It had been over half a year since Horitake last saw Lady Tamayo.
delivering Hantengu into Tamayo's hands provided a nice opportunity to visit her at the same time, which was a pleasant prospect.
However, there was a slight complication. And the source of that trouble was Kocho Shinobu, who was walking right beside him.
Horitake and Shinobu walked shoulder to shoulder through the Akasutsumi District, heading toward Tamayo's hidden residence. Horitake led the way, while Shinobu followed.
Shinobu, trailing along, had absolutely no idea where they were specifically going, nor did she know whom she was about to meet.
Walking in front, Horitake felt a headache coming on.
Previously, when Horitake had mentioned to Shinobu that Nezuko was a demon, Shinobu's reaction had been quite agitated—she had nearly drawn her Nichirin Sword on the spot.
This time, she was about to see two demons with her own eyes. Her reaction would likely be even more intense.
As they drew closer to Tamayo's hideout, Horitake felt compelled to give Shinobu a preemptive warning.
"Shinobu-neesan."
"Hmm? Is something the matter?"
Shinobu looked at Horitake with a face full of gentleness, asking with a smile.
Feeling slightly apprehensive, Horitake cautioned her:
"Shinobu-neesan, we are about to deliver Hantengu to a very suitable and safe place. The owner of this place is a very beautiful woman. Not only is she a friend of mine, but she also has a good friendship with Oyakata-sama.
Uh... however, this woman's identity is a bit special.
When you see her later, Shinobu-neesan, please, whatever you do, do not get agitated.
Even if you do get agitated, please, I beg you, calm down. Do not start a conflict with her. I will explain everything properly later, so please, trust me."
Horitake's words were rather abrupt and vague. Combined with his nervous expression and lack of confidence in his tone, Shinobu couldn't help but interpret the situation in the wrong direction.
Shinobu's face darkened instantly. She asked with an unkind expression:
"Horitake, didn't you promise me that, counting myself, you only had your eyes on us three?
Then what is going on with this woman we are meeting next? Is she perhaps the fourth?
Breaking your word time and time again is not a good thing, you know."
Horitake froze, then let out a bitter laugh as he tried to explain.
"Shinobu-neesan, you've misunderstood. She isn't the fourth.
Uh... I must admit, she almost became the fourth.
But ultimately, she and I weren't suitable for each other. There were some things I just couldn't accept, so we are just friends. It's not the kind of relationship you're thinking of."
Shinobu turned her head to look at Horitake, her bright, beautiful eyes blinking suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Then... what do you mean by 'almost became the fourth'? Listening to your tone, Horitake, it sounds like you were tempted by her. What exactly stood in your way?"
Horitake pondered for a moment, his expression looking a bit pained.
"The age gap. It made me feel that we weren't a good match."
Shinobu nodded slightly.
"So it was the age gap.
It seems unlikely that this woman is younger than you, which means she must be older.
Could it be that she is a woman in her thirties, or perhaps nearing forty?
Wait! Does she have a husband and children?! Or is she divorced?! Is she a widow!?"
Listening to Shinobu's guesses, the look on Horitake's face was indescribable.
Truly, Shinobu-neesan's train of thought was unique; her ideas were getting more outrageous by the second!
But strangely enough, the more outrageous her guesses became, the closer they got to the truth.
Horitake really couldn't describe his current mood. He could only reveal a little bit to Shinobu:
"Shinobu-neesan, although your guesses are wild, you're actually pretty close!
This lady is indeed a widow. Her husband and children all passed away due to... certain accidents. She is left all alone, with only her follower by her side."
Shinobu covered her lips lightly, feigning surprise.
"I didn't expect my random guess to be right. She really is a widow!"
Immediately, Shinobu looked Horitake up and down. Her gaze became increasingly complex—mixed with a touch of gossip and a little excitement.
"I never would have thought... I never would have thought that you, Horitake, would be into widows."
Horitake was truly helpless now.
"Shinobu-neesan, stop making it sound so ridiculous, okay? In the beginning, I was indeed a little tempted! But didn't I control myself in the end?! After all, there is a huge age gap standing there!"
"A huge age gap? How huge could it be?"
"Does several hundred years count as huge?"
"Oh, several hundred years. That is indeed... Hmm!?"
Shinobu realized it in a split second. Reflexively, her hand shot out to draw her sword!
Here we go again!
Horitake sighed internally. He slapped Shinobu's wrist, forcing the Nichirin Sword she was about to unsheathe back into its scabbard.
"Shinobu-neesan, calm down!"
Shinobu maintained her posture, ready to draw her sword at any moment. She looked at Horitake as if looking at a pervert.
"Calm down?! How do you expect me to calm down?!
Horitake, what on earth is wrong with you? Do you have a special obsession with demons or something?!
Nezuko I can understand; she is a pitiful little sister and has never eaten humans.
But what exactly is going on with this one you're talking about?!"
Horitake looked desperate.
"The one I'm talking about is similar to Nezuko. She is also a kind demon. Counting her follower, and adding Nezuko, these are likely the only three kind demons left in the world."
Shinobu hesitated slightly.
"Has this one also never eaten humans?"
Thinking about Tamayo's past, Horitake felt troubled, but he answered honestly:
"Her little follower has strictly never eaten a human. But the lady herself... in her youth, she once gave in to despair and ate quite a few people."
Shinobu's eyebrows shot up, and she moved to draw her Nichirin Sword again.
Horitake, of course, was quick with his hands and eyes. He slapped her hand again, shoving the sword back, and simultaneously grabbed Shinobu's hands to prevent her from drawing the blade.
"Shinobu-neesan, calm down!"
"Calm down my foot!" Shinobu almost swore. She gritted her teeth. "A demon who gave in to despair and ate many people actually almost charmed you?! I think you've let lust blind your wisdom! Let go of me!"
Shinobu wanted to draw her sword to kill the demon. Horitake embraced Shinobu while gripping her hands, refusing to let her draw the weapon.
Shinobu scolded and struggled, while Horitake tried his best to restrain her. The two of them nearly ended up wrestling right there on the street side.
To the passersby, it looked as if a young couple was having a lovers' quarrel.
Uh... though, do couples usually quarrel while carrying swords?!
Horitake pinned Shinobu's hands while holding her close to keep her from moving. To avoid attracting too much attention, he leaned close to Shinobu's ear and whispered strictly:
"Shinobu-neesan! This place—Oyakata-sama sent a message telling us to come here! That means Oyakata-sama knows the situation here! He knows her situation too!
Didn't I say it before? Oyakata-sama has a good friendship with her.
Even if you can't trust me, surely you can trust Oyakata-sama!?"
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