LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 31: Chapter 31
*Entrance to the Purgatory Family Mansion*
Purgatory Kyojuro bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
"Lady Kanae, thank you very much for saving my mother."
"It was no trouble at all," Butterfly Kanae said softly. Since she had been given power by the gods, she naturally had to do something within her abilities.
"If you need me in the future, please feel free to give me your instructions." Kyojuro patted his chest and smiled cheerfully.
"If you are ready, we will leave before dark today," Butterfly Kanae quickly changed the subject, a little unsure of how to handle this cheerful and enthusiastic boy.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to tell Father, but right now..." Kyojuro looked towards the mansion, where his father could be seen embracing his mother.
"He's too happy to thank you now, so I apologize on his behalf!" He bowed once again.
"It's alright. After all, Mrs. Purgatory's illness has just been cured, and she must have much to say," Butterfly Kanae replied gently. She understood well—she had seen many people crying with joy when her parents were still alive.
"Then let's meet in the evening."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure my father is on time," Kyojuro said loudly.
Butterfly Kanae said her farewells to the Purgatory Mansion and touched the Vision on her waist. Her healing powers came from the herbs she knew well. Without needing actual herbs, the power of magic allowed her to produce the effects of those herbs, and it was far more potent. The power could instantly cure diseases and even regenerate limbs.
But death could not be reversed—resurrection was the domain of the gods.
In addition, the Vision improved her swordsmanship tenfold. When she swung her sword, phantoms of herb flowers appeared out of thin air. These floral apparitions came imbued with their herbal effects. In particular, the apparition of wisteria flowers could prevent the rebirth of demons.
Upon returning to the Butterfly Mansion, she saw her sister wielding a sword using her Vision. The power that Shinobu received was different from her own. Shinobu could use the power of insects, combined with her own modified 'Insect Breathing.' Since there were only four types of insects, she could only wield four different insect powers.
Among them, Butterfly Dance allowed her to use the apparition of butterflies to attack while flying simultaneously. Flying in the sky—that was something only immortals could do. Kanae was a little envious of her sister.
"Sister, you're back," Shinobu stopped practicing her sword and looked at her sister who had walked into the Butterfly Mansion. She quickly shared her discovery with excitement.
"Sister, I found that if you place the Vision on your forehead, you can see something called the 'Constellation.'"
"Oh? Really?" Butterfly Kanae curiously placed the Vision on her forehead. For a moment, she saw the pattern of six stars and understood its message.
"Peony Constellation?"
Shinobu said excitedly, "Mine is the Colorful Butterfly Constellation. It seems that the stars represent the degree of fulfillment of our wishes."
"When all six stars light up, it means the wish has come true."
"I guess the more stars you light up, the stronger you become! And if they all light up, maybe you become a god!"
"Is that so? You're so observant, Shinobu."
The two sisters continued discussing the various magical features of the Vision with great interest, completely unaware of how quickly time passed. Soon, it was evening.
…
*Yoshiwara District - Pleasure Street*
This bustling district of pleasure and vanity, known for its customs during the Taisho era, was filled with the love, hate, and longing of men and women. The lights were bright at night, and people from all walks of life gathered here, with pink lanterns evoking the lust of the patrons.
Geishas performed on the gate tower to attract guests. Most of them had been sold into this life because their families were too poor to support them. Some had been abandoned when young and adopted by kind-hearted shopkeepers. If they were fortunate, they might meet a kind man who would redeem their life.
Even among the geishas, there was a hierarchy. Geishas skilled in singing and dancing were not prostitutes, while those who were, were called courtesans.
The members of the Demon Slayer Corps did not disguise themselves as they walked into Pleasure Street, openly wearing their uniforms. Even with two Vision holders present, they knew better than to face an Upper Rank demon one-on-one. Why fight alone when you could win easily in a group fight? Only a fool would choose otherwise.
"Even though we're prepared, there are too many people wandering the streets," Kyojuro gripped the handle of his Nichirin sword at his waist.
"That sly demon is hiding in plain sight," Sanemi Shinazugawa grumbled.
"Amitabha, if we fight here, innocent people are bound to get hurt," Gyomei Himejima said sadly, tears streaming down his face.
"Hey, isn't this tough for you? You need to open your mind and not be so rigid," Tengen Uzui said with a smirk.
"Uzui, do you have a plan?" Butterfly Shinobu asked curiously.
"Leave it to me to disperse the crowd. Once a commotion starts and the crowd scatters, we can act," Tengen Uzui said confidently, pointing to himself.
"Alright, it's in your hands," Shinazugawa nodded.
"I'm small, so I'll be responsible for rescuing the women taken to the underground cave through Kyogoku House's tunnel," Iguro Obanai's voice came from behind the bandages covering his mouth.
"That demon is disgusting, using those women as food and carrying them in her sleeves. Leave the demon called Daki to me." Shinobu was angered as she thought about the cave covered with bones, as described in the message from Lady Yae. How many people had been eaten by these two demons in the past hundred years?
"I'll take care of Gyutaro and drag him out," Shinazugawa cracked his knuckles.
"We all fight together when the time comes! Don't give them any chance," Uzui declared.
"Don't worry about being injured. As long as it's not an instant kill, I can heal everyone," Butterfly Kanae touched the Vision on her waist, and it glowed slightly.
Tengen Uzui smiled and gave a thumbs up.
"Alright, everyone ready? I'll go start things off."
After speaking, he clapped his hands, and two muscular mice ran out, squeaking and flexing their muscles like tiny bodybuilders.
The scene was so comical that even the usually stoic Giyu Tomioka's expression twitched. "What is that?"
"These are legendary ninja beasts, my muscle mice. They can carry out tasks in inaccessible places. I spent a lot of time training them, and they are very obedient," Uzui said seriously. He took out two bags from his clothes, squatted down, and made squeaking noises in front of the two ridiculously strong mice.
The mice put their front paws to their heads in salute, then grabbed the bags and ran off.
"You'll act once the crowd starts to panic," Uzui said, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
"What is Uzui planning?" Shinazugawa frowned, but he didn't have time to think as a series of explosions rang out, followed by screams.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*
A series of firecrackers went off, followed by a woman's scream.
"Ahhhhh! It's on fire!"
"Ahhh! There's a fire here too!"
"Put out the fire! Quickly, put it out!"
"Guests, leave immediately! There's a fire!"
"What's going on?! Why did it suddenly catch fire?"
"This has to be intentional! Hurry and put it out!"