Dorohedoro Episode 4: Roast Duck à La Sorcerer / Formal Attire Requested / Another Year in the Hole

The Cross-eyes gang, led by Saji, arrives at a landlord's opulent mansion with a dead body in tow. Their plan to stage a natural death to appease En goes awry from the start, despite the tactical precision of Ton disabling security and Ushishimada bending metal with his raw strength. Inside, they struggle to make the body's demise look convincing, first in a bathtub and then attempting a hanging. Dokuga and Tetsujo discuss the increasing paranoia among them, wondering about Risu's killer. Just as they grapple with the corpse, a monstrous, multi-eyed insect bursts from its abdomen, spraying blood and forcing their hasty retreat.

The narrative shifts abruptly to Hell, introducing a chilling 'Store' where demons procure their 'meat.' A hulking, horned demon guides his terrified apprentice through a macabre butcher shop filled with hanging carcasses. He explains that this meat, derived from a specific creature, transforms its consumers into devils. The apprentice, still a trainee, can only perceive the shopkeeper as a shadowy figure, heightening the eerie mystique of this place. The ringing of an old rotary phone pierces the unsettling quiet.

In a stark torture chamber, Chota holds a phone, accusing the bound and bleeding Asu of betraying the En family. He declares Asu's crime unforgivable and announces he has called 'Store' to deal with him. A monstrous creature, its head resembling processing blades, emerges from a dark portal. It systematically carves Asu's living flesh, peeling away his devil skin as Chota watches with a sickening grin. What remains of Asu is dropped, a skinless, shivering form, his black smoke magic visibly fading as he is stripped of his devil status.

Back in The Hole, Kaiman sells freshly baked bread, a small, mundane comfort in a harsh world. Nikaido buys three, and they share a rare, peaceful moment, their easy banter highlighting their deep bond. Kaiman eats through his gas mask, a stubborn habit that makes Nikaido laugh. Their quiet conversation about daily plans offers a brief respite from the surrounding chaos, grounding the viewer in their enduring friendship.

The scene returns to Hell's unsettling butcher shop, where a piece of meat resembling Asu's processed remains now sits on a platter. The shadow of 'Store' works busily behind the counter, preparing more inventory. A stark sign announces 'New Meat' has arrived. This visual connection to Asu's fate underscores the grim cycle of life and death, and the casual brutality with which devils treat those who cross them.

In the En family mansion, Natsuki uncovers a hidden notebook, using her black smoke magic to bypass its lock. It is Nikaido's diary, and Natsuki begins to read, hoping for gossip or leverage. The entries reveal Nikaido's inner turmoil, her fear that the devil's contract is crushing her soul. A flashback within the diary shows En presenting mushroom dolls, trying to charm Nikaido while pressuring her to use her magic. Nikaido feigns upset to escape En's attention, realizing this tactic will soon fail.

Nikaido's diary triggers a deeper flashback to her childhood in a peaceful mountain village, a stark contrast to her present. She remembers her protector, Kawajiri, and her cheerful friend Yakumo, whose mysterious disappearance casts a long shadow. A menacing Sorcerer Hunter threatens them, but Kawajiri uses his black smoke magic to teleport them to safety, establishing his role as guardian. He later shows her a business card from a devil, planning to train and become one, believing it's their path to freedom. After Kawajiri leaves, wearing heavy armor as the first step of his transformation, young Nikaido is left alone. She tests her own magic, manifesting a colossal, enigmatic metal cube, revealing her immense, untrained potential.

In the present, Nikaido is startled by a sound outside her bathroom door. Wiping steam from the mirror, she sees En's reflection glaring back at her, standing silently behind her. Her gasp of fear is palpable; she is trapped. The suddenness of his appearance and his silent menace creates an overwhelming atmosphere, the steam now feeling suffocating.

Kaiman, Nikaido, and Natsuki arrive in the overgrown town of Beris, searching for the Cross-eyes' hideout. They discover a massive, garishly decorated bathhouse, adorned with giant oni masks and golden horns, a bizarre anomaly in the derelict town. Inside, they are met by bowing staff in matching masks, including a lead attendant with a Hannya mask who creepily greets them as a 'married couple and a child.' This unsettling welcome draws them deeper into the maze-like, candle-lit establishment.

En finally corners the Nikaido he has been pursuing in the bathroom, only to discover she is a magical double, a proxy created by a contract. His rage contorts his face as he realizes his true target has escaped. The double's body quickly devolves into a cluster of multicolored mushrooms, leaving En alone in the empty, steaming room. The deception is complete, and his frustration is evident.

Ebisu is seen crossing a long, foggy bridge, carrying heavy luggage as she leaves the En family mansion. She encounters Tetsujo, but mistakenly addresses him as Fujita. She states she is 'going home' and continues walking into the thick mist. Tetsujo is left paralyzed by confusion, unsure if her memories have returned or if she has simply lost her way. Her silhouette slowly disappears, a melancholic figure heading into the unknown.

The episode concludes with a summary segment, presented within the gaping mouth of a giant devil. Cards confirm that 'Store' trades in the processed flesh of sorcerers and that En has uncovered Nikaido's deception. The narrator hints at coming chaos involving the diary and the Cross-eyes. The devil's mouth snaps shut, leaving the audience with a sense of impending doom and unanswered questions.