin abilities were truly troublesome. Without seeing through their essence, it was impossible to kill them both.
As Byakuya was contemplating this...
"Pururu, pururu, pururururu, pururu..."
From Byakuya's body, the Steel Slime condensed into a Den-Den Mushi, and its ringing began.
"Hm? Gao Ming, is he that impatient?"
Byakuya glanced at the Den-Den Mushi and was surprised. It wasn't Gao Ming's Den-Den Mushi, but Jin Sha's.
Byakuya casually answered, "Hello?"
A weak voice came from the Den-Den Mushi, "Hello, Byakuya, I'm dying."
Byakuya blinked, "Ah?"
Jin Sha said again, "I'm severely injured, I might die."
Byakuya paused, then said indifferently, "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 had nothing to do with Byakuya.
Having collaborated in the past meant nothing. Byakuya only acted when there were benefits; if not, it was none of his business, and he had no intention of wasting time on matters unrelated to him.
"That's exactly what you'd say, truly without any humanity..." Jin Sha started, then coughed violently. After a while, she continued, "I really want to pay anything to beg you to save me, but I think it's useless now. I'm truly dying, you won't be able to get here in time."
Byakuya thought for a moment, "Given that we know each other, there's some connection. What do you want to engrave on your tombstone? I can do it for you."
"I'd rather you didn't consider that connection." Jin Sha coughed violently again, then said, "I've sent something to you via Pelipper."
Byakuya asked, confused, "Hm?"
Jin Sha said, "Your goal is undoubtedly the central tower, to leave this place, right? After all, you're so strong."
Byakuya nodded, "Yes."
Jin Sha said, "Then do you know? You don't actually need to go to the central area to have a chance to speak directly with a god."
"Oh?"
Byakuya became interested. This was something he didn't know, and he hadn't heard of it even in his previous life.
Jin Sha said, "Some restricted areas, or hidden missions, will feature gods. These gods were originally gods from various worlds. You should know that gods truly exist in some worlds."
Byakuya nodded, "Yes, the Mythological Civilization Worlds."
Jin Sha explained, "But gods cannot bring themselves into the world battlefield. After all, they are gods. Therefore, the gods in the world battlefield will replace the original gods and play their roles."
Byakuya suddenly understood, "So, if I find this type of restricted area or hidden mission, I'll have a chance to speak directly with a god?"
"Yes, however, the chosen ones from the Mythological Civilization Worlds are very rare, and such restricted areas and hidden missions are naturally even rarer." Jin Sha panted, "But I found one, and what I sent you is related to it."
Byakuya was silent for a moment, "What do you need me to do?"
Jin Sha replied, "Liu Shiyue, the vice-president of the Hidden Dragon Association."
"Mm, I understand," Byakuya said, "He will die."
From the other end of the Den-Den Mushi came Jin Sha's laughter, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Byakuya replied, "Since I've received the item, fulfilling the agreement is something I should do."
Jin Sha was silent for a moment, then said, "Goodbye."
Byakuya responded, "Goodbye."
...