After polishing off the last bite of his soba, Ron casually tossed a few coins on the counter and gave the owner a nod.
"Not bad at all."
Just as he rose from his seat, preparing to leave—
Two voices drifted in from behind.
"Lady Tamayo, that dress we saw earlier... the color really suited you."
"Did it now..."
A graceful woman strolled past, clad in a deep violet kimono, a beige waistband tied around her waist. Her long black hair was pinned into an elegant bun, her lips a soft red, her expression calm and gentle. By her side walked a youthful boy, trailing behind her like a loyal shadow.
He was dressed in a white kimono, and his gaze never left her. The admiration in his eyes was almost tangible.
Lady Tamayo looks beautiful today... and she’ll definitely look just as beautiful tomorrow too.
The two walked right past the soba stall.
The bald vendor rubbed his chin as he watched the pair walk away, clicking his tongue with a chuckle.
"What a refined beauty. If I could marry a woman like that, I’d gladly give up ten years of my life! What do you think, mister—if I proposed to her, would I stand a chance?"
No answer.
"...Mister?"
He turned around.
The tall young man who had been sitting there just monts ago was already gone—vanished without a trace.
"...Thanks for your patronage."
...
Beneath the dim yellow glow of the street lamps.
Tamayo and Yushiro made their way deeper into the alley.
At the far end, Tamayo was the first to step into the hidden space. Her figure vanished into the wall as if it had swallowed her whole.
Yushiro paused briefly, scanning the area to make sure no one was watching. Seeing it was clear, he stepped forward to follow.
But the mont he crossed the threshold—
His nose bumped straight into Tamayo’s back.
A wave of bliss was just rising in his heart when her serious voice pierced his ears, freezing him in place.
"You... Who are you?"
Yushiro’s head snapped up.
Standing before them was a tall young man clad in black, a flask tied at his waist. He stood with hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly.
"Good evening."
"!"
Yushiro’s expression changed in an instant. Without the slightest hesitation, he sprang in front of Tamayo, shielding her with his body.
His posture shifted into combat mode, eyes locked on the stranger.
’No scent of a demon... Is he human? Then how did he find this place?!’
Countless questions flooded Yushiro’s mind.
But one thought roared above the rest.
’Lady Tamayo’s whereabouts must not be exposed!
This man must be eliminated!’
A glint of murderous resolve flashed in Yushiro’s eyes.
He launched forward with a sharp stomp, shooting straight at the intruder.
Tamayo frowned.
"Yushiro, stop!"
"Forgive , Lady Tamayo. I cannot obey this ti.
Your safety cos first."
Determined, Yushiro charged at the black-clad man. His right leg swept out in a ruthless arc, aiming to land a crushing kick.
But just as his attack was about to connect—
The man vanished.
It was like he had disappeared into thin air.
"What!?"
Yushiro’s pupils shrank.
And then—
A hand descended from above. Calm. Effortless. It landed on his shoulder like a falling feather.
Before Yushiro could even register what was happening—
BOOM!
The next thing he knew, he was kneeling on the shattered ground, his left shoulder demolished, his arm hanging limp. His knees, too, were crushed beyond recognition.
"!?"
Yushiro’s eyes widened in horror, his pupils trembling violently.
It felt like he’d been plunged into an icy abyss.
W-What just happened... just now?!
Yushiro’s mind reeled in utter disbelief.
"You should be grateful to your Lady Tamayo," the young man’s calm, smiling voice sounded beside his ear. "If it weren’t for her, you’d be dead already."
That sa voice, gentle but filled with quiet authority, continued:
"Next ti, don’t go throwing around killing intent at people you don’t know. Also... Lady Tamayo, your Blood Demon Art won’t work on . Best not to try."
After speaking, the black-clad youth turned his smiling gaze toward Tamayo, who had just been about to unleash her technique.
Tamayo paused, staring at him.
After a few monts of tense silence, she slowly lowered her hand.
