The extermination in Yoshiwara and the defeat of Hayro.
A few days after the two major events were concluded, at the Akatsuki Trading Company Asakusa branch office.
"So now Okita is becoming a Hashira."
Okita Souji's achievements in defeating Lower Moon Three were recognized, and her exceptional promotion within the Demon Slayer Corps was confirmed.
It was almost certain that she would soon take a Hashira position.
This was the moment a spy was born as a key executive in the Demon Slayer Corps.
But Akira's brow furrowed slightly.
"The problem is Kanao."
His lovely adopted daughter, Tsuyuri Kanao.
Her skill already far surpassed Hashira level, but in this operation, she focused on supporting Okita, lacking decisive achievements.
"If Okita becomes a Hashira, Kanao should become one too. She deserves it. I can't stand her being treated as a low-ranking member."
Akira's gaze turned into that of a mischievous schemer. He pressed a small call bell on the desk.
With a cheerful sound effect, a large ball of fur fell from the ceiling.
"Did you call, Master! Cat has arrived, meow!"
It was Tamamo Cat. She wore a maid uniform and saluted with her giant cat paw.
"Yes, Cat. I'm giving you a very important mission."
"Ooh! Is it food, meow? A nap, meow? Or purring on Master's lap, meow?"
"Similar. First, take this."
Akira drew a pattern in the air with his fingertip. Then, the characters "Lower Moon Four" were clearly engraved in Cat's pupils. Of course, it wasn't a real Twelve Kizuki mark but an elaborate illusion.
"Huh? My eyes feel itchy, meow."
"From now on, you are Lower Moon Four. Go to where Kanao is and cause a ruckus."
"A ruckus? If it's destroying things, I'm confident, meow! I'll slice through them like cutting carrots, meow!"
"No, you can't slice them. Of course, fight well with Kanao. Match her level with full power. Kanao needs to grow too. But if she gets seriously hurt, you're getting a shaved head!"
As Akira laid down the law, Cat folded her ears and yelped.
"Fight threateningly enough, then get coolly cut by Kanao's sword and go 'Kuh, how frustrating! I didn't know a Demon Slayer could be this strong!' and collapse. Then, pretend to die and disappear like smoke before returning. You all share weaknesses, so even if your neck is cut, you won't die, right? Do me a favor."
Akira whispered while petting Cat's head.
"If this perfect act succeeds, Kanao can become a Hashira for capturing a Lower Moon. And… when you return, we'll play alone in the bedroom all day. I'll give you a catnip bath you love and pet you until you're satisfied."
"...!!"
Cat's ears perked up. Her eyes flashed greedily.
"All day?! Really, meow? Including walks, meow? If Master lies, I'll scratch you, meow!"
"I promise. On my name."
"Great! Leave it to me, meow! The fox acting award is mine, meow! I'll make Kanao-chan a superstar, meow!"
Cat cheered and jumped out the window. Watching her背影, Akira smiled contentedly.
"Phew, maybe things will calm down a bit now."
Akira leaned back in his chair. Then, a cautious knock sounded.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a beauty with braided pink and green hair entered. It was Mitsuri.
Normally, she would have entered brightly smiling with cherry blossom mochi, but today her expression was dark and serious.
"Ah, Akira-san… are you busy?"
"No, it's fine, Mitsuri. What's wrong? Did Shinobu try to feed you strange medicine again?"
Akira tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but Mitsuri shook her head. She seemed to have made up her mind, raising her head and standing before Akira's desk.
"Um… it's just… I have something important to say…."
Mitsuri tightly gripped the hem of her skirt.
"I, I also… want to become a demon."
"...What?"
Akira put down his teacup. The air in the office grew heavy.
"A demon? What are you suddenly talking about? Did someone threaten you?"
"No, it's my own will. I'm serious!"
Mitsuri shouted, tearing up.
"I heard about Okita-san capturing a Lower Moon this time. Kanao-chan is working hard in the Demon Slayer Corps too…. Everyone is fighting outside for Akira-san, being helpful, but…."
"Mitsuri, you're being helpful enough too. Just by protecting my side…."
"That's not it!"
Thick teardrops fell from Mitsuri's eyes.
"That's not the problem…."
Mitsuri continued in a trembling voice.
"Shinobu-chan, Kanae-nee, and Kanao-chan… they're all human. I'm human too."
Her gaze lingered on Akira's youthful, yet eternally living face.
"Akira-san doesn't age. You'll stay forever strong and beautiful like that. But we… will someday grow old, become wrinkled, and eventually die, leaving Akira-san's side."
Mitsuri shook her head as if the thought was terrifying.
"I'm so scared of that. Akira-san is eternal, but I'll become a grandmother and can't receive your love… I'm afraid and hate the thought of dying first and leaving you alone!"
