Tamayo's laboratory.
Chiba Yo knocked on the laboratory door, carrying a rather small demon.
A week had passed since he left the Wisteria House. During that time, he had found no trace of Muzan, but he had found a demon with a Spatial Blood Demon Art and slain two other demons.
This demon's spatial ability was troublesome. It could teleport to wherever its own blood remained active. Demons' bodies possessed considerable vitality; unless their heads were severed with a Nichirin Blade, they could still move even with their heads separated from their bodies. As a result, this demon's blood remained active for quite a long time.
Capturing it without killing it had taken Chiba Yo a fair amount of time-longer than his battles against Upper Rank Five and Kaigaku combined.
After catching this demon, Chiba Yo had also received a summons from headquarters through a Kasugai Crow. The twice-yearly Hashira Meeting was about to begin, so he had returned.
The door opened, revealing Yushiro behind it.
"Come in."
Before Chiba Yo could say anything, Yushiro spoke.
Huh?
Chiba Yo felt that something was off. Yushiro's attitude this time was very different from their previous encounters. Though his tone was still somewhat cold, he seemed less hostile toward him.
Chiba Yo also noticed an air of sadness hanging over Yushiro.
"Oh, all right."
Though he did not understand what was going on, Chiba Yo answered and entered the laboratory. Once he was inside, Yushiro closed the door without prompting.
"Lady Tamayo is inside. Wait here for a while."
After saying this in a tone tinged with sadness and indifference, he went into the inner room.
Chiba Yo sat beside the table, still unused to Yushiro's change. One thing was certain: something must have happened while he was away.
A short while