Dimensional Kaguya Ōtsutsuki

From the outside, the building appeared neither luxurious nor conspicuous—just an ordinary house with no distinguishing features. But once inside, its true splendor revealed itself. Ornate crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, intricate murals adorned the walls, and plush cashmere carpets stretched across the floors. Elegant pearwood furniture completed the decor, exuding a sense of opulence that left visitors dazzled.

The establishment had two levels. The upper floor served as the dining area for guests, while the lower level housed humans—the food.

The Tsukiyama Family Manor operated on a grotesque principle: humans weren't merely prey but a delicacy, selected and prepared with the utmost care to appeal to the refined tastes of the ghoul clientele. This allowed them to indulge their twisted culinary fantasies without compromise.

At this moment, the restaurant was abuzz with activity. The air was filled with chatter and laughter as dozens of guests leaned over the railings, pointing and gesturing at the humans below. They excitedly discussed which parts of the humans were the most delicious and how best to prepare them.

"They certainly know how to have fun," Kaguya whispered from her hiding spot nearby, watching the scene below with interest.

"This is disgusting. Treating humans like livestock to be slaughtered—utterly unforgivable," Amon Koutarou growled through gritted teeth, clenching his fists tightly.

"Calm down," Kaguya said, patting the justice-driven young man on the shoulder. "Don't let them spot us."

"Right," Amon nodded, though his anger was palpable.

Meanwhile, the restaurant's macabre entertainment was about to begin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting! Dinner is ready. Tonight's main course: these four individuals!"

A deep voice boomed from the loudspeakers as neon lights flickered across the restaurant, rousing an excited response from the crowd.

The floor in the center of the second level began to part slowly, revealing four bewildered humans on the lower level. They stood frozen, their faces pale with fear and confusion.

"On the left, we have a man who works as an editor for a gourmet magazine. Even with his busy schedule, he never skips the gym, resulting in a lean, muscular physique with a firm texture. He comes highly recommended by Mr. TR!"

"Why… Why are you saying this about me?" The man in a tailored suit stammered, his eyes wide with panic as he struggled to grasp the reality of his situation.

"On the right, in stark contrast, is a plump woman with ample marbled fat—though her refusal to bathe has left her surface oily. Rest assured, she will be thoroughly cleaned before serving. Recommended by Mr. G."

"Souta, it's you!" The obese woman screamed, her voice trembling with disbelief. "You… you deceived me! All this time, you've been lying to me. What about our promise to marry? And now, tonight…"

Kaguya covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "This guy's taste is seriously questionable. Seducing someone like her? I couldn't do it if my life depended on it."

"Wow, what a loud voice," said a man wearing a clown mask—Souta—mockingly, picking at his ear. "Sorry, but I don't date pigs. And by the way, I'm very much into appearances."

"I always thought something was off," the woman wailed, sobbing uncontrollably. "You never ate anything, and everything you said was nonsense—just lies. I should have known you were a complete scumbag!"

"I fattened you up for this very day," Souta said with a smirk, bowing theatrically to the assembled guests. "Everyone, please enjoy her rich, fatty flavor."

Kaguya, initially entertained by the spectacle, gradually furrowed her brows as her gaze lingered on the clown-masked man. There was something familiar about him.

Then it clicked. This was the same person who had ambushed her before.

Souta.

If Kaguya hadn't misheard, someone had just referred to him as Souta. That name made his identity unmistakable—he was none other than Kichimura Washuu.

This man was arguably the most dangerous ghoul antagonist ever encountered, possessing unparalleled strength. He not only annihilated the powerful Washuu family but even overpowered formidable adversaries like Kishou Arima later on. It was hard to believe that this sly and deceptive figure was now standing right in front of her.

This guy had always been a master of deception. The way he manipulated everyone in the original story was proof enough.

"Be quiet, don't make a sound. Don't let them di—" Kaguya began, but when she turned around, she saw that Amon Koutarou's spot was empty.

