"Ryuji-san…"
Mitsuri gasped when she saw his eyes open. She had come here to wake him this way, but when it came to actually doing it, her nerves got the better of her.
After all, she was still a maiden—it was perfectly understandable to be flustered.
Ryuji looked at her. Though she had taken the initiative, her expression was a conflicted swirl of boldness and embarrassment.
With a smirk, he reached out and pulled Mitsuri into his arms.
He kissed her lips deeply, savoring their warmth.
Her tongue was large, yet soft and strong—just like her speech, full of charm and character.
But what fascinated Ryuji most was her taste.
There was a light, pleasant sweetness to it—like a gentle syrup. And underneath that, a fleeting hint of cherry blossom—faint, elusive, like a fragrance that drifted in and out of awareness.
To be honest, this discovery delighted him.
"The girls in this world… not quite as sweet as Tsunade,"
"But this thing they have, where even their bodily fluids taste like what they frequently eat... it really makes you think indecent thoughts."
Generally speaking, the taste of something you eat usually depends on the ingredients.
But if that's really the case, then this world is far too messed up.
After all, this is a world where demons eat people.
Still, there does seem to be some truth to that.
Ryuji wasn't sure why, but that didn't stop him from enjoying himself—and, in a sense, eating these girls.
Of course, not literally eating them. More like what he was doing now: completely having his way with them.
Mitsuri, unlike Shinobu, hadn't fully grasped the art of kissing yet, even with his guidance. So while kissing her brought the charm of a flustered maiden, it wasn't quite as technically satisfying as it was with Shinobu.
That said, Mitsuri had one clear advantage—endurance. Where Shinobu would usually give in first, Mitsuri would keep going, tangled up with Ryuji, either resisting him or—more often than not—matching his rhythm.
And that's when Ryuji noticed something different about Mitsuri compared to the other girls:
She produced an absurd amount of saliva.
Yes, her mouth was unbelievably wet. Whether it was because she ate a lot or for some other reason, he couldn't tell. But when they finally pulled apart, a silvery string of saliva still connected their mouths, refusing to break even as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Hmm… Shinobu sent you, didn't she?"
Ryuji chuckled softly as he pinched Mitsuri's flushed cheeks, marveling at the lung capacity of the girls in this world. He'd just kissed her for a solid three minutes. Even he was a bit short of breath, but Mitsuri? Not even panting. Her face was red, sure, but only from the kissing—not from any lack of oxygen.
It was honestly kind of amusing.
"Mm… yes," Mitsuri mumbled, originally intending to keep it a secret. But when she saw his knowing, half-smiling face, she gave up and nodded.
"Let me guess—they want me to resurrect Kagaya Ubuyashiki, or at the very least, agree to whatever his request is?"
Propping his chin up with one hand, Ryuji spoke casually. For Shinobu, the most important person in the world was undeniably her older sister. She did trust Kagaya as her leader and was willing to fight demons under his command…
But at the core of it, her loyalty to the Demon Slayer Corps came from them sheltering her sister, and from the alignment between their goals and her own.
Now, if only one person could be brought back from the dead, it was obvious how this kind of dilemma would arise.
"If it's about reviving Kagaya, then I have to say… Mitsuri, you're far more valuable to me than he is. He just doesn't hold the same weight in my heart."
Ryuji sat upright and pulled Mitsuri into his arms, gently stroking her head.
"Anyway, I don't resurrect people on a whim. But if you insist on it, I don't mind. Still, if that man really wants to live again, it's best he comes and makes the deal himself."
His tone turned serious.
As for taking advantage of Amane Ubuyashiki in the meantime…
He wasn't the kind of man to stoop that low. Using a wife's body to barter for her husband's life—that was just too… NTR.
One shouldn't act like NTR!
Sure, Ryuji didn't mind making a move on a widow, but that didn't mean he was into that kind of play.
Besides, even if the wife was willing to sell herself for her husband, what happens when the man returns? There's bound to be lingering emotions, and next thing you know, he's wearing the greenest hat in town.
Why go through all that trouble?
More importantly, those two were already prepared to die together. There was really no need… no need at all for him to play the cuckold.
"But…"
Mitsuri bit her lip. Kagaya was like an older brother to her. If Ryuji was willing to bring him back, she'd be truly happy.
