Shirou Emiya — Doesn't Want to Work Overtime!

"I've had enough of this! Tonight, I'm going to eat her!"

With a snap, Daki whipped the pink silk sash in her hand, tossing the figure depicted on it onto the floor.

The girl blinked in confusion, rubbing her head as she climbed to her feet.

The whole room was shrouded in darkness. If not for the sliver of moonlight, she might not have been able to see anything at all.

Am I back?

Glancing around at the familiar surroundings, Asakusa Kaori rubbed her eyes, dazed.

"Not bad—at least you're still refined enough to be called food," Daki murmured, lifting Kaori's chin with a hint of admiration in her tone.

Despite her youth and frail body, Kaori was undeniably beautiful. If she survived to adulthood, she'd be the kind of woman to turn heads everywhere, at the very least destined to become an oiran—provided she grew up healthy. As things stood, so thin and sickly, even her beauty was dulled.

Just as Daki's fingers closed around Kaori's neck, a shadow blocked the moonlight at the window.

"Seems I picked a bad time."

The voice that drifted in was neither quite male nor female.

"Muzan-sama!"

Daki immediately flung her "food" aside, dropping to her knees, face full of reverence.

"It looks like your strength has grown since you've been here in the pleasure district."

There was a note of approval in Muzan's voice, as if genuinely pleased by her progress.

No one paid the slightest attention to Kaori, now slumped against the wall, then slowly sliding to the floor.

"If you keep devouring more humans, you'll become even stronger."

Muzan stepped forward, gently stroking Daki's cheek.

"Now then—"

But just then, a sound came from right at his feet, catching even Muzan off guard.

"…Hungry."

By now, Kaori's wounds had almost entirely healed. She seemed to have lost all awareness, her body moving on pure instinct as she edged toward Muzan's side.

It was just like that moment when Tanjirou, having glimpsed the [Transparent World], appeared behind Akaza without him realizing.

Right now, Kaori felt not the slightest malice toward anything around her.

"Muzan-sama!"

Daki gasped as she saw Kaori sink her teeth into Muzan's ankle. The crimson sash whipped around, ready to tear Kaori apart.

But Muzan merely waved his hand, signaling her to stop.

"What an interesting child. Since you want to eat demons, I'll give you my blood."

As the progenitor of all demons, Muzan could sense it clearly—inside this girl's body was a strong demonic aura, far more than usual. She likely shared the same constitution as the rare demon-eaters from the past, the kind that could gain demonic power by devouring other demons.

She was young, yet had consumed so many demons that her body hovered between human and demon—hence how she'd recovered so quickly. If she didn't eat humans, she'd need enormous amounts of food to sustain herself. That explained her constant frailty and thinness.

Muzan hadn't expected to find such a treasure just by stopping by to check on Daki.

He'd tried to convert all sorts of people, even members of the Demon Slayer Corps, hoping that those with Breathing Techniques would, with a blood demon art, become even stronger. But most of them either lacked the talent, or clung to their humanity until the end—not that Muzan cared much.

But demon-eaters were exceptionally rare. Muzan had always wanted to study them—beings who gained power from eating other demons. Such a creature could be terrifying.

And if a demon-eater consumed his own blood and flesh and survived, they might even rival him in strength. That could make them a formidable enemy.

But if a demon-eater were loyal to him, Muzan's army would become even stronger.

"Daki, you really are my lucky star."

With a smile, Muzan stroked Daki's face, while the blood from his wounded leg flowed steadily into Kaori.

Kaori's body swelled with energy—her cheeks filled out, color returned to her skin. In the span of a few heartbeats, veins bulged beneath her skin, and she started to whimper and groan in pain. She let go of Muzan's leg, clutching her head, her face twisted in agony.

It seemed Kaori could only endure so much of Muzan's blood—any more, and her instincts screamed she'd burst from within.

"When she's ready, just dump her somewhere. If she grows up, she could become another Upper Moon."

Muzan patted Daki's head, completely confident in Kaori's potential.

"Her blood demon art could become a thorn even in my side."

And in the blink of an eye, Muzan vanished—gone as if he'd never been there.

When he was gone, Daki stood up and walked to the window.

"Who should I eat next?"

Just then, a flash of vivid red hair entered Tokijiro House.

What a hassle. One more meal of his cooking, then I'll eat him too.

Sighing, Daki made up her mind.

"You should still have some control left. Hold off your hunger for now, and come with me downstairs."

Kaori seemed to steady herself, adapting to the power surging inside her. She stood up shakily, nodded with effort.

"If he doesn't wise up, tonight will be his funeral."

Daki quickly reapplied her makeup and changed her clothes, gathering up her killing intent and tucking it neatly out of sight.

On her face, she wore the smile that had made men in this district throw everything away for her.

If it weren't for Emiya's food, which even I—who have never cared for human food—found delicious, I would have eaten him tonight already.

Her plans for tonight ruined, Daki felt a sting of annoyance. What's more, Emiya had been close to Kaori for quite some time; Kaori had only just turned into a demon—letting him discover anything now would be troublesome.

Whether sentiment or practicality, Daki knew she'd have to kill Emiya. She couldn't allow her centuries-old territory to be compromised by the Demon Slayer Corps.