Where did he go?

"Stop right there! Release those humans immediately! We are investigators from the CCG, and you are surrounded!" Amon Koutarou shouted righteously, clutching his Quinque. "Release those two humans!"

All the ghouls turned their attention to him, stunned by the sudden appearance of a lone human in the midst of the Tsukiyama Manor.

Before Amon could bask in his act of heroism for even three seconds, Kaguya stormed in and sent him flying with a swift kick. "Idiot, are you brain-dead?" she bellowed angrily.

Realizing all eyes were on her, Kaguya cleared her throat, forced a bright smile, and waved. "Sorry, we're just here to enjoy the show. Please, carry on—don't mind us."

The ghouls exchanged curious glances but didn't let their guard down.

"Humans sneaking into a place like this? That's rare."

"He said they're from the CCG. Do you think they've discovered us?"

"That's bad. If that's the case, we'd better leave immediately."

"Yeah, if those white doves catch wind of this, it'll get dangerous."

"Maybe we should go now?"

"But that pretty girl there, she looks soft and tender. She'd probably taste amazing."

Just as the ghouls began murmuring among themselves, a tall, elegantly dressed man stepped forward. His violet hair was neatly styled, and he exuded an air of sophistication. Clapping his hands to draw attention, he addressed the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, please don't worry. I've thoroughly surveyed the area, and there are no white doves nearby. They're merely bluffing. Rest assured, in due time, these intruders will also become part of tonight's main course."

The speaker was none other than Tsukiyama Shuu, who Kaguya had thought was long dead.

Kaguya had been planning to enjoy the scene a little longer, relishing the rare opportunity for entertainment. But Amon Koutarou, the fool, had ruined it all. What a pity.

"Well then," Kaguya said, sighing theatrically, "I wasn't planning to intervene in your business, but orders from above leave me no choice. So, I'm afraid I must—" She glanced at the ghouls surrounding her, then smirked and cracked her knuckles. "—wipe the floor with you."

...

"Catch them!"

"Don't let them escape!"

"Understood!"

A large number of ghouls dressed in black uniforms poured out of the restaurant, swiftly surrounding the area. These were the enforcers of Tsukiyama Manor, known for their brutality and efficiency.

The ghouls rushed forward with eager expressions. To them, the sight of a defenseless human—a delicate and beautiful young girl, no less—was enticing. Her tender appearance suggested she would make for a delicious meal. If all went well, they might even score a piece of her flesh for themselves.

The thought spurred them on, and they competed fiercely to reach her first, shoving and jostling one another in their haste.

However, before they could even close the distance, the ghouls at the front were suddenly thrown back violently. Their bodies slammed into the walls, leaving bloodstains and forming grotesque, crumpled shapes on the floor. Some of the ghouls writhed in pain, coughing up blood, while others lay motionless in unnatural positions.

"Looks like the standards of this restaurant aren't very high," Kaguya remarked, shaking her head. Her disdainful tone was laced with disappointment. "Using this pile of trash as enforcers? Really? I was expecting something a bit more challenging, but it seems I overestimated them."

With that, she smirked, extending her delicate arm. She was about to send these foolish ghouls to meet their maker and teach them why flowers are red.

But before she could act, a figure suddenly dashed in front of her, grabbing her wrist. Startled, Kaguya turned to see who it was and exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Standing before her was a stunning blonde girl—Akira Mado.

"Hey!"

"Run!"

Before Kaguya could ask more questions, Akira grabbed her hand and yanked her forcefully. Kaguya stumbled slightly from the unexpected pull, her body dragged along without resistance.

A sharp "ding-ding-ding" rang out as over a dozen crimson kagune crystals rained down on the spot where Kaguya had just been standing. These deadly projectiles were the handiwork of the pursuing ghouls, aimed with lethal precision.

"Don't ask questions now. Just follow me," Akira said in a low voice as she noticed Kaguya starting to speak.

