Time had passed since the Infinity Train incident. Thanks to the intensive treatment at the Butterfly Mansion, Rengoku Kyojuro's injuries had nearly healed completely.
His ribs had mended, and the damage to his internal organs had recovered. However, the left eye he lost to Akaza did not return.
"Hmm! I can only see half the world! But I can open my mind's eye even wider!"
Kyojuro laughed heartily with an eyepatch on. The Demon Slayer Corps leader, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, had advised him to rest for a while, but Kyojuro wasn't one to lie still.
He focused on the information Tanjiro had passed on—the connection between Oda Nobunaga and the Akatsuki Trading Company.
From the woman who defeated Akaza on the Infinity Train, he sensed the same scent as those who had taken Tamayo away, calling themselves the Akatsuki Trading Company.
Others might doubt Tanjiro's words, but Kyojuro believed him.
Moreover, there had always been suspicions about them. The Akatsuki Trading Company was clearly no ordinary business.
'A woman who calls herself the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. It's certain that the Akatsuki Trading Company isn't just a simple enterprise.'
However, direct investigation of the company was forbidden by the leader's order. After much thought, Kyojuro came up with a clever idea.
'Then, I'll visit as a customer! Eating isn't a crime! Hmm!'
Kyojuro removed his haori and went out into the streets in plain kimono attire.
Tokyo's bustling districts were covered with signs for the Akatsuki Trading Company: Akatsuki Curry, Akatsuki Ramen, Akatsuki Western Restaurant, and more.
The company already dominated Japan's food culture.
His first stop was Akatsuki Curry. The rich smell of spices struck his nose.
Curry was a high-end dish at the time, but here, it was priced so that even commoners could enjoy it without burden.
Others tried to copy it, but without the recipe and with spices hard to obtain and expensive, they couldn't match the company's low prices.
It was essentially a market monopolized by the company.
"One extra-large curry rice bowl here! Hmm! What an excellent aroma!"
Kyojuro scooped a generous spoonful of curry into his mouth.
"Delicious! Delicious! Delicious!"
His booming voice startled the staff and customers.
But Kyojuro paid no mind. Deep flavor, just the right spiciness, and generous, hearty meat with no skimping on ingredients.
There was nothing suspicious about it. In fact, it was too excellent.
Next was the standing steak. It was an innovative system that offered expensive Western-style grilled meat at a low price by serving it standing up.
Kyojuro sliced into the thick meat and marveled.
"Hmm! Delicious! High-quality beef with no signs of suspicion! The price is relatively cheap for this quality! I see why it's so popular!"
And then Akatsuki Ramen.
Ramen was invented in 1910—just three years ago. Yet, the Akatsuki Trading Company was already making instant ramen and various types of ramen, dominating the market.
From tonkotsu to shio, shoyu, miso, tori, even tomato—they created innovative ramen and monopolized this market too.
The place was so crowded that people lined up to eat. Kyojuro ordered tonkotsu ramen. Rich pork bone broth and chewy noodles.
Slurp!
"Hmm! The broth is incredible! This is the taste of a national dish!"
Kyojuro visited several restaurants, conquering katsudon, menchikatsu, kushikatsu, and even jajangmyeon.
The conclusion was one.
'The food is innocent. No, it's excellent. Hygiene, taste, price, quality... everything is perfect.'
It was hard to believe that demons stood at the pinnacle of this massive corporation.
'Demons created such a wonderful culture for humans? What's their scheme?... There's clearly nothing suspicious. Is it just for making money?'
Kyojuro's thoughts grew complicated.
"Hmm! Next, I should try this thing called gyoza. They say it's Chinese dumplings adapted to Japanese tastes—I'm looking forward to it!"
Kyojuro headed for a shop with a sign that read Akatsuki Gyoza. A clean exterior with red lanterns.
Just as he was about to step inside, a familiar scent and voices reached him.
"Wahahaha! Good smell! It's the smell of frying!"
"Inosuke, be quiet! There are lots of people here!"
"But it's definitely a good smell, right? There's frying, maybe grilling? It's a food smell I've never encountered before."
It was Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke.
They seemed to have finished their rehabilitation training at the Butterfly Mansion and stepped out for a bit.
"Hmm! It's you guys!"
Kyojuro called out to them loudly.
