Isekai Adventure in the Dimensional Cube

Under the illumination of the moonlight, the small town, rarely lit by candles, wasn't completely engulfed in darkness. There was sufficient light for Kochou Shinobu to easily make out the full appearance of the person before her.

There she hovered in midair, wrapped in ribbons, her waist-length hair a pure white with greenish tips, and a flower hairpin tucked in her hair. Tattoos of pink flowers graced her left cheek and right forehead. Her attire was somewhat revealing; a woman of considerable beauty, though the paleness of her skin and the fine, crack-like lines that marred it lent her a rather menacing air.

The woman's gaze upon Kochou Shinobu was smiling, filled with both admiration and a vicious aggressiveness. The word "Upper Moon" was inscribed in her left eye, and the numeral "Six" in her right, prompting Kochou Shinobu to narrow her eyes.

"Upper Moon Six..."

Kochou Shinobu's hand involuntarily rested on the sword at her waist.

"That's right. I am Upper Moon Six, Daki."

Daki seemed in no hurry to deal with Kochou Shinobu, merely hovering in midair, bathing in the moonlight, smiling at her.

"You're a Pillar, aren't you? It's been a while since I saw one as pleasing to my eye as you. I've decided, you'll be the eighth Pillar I devour!"

Kochou Shinobu's eyelids dipped slightly at Daki's words.

"...I see, you've eaten that many Pillars, have you?"

Kochou Shinobu murmured as such.

"Yes, I've eaten quite a few Pillars, of course, far more have not been eaten by me." Daki boasted, "Not all Pillars are good-looking, and I only eat beautiful ones. The ugly ones aren't even worth a glance, so consider yourself lucky because you are beautiful."

"Ah la la, should I feel honored?"

Kochou Shinobu drew her sword.

It was a peculiar Sun Wheel Blade, with a four-leaf shaped cross-guard and a mint green handle. The blade was slender, tipped with barbs, and inscribed on both sides with the words "Evil Demon" and "Annihilation." It looked more like a fine sword than a knife.

"You want to resist?" Daki seemed in a good mood as she admired Kochou Shinobu's face and taunted with a laugh, "It looks like you've never faced an Upper Moon before. I am not like the demons you've slain in the past. Those of the Lower Moon are not even comparable to me. A mere human Swordsman, even if you are a Pillar, you are pathetically weak before me. Why not just let me devour you obediently?"

"That won't do." Kochou Shinobu said with a radiant smile, "Although I've indeed never encountered an Upper Moon, if possible, I'd prefer to get along well with you all. However, being eaten would be quite inconvenient."

"Huh? Get along well?" Daki was immediately amused, "Stop trying to fool me, girl. Do you think I can't sense your killing intent just because you have a smile on your face? You clearly can't wait to kill me!"

Kochou Shinobu didn't argue. Her eyes, still smiling, now conveyed an ice cold murderous intent towards Daki like never before.

"Tsk." Daki's mood soured immediately; she tilted her head, looking down at Kochou Shinobu from her lofty position, "You are seriously unpleasant, little girl. But for the sake of that pretty face of yours, I won't take you back as reserve food. I'll just eat you up right here."

As she spoke, the ribbons floating around Daki came to life, writhing as if animated.

Kochou Shinobu adjusted her breathing and gripped her Sun Wheel Blade firmly.

On the blade, a strange sheen flickered.

...…

Shortly after Kochou Shinobu and Daki's encounter, in a corner of the small town, Yuuka emerged from within a pot.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo."

He covered his mouth with his small hand, muttering to himself as if holding back laughter.

"The slaughter has begun."

With his words, unnoticed disturbances began occurring in various corners of the town.

Upon closer inspection, in these corners, there was indeed a pot placed.

These pots began to shudder, and then out crawled various odd, aquatic creatures.

They had muscular physiques akin to human warriors, with well-developed limbs. Their heights varied—some were up to two or three meters while others were nearly two meters. Where their heads should be, there were goldfish heads instead, and on their backs, they also bore pots, completely defying human aesthetics and anatomy.

They roared, their hands morphing into sharp claws, and the moment they emerged from the pots, they attacked every sign of life around them.

"Boom..."

A sudden loud noise erupted in the town.

"There are demons!"

"The demons have appeared!"

"Ahhhh!"

People panicked, rushing out of their houses and running haphazardly through the streets.

The odd aquatic creatures pounced on every human, roaring as they swung their heavy fists or slashed with their claws, sending several Demon Slayer Corps members who had rushed to the scene flying or slicing them open, spilling them out into pools of blood.

"Enemy raid!"

"Demons have come!"

"Notify the Demon Slayer Corps! Inform the mansion!"

"Protect the residents!"

Swordsmen in Demon Slayer Corps uniforms were all shouting and howling as they charged towards the bizarre aquatic creatures.

The small town was plunged into chaos, its tranquility shattered.

...…

"Cough, cough..."

Inside the Ubuyashiki family mansion, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, disregarding his increasingly frail body, climbed out of his bed.

