In the deep night when everyone was asleep. Akira's bedroom door slid open quietly.
A naked body, whiter and smoother than the moonlight seeping into the room, slipped under the covers. A familiar, sweet scent of alcohol tickled his nostrils.
"I'm back, husband…."
It was Shuten. She clung to Akira's embrace like a spoiled cat, rubbing her face against his firm chest.
Her skin, chilled by the night air, touched Akira's body heat and gradually, then hotly, began to warm up.
"Smell of alcohol. Where did you drink again?"
Akira asked in a sleepy voice, sliding his hand along the smooth line of her back.
"Hehe… Went to the next village and had a little drink. Ate some snacks too… Mmm…."
Shuten, with her flushed face, sought Akira's lips. A sticky, dense kiss. The sound of tongues intertwining filled the silence.
"Haa… Mmm… Slurp…."
Her touch was urgent.
Outside, she was a great demon who commanded the world and treated even the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps like children, but under this blanket, she was just a female starved for love.
As Akira wrapped his arms around her slender waist and changed positions, a moan she couldn't hold back burst from her mouth.
"Hng…! Aah…♡! Husband, a little more… harder…♡"
The room was filled with the rough breathing of the two, the sound of flesh colliding, and moans soaked in pleasure.
"Hahk! Mmm…! I-It's good…♡"
As they approached climax, Shuten hugged Akira's neck and whispered sluggishly.
"Haa… haa… But husband, I… on my way back… Uhh♡! Met an interesting guy."
Akira asked without stopping his movements.
"Hoo… Who? Did you catch another wolf or bear?"
"No… Haang♡! A ninja, I think? With two swords on his back… a Hashira, I think."
Akira's movements stopped abruptly.
"...Who?"
"Uzui Tengen, was it? A noisy guy who sets off gunpowder. He picked a fight with me, so I played with him a little and sent him off."
Akira's brow furrowed. Uzui Tengen. So he had expanded his search range to this area. But what was more important was the next part.
"You didn't get caught, did you? Like with Shinjuro, you hid your appearance, right?"
With Shinjuro, he had a perception-hindering spell wrapped around his body, so while the opponent could tell he was a demon, they couldn't remember precise characteristics aside from his attire.
Shuten avoided Akira's eyes and played dumb.
"Ah… that, I was drunk as hell… I accidentally showed my true form. Showed my horns too… took off the shell (human disguise)…."
"...."
Akira felt a headache coming on. She had imprinted the true form of Shuten Douji, an out-of-spec demon, on Uzui.
"Sigh… You really."
"I'm sorry! But I didn't kill him! Since you told me not to kill, I just gave him a knuckle sandwich and sent him off, see! I did good, right?"
Shuten clung to Akira's waist with her legs as if wronged. What was done couldn't be undone.
"Hoo… Okay, fine. Not killing him was good. But you were careless, so you have to take punishment, right?"
He grabbed Shuten, lifted her, and made her lie face down.
Slap!
Akira's palm strongly struck Shuten's plump buttocks.
"Aah♡!"
A sharp friction sound accompanied the moan that burst from Shuten's mouth.
"Husband… More, you can hit more…♡. Uhh…!"
Shuten's eyes were unfocused. With an expression melting in pleasure, she clung deeper to Akira, wearing the face of a female delighted to be loved by a male.
"You pervert demon."
Akira chuckled and slapped her buttocks again with a slap. The night was long, and the punishment was sweet.
The next morning. A heavy, unusual air hung in the spacious drawing room of Akira's mansion.
Everyone had gathered around Akira, who sat at the head.
Across from him, the Kocho sisters, Kanao, and Mitsuri sat with serious expressions, while Tsubaki stood quietly behind. The maid Mukago trembled as she served tea.
"M-Master… p-please have some tea…."
Clatter. Clatter. The sound of teacups clinking.
Mukago tried not to tremble, but she couldn't stop the teacups from clattering. She instinctively sensed that her master was angry.
"Thank you, Mukago."
After Akira took a sip of tea—more precisely, blood with the scent of tea made by Benienma—he opened his mouth.
Ubume and Tsubaki watched from behind. The two lower in the household hierarchy listened nervously, wondering what was happening.
"...That's the situation."
When Akira explained the previous night's incident, Shinobu was the first to speak in a cold voice.
"Sigh… Those Demon Slayer Corps again? Really, they're a tribe I don't want to get involved with."
Shinobu's eyes were filled with disgust.
Then, Kanae beside her quietly but firmly supported her sister's words.
"Shinobu is right. There's information that they still use methods like selection exams, so honestly, I think they're still abnormal."
