Chapter 42 – I'll Train Him Well (Patreon)

"Shinobu... I-I was getting treatment!"

"Since when does treatment require taking off your clothes?"

"Well... taking them off makes it more effective!"

Kanae gradually regained her composure, her face flushed as she explained. Though her words carried a hint of guilt, she spoke them with conviction.

The idea of her sister catching her in the middle of... that sort of thing with a sho[t]a in a secluded park at night was a social death of infinite proportions. Even as close as the two sisters were, that would be unbearably embarrassing!

Besides, she really had been receiving treatment from Kouma! The method was just... a bit unconventional...

Shinobu's gaze remained skeptical as it shifted between her sister and the sho[t]a beside her. Upon closer inspection, the sho[t]a was indeed extremely handsome, giving off a well-behaved and approachable vibe...

But if it involved her sister, absolutely not! As Kanae's only remaining family, Shinobu had to look out for her!

Just then, Mitsuri Kanroji, who had arrived right behind Shinobu, was about to remark on Kanae's audacity when the sho[t]a beside her caught her attention.

"Kouma?" Mitsuri exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here? Where's Mrs. Yukinoshita?"

Halfway through her question, she suddenly remembered that Mrs. Yukinoshita had been the one to notify her. She must have wanted Mitsuri to come rescue Kouma.

Hearing Mitsuri call out Kouma's name so familiarly caught Kanae off guard.

"Big sister Kanae saved me!" Kouma answered in his crisp voice.

Kanae blinked in surprise but quickly understood his reasoning. The fewer people who knew about Kouma's identity as a succubus, the better!

"So, Kanae, you took down an Upper Rank demon?" Mitsuri covered her mouth in astonishment.

To protect Kouma's secret, Kanae could only reluctantly take credit for the feat. But in truth, receiving Kouma's treatment had also meant dual cultivation. Her physical condition had significantly improved compared to before! Plus, she had gained a special ability from Kouma: Invisibility!

Even if Upper Rank Two Doma were to come back to life, Kanae would never end up as pitiful as before. She might not be able to kill him, but she could certainly escape unscathed!

At that moment, voices came from a short distance away.

"There are signs of a battle here..."

"Did we arrive too late..."

Shinobu and Mitsuri exchanged a glance and said in unison, "It must be the Hero Association."

"Sis, let's get out of here first." Shinobu draped her haori over Kanae's shoulders. Kanae's clothes had been badly damaged during her fight with Doma, and had been completely destroyed during Kouma's treatment. Shinobu could only offer her own outer garment.

"Kouma, you—" Before Kanae could finish, Mitsuri had already scooped the sho[t]a up into her arms.

"I'll take Kouma home!"

Kanae watched the way Mitsuri held Kouma with practiced familiarity, her lips parting as if to speak before she stopped herself.

"Sis, Mitsuri-san will be fine," Shinobu reassured her. Reluctantly, Kanae agreed.

"See you!" With that, the four of them went their separate ways.

Mitsuri carried the sho[t]a lightly as she leaped between tree branches, her soft body providing a steady rhythm of jostling. For Kouma, it was both a blessing and a trial.

"Mitsuri-neechan, we can hail a taxi once we reach the main road ahead," Kouma suggested.

Mitsuri hesitated. Taking a taxi would certainly be more comfortable, but... wouldn't that mean losing the chance for close physical contact with him?

She was addicted to the subtle thrill that ran through her body whenever she held Kouma. It gave her the feeling of being in love.

With that thought, Mitsuri outright rejected his suggestion.

"No need. Taxis are too expensive, and they're not as fast as I am!"

Kouma could clearly tell—she was holding him even tighter now.

Left with no choice, Kouma could only resign himself to the bumpy ride, enveloped in the faint scent of milk.

...

The Infinity Castle

A long-unheld Upper Rank meeting was convened.

Upper Rank One: Kokushibo

Upper Rank Three: Akaza

Upper Rank Four: Hantengu

Upper Rank Five: Gyokko

Upper Rank Six: Daki

"An Upper Rank has been killed?"

Gatherings of the Upper Ranks were rare in the centuries since they had formed. Every time they were assembled, it meant one of their own had fallen.

Upper Rank Three, Akaza, furrowed his brow and scanned the room. "Let me see if it's that bastard Doma who died!"

He looked around—and sure enough, the figure he despised most had vanished!

"Heh. That guy Doma actually got himself killed!" A derisive laugh escaped Akaza first, and the grin spreading across his face was almost impossible to contain. If not for Muzan's presence, he might have popped open a bottle of champagne to celebrate!

"Doma is dead."

"Akaza, are you pleased by this?" Muzan opened his eyes and swept his gaze across the assembled demons before finally settling on Akaza. His cold, flat voice carried bone-deep chill.

"Not at all. I am deeply saddened by Doma's death!" Akaza kept his head low, fearing his smile might betray him.

Muzan snorted coldly but didn't press further.

"I have news of the Blue Spider Lily."

“At this critical juncture, I don't want any unnecessary complications." Muzan's indifferent words fell upon the Upper Ranks' ears, and shock flickered in all their eyes.

The Blue Spider Lily? After all this time, there was finally news?

That meant they too might have a chance to walk in the sunlight?

"My lord, under your wise leadership, we will break the sun's curse and become the ultimate beings!" Gyokko prostrated himself, heaping praise upon Muzan.

Muzan gave him a flat glance without responding. News of the Blue Spider Lily had surfaced, but that was all it was for now—just news. Obtaining it would require further confirmation.

"Kokushibo, Akaza, Hantengu—your task is to follow the leads and exhaustively search for the Blue Spider Lily."

As for...

"Gyokko. Daki."

"The one who killed Doma—find him. I need all information on him... and if the opportunity arises, kill him directly."

Muzan narrowed his blood-red eyes as he transmitted the final image from Doma's memory to Gyokko and Daki. Even he couldn't fully understand how Doma had died in an instant at his opponent's hands.

A flicker of wariness crossed Muzan's mind. He decided to let the two Upper Ranks investigate the situation first.

"My lord, Gyokko guarantees the mission will be completed!"

Upper Rank Five Gyokko spoke with utter confidence.

As for Upper Rank Six Daki, she slowly licked her crimson lips. The image of the impossibly handsome sho[t]a who had killed Doma stirred a predatory excitement within her.

"I'll train him well," Daki purred, already unable to contain her anticipation.

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