Suppressing her rising curiosity, Kaguya followed Akira as they fled toward the restaurant's exit, with a horde of ghouls chasing them, their growls and shouts filling the air.

"By the way," Kaguya suddenly remembered something. "Where's Amon?"

She recalled having kicked him away earlier. Now, however, he wasn't with them, and she couldn't help but wonder about his fate.

Akira glanced back mid-run and said, "With his skills, Amon should be fine."

"But there are so many ghouls back there. What if he gets caught?" Kaguya frowned. The thought of leaving him behind felt wrong, especially since he had given her a sandwich earlier. It seemed ungrateful to abandon him now.

"He'll be fine," Akira replied without turning her head.

"But—" Kaguya hesitated, doubt lingering in her voice.

Though she didn't particularly like Amon, he had shown her kindness. The idea of running away while leaving him behind didn't sit well with her.

"Amon possesses great strength, unwavering determination, and a fearless spirit of sacrifice. I believe he'll be fine," Akira Mado turned her head, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Even if he dies, it will be for the salvation of humanity. That would be a noble death, and I'm sure, if he knew, he would be happy."

"R-Really?"

Kaguya's face twitched, her forehead creased with black lines. That idiot Amon might not even be dead yet, but she had never realized Akira could be so dark-humored.

"By the way, what are you doing here?" Kaguya asked curiously. "Weren't Amon and I assigned to this investigation?"

"What? Don't you know?" Akira looked at her, slightly stunned.

"Know what?" Kaguya blinked in confusion.

"Wasn't the operation plan already decided? You and Amon were to serve as bait to draw out the ghouls from Tsukiyama Manor, while we mounted a raid," Akira said, matter-of-factly.

"Bait?" Kaguya's eyes widened, her anger flaring. "Which idiot came up with such a stupid plan to make me bait? This is outrageous!"

"You really didn't know?" Akira asked, her expression puzzled.

"Of course not! How could I possibly agree to such a decision?" Kaguya said indignantly.

Although being bait wasn't a big deal to her—no group of ghouls could stand against her—this setup left her feeling deeply annoyed, as if she'd been tricked.

"But…" Akira blinked, slightly baffled. "You were in the morning meeting, weren't you? You should have known about this."

"The morning meeting…" Kaguya froze, a faint look of embarrassment crossing her face.

She did recall attending the meeting, but she had always found such gatherings dull and tedious. As a result, she had fallen asleep during it, completely missing the discussion. She hadn't expected something like this to come out of it.

"Well, uh…" Kaguya scratched her head, letting out an awkward laugh.

"I figured as much," Akira sighed, massaging her temples with an exasperated expression. "Fine, I'll explain it to you again."

It turned out that during the morning meeting, the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG) had finalized their plan to eliminate Tsukiyama Manor. The strategy involved sending two investigators to infiltrate the restaurant to gather intelligence and create a diversion by drawing the ghouls' attention. This would allow the main assault force to launch a surprise attack and eliminate the ghouls efficiently. Kaguya and Amon had been chosen as the bait due to their skills and abilities.

"But why do I have to be the bait?" Kaguya complained, her dissatisfaction clear.

"That decision was made by Amon. As his partner, you were naturally included in the plan," Akira replied matter-of-factly.

"That idiot, that moron!" Kaguya gritted her teeth in frustration. "Is he trying to screw me over?"

Now it made sense why Amon had deliberately revealed himself. It was all part of this plan. And yet, he hadn't even given her a heads-up! Kaguya resolved to give him a thorough lesson when she saw him again.

If she had been worried about him earlier, now she thought it might be better if that fool just got himself killed.

"And who was the idiot who came up with such a ridiculous, brain-dead plan? This is outright sabotage!" Kaguya grumbled, her tone brimming with resentment.

"That brain-dead plan," Akira said, turning her face toward Kaguya with an expressionless look, "was proposed by me."

"Uh…"

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