"Lord Kagaya, please do not exert yourself."

His wife was by his side, supporting and comforting him, yet it had no effect.

At the window of the room, an entirely black crow appeared there, and it spoke human language.

"Demons are attacking! Demons are attacking! The headquarters' location has been exposed! The town has been exposed!"

Such a crow that spoke human language was, without a doubt, the Kasugai Crow of the Demon Slayer Corps.

The Kasugai Crow brought this startling news, making it impossible for Ubuyashiki Kagaya to remain lying down.

"Amane, which Pillars are still in the town?"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya grabbed his wife, seeking an answer.

"...Shinobu is definitely there, and Kyoujurou has only just returned shortly ago, so both the Insect and Flame Pillars are in town," Amane said after a moment of silence, then continued with suppressed emotion, "Love Pillar Kanroji Mitsuri and Mist Pillar Tokitou Muichirou left not long ago, and are currently wandering near the Swordsmith Village, seemingly preparing to go there. Rock Pillar Himejima Gyoumei, Water Pillar Tomioka Giyuu, and Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen are all in their respective territories. Wind Pillar Shinazugawa Sanemi and Serpent Pillar Iguro Obanai have entered deep mountains for training. These seven Pillars are not here right now."

This was undoubtedly a very bad situation.

Out of nine Pillars, seven were not in the town, which made the town's capacity to resist demons extremely weak.

But this was just the usual for the town.

Kibutsuji Muzan had thought that the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters might have several Pillars at the ready, but in truth, there were not many Pillars stationed in the town — sometimes not even one.

Because the Demon Slayer Corps' combatants numbered at most a few hundred, who had to be spread out to hunt demons across the entire nation, especially the Pillars, each with their own territories to oversee. They were already quite busy with regular duties, thus it was only during the biannual Pillars' Meetings that many Pillars could be seen gathered together.

This meant that the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters was actually not as heavily guarded as others imagined.

Rather, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had always advocated not to station too much combat power for protection around himself, because these forces would be wasted guarding him, when he could fall at any moment. They would be better deployed hunting demons so that more demons could be eliminated, more people could be protected, and the Demon Slayer Corps' long-held wish could be approached more closely.

Therefore, although Demon Slayer Corps members were arranged to patrol and protect the HQ on a regular basis, there were not many Pillars stationed there — at most, two or three at a time.

At this very moment in the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, only Insect Pillar Kochou Shinobu, who managed the Butterfly Mansion, was present, as well as the recently returned Flame Pillar.

"Cough cough!"

Ubuyashiki Kagaya couldn't help but cough a few times, coughing up fresh blood.

"Master Kagaya!"

The concern in his wife Amane's voice could no longer be hidden.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya extended his hand, signaling her to remain calm, and then said with difficulty, "Tell the corps members to cover the evacuation of the townspeople, with the kunoichi assisting in guiding them. Use the prepared routes."

The Demon Slayer Corps had encountered many destructive crises to date, and the experiences of nearly being wiped out several times over hundreds of years had taught them that in finding a place to settle, they must first consider what to do in case of an attack.

Thanks to this, the Ubuyashiki family had prepared numerous shelters and evacuation routes near the town.

Now was the time for them to be put to use.

"Yes, Master Kagaya."

Amane immediately took the command and went down to give orders.

"Cough cough..."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya coughed a few more times, then looked towards the full moon outside the courtyard.

"I hope everything is still in time..."

The whisper echoed through the moonlit night, fading away after a while.

......

"Thud thud thud!"

In the midst of urgent footsteps, Rengoku Kyoujurou, fully armed, was leaping from rooftop to rooftop with the wind at his feet and a ring of fire around him, enveloped in flames, advancing at high speed.

"I didn't expect demons to attack the town! I must find the leader first!"

Rengoku Kyoujurou's goal was clear: to first ensure Ubuyashiki Kagaya's safety and to protect him during the evacuation.

Although the town was currently under demon attack, and the screams of the populace continually echoed in his ears, motivating Rengoku Kyoujurou to protect them, the safety of the leader was his top priority. Rengoku Kyoujurou had to suppress his urge and trust in the abilities of the corps members as he headed towards the Ubuyashiki residence.

"...!?"

As he was rushing, Rengoku Kyoujurou suddenly came to an abrupt halt and sharply turned towards something he had inadvertently caught sight of in the corner of his eye.

"Yi yi yi!"

An old man with horns on his head and a face like a wrathful deity peered out from the corner, trembling and crying out while looking at Rengoku Kyoujurou.

"Do not, do not bully me, I only wanted to ask where Tsukiguni Yoriichi was," the old man pleaded.

The Demon Dog hid in the corner, crying.

In response, Rengoku Kyoujurou took just one action.

That was, to charge forward.

"Boom!"

The flames erupted, propelling Rengoku Kyoujurou like a rocket to the Demon Dog's face, a blade slicing through.

"Spurt!"

The next second, the Demon Dog's head was severed.