One Piece: With Sign-in System
Chapter 256 - 7: Kill Him Yourself

Chapter 256: Chapter 7: Kill Him Yourself

"Lady Tamayo!"

Yushiro, who had just recovered enough to move, threw open the door in a panic.

There, sitting gracefully in front of the table in her elegant kimono, was Tamayo, unharmed and composed. Across from her, lounging casually with a hand propped under his chin and an infuriating grin on his face, sat that detestable man.

Ron.

The bastard even had the audacity to wave at him.

"Yo~"

Yo, my ass!

Yushiro burned with fury but chose to completely ignore him.

His eyes darted toward Tamayo, scanning her quickly. Seeing her clothes perfectly intact, he exhaled in silent relief.

Still, he couldn’t help blurting out, his voice brimming with concern, "Lady Tamayo, are you alright?! That man didn’t do anything... inappropriate, did he?!"

Tamayo frowned at his words and scolded him sharply, "Yushiro, mind your manners! Don’t speak so rudely in front of a guest. Apologize to Mr. Ron right now."

"Lady Tamayo..."

"Now!"

Staring at Tamayo’s cold and firm expression, Yushiro clenched his fists. Reluctantly, he bowed stiffly toward Ron, his voice strained and humiliated as he shouted:

"I sincerely apologize for my rude words earlier!"

Ron didn’t even bother looking at him. Instead, he turned to Tamayo with a pleasant smile. "Miss Tamayo, why don’t you show me to my room?"

Tamayo nodded, her tone calm. "Of course. Please, follow me."

Just as she was about to rise—

Yushiro suddenly snapped back to attention, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Wha—?! L-Lady Tamayo, is he... staying here?!"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "Mr. Ron will be staying here for the time being. I’ve already agreed."

Her words struck Yushiro like thunder, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

As Tamayo walked past him, Ron casually followed.

While passing by, Ron patted him on the shoulder. "Yushiro-kun, would you mind running out to get me a curry rice?"

Yushiro immediately slapped his hand away, about to snap at him—only to meet Tamayo’s watchful gaze.

Instantly, his attitude crumbled.

With gritted teeth and a face full of resentment, he stuck out his hand. "Money."

Ron dropped a few coins into his palm, still smiling. "Make it spicy."

Yushiro took the money and dashed out of the house toward the town center, muttering the same word over and over like a curse. "Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it..."

Meanwhile, under Tamayo’s guidance, Ron made his way upstairs to one of the guest rooms.

He sank into a cushioned chair by the window, tested its softness, and then closed his eyes in contentment, the expression on his face that of pure indulgence.

Tamayo stood by the door, looking at him, clearly hesitant.

Ron opened his eyes slightly and glanced at her. "Miss Tamayo, is there something else on your mind?"

She hesitated for a second before asking softly, "Is it true? That Kibutsuji Muzan has disguised himself as a human... and is hiding somewhere in this town?"

Ron gave a small nod. "Mm. But don’t worry—he hasn’t found this place yet."

"That’s not what I’m worried about," Tamayo replied, shaking her head slowly. A flicker of fury passed through her usually calm eyes. "If possible, I want to destroy that monster as soon as I can. That thing who toys with life like it’s nothing..."

Ron looked out the window and took a sip from his flask. "There are too many humans in this town—perfect prey for him. For you, this isn’t an ideal battlefield."

"Perhaps," she admitted. "But it’s also a rare opportunity. If we miss this chance... he’ll vanish again."

Tamayo bit her lip, her eyes brimming with hatred so intense it was almost tangible.

Then she looked at Ron with a trace of desperation.

"Mr. Ron, you know so much about Muzan. You’ve tracked him, and your strength... is undeniable. If you’re willing to help us, our chances of killing that demon will rise tremendously."

"Will you aid us?" she asked, her voice trembling with hope. "I’ll pay any price—anything at all—if it means putting an end to him."

Ron turned his gaze away from the window and looked at her, smiling calmly. "We’ve only just met, Miss Tamayo. And you already trust me? Trust my strength?"

Her answer was quiet but unwavering.

"There’s something about you... The aura you carry... It’s the same as his."

Tamayo gazed at him with unwavering seriousness.

"The same aura... as the swordsman who once wielded a crimson blade and nearly defeated Muzan Kibutsuji four hundred years ago—Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the founder of the Sun Breathing style!"

"The creator of Sun Breathing, huh... Yoriichi Tsugikuni..."

Ron gave a soft nod. As someone who had mastered Sun Breathing to its very limits, it was no surprise that the aura he exuded bore a faint resemblance to the legendary swordsman of old.

"But if I were the one to finish him off, that’d be... terribly dull."

Ron stood and took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Towering over Tamayo, he peered into her gentle eyes, veiled with a soft pink mist. With a calm, almost teasing smile, he said, "You and Muzan share a deep grudge, don’t you? In the end, it’s best if you are the ones who end him."

Tamayo’s eyes dimmed, the light in them faltering just a bit.

But Ron’s next words brought that light blazing back.

"Still, depending on how things go... I might lend a hand now and then."

...

And so, Ron took up residence at the mansion.

Yushiro, much to his fury, was relegated to the role of errand boy.

If he wasn’t already out running errands, he was on his way to go run more. The man had no rest.

But the worst part wasn’t the constant legwork. No—what really drove Yushiro to the brink was the fact that that guy had the audacity to say he’d be researching demon blood with Lady Tamayo alone. And even had the nerve to tell him—Tamayo’s most loyal attendant—not to disturb them while they were together?!

Yushiro was practically breathing fire from the lungs he didn’t have.

But there was nothing he could do.

Bitter and seething with resentment, he stormed off to run yet another errand.

"DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU, YOU BASTARD!!!"

Finally, by that evening...

Catching a rare moment when Ron and Lady Tamayo were apart, Yushiro cloaked himself using his Blood Demon Art, concealing both his presence and form. Then, sneaking up behind Ron, he launched a fierce flying kick straight at him.

And just like last time... it completely missed.

The next instant, Ron was behind him.

With one casual sweep of his leg, Ron punted him clear out of the mansion. Yushiro crashed hard into a narrow alley beyond the courtyard wall, the impact snapping at least a dozen of his bones.

There was only one word that could describe his condition: tragic.

...

That night.

Ron and Tamayo sat together, sipping tea while exchanging insights on the latest developments in demon blood research.

Tamayo listened with focused attention as Ron explained and broke down the data, her eyes fixed on him, completely absorbed.

Off to the side, in the dim corner of the room, Yushiro stood silently.

Watching the pair across the table—Ron with his composed brilliance, Tamayo with her gentle poise—he felt the corner of his eye twitch violently.

Too close. Way too close...

His gaze zeroed in on Ron, blazing with hostility hot enough to ignite the air.

Ron paused in the middle of his sentence and suddenly turned his head, looking out toward the mansion’s gate. A flicker of curiosity crossed his face.

"What is it?" Tamayo asked softly.

"It’s nothing," Ron replied with a grin. "I’m just hungry. Want to take a stroll through the streets with me?"

...

Meanwhile, on the bustling streets of Asakusa in Tokyo—

Tanjiro stood with Nezuko at his side, staring blankly at the vibrant city around them, jaw hanging open.

"The buildings... they’re so tall! What is all this?!"

"Has the world... has the city really changed this much?!"

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