It wasn't just a complaint. It was the deep-seated fear and outcry of a mortal who fell in love with an immortal.
"Kanae-nee and Shinobu-chan help with research or medical skills… but all I know how to do is use strength. So… make me a demon."
Mitsuri knelt before Akira and brought his hand to her cheek.
"I want to become stronger and be Akira-san's eternal sword and companion. And above all… I want to love and be loved by Akira-san forever, for all eternity."
Akira looked down at Mitsuri blankly. In her eyes burned a blind desire to live the same time as her beloved, even if it meant abandoning her human life.
It was bewildering, but at the same time, he felt his heart swell.
"Phew…."
Akira sighed briefly and squatted down to meet Mitsuri's eyes.
"Mitsuri. Becoming a demon means you can never return to being human. Since my blood is still being researched, there are many unstable aspects. You might not be able to eat cherry blossom mochi anymore, and you'll have to bid farewell to ordinary happiness. You'll become a different being from Shinobu or Kanae. Are you still okay with that?"
Mitsuri wiped her tears and smiled brightly. There was no hesitation in that smile.
"Yes. Being with Akira-san is a hundred, a thousand times happier than eating the cherry blossom mochi I love."
At that answer, Akira finally smiled.
"Really… you're an unstoppable lover."
Akira gently stroked Mitsuri's lips with his thumb.
"Alright. I'll grant your wish. Live forever by my side as my lover. Honestly, I expected this to happen someday, but it's early. I thought you'd ask in your 20s at the earliest."
"Akira-san…!"
"But my blood is a bit potent. It'll hurt a lot. Be prepared."
"Mhm! If it's Akira-san's, I'll gladly accept even the pain!"
Mitsuri opened her mouth slightly with a reddened face.
Akira bit his index finger to create a wound. Dark red, thick blood with a mysterious scent welled up.
"Drink, Mitsuri. You are no longer the human Kanroji Mitsuri."
Akira's finger entered Mitsuri's mouth.
Gulp.
Mitsuri swallowed Akira's blood. Instantly, her heart began to pound wildly.
"Uggh…! It's hot…!"
Cherry blossom-colored steam rose from Mitsuri's body. Power exceeding human limits, and the authority of eternal life, began flowing through her veins.
Not the destiny of becoming a Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps, but Akira's lover and the strongest demon.
It was the moment a girl who abandoned humanity for love was reborn.
"Ugh… Ahh…!!"
After swallowing Akira's blood, Mitsuri's body bent like a bow until her head touched her feet as she knelt.
The hot blood flowing through her veins was tearing apart and reconstructing every cell in her body.
It was pain as if bones were twisting and muscles tearing, but a smile hung at the corner of Mitsuri's mouth.
This pain was a sweet rite of passage to be with her beloved for eternity.
"Haa… haa…."
How much time passed? The intense pain subsided, and the cherry blossom-colored steam rising from Mitsuri's body slowly cleared.
Her appearance maintained the loveliness of her human days, but with a deadly seductiveness added.
Still, abundant hair mixed with pink and green, and a figure about to burst.
But her eyes had changed into demon-like reverse pupils.
And on her forehead, as if symbolizing her overflowing love, horns had sprouted.
Mitsuri looked down at her body. Sharpened nails and cherry blossom tattoos appearing on her skin. Overflowing power.
"Akira-san…! Did I succeed?"
Mitsuri looked up at Akira with a flushed face.
"Yes, Mitsuri. You're no longer human. You're a demon, living the same time as me."
Akira softly covered Mitsuri's cheek. At his touch, tears gushed from Mitsuri's eyes.
"Waaah! Akira-san! I'm so happy! I was really, really scared… that I'd become a wrinkled grandmother and couldn't stand by Akira-san's side…!"
Mitsuri hugged Akira's neck tightly and cried like a child.
"Now we can stay together forever, right? Even after 100 years, 1000 years, I can eat delicious things and love Akira-san by your side, right?"
"Of course. I'll stay by your side until you get tired of me."
"I won't get tired! I'll never get tired! I'll love you for a lifetime!"
Mitsuri planted kisses on Akira's cheek with her tear-stained face. Akira found her blind affection cute and chuckled while patting her back.
"Well, if you want, you can return to human form, so try to adapt well."
"Okay! I'll try to adapt to my demon form first!"
Meanwhile, at the Butterfly Mansion located next to Akira's residence. This was where the Kocho sisters stayed for demon and drug research.
Crash~!
The teacup Kanae was holding fell to the floor and shattered.
"What did you say? Mitsuri-san… became a demon?"
The news heard from the attendant Ubume was shocking.
"Yes, sister. I just confirmed it. Mitsuri-san… received Akira-san's blood of her own will."
Shinobu's voice held anxiety instead of her usual calmness. She gnawed her lip and paced around the room.
To the two sisters, the news of Mitsuri's demonization wasn't just a simple update.
