The Courtesan on the Verge of Demonification

"Such heavy resentment..."

Sitting on the back of Higokumaru, they circled the coast of Bungo Province, but unfortunately, Yae Sakura and her companions could not find which offshore island was Yoshiwara Bay.

It was simply because there were too many islands here.

However... while they hadn't found the island, they had discovered a place filled with resentment.

A pavilion in the pleasure district along the coast.

"Do you want to go take a look?"

Yae Sakura turned her head to look at Kikyo behind her.

"Yes. To have such intense resentment even in broad daylight, we cannot leave it be." Kikyo nodded. As a kind-hearted shrine maiden, she could not ignore it.

"Alright, let's go check it out! Higokumaru."

"Understood."

At these words, Higokumaru flew directly toward the pavilion and landed in a deserted corner nearby.

After tidying her clothes, Yae Sakura picked up Higokumaru, who had transformed into a small fox, and walked toward the pavilion.

However, all the tourists along the way looked at Yae Sakura and Kikyo with very strange expressions, leaving the two of them confused about the situation.

Yae Sakura's ears were hidden by her cloak, so they should not have been discovered.

After walking a few steps and seeing the pavilion and the surrounding shops, Yae Sakura finally understood why.

This was a red-light district. No wonder they were receiving those strange looks; two shrine maidens coming to such a place was indeed eye-catching.

In this era, the status of shrine maidens was still quite high. As maidens who performed exorcisms or served the gods, they were all required to be physically pure without exception.

In this world, demons truly existed, and even the daimyo and nobles dared not force themselves upon a shrine maiden.

Of course, it was not as if there were no fallen shrine maidens.

But the intense, holy aura radiating from Kikyo made it impossible for anyone to believe she was that kind of maiden.

"The resentment is coming from inside this pavilion... but..." Yae Sakura looked at the building before her, feeling a bit intrigued.

Huayue Pavilion. This was a pleasure house.

"The atmosphere here makes me very uncomfortable. Let's leave for now!"

Feeling the strange gazes of the people around them, especially in a place like this, Kikyo felt uneasy.

"Let's go."

Yae Sakura pulled Kikyo, turned around, and they left.

"Why did they run off? Such beautiful shrine maidens..."

"That holy appearance makes one feel a sense of desire to corrupt them. Do you think they want to become courtesans?"

"Don't talk nonsense, those are shrine maidens..."

"Shrine maidens who come here don't look like they are all that pure. They are both so beautiful, especially that temperament. If they came here... the next Oiran might be them, right?"

"That's true..."

Watching the two shrine maidens turn and walk away quickly, the onlookers couldn't help but show interest.

"What now? Are we still going?"

After leaving the pleasure district, Kikyo couldn't help but look at Yae Sakura.

"Let's go back at night..." Yae Sakura looked at the sky; there was still some time before nightfall.

"That works."

When night fell, the three of them headed toward Huayue Pavilion once more. However, the pleasure district seemed even livelier at night than during the day. The streets were hung with lanterns, and many people were crowded around an outdoor stage at Huayue Pavilion.

Yae Sakura and Kikyo had changed out of their shrine maiden robes and were wearing ordinary kimonos.

There were many other women here wearing kimonos in the crowd, as it seemed there was an Oiran performance tonight.

The Oiran was the pinnacle of the women in the pleasure houses.

Once one became an Oiran, countless men would offer gold, silver, and jewels. She would possess the most luxurious clothing and become the most honored person among people.

There was no woman in a pleasure house who did not want to become an Oiran; after all, who wouldn't want to bloom like a flower?

However, there was only one Oiran, and becoming one was extremely difficult. It required not only outstanding beauty but also diligent study of the tea ceremony, dance, waka poetry, and court music.

Moreover, these skills had to be superior to all other women before one could be qualified to be chosen as an Oiran in their most beautiful years.

Watching the Oiran dancing gracefully on the stage, she was indeed beautiful...

Perhaps because this was not the orthodox world of Japan, the Oiran here did not wear ghost-like makeup but rather fit the aesthetic standards of modern people.

Well, perhaps a bit more anime-esque.

"Sakura, this Oiran..." Kikyo looked at the Oiran on stage and tapped Yae Sakura on the shoulder.

"Yes, there is something wrong with her... she is on the verge of turning into a demon!"

The Oiran's body was filled with an aura of resentment and filth...

"But there is still time to stop it..."

"Let's wait until she finishes her performance..."

The Oiran's performance lasted about an hour. Once it concluded, the crowd began to disperse, and the Oiran turned and returned to her room.

"I can't... hold on much longer..."

The Oiran returned to her room, shooed her maids away, went to her vanity, and slowly took off her outer garment.

To her horror... on her back, several evil eyes had grown.

"How disgusting... why is it like this?" The young Oiran looked at the eyes on her back, crouched on the floor powerlessly, and wept in regret...

"The power of a demon is never perfect. To get what you want, you must lose what you cherish." At that moment, a voice rang out, giving the Oiran a great fright.

"Who? Who is there?" The Oiran asked, immediately looking around with vigilance.

"Just two meddlesome shrine maidens."

Yae Sakura appeared in the room with Kikyo. Looking at the eyes on the Oiran's back, Yae Sakura couldn't help but frown. How disgusting...

She didn't know why, but here in Japan, when humans fell and turned into demons, they always seemed to grow eyes on their bodies.

Could it be because a dense cluster of eyes made people feel more fear?

"Shrine maidens... can you save me? Please! I beg you." The Oiran realized what was happening and, not caring that her upper body was bare, knelt directly before Kikyo and Yae Sakura.

"Why did you accept the power of a demon? It won't be long before you turn into a monster completely." Kikyo couldn't help but ask.

The Oiran was in this state because she had actively accepted the power of a demon.

"I... I... because I wanted to become an Oiran, but relying on my own efforts was too hard! I know I was wrong! Lady Shrine Maiden, I beg you." As she spoke, the Oiran knocked her head against the floor.

As mentioned before, as women of the pleasure house, basically none of them did not want to become an Oiran.

Once they became an Oiran, even if they were still birds in a cage or tools for others to make money, it was still far better than the lives of others.

It was just like how many people were willing to endure unspoken rules to become stars... or even actively sought them out.

And there was no difference between an Oiran and many of those stars.