She could feel it—an overwhelming difference in strength.
"...You’re clever," Ron said with a light smile. "No wonder you managed to escape from Muzan Kibutsuji. Not just a human, but a demon."
That na hit like a thunderclap.
Yushiro’s expression turned rigid, his chest heaving with alarm.
Tamayo’s eyes narrowed as she locked her gaze onto him. "Who... exactly are you?"
The black-robed man returned her look with a friendly smile. "The na’s Ron. Just a simple traveler passing through."
Tamayo looked at him in silence.
Yushiro, however, couldn’t stay quiet. He shouted in a panic, "Lady Tamayo! Don’t trust him! He must be one of Muzan’s lackeys! You have to run!"
But Tamayo shook her head gently. "Muzan would never ally himself with a human."
It was like trying to rember how many slices of bread you’ve eaten in your life—pointless. Muzan always blended in among humans, but once his identity was discovered, there were only two outcos: death, or transformation into a demon.
He’d never align himself with beings he deed as prey—lesser creatures.
"Besides..." Tamayo raised her eyes to the young man before her. "This guest harbors no killing intent. If he had... we’d already be dead."
"But—!" Yushiro wanted to protest further.
Before he could, Ron cut him off with a smile: "Hey now, I’m still your guest. Isn’t it a little rude to leave standing out here? Why don’t we continue this conversation inside over a nice cup of tea?"
Tamayo looked at him for a couple of seconds, then turned and walked to the door of the residence.
She opened it and gestured politely. "Please, co in."
Ron followed without hesitation, stepping over the threshold behind her.
As he passed the doorway, he casually turned his head and glanced into the courtyard—where Yushiro still knelt, both knees shattered, unable to rise. Ron gave him a deliberately playful smile before closing the door behind him.
"L-Lady Tamayo..."
Yushiro stared blankly at the shut door.
Inside his head, the mory of that black-robed youth’s cryptic smile replayed over and over... and now, the fact that Ron was alone in the room with Lady Tamayo filled him with dread.
A horrifying idea clawed its way into his mind.
"C-Could it be...?!"
"His real target... is Lady Tamayo’s beautiful body?!"
Scenes began playing out in Yushiro’s imagination like a horror film. His pupils dilated, his mind quaking in terror.
"Nooooooo!!"
...
Inside the residence.
Ron sat comfortably on a chair, sipping from the cup of tea Tamayo had just handed him.
He couldn’t help but smile as that anguished scream echoed from outside.
Amusing.
Tamayo’s gentle, watery eyes quietly studied him. "Yushiro is extrely protective of . If he offended you just now, I offer my sincerest apologies."
Ron gave her a reassuring smile. "It’s fine, Lady Tamayo. I’m not that petty. I wouldn’t hold a grudge over sothing so trivial."
He sipped the tea and added, "At most, I might toy with him a bit. Maybe give him a few bruises. But demons heal quickly, don’t they?"
"I see..."
Tamayo’s expression relaxed just a little.
A short silence fell between them.
Then Ron spoke, breaking the stillness. "You have more questions, don’t you, Lady Tamayo? Go ahead—I’ll answer as I see fit."
Tamayo lifted her gaze to the mysterious, powerful man before her. Her cherry-red lips parted gently.
"...Mr. Ron, just who are you, really?"
"A perfectly ordinary man. A wanderer with too much ti on his hands."
"How do you know about this place? About ?"
"I have my ways."
"Then why have you co here?"
"If I said I was bored... and just ca to find sothing interesting to do—would you believe ?"
"..."
Tamayo was montarily at a loss for words.
"Besides looking for sothing fun, there’s also a favor I’d like to ask of you."
Ron took another sip of tea, his eyes still on hers. He smiled lightly. "In exchange... I’ll share so information with you—regarding Muzan Kibutsuji."
Tamayo’s eyes imdiately sharpened, filled with tension.
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