Chapter 16 Nakime

Time is the least valuable thing to a ghost, especially for Iwakatsu, whose lifespan is very long.

Iwakatsu traveled towards Kyoto while looking at the map, but mostly chose to walk through sparsely populated areas. About two weeks later, seeing the now somewhat bustling town, Iwakatsu stepped inside.

This refers to the working-class areas on the outskirts of Kyoto, which are quite prosperous even without large families. Iwakatsu walked up to a restaurant, where the flow of customers was noticeably constant compared to other places; the darkness of night did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd.

"Hello, sir."

The shop assistant was just being polite to the customer, but he was stunned when he saw Iwakatsu. Even though he was close to Kyoto, he had never seen such a noble-looking person as Iwakatsu.

Are there... any seats left?

"Yes, yes, please come in."

Yan Sheng removed his straw hat, revealing a bright and clear face that drew frequent glances from onlookers. Yan Sheng, accustomed to such stares, paid little attention and followed the shopkeeper to a private room on the second floor.

The design of the Accord is actually a series of rooms separated by bamboo and beaded curtains, surrounding a hollow corridor on the second floor. From this position, you can see everything on the first floor, and the performances are even clearer.

Iwakatsu took off his ill-fitting haori, revealing the purple kimono that had been completely covered up. His clothes were too conspicuous, drawing too much attention on the street, so Iwakatsu simply bought a haori from a clothing store to cover up.

He knelt down in front of the low table and looked around. The location was well-designed, and he could see the crowd flowing below.

At this moment, a shop assistant brought in the tea, carefully placed it on the low table, and bowed to Yan Sheng.

"Sir, here is some tea and our specialty snacks. Our homemade wine is also particularly famous. Would you like some?"

"No... there are so many people."

"Ah, there's a biwa performance by Miss Nakime today, that's why everyone's here." Seeing that the other person seemed interested, the shop assistant continued, "Miss Nakime's style is very unique, one of a kind around here. You're welcome to listen."

"Nakome?"

Yan Sheng frowned slightly, wondering if it was the Nakime he was thinking of.

Nakime, in the original work, is Muzan Kibutsuji's close attendant and the demon who controls the Infinite Castle in another dimension; in short, she is the secretary of the scumbag boss.

Her Blood Demon Art, Infinite Castle, is also a powerful element in the story, serving as a base for the scumbag's faction. She can teleport anyone she desires to any location and can open portals when needed.

Iwakatsu immediately realized that the Blood Demon Art was extremely useful, an essential skill that saved time and effort. Of course, regarding Nakime's background and experiences, Iwakatsu could only say that they were both pitiful and hateful.

In the original story, Nakime is a woman who makes a living by playing the biwa (a seven-stringed lute), but she is not famous. Tragically, her husband is a gambler, and they live in poverty.

In such times, women were considered inferior to men. Naruko, having no social standing, could only endure it all, until one day, her husband pawned her only kimono—the one she wore to play the biwa—to fund his gambling. This filled Naruko with disappointment and anger, and in a fit of defiance, she killed her husband with a hammer.

After that, Nakime still had work to do, so she had to force herself to go to her workplace. Although the customers showed displeasure, when she played the biwa with her stiff and trembling hands, the completely different tone and melody directly captivated the customers present, who praised her continuously.

From that time on, Nakime would play the biwa after killing someone, and as a result, Nakime received a very high reputation.

"She is a pipa player who suddenly had an epiphany half a year ago. The melodies and timbre she played from that day onwards are captivating, but due to composition issues, she can only perform once every ten days or half a month."

With a smile, the shop assistant poured tea for Yan Sheng, bowed politely, and then left the private room.

So it's that Nakime. Iwakatsu looked at the woman who had already taken the stage below and confirmed his suspicions.

Nakime wasn't considered a beauty in her human days, but she was pleasing to the eye and possessed a cool, aloof air. It was a pity she never met the right person. Iwakatsu listened quietly, understanding why Nakime had suddenly become famous. (The following is a four-meter melody.) While the music was mostly in minor keys, Nakime expanded the range by eight notes, making the rhythmic contrast more pronounced and grand. The overall style of the music was stress-relieving, and Iwakatsu personally quite liked this style.

Looking at the jubilant scene below, Iwakatsu wondered whether he should report this to Boss Kujira. In the original story, Nakime targeted Muzan Kibutsuji but was killed instead. In the end, Muzan Kibutsuji admired Nakime and turned her into a demon.

We'd run into each other sooner or later, so it probably didn't matter whether we reported it or not. Yan Sheng watched the crowd gradually disperse on the first floor, left the bill on the table, and left the restaurant.

Unlike the towns I'd visited before, this place was exceptionally lively at night. Iwakatsu weaved through the crowd, skillfully avoiding physical contact with people.

Most demons particularly enjoy noisy crowds, firstly for food, and secondly because members of the Demon Slayer Corps are restricted in their actions in places frequented by ordinary people.

When Kokushiboku saw konpeito (Japanese candy) being sold at a stall, he couldn't help but think of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Kokushiboku had joined the Demon Slayer Corps at the age of eighteen on Yoriichi's recommendation, but unlike the others, he was much older.

The Demon Slayer Corps members all begin training at a very young age, with the latest joining being under fifteen. Kokushibo was actually not well-suited to this environment because of the class-based education and the age gap; he always acted alone.

Kokushiro Tsugikuni learned very quickly; at that time, he was the only newcomer on a mission, and he was with Yoriichi Tsugikuni. In the flashback, it was when they passed by this market that Yoriichi Tsugikuni stopped and bought konpeito (Japanese candy) amidst the puzzled looks of his companions.

“Brother, eating something sweet will make you feel better. I remember you like konpeito.”

Just like that, without any warning, Kokushiro Iwakatsu received a gift from his younger brother. Iwakatsu could sense the complex emotions Kokushiro Iwakatsu was feeling. He was on the verge of tears, like someone suddenly coming to comfort you when you've been alone all along.

"It's so sweet, too sweet! Who would still like the flavors from their childhood?"

...

Iwakatsu's thoughts returned, and he turned and left the stall. Rather than reminiscing, he decided to consider whether or not to contact Kibutsuji Muzan. Come to think of it, the last time he contacted him, the scumbag boss was still admiring his new experimental equipment, completely absorbed in his research.

If Kibutsuji Muzan were alive today, he'd definitely be a biologist, a researcher of human genes. Iwakatsu couldn't help but chuckle at his own thought.

Yan Sheng stared at the sign in front of him, never expecting that his aimless wandering had led him back to where he started. Just as Yan Sheng was considering whether to stay at an inn for the night, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Kuroshibo, what are you doing here?"