Not long ago, their swordsmanship instructor Tsubaki also became a demon and gained eternal life.
And now, even Mitsuri, who was their peer and like a friend, had abandoned humanity and become the same species as Akira.
"Mitsuri-san… truly loves Akira-sama. She probably couldn't bear the fear of aging alone as a human."
Kanae smiled lonely while looking at the broken teacup pieces.
"Sister, what should we do?"
Shinobu grabbed Kanae's hem.
"We're helping with research… but we're still human. As time passes, we'll wither, wrinkle, and eventually become a handful of soil. Akira-san will remain forever as he is."
Shinobu's pupils shook uneasily.
"I hate it, sister. I'd rather die than remain as human woman number one who once passed by in Akira-san's memory. Like Mitsuri-san… no, I want to be by that person's side longer than Mitsuri-san."
At Shinobu's direct confession, Kanae's gaze deepened. She too held the same fear.
"Right… Instructor Tsubaki left, and Mitsuri-san left too. We can't be left behind."
Kanae stood up as if decided.
"Let's go, Shinobu. It's time for us to make a choice too."
Knock knock.
The door to Akira's office opened cautiously. Kanae and Shinobu entered with grave expressions.
"Welcome, Kanae, Shinobu. What's up? Did you come because of Mitsuri's matter?"
Akira had just put Mitsuri to bed in the bedroom. Tired from the demonization's aftereffects, Mitsuri was asleep with a happy expression.
"Yes, Akira-san. I'll get straight to the point."
Before Kanae could hesitate, Shinobu stepped forward first.
"Please make us demons too."
At Shinobu's bold demand, Akira raised his eyebrows.
"Huh? You two as well?"
"Yes. It's unfair for only Mitsuri-san to receive special treatment. We sisters also want to be with Akira-san forever."
Shinobu showed no sign of backing down. Rather, her eyes were burning.
"Reason? If it's just envy of Mitsuri, rethink. Becoming a demon means completely abandoning human life——"
"Ah, enough already, just give us your blood quickly!"
Shinobu cut off Akira's words.
"We finished preparing long ago, okay? I don't want to regret after becoming a wrinkled grandmother! Would Akira-san love us if we became grandmothers using canes? No, you wouldn't!"
Akira was momentarily dumbfounded by Shinobu's pressure.
It was the first time he saw Shinobu, who was usually polite yet sharp-tongued while keeping boundaries, being so impatient.
"Um, Shinobu. That's too rude to Akira-sama…."
Kanae tried to dissuade her, but Shinobu's momentum didn't stop.
"Sister, be honest too! You worried every day looking in the mirror about getting wrinkles around your eyes in the future! And felt anxious whenever Akira-san brought women!"
"Th, that's…!"
Kanae's face turned red like a well-ripened apple.
"Hmm, I do have confidence to love you even if you become grandmothers. But you're not even 20 yet, and you were that anxious?"
Akira smiled faintly while looking at the Kocho sisters.
"Alright. With that level of desire and obsession. You're more than qualified to become demons. Shuten would give a thumbs up and acknowledge it."
Akira got up and approached the two sisters.
"Don't regret it. You're crossing the river of no return."
"If you don't give regret, I'll regret if I grow old and die then."
Shinobu retorted sulkily and opened her mouth.
"Hurry up and give it. I'm feeling dizzy."
"Got it, got it. As for personality."
Just as Akira was about to bite his finger.
"Um, since you're going to let us suck blood. Can't you let us suck from your penis?"
"".......""
Akira froze at Shinobu's words. His reaction showed he really couldn't imagine it, and Kanae behind him had a culture-shocked expression.
"Ah, no why! Anyway, we suck it often! Was I the only one who imagined that? The taste of blood there must be different, right!"
"Um, Shinobu. I can't really shield you on that one."
"Sister!?"
Kanae rejecting Shinobu with modern language learned in the household.
"Our Shinobu was a lewd child, huh? No wonder she's more active in bed than even Mitsuri."
"Wh, who's lewd!? Tsk, just give us the blood quickly!"
Akira chuckled and bit his finger to draw blood.
"Here, take it."
Shinobu didn't hesitate and put Akira's finger in her mouth. Like a starving baby bird, or someone drinking long-awaited water of life, she greedily sucked the blood.
Gulp, gulp.
"Uggh…! Haa…!"
Shinobu's body trembled. Purple toxicity spread through her veins. It was painful, but her eyes shone with joy.
"Next is you, Kanae."
When Akira extended his finger again, Kanae also, with a reddened face, carefully but firmly put Akira's finger in her mouth.
The two butterflies simultaneously received Akira's blood. The office filled with mysterious purple and clear pink demonic energy.
It was the moment they threw off their human shells and were reborn as immortal butterfly demons flying through the eternal night garden.
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