Unfortunately, Ryuji's resurrection ability came with significant limitations.
There was a clear upper limit.
"That's how it is," Ryuji said seriously, raising a finger. "I won't acknowledge you offering your body for someone else's sake—if it's for family or close friends, I can understand. But for someone like him?"
"But Ubuyashiki-sama was really kind to me," Mitsuri protested softly. "And Shinobu said that we don't need to bring him back completely—just give him ten years, enough for him to see his children grow up."
Neither Shinobu nor Mitsuri had intended to force Ryuji. Kagaya's family had always suffered from short lifespans—an inherited curse worsened by Muzan Kibutsuji. Most of them barely made it past their thirties.
That's why they married young, often selecting brides from shrine maiden bloodlines to extend their lives even slightly.
So really, all they hoped for was a decade—just enough for Kagaya to watch his children reach adulthood.
"Even ten years isn't worth more than your body, Mitsuri. And besides…" Ryuji lightly pinched her nose, looking at the sweet, naive girl before him. "You're already mine. How could you use something that belongs to me… as a bargaining chip against me?"
As Mitsuri flushed a deep crimson, Ryuji pulled her into his arms and buried his face into her chest, taking a deep breath of that soft cherry blossom scent clinging to her skin.
He couldn't help but give a mental thumbs-up to whoever had designed her uniform—because with his face pressed into her chest, he could feel her silky skin through the gaps in the fabric and inhale the pure fragrance of a girl in full bloom.
But still, a faint sense of frustration tugged at him.
But he was also a little helpless. There was nothing wrong with the girl who was willing to become his wife being kind.
The problem was that while he respected Kagaya, he didn't admire him enough to give up his own lifespan for the man.
He'd be willing to resurrect Kanae Kocho—because she was Shinobu's sister. And judging by how close the sisters were, there was a good chance he could make Kanae his, too. That would mean his efforts wouldn't be wasted.
If Kagaya hadn't died, and Shinobu simply asked him to use Dragonfire to heal the man, Ryuji would have done it without hesitation. A small favor.
But sacrificing years of his own life? Absolutely not.
Even if he rejected Mitsuri's advances right here, right now, he still wouldn't extend a stranger's life.
Letting Kagaya live a few extra days to wrap up affairs—that was already more mercy than most would receive.
In truth, if anyone tried to take the power within him—he might abandon everything else. But there were two things he'd never give up: his ability to cross between worlds, and the conceptual lifespan.
One symbolized infinite freedom.
The other, infinite potential.
"…Y-Yes… I belong to Ryuji-san…" Mitsuri's eyes were practically spinning like anime swirls. No one had ever whispered such words to her before. Her head was swimming, her body limp in his arms.
"Heh… so now that you're here, I won't let you leave."
Ryuji grinned wickedly, sliding his hand under Mitsuri's uniform. But just as his fingers touched her soft, pale skin, the door to his room slammed open.
Reflexively, he pulled Mitsuri's clothes back into place, shielding her exposed chest from view.
But—
When he saw who had entered, the playful mood vanished in an instant.
Because the visitor was none other than Amane Ubuyashiki—Kagaya's wife.
She stepped in gracefully and bowed in a manner both elegant and formal. Then, lifting her head, she spoke with calm composure.
"Forgive my intrusion. I wouldn't disturb you if it weren't a matter of utmost importance."
Her voice was cool and even. But her next words nearly made Ryuji—with his hand still resting on Mitsuri's butt—instantly go limp.
"I have not come to ask you to resurrect my husband," Amane said. "I've come to ask that you honor his final request—and become the next leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. In exchange, I offer you my body… and that of my daughters."
At her words, Ryuji nearly collapsed, and Mitsuri let out a strange, unintelligible sound, her jaw hanging open in stunned disbelief.
Clearly, she was in complete shock.
And Ryuji wasn't far behind.
"Uh… Madam," Ryuji raised his hand awkwardly, "I mean no disrespect, but even though I do have a harem, I usually don't say things like this when a woman's husband is still alive…"
He wanted to make it absolutely clear—he wasn't that kind of guy.
Yes, he liked married women.
But he preferred the kind whose husbands had been dead for a long time.
This? This wasn't that.
He had no feelings towards Amane from the very beginning!
~~~~~~~~~~
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