"Huh?! Rengoku-san?!"
Tanjiro's eyes went wide. Zenitsu and Inosuke rushed over in delight.
"Have you been discharged? Are you feeling okay?"
"Hmm! I'm fit as a fiddle! Losing an eye messes with my depth perception a bit, but I'll adapt in no time!"
Kyojuro laughed robustly and patted Tanjiro's shoulder.
"You boys look healthy too!"
"Yes! Thanks to you!"
"You look hungry. I'll treat you! Let's go in together!"
"Woohoo! One-Eye is the best!"
"Really?! Thank you!"
The four of them gathered around a table in the gyoza shop. Kyojuro ordered every type of gyoza on the menu.
Yaki gyoza, sui gyoza, fried gyoza, shrimp gyoza, and more.
"Here, eat up!"
"Let's dig in!"
Tanjiro took a bite of a freshly grilled yaki gyoza. Crunch.
Hot juices burst from the chewy dumpling wrapper.
"It's delicious! The juices are amazing!"
"What is this?! Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside!"
Inosuke stuffed gyoza into both hands and chewed noisily. Zenitsu moved his chopsticks with a happy expression.
"Delicious! Delicious!"
Kyojuro, too, emptied plates while uttering his characteristic exclamations.
Gyoza wasn't yet popularized in Japan. It became widespread after World War II.
Especially those sold by the company were gyoza tailored to Japanese tastes, excellent as rice accompaniments.
The interior of the shop was clean, and the staff were friendly. On the wall hung the Akatsuki Trading Company's motto: "Filling the Bellies of the People."
Tanjiro looked at Kyojuro while eating gyoza.
"Rengoku-san. The food here... it's really tasty."
"Indeed! It's excellent! The best I've ever had!"
"But... all these shops are part of the Akatsuki Trading Company, right?"
Tanjiro's voice grew softer.
"Yes. That's right, Tanjiro boy."
Kyojuro set down his chopsticks and spoke with a serious expression.
"I've been wandering around to check on that too. But... I found nothing suspicious. The food has no poison, no evil aura. If anything, it's making people happy."
Kyojuro gazed out the window at the bustling street.
People carrying shopping bags with the Akatsuki Trading Company logo passed by, smiling.
"Demons advancing human culture and bringing happiness... How ironic. That the evil I must cut down wears such a benevolent face."
"..."
Tanjiro recalled the faces of those who took Tamayo and Nobunaga. Were they truly evil? Then why did they kill Akaza and save them?
If they were demons, they ate people, so they should be enemies.
But the gyoza before him was too delicious, and the people in the shop all looked peaceful.
"The Akatsuki Trading Company is under much suspicion. In the past, the Demon Slayer Corps fought against beings like the one calling herself Oda Nobunaga."
"Really?"
"Hmm. My father, the former Flame Hashira, fought a young demon in a neat suit. My father, who could easily defeat Lower Moons, was defeated that day. From that point on, he ultimately decided to retire. That young demon's power was at least Upper Moon level."
"Upper Moon. Level meaning there was no number?"
"Yes. Does that ring a bell?"
"Yes. The ice demon we fought with Giyu-san also had no number."
"I see. It's not just the demon my father fought; there's also the girl demon Uzui faced. Uzui was utterly defeated, and even his sturdy Nichirin Sword was broken. And in the past, squad members investigating the company were killed."
"What?!"
"But they had stolen the company's goods. So, even as the Demon Slayer Corps, we couldn't defend them. The company left a warning and turned them into corpses. Since then, the order came down to avoid contact with the Akatsuki Trading Company."
"I see..."
The circumstances were clear. But they lacked the power to investigate or fight them.
The power to utterly defeat Hashira and even defeat Upper Moons.
For the Demon Slayer Corps, the key was how to deal with them.
"Hmm! Worrying won't bring answers! For now, let's enjoy this delicious gyoza! We need strength to catch demons!"
Kyojuro laughed heartily again, changing the mood.
"Ten more orders of gyoza here!"
"Woohoo! I won't lose! Full-throttle eating!"
Inosuke charged in with competitive spirit. Setting aside complex doubts, they decided to savor the delicious happiness before them.
In the irresistible world of gourmet cuisine created by the Akatsuki Trading Company.