A trace of sadness and resolve flashed in Kanae's eyes.
"More than that… I'm more surprised that there's a human who saw Shuten's true form and returned alive. Normally, there wouldn't even be bones left."
Shinobu analyzed coolly. She didn't fully grasp how strong the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps were, but since Akira said the golden generation Hashira were at least Lower Moon One level, she had a rough idea.
"Akira-san, is it bad if those people come find us? We haven't done anything bad."
Mitsuri, who didn't know much about the Demon Slayer Corps, asked Akira, but his face was full of annoyance.
"It'll be troublesome. They're a group whose goal is to exterminate demons. If they see me, our children, and Mukago or Ubume over there, they'll attack without question."
"Eek! No! I don't want to fight! Especially against a Hashira, I'll die!"
Mukago trembled as if having a fit. Ubume soothed Mukago, and at those words, Mitsuri, who had been clenching her fists, jumped up.
Mitsuri's cheeks were flushed red. Due to her incredible muscle density, the air around her clenched fists buzzed.
"Hashira or whatever, it doesn't matter! This is our home, and everyone is my precious family! If they dare to barge in and try to hurt our family…!"
Mitsuri shouted with wide eyes.
"I'll blow them all away! No matter how strong the ninja is, I won't stand by if they try to destroy our family's happiness!"
The gazes in the room focused on Mitsuri's pure but intense love and anger.
At that moment, Kiyohime, holding a fan, coldly glared at Shuten.
"My, even the self-proclaimed madam is saying such admirable things. But the one who caused the trouble is acting all peaceful, huh? Daring to disturb our husband's peace, I wouldn't mind burning you to ashes right now."
Oda Nobunaga giggled and scratched his head.
"Hahaha! Pink-haired kid, you've got some spirit! I, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, acknowledge you! And Shuten! Talking big about being different in class and all, but the cleanup is a mess. Disgraceful, disgraceful!"
"What did you say! Can't you guys be quiet!"
"This damn drunkard demon causing trouble again. Master, should I burn down the alcohol warehouse while I'm at it?"
"Do you want all your tail feathers plucked?!"
As Shuten tried to retort, Benienma tapped the table to settle the situation.
"That's enough, yes. Mitsuri-san's heart is admirable, but for now, following master's decision comes first, yes."
"Akira-san, so what should we do?"
At Mitsuri's question, Akira shook his head.
"Avoid all-out war. There's nothing to gain from fighting the Demon Slayer Corps. Precisely, it's troublesome."
Akira unfolded a map and pointed to a spot with his finger.
"We're moving."
"If we stay in Ginza, they'll narrow down the search range, so let's go somewhere else."
The place where Akira's finger stopped was Asakusa.
"Asakusa, huh."
Kanae nodded as she peered at the map.
"Asakusa… If it's a place with many people. Is it like hiding under the lamp?"
Kanao asked quietly.
"Right. Asakusa is a city with high foot traffic, so it's good for hiding. Plus, there's lots of delicious food. Dango, tempura, udon… the best restaurants in Tokyo are gathered there."
At Akira's words, Mitsuri's expression instantly bloomed like a flower.
"Really?! Wow…! I approve of moving! I totally approve! I'll help pack! I can carry all the heavy stuff!"
Mitsuri, burning with enthusiasm, rolled up her sleeves. With her monstrous strength, she could even lift a piano with one hand.
But Akira had a real reason he hadn't told the girls.
'At this time… Tamayo should be settling in Asakusa soon. If not, it's just a pity.'
A demon and skilled doctor freed from Muzan's curse. If I meet her, it'll be a big help. Of course, if I don't meet her, it's just a pity. No loss.
Akira gave instructions.
"Tamamo, handle this mansion. Don't leave any traces."
"Leave it to me."
"Benienma, I leave the ingredients and kitchen to you. Tsubaki, Mukago, Ubume. Hurry and pack."
"Yes, yes! Got it!"
Mukago moved hastily, and the others followed. Kanae and Mitsuri also stood up.
"Now, Mitsuri-san. Shall we help too? Shinobu and I will take care of the herbs from the pharmacy."
"Yeah! I'll move the furniture! Heave-ho! Moving is somehow exciting!"
Watching the family move energetically, Akira looked out the window.
"Let's go. To Asakusa."
With Akira's command, the secret, large-scale relocation of their peculiar but close-knit family began.
Of course, since we need to find a house too, packing alone will take a few days before the actual move.
Everyone was busy moving. Kanae stared intently at Akira, who was pondering over the map about where to set up the new residence.
As if, little by little